Netflix has come a long way from its humble beginnings. They’re no longer giving viewers access to popular television shows; they’re also making them.

Of course, every Netflix original series isn’t a hit; the streaming service is notorious for canceling shows that fail to find an audience. Having said that, they do have some successful shows on their resume that have generated hundreds of millions of views. In some cases, select shows have even generated billions of views.

As Netflix continues to expand its library, it begs the question: which Netflix originals are breaking streaming records and becoming the service’s most-watched shows? We went looking for answers.

According to Netflix’s quarterly investor reports, Nielsen streaming data, and survey reports, these are the most popular original shows people are watching on Netflix.

Squid Game – Season 1

Approximate hours viewed: 1.65 billion

The most popular original series on Netflix isn’t Stranger Things. It’s Squid Games, the Korean thriller surrounding the deadly “game show” where people burdened by financial hardship compete to win ₩45.6 billion. That’s roughly $33 million.

Its unique premise (turning a simple, harmless game into a matter of life or death to solve your financial issues) helped the show go viral in 2021.

Stranger Things – Season 4

Approximate hours viewed: 1.35 billion

It was a long time coming for season four of Stranger Things, but it was well worth the wait.

While the series was no longer Netflix’s most popular, you could still argue that it was the most iconic. Thanks to a return to form in Season Four, with some aid from Kate Bush, Season Four delivered some of the most views in Netflix’s history. Along with Squid Games Season 1, it’s the only series above 1 billion views, according to Nielsen and Netflix investor reports.

13 Reasons Why – Season 1

Approximate hours viewed: 660 million

I swear that most of the viewers for 13 Reasons Why only tuned in out of curiosity.

The show saw a lot of pre-release buzz due to its subject matter, being based on the 2007 novel Thirteen Reasons Why. The show’s first season had a respectable opinion from critics, with a 77% average score on Rotten Tomatoes, but there was concern over the show’s depiction of depression in teenagers.

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Bridgerton – Season 1

Approximate hours viewed: 625 million

Before Squid Games and Stranger Things captivated viewers, there was another Netflix original that dominated viewership.

Bridgerton, the period piece romance series, enchanted viewers thanks to its timely release during the COVID-19 pandemic. In January of 2021, Netflix announced that 82 million households had watched at least two minutes of the first season.

The Queen’s Gambit

Approximate hours viewed: 620 million

Bridgerton wasn’t the only smash hit for Netflix during COVID, and no, I’m not talking about Tiger King.

The Queen’s Gambit, the miniseries starring Anya Taylor-Joy as the fictional chess prodigy Beth Harmon, was a smash hit that not only broke viewership records for Netflix, but also helped renew popularity in chess itself.

Money Heist – Season 4

Approximate hours viewed: 619 million

We’ve already dabbled in foreign television with Squid Games, so let’s do it again with Money Heist.

The Spanish crime drama originally aired on the Spanish television station Antena 3 before moving to Netflix in 2019, helping it find a new (and massive) audience.

You – Season 3

Approximate hours viewed: 548 million

Believe it or not, show creators Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble had originally pitched the series to Netflix, but were denied twice. Lifetime would purchase the series in 2017, with Netflix ironically picking up the show after Lifetime rescinded its order for a second season.

It worked out in everyone’s favor; the show became a success as one of Netflix’s most popular original shows. It just recently ended its five-season run.

The Witcher – Season 1

Approximate hours viewed: 541 million

Based on the popular video game series, which itself is based on the popular fantasy novels, The Witcher succeeds where so many other video game adaptations have failed. It stays faithful to the source material and acts as a love letter to its inspiration without trying to change it too much.

Oh, and that song was pretty catchy, too!

Wednesday – Season 1

Approximate hours viewed: 527 million

I’m surprised that Wednesday is listed so low here, considering that people would not shut up about the show when it debuted in 2022.

Season 2’s long-awaited debut is set for later this year. I’m sure it will break streaming records once again.

Lucifer – Season 5

Approximate hours viewed: 494 million

After Fox canceled the cult classic series, Netflix swooped in to save the day and give it the ending fans were craving.

Netflix was rewarded with nearly 500 million hours watched by viewers. This isn’t the first series Netflix has saved from cancellation that found success, and it won’t be the last, either.

Shadow and Bone – Season 1

Approximate hours viewed: 487  million

Netflix has a reputation for canceling shows despite their perceived popularity.

In the case of Shadow and Bone, that popularity was tangible. Even after its strong first season, the show was one of 2023’s most-watched and most Googled shows. So why would Netflix cancel the series? They blame the 2023 Writers’ strike and the SAG-AFTRA strike.

The Umbrella Academy

Approximate hours viewed: 485 million

Based on the comic series from My Chemical Romance singer Gerard Way, The Umbrella Academy was a steady Netflix hit for its first three seasons, starting in 2019.

The third season saw the show reach the height of its popularity before its fourth, and final, season. Sadly, due to a disappointing response from critics, viewers didn’t show up as they had in the past.

Ozark – Season 4, Part 2

Approximate hours viewed: 480 million

If you’re wondering why Netflix is releasing more and more seasons on staggered release schedules, the success of Ozark‘s final season is one reason why.

Splitting the fourth season into two parts helped it become one of their most-streamed shows, delivering a satisfying conclusion to the series.

All of Us Are Dead – Season 1

Approximate hours viewed: 462 million

We started with a Korean series; it’s only fair that we talk about one more.

All of Us Are Dead‘s first season was a smash hit, no doubt following in the footsteps of the success of Squid Game and Parasite, helping to draw increased interest in Korean entertainment.

However, in typical Netflix fashion, we’re still waiting for the second season to air three years later.

Ginny & Georgia – Season 2

Approximate hours viewed: 430 million

One of Netflix’s fastest-growing shows drew comparisons to Gilmore Girls when it debuted in 2021.

Giny & Georgia may not dominate headlines or publicity the way some of these other originals have, but it’s quietly amassed an impressive viewing audience. Season three premiered this past June. I wouldn’t be surprised if it broke viewership records.

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