Netflix is the world’s leading streaming service, so its top 10 releases of all time truly stand out as culture-shifting shows. Having been a pioneer in the film and television industry during the internet age, Netflix’s vast library of original TV shows is packed with shows of every genre.

The website reveals data weekly regarding its performers, and its top 10 most-viewed English-speaking releases include a variety of hits, including some surprises. It’s also worth noting that non-English-speaking shows have found great success, particularly Squid Game.

Squid Game season 1 is actually Netflix’s #1 TV release of all time, and the subsequent seasons would claim the #3 and #4 spots if this list accounted for all releases globally. The show’s initial success during the Pandemic was unprecedented, and I’d be remiss not to mention it among Netflix’s most-viewed shows.

Stranger Things 3

This is the first season of Stranger Things to break into the top 10, and that shouldn’t surprise anyone. While typically not celebrated as the best Stranger Things season, this was the first time the series came back after a multi-year break, unfortunately setting a frustrating precedent for fans for years to come, though still delivering the series audiences love.

It undoubtedly speaks to the show’s accumulating success that it was able to achieve this viewership, and it’s also worth noting that this is the oldest TV season on the list. Many shows in the 2020s, particularly those during the COVID-19 Pandemic, have found themselves with significantly higher viewership numbers.

Fool Me Once

Fool Me Once might be a surprising entry on this list, as the show’s 46% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes indicates it wasn’t the biggest hit with all Netflix subscribers. That said, there’s always a market for an addictive psychological thriller and murder mystery, and Fool Me Once’s reviews didn’t factor in enough to make this an exception.

Of course, one of the biggest draws for Fool Me Once is the name Harlan Coben, as the thriller/mystery novelist is one of the highest-selling authors of all time. Like Stephen King or Tom Clancy, adaptations of Coben’s work are almost guaranteed to generate a crowd, and the author has several more with Netflix.

The Night Agent Season 1

Netflix has been hit-or-miss with action thrillers, not landing anything quite as popular as Amazon Prime’s Reacher or Jack Ryan. Still, if there’s one title that stands out in the genre on Netflix, it’s The Night Agent, which achieved tremendous success with its first season, then, unfortunately, dropped off significantly with the second.

The Night Agent season 2 had notably lower reviews from fans and didn’t manage to crack into Netflix’s top 10 shows, but with more seasons underway, it’s likely it will find more success in the future. Not to mention, action shows can typically succeed with viewership despite not receiving critical acclaim.

Bridgerton Season 3

Bridgerton is another show that shouldn’t surprise anyone, as it became a massive cultural phenomenon during the Pandemic and has continued to succeed since. The costume drama romance offers a unique, game-changing take on period shows, already spawning a spinoff series and waves of similar titles across streaming.

Bridgerton season 3 didn’t have the advantage of being a Netflix show released in 2020 like season 1 did, but the series was a massive success with critics and audiences. The season tied season 1 in RT critical score and secured a series-high with its audience reviews.

The Queen’s Gambit

The Queen’s Gambit was a cultural phenomenon that not only rocketed Anya Taylor-Joy into being one of the world’s biggest A-list movie stars but it also created a mass, widespread appeal for audiences to learn and improve at chess. If that doesn’t speak to the beauty and power of television, what does?

With over 112 million views, The Queen’s Gambit is another of the major hits from the COVID-19 era, capturing the attention of audiences everywhere. It’s still considered an outstanding miniseries and is one of the most celebrated entries in Netflix’s catalog.

Bridgerton Season 1

Bridgerton season 1 hit streaming at the perfect time, with the December 2020 release allowing it to catch fire and achieve over 113 million viewers, just barely surpassing The Queen’s Gambit. At this time, this is still the most successful season in the franchise in terms of total viewers and hours viewed, setting a high bar.

While period dramas are a dime a dozen, Bridgerton modernized the concept in a way that appealed to the masses, offering scandalous romance, captivating characters, and enriching costumes and sets.

Dahmer: Monster

Dahmer is undoubtedly the most controversial show among Netflix’s most-viewed titles, as although the series was widely viewed and celebrated for its performances, many felt that the show was unjust toward the real-life victims in the story it adapted. It was also heavily accused of glorifying the heinous actions of Jeffrey Dahmer.

Producer Ryan Murphy’s shows have always sparked divisive responses, with many accusing Dahmer of profiting off of real people’s tragedies. Still, Monster captured the American fascination with true crime, and the anthology show continues to attract viewers with a new season releasing soon.

Stranger Things 4

Stranger Things season 4 might not be the most-viewed Netflix release of all time, but there’s one important record it does hold: it’s the most-viewed in terms of total hours watched. The show has over 140 million views, but has had 1.838 billion hours viewed. Wednesday season 1 had 252 million views, but only 1.718 billion hours.

This season came after a long break from the show, and splitting the season into two parts allowed for the internet to do its job, creating a cultural phenomenon. Stranger Things season 4 is one of the most profound examples of social media being used as a marketing tool, as music and moments from the series spread like wildfire on TikTok and other platforms.

Adolescence

Adolescence is certainly a shocker, as it’s one of the most irregular shows Netflix has ever released. Despite the great performances, writing, and overall quality, the show’s unique visual style and intense narrative made it one of the more divisive shows among subscribers on this list, and that’s reflected in the statistics.

Adolescence is second in views, but has significantly fewer hours viewed than Stranger Things 4. This is, in part, due to the series being four hours long, but the lack of rewatchability is also a factor. Audiences may also have tried it due to word of mouth but been turned off by the material. The surrounding shows on the list are much more approachable.

Still, Adolescence deserves praise for its virtues. Well-made television that pushes evocative boundaries deserves to be celebrated, and it’s currently in the running for multiple Emmy Awards. The four-episode total also makes it easily binge-watchable, which is what Netflix strives for.

Wednesday Season 1

Wednesday season 1 is the big winner on Netflix, at least for English-speaking releases. The Addams Family reboot was lightning in a bottle almost immediately upon its release, launching Jenna Ortega into international fame and pulling in millions of viewers around the world.

Among Netflix’s top shows, Wednesday performed exceptionally well in Latin American countries. Season 2’s release in August even set the record for the most countries a show has been ranked number #1 in during its first week, with 91. That’s nearly half the countries in the world.

With Wednesday season 1 leading the charge on Netflix, it will be interesting to see where future seasons go. The streamer is already developing new Addams Family spinoffs set in the show’s world, and we’re still waiting to see the results for Wednesday season 2 now that it’s fully out.