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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Martin Shore

Netflix top 10 most-watched TV shows of all time — 3 best series to stream and full list

Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) with her hand outstretched in a scene from Netflix's "Stranger Things" season 5.

Over the years, Netflix has brought us some truly iconic TV shows. One of the main reasons Netflix is still one of the best streaming services you can sign up for is its massive, ever-changing library of must-watch stuff, and that includes an array of big-name franchises and excellent one-off shows.

But while the streaming giant's brought us countless releases across the genre spectrum, only a handful have earned enough attention to maintain a spot in Netflix's global all-time top 10 list of English-language shows, and if you've not seen that list before, you might be surprised by what's on that list.

If you're curious to see what the most-watched Netflix TV shows of all time are, I've taken the full list as shared on Tudum and shared it below, and highlighted which are the three shows that are most worth checking out, if you haven't already.

Oh, and for what it's worth, I found whittling this most-watched list down to just three picks way harder than the most-watched Netflix movies list, so if you don't agree with my picks, I can totally see why (consider this an advance apology to "Bridgerton" fans). And let's add one last caveat to the list: I'm using the English-language TV list, so no "Squid Game," either.

Netflix's 10 most-watched TV shows of all time

'Wednesday' season 1 continues to be the streamer's most-watched show, by some margin. (Image credit: Netflix)

Below, you can find the current list of Netflix's top 10 most-watched English-language TV shows of all time, globally.

This is data that comes directly from Tudum, and shows are ranked by season, and those rankings are based on total views received within the first 91 days of release.

  1. "Wednesday" season 1
  2. "Adolescence"
  3. "Stranger Things" season 4
  4. "Wednesday" season 2
  5. "DAHMER: Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story"
  6. "Stranger Things" season 5 (could climb higher)
  7. "Bridgerton" season 1
  8. "The Queen's Gambit"
  9. "Bridgerton" season 3
  10. "The Night Agent" season 1

My 3 picks

'Adolescence' (2025)

Given that several of the spots on Netflix's all-time most-watched shows list belong to popular limited series, it only felt right to include at least one here.

I've decided to give that spot to "Adolescence," the hard-hitting, four-part British drama from Philip Barantini and Stephen Graham about a fictional family whose world is turned on its head after their teen son is arrested for the murder of a female classmate.

This powerful watch was one of the most talked-about shows of 2025 for a long time, sparked public debate about the issues it addressed, rocketed to the No. 2 spot on the most-watched chart, (rightly) won plenty of praise from viewers and critics, and it has hoovered up awards for its stellar performances.

Stream "Adolescence" on Netflix now

'Stranger Things' (2016-2025)

If Netflix is synonymous with one show, it's got to be "Stranger Things," right? For almost a decade, The Duffer Brothers' Spielbergian sci-fi/horror series has been bringing us back to Hawkins, Indiana, and revealing fresh info about the strange goings-on that have been going down in that American town.

Over the years, Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Max, Nancy, Steve, and the rest of the gang have done battle with all manner of horrors that have spilled out of the Upside Down over the years, but as of our latest update, their campaign has come to an end. And even if the final season didn't end up being loved by everyone, I think it's still a worthy watch on the whole.

Stream "Stranger Things" on Netflix now

'Wednesday' (2022-)

In 2022, Netflix's "Wednesday" whisked us away (and Jenna Ortega's Wednesday Addams) to Nevermore Academy, a private school for outcasts just like the Addams family's macabre daughter. There, she grappled with her emerging psychic powers and rooted out a killer in what soon became the streamer's most popular series of all time.

It's easy to see why, too: this darkly comic supernatural thriller is a dose of brilliant fun, with great production values and a pitch-perfect lead star. And after gathering countless fans (including myself) and bringing us another intriguing chapter this year, it's no wonder "Wednesday" isn't going anywhere fast.

Stream "Wednesday" on Netflix now

Already streamed everything above, and on the hunt for your next Netflix watch? Check our our round-up of the best Netflix shows for a definitive breakdown of the streamer's unmissable series.

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