Pictures courtesy of Netflix
As we’re at the midway point of the year, you may be wondering, what are Netflix’s biggest Original English series hits of the year so far? We’re here to answer that question, looking at Netflix’s best-performing limited series, debut series, returning series, reality shows, and docu-series. Strap in!
For this list, we’ll be using the first two weeks of available data for scripted titles and the first week of data for unscripted titles, such as documentary series and reality shows. The reason for the two weeks is twofold: firstly, most scripted shows are likely to remain in the weekly top 10 for two weeks, whereas unscripted shows usually debut strongly and quickly fall away. We’ve also noticed that, for most shows, the first two weeks are the most crucial in assessing their futures regarding renewals or cancellations.
We’ll keep this list updated throughout the remainder of the year and notably update each section to include data from the Netflix Engagement Report when it releases in July 2025, which will cover all viewing from January through the end of June. We’ll also keep this list limited to the new English-language releases of 2025 and cover international titles later.
We should also note we’re tracking the biggest hits and misses for Netflix’s Original movie slate in 2025 here.
Note: A few titles, such as Tires, The Creature Cases, and FUBAR, have yet to feature in the top 10s (or have the ability to do so) for two weeks, so they have been left out.
Most Watched Limited Series Launches in 2025
Adolescence. Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller in Adolescence. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024
No surprise at the top of this list. Adolescence started strong and only grew stronger as it progressed, now cementing itself in the number 2 position on Netflix’s all-time most-watched list. The series experienced a monumental rise in the top 10s, hitting audiences hard from the outset, and also benefited from a slew of press and viral moments across social media. It’s 2025’s Baby Reindeer equivalent and yet another massive win for Netflix UK, which picked up the slack from Netflix US during the strikes and has not stopped hitting it out of the park since.
There aren’t any major no-shows in the limited series category so far in 2025, although you could argue Toxic Town and Apple Cider Vinegar struggled to pick up momentum early on after their releases.
Most Watched Debut Series Launches in 2025
Picture: Netflix
Comedy has been a genre Netflix has struggled with in the past, but this year, thanks to home runs from The Four Seasons and Running Point, the genre is actually the biggest when it comes to fresh new debut shows that could get a second season renewal. Given their performance, they both received quick season 2 pick-ups.
A blemish on this list is three shows that have yet to get official verdicts on their futures: The Residence, PULSE, and Ransom Canyon. All three are around the cut-off that we’ve witnessed in prior years that series need to hit to get a renewal or face the axe. The longer we have to wait, the less chance the show has of coming back and, more importantly, thriving when it does.
Misses:
- Blippi’s Job Show (Season 1) – This new live-action kids show based on the popular YouTube series came just after Netflix had removed all other Blippi content, and it failed to enter the top 10s at all.
- Bad Thoughts (Season 1) – Tom Segura’s weird and wonderful comedy series was released much earlier in the week than most series, which may be partially the reason why it only spent a single week in the top 10, picking up 3.8M views, but didn’t feature in week 2. As we’ve seen before, though, the bar for comedy is much lower, and the series was given a second season renewal just recently.
Most Watched Series Returns in 2025 And The Misses
Ginny & Georgia. (L to R) Raymond Ablack as Joe, Brianne Howey as Georgia Miller in episode 306 of Ginny & Georgia. Cr. Amanda Matlovich/Netflix © 2025
The majority of shows, when you have to wait an extended period of time to watch the new season, often result in a big drop-off in viewership. That has not been the case with Ginny & Georgia, which is not only a fantastic series still, but also managed to maintain its viewership season over season with its third season.
We won’t include the third part of the final season of Cobra Kai on this chart, as it’s unfair to compare a partial season against a full season, particularly one that has been split into three volumes. We’ve previously wrote about whether the final season was a hit or not here. The same applies to Beauty in Black, which returned for the second part of its first season.
Misses in the top 10s:
- The Upshaws (Part 6) – You have to go back to part 4 when The Upshaws last featured in the Netflix top 10s when it scored 1.8M views in its opening week. Part 5 didn’t feature at all and part 6 follows in its footsteps.
- Young, Famous & African (Season 3) –
- Mo (Season 2) – Much like the first season, the comedy series Mo didn’t make a significant impact upon its return in season 2, despite having a poignant message given the events unfolding in the Middle East and how they relate to this personal story.
- Hot Wheels Let’s Race (Season 3) – The first season lit up the top 10s for 3 weeks while season 2 dropped significantly to just a single week. In the case of season 3, it was a no-show altogether.
- CoComelon Lane (Season 4) – Much like season 3, CoComelon Lane continues the property’s declining value for Netflix by missing the top 10s altogether.
- Survival of the Thickest (Season 2) – Unlike the first season, which featured in the top 10s for three weeks, season 2 was a complete no-show, but it didn’t matter as the show got a third and final season renewal order.
- Jurassic World: Chaos Theory (Season 3) -Much like season 2, Chaos Theory S3 only featured in the weekly top 10s for a single week before dropping out, continuing season-over-season decline, but it doesn’t matter as it’s already been renewed for a season 4.
- Mighty Monsterwheelies (Season 2) – Much like the first season, a complete no-show for this animated kids series.
- Blood of Zeus (Season 3) – Renewed for two seasons after its initial first season dropped in 2020, the verdict on the show beyond season 3 was already made up in 2024 and the reason as to why seems to be clear. Season 3 sadly missed out on the Netflix top 10s this time around.
- Big Mouth (Season 8) – It was slightly surprising, given the legacy of this adult animated series, not to appear at all, given that almost all of its prior seasons did feature in the weekly top 10, but Big Mouth S8 went out with a whimper.
Most Watched Reality Debuts in 2025
Love is Blind is the clear king/queen of the Netflix reality series roster as it continues to just keep pulling in viewers every season (perhaps why it’s renewed through season 10). Million Dollar Secret is the big surprise of the year, leading to a fast renewal, while WAGS to Riches and With Love, Meghan put in modest performances.
Misses:
- Selling the City – Despite success in the genre with Selling Sunset (returning for season 9 this year), Selling the City failed to feature at all in the top 10s and is still pending a renewal.
- Celebrity Bear Hunt (Season 1) – One of several UK reality series debuts in 2025, Celebrity Bear Hunt saw Bear Grylls hunting down celebrities in the wilderness but it failed to feature in the top 10s at all.
- Inside (Season 2) – Picked up after debuting on YouTube, this one had a strange rollout on Netflix, so it probably shouldn’t be a huge surprise it skipped the top 10s. That said, we’ll need to see more from the Engagement Report to confidently call this a miss.
- Cheat: Unfinished Business (Season 1) – Yet another British reality series that failed to make the weekly top 10s
- Sneaky Links: Dating After Dark (Season 1) – One more British reality series for the list once again failing to feature in the weekly top 10s at all.
Most Watched Docu-Series Releases in 2025
Crime documentary series still have a broad appeal on Netflix, but as we’ve discussed previously, Netflix’s huge push into sports-adjacent documentary programming has hit a brick wall quickly, with several new shows failing to ignite much appeal beyond Court of Gold and the return of Drive to Survive.
Misses:
- Six Nations: Full Contact (Season 2) – Given that the series was announced to be canceled ahead of its second season debut, the writing was probably on the wall for another no-show in the top 10s, and that was indeed the case.
- Full Swing (Season 3) – Another sports docu-series struggling is Full Swing. While season 1 managed to enter the weekly charts, the same can’t be said for its follow-up second or third season. No word on whether it’ll be back for a fourth.
- The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox (Season 1) – A complete no-show for this baseball sports documentary series.
- Race For The Crown (Season 1) – At one point called Ride to Survive, this Box to Box production (the team behind Drive to Survive) didn’t make it in the top 10s at all.
- Chef’s Table: Legends (Season 1) – A new spin-off to the long-running Chef’s Table didn’t inspire its way into the top 10s despite some heavyweight chefs featured.
- NASCAR: Full Speed (Season 2) – Season 1 of this Drive to Survive style show for NASCAR did feature in the top 10s last year, but arguably was too late by the time season 2 rolled around and lost momentum.
- F1: The Academy (Season 1) – A new all-female junior series for Formula 1 is the subject of this Hello Sunshine docu-series, which failed to enter the daily or weekly top 10s in any country.
- Power Moves with Shaquille O’Neal (Season 1) – Not even a big name like Shaq managed to get this docu-series into the weekly top 10s.
What are your big takeaways from the biggest hits of 2025 so far? Let us know in the comments.
