Netflix has been very secretive about its data regarding the most-watched shows or movies. However, they went public with the numbers for the first time. On September 28th, 2021, Netflix’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos, while speaking at the Code Conference in Beverly Hills, California, released the list of the platform’s most popular shows and films.

He showed a slide that comprised the top 10 web series and films from each category within the first four weeks. However, this data did not reflect how many subscribers had seen the whole movie or series.

The data revealed that the first season of “Bridgerton” was the most-watched web series ever on Netflix. Over 82 million subscribers had at least watched two minutes of Bridgerton on the first 28 days after the stream.

Netflix’s series by total hours watched in their first 28 days

Bridgerton is an American 19th century British Royalty drama. The eight-episode historical period drama, which was streamed on Netflix in December 2020, still stands at number 1. Netflix’s Bridgerton has received 625 million watched hours.

Ted Sarandos also claimed that Netflix’s Squid Game would top the list soon. This South- Korean thriller drama, which was streamed on Netflix on September 17th, 2021, has become very popular among fans worldwide. Per Market Watch, Sarandos said, “Definitely our biggest non-English language show in the world, for sure.”

Netflix’s Money Heist, Part 4, is second in the total hours watched in the first 28 days with 619 million hours. It is the current top non-English language series with the most watched hours. Netflix’s Stranger Things, Season 3, is in the third position with 582 million hours.

Netflix’s top series by number of viewers who watched two minutes in their first 28 days

Netflix’s Bridgerton, Season 1 also again tops the list with 82 million accounts that have watched at least two minutes in the first 28 days. The French series Lupin: Part 1 sits at second in the list with 76 million. The Witcher: Season 1, another fantasy series starring Henry Cavill, is tied with Lupin. Sex/Life Season 1 and Stranger Things: Season 3, with 67 million accounts, are tied in third.

Netflix’s top films by total watched hours in their first 28 days

Among films, the post-apocalyptic horror- thriller drama of 2018, Bird Box, with 282 million hours, has topped the list. Extraction, with 231 million hours, and The Irishman with 215 million hours, occupies the second and third position.

Netflix’s top films by number of viewers who watched at least two minutes in their first 28 days

The action film Extraction earned the no. 1 spot for the number of accounts that have watched at least 2 minutes. The film with Chris Hemsworth was watched by 99 million accounts in the first 28 days. Bird Box and Spenser Confidential, viewed by 89 million and 85 million accounts respectively, sit in the second and third positions.

How many of these films and series have you seen? Does your account fall into any of the categories?