Our beloved streaming platform completed its silver jubilee on 29th August 2022. The journey of Netflix has been long and one that saw evolutions of internet technology. From boxy computers to slim smartphones, the streaming giant become what it did by surviving and thriving by giving the audiences what they wanted.

It supported people’s sanity during the pandemic in tough times, and that is the power of entertainment. Netflix opened a door for shows to reach international audiences through its foreign language shows, proving that amazing content can break language barriers too. The credit of which goes to its most successful shows. Here are five picks that led to the rise of Netflix.

5 Defining shows that made Netflix what it is today

This sci-fi mystery thriller is currently the most talked about Netflix show. A Duffer brother’s creation, the show is based in the 80s and follows high schoolers high-schoolers who set on a search for their mixed friends. The hunt leads them to a research lab subject named Eleven, who reveals to them a world of evil experiments, portals, and dangerous enemies. The lead cast includes Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Joseph Quinn (Eddie), and Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler) amongst others.

It has won a long list of awards including People’s Choice Awards, Kids Choice, and AFI Awards. The first season of Stranger Things itself received a watch time of 1.35 billion hours in the first 28 days of its airing. While the second season received views of 427.4 million hours.

Stream this show on Netflix

This remains one of the first, most famous Netflix International shows. This Korean survival drama thriller covers a contest with 456 players, who are in desperate need of money. They participate for the chance to win the US $35 million by playing childlike games at the cost of their lives. It mirrors the issues of Capitalism in Korea but managed to connect with audiences around the world. Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk created the series based on his own economic struggles in life. The main cast includes Jung-Jae (player 456), Park Hoo-soo (player 218), Wi Ha-Joon (police officer), and HoYeon Jung (Player 067).

Squid Games has one season and nine intense episodes. The show and its actors won several awards including Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Prime Time nominations. The first season received a record-breaking watch time of 1.65 billion hours in the first 28 days of it airing.

Squid Games is available for streaming on Netflix

The medieval fantasy drama is based on the book series The Witcher by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski. The storyline follows Geralt of Rivia and Princess Ciri of Cintra, who he must protect to prevent her Elder Blood and magical powers from being exploited at the hands of pursuers. The show is created by Lauren Schmidt and Hissroch and has had two seasons so far. It stars Superman’s British actor Henry Cavill (Geralt of Rivia), and Anya Chalotra (Ciri) amongst others.

The Witcher was nominated for several awards including Webby Awards (won), British Society of Cinematographers, and Dragon Awards. etc. The first season received a watch time of 541 million hours in the first 28 days of its airing and the second one received 484.3 million hours.

You can stream The Witcher on Netflix

The show is based on Jay Asher’s 2007 novel of the same name. The plot is a bit delicate and revolves around the life, of a high school girl suicide. She leaves behind a stash of cassettes that would reveal the reasons behind her suicide and the people responsible for it. It’s emotional and captures the lives of those affected by her death.

The Netflix original was created by Brian Yorkey and stars Dylan Minnette (Clay), Katherine Langford (Hannah Baker), and Christian Navarro (Tony Padilla) in the lead. Some of the awards it won were the Guild of Music Supervisors award, Television Academy Honors, and nominations for awards like People’s Choice and Golden Globes. The first season itself received a watch time of 511.9 million hours in the first 28 days of its airing while the second season received a watch time of 475.6 hours.

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Another foreign language series that topped the charts was the Spanish show Money Heist. The crime drama follows the robbers during their heist for major robberies. The show can be recognized by the character’s avatar of a red hoodie and a mask worn during the robberies. The Alexa Pina creation has a total of 5 seasons and stars Ursula Corbero, Alvaro Morte, and Itziar Ituno in the lead.

The show won Iris awards, International Emmy Awards, and Fotogramas de Plata amongst others. The first season itself received a watch time of 619 million hours in the first 28 days of its airing while the second season received a watch time of 426.4 hours.

You can stream Money Heist on Netflix

Netflix shows tend to outperform each other and the platform is only growing bigger. The 25-year-old was a lovechild of Reed Hasting and Marc Randolph and on its birthday this year, the platform released a beautiful video of its progress so far.