Netflix reveals its most-watched shows and movies. A lot of data, but we're still left blind.
What is anyone supposed to do with this information?
Netflix has released it’s update on the most-watched shows and movies on the platform. It’s part of their ongoing effort to provide transparency to the industry on what is and isn’t being watched on platform.
These are the most-watched shows between January - June 2026:
And these are the most watched movies during that same time:
Beyond the top ten, you can go through all of the provided data in a spreadsheet published by Netflix, which details the runtime and hours viewed. Netflix has advised that starting next year, the report will be released annually and not every six months.
While transparency is good, the data provided by Netflix is generally meaningless. Netflix is a data rich company that makes a lot of decisions about the shows it greenlights, renews, and cancels based on more than just the information found in this report. For example, right there in the list above you have season one of Man on Fire at number eight in the TV list. It debuted on Netflix on April 30 of this year and it is still awaiting news on whether it will be picked up for a second season.
It, being the 8th most-watched title, the show is clearly a smash hit. But that isn’t enough. Before committing, Netflix wants to know more. What do they want to know? Beats me… they’re not releasing that data.
But, I’d assume that the company likely wants to know more about insights related to how strong is the show working as a retention tool to keep subscribers and whether it is driving new sign-ups.
If that’s the information that guides Netflix in determining the fate of a show, then that’s the information that is actually valuable. But that’s not the information we are provided.
Large volumes of data are good. When that data doesn’t tell enough of a story for it to be actionable, it is ultimately just noise.
Maybe they have already made too many Star Wars games?
I admit to being somewhat mystified by the existence of the upcoming Star Wars pack for video game PowerWash Simulator 2.
The synopsis:
Set during the events of A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, your cleaning jobs quickly spiral from Rebel chores to doing dirty work for the Empire.
That’s right. In this game you walk abound cleaning mud, dirt, and other grime off equipment and vehicles in the Star Wars universe.
It’s not like I value my time all that much, but I draw the line at hosing out a Tauntaun stable.
News Desk
Ryan Hurst is exiting the Prie Video TV show based on video game God of War following an on-set injury where he tore a bicep. Read: Polygon
Robert Irwin will host Australian Ninja Warrior for the Paramount-owned Channel 10 alongside Georgie Tunny and Beau Ryan. Read: IF
Disney+ is rebooting The Mickey Mouse Club. Read: C21
The Television Academy has voted to move five categories from the primetime Emmys telecast on Sept 14, shifting them to the Creative Arts Emmys. Read: Deadline
Jim Parsons says he was miserable while making The Big Bang Theory. I’ll avoid the easy, obvious joke and instead just say that even when it looks from the outside like people are living a great life, that’s not necessarily always the case. Just don’t expect any sympathy from those of us not driving to work each day in an extravagant street machine. Read: People
That delayed new edit of the second The X-Files feature film now has a firm release date. The newly re-titled The X-Files: I Want to Believe Vrach Frankenshteyn will debut on Hulu August 14. Will the new cut redeem the fairly maligned movie? I’m very keen to find out. Read: Gizmodo
Ryan Cooglar filmed his The X-Files reboot pilot for Hulu using 65mm. It’s a two-hour pilot, with Cooglar reportedly asking Disney to release it into cinemas. Read: World of Reel
In a bid for Wall Street enthusiasm, Netflix says it used AI in around 300 programs this year. Read: Variety
Netflix spent US$587 million when it bought Ben Affleck’s AI company InterPositive. Read: THR
Episodes of upcoming HBO Max show Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, a spin-off of The Big Bang Theory, will have episode lengths running from just 15 minutes long through to a whopping 25 minutes. The reason episodes are so short is apparently for creative reasons. Read: Deadline
Polygon takes a deep dive into the similarities between upcoming Netflix show The Last House and upcoming theatrical movie The End of Oak Street, which are set to be released within a week of one another. Read: Polygon
Disney Jr has launched Ozzy Fox, its first preschool series on YouTube. Read: C21
Trailer Park
One Hundred Years of Solitude Part Two debuts on Netflix August 26.
In that instant, the keys to Melquíades were revealed to Aureliano Babilonia: the first of the line is tied to a tree and the last is being eaten by ants.
Someone Someday debuts on Netflix July 24.
A dating app CEO unknowingly befriends someone out for revenge, jeopardizing her company, her family and her dream of finding romance.
Stuart Fails To Save The Universe will have a companion podcast, hosted by Felicia Day and Wil Wheaton.
That’s the newsletter for the today.
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Jim Pardon’s was earning over a $1 million in the first season of Big bang Theory. And by the end was earning $1 million per episode. Excuse me if I don’t feel sorry for his misery.