Netflix's 10 Most-Watched Shows Of All Time, Ranked By Quality

Netflix publicly shares its top-performing shows based on total viewership, but that doesn't mean that the most-watched shows are necessarily the best. Since Netflix and rival streaming platforms have completely reshaped the way that people consume TV, it's worth looking to the platform and its most viral shows to gauge what could be coming down the line. Over the years, Netflix has transitioned from a platform that housed other studio productions under limited licensing deals to now producing a broad array of its own branded content, with many of its original shows taking up space in the top 10 all-time shows on the platform. And yet, while some shows pull ahead in terms of viewing figures, there are a handful of shows that are clearly of a higher quality, and ultimately deserve more recognition among audiences. With that in mind, these are the best and most watched shows on Netflix, ranked by quality, instead of by millions of minutes watched. 10 I Will Find You First on the list is likely a surprise for many, as I Will Find You managed to rack up an astonishing 119 million minutes of watch time during the run of this thrilling miniseries. Starring Sam Worthington and Britt Lower, and created by Robert Hull based on a novel of the same name by popular writer Harlan Coben, this series fits perfectly into the crime thriller niche that Netflix has become so prevalent in. However, with this being one of many Harlan Coben adaptations appearing on TV in recent years, and the show delivering a satisfactory, though not overly captivating run, it earns the spot at the bottom of this listing. It's not very distinct, and ultimately falls short of what's expected from a top series. 9 Bridgerton MovieStillsDB Next up, Bridgerton has become a huge phenomenon since it began streaming in 2020. Now, with four seasons released and a further two seasons being produced, it has secured its spot as one of Netflix's most popular and successful original releases. That being said, the popularity of the series has been inconsistent. The debut season of the show shot up the top 10 list for one of the most-watched English-language shows on the platform, but season 2 did not manage to relive that glory. However, season 3 pulled ahead again, falling slightly behind the premiere season, and ahead of everything else. Unfortunately, season 4 also didn't crack the top 10, which goes to show how hot and cold the show can be among audiences. That being said, Netflix is still banking on it with a two-season renewal, and there is a dedicated fanbase who keep coming back. And yet, it remains one of the most hit-or-miss shows on the platform. 8 Lupin Technically, Lupin is among the lowest-rated shows in terms of total watch time compared to the other entries on this list. Despite this, it easily clears both Bridgerton and I Will Find You to become one of the more ambitious and thrilling shows on Netflix. Another aspect of the series that has likely led to it getting an unfair shake is the fact that this is a French series, and so fewer English speakers have tuned in to watch. As we see the language barrier walls begin to break down with a growing population of people tuning in to foreign language shows and films, hopefully more shows like Lupin will climb the ranks. As it stands, though, Lupin's 99.5 million minutes watched in season 1 and a further 68.4 million minutes watched in season 2 prove that this show is breaking some boundaries, and clearly delivers one of the most compelling crime heists on TV. 7 Dahmer: Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story The Monster anthology series has delivered twisted spectacles from the mind of Ryan Murphy, with the story of Ed Gein, the Menendez brothers, and soon Lizzie Borden all becoming viral sensations. However, nothing quite lives up to the incredible story of infamous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, starring Evan Peters. Despite being the debut season of the show, The Jeffrey Dahmer Story racked up 115.6 million minutes watched. Again, this show plays into the formula for what Netflix does best: true crime, crime drama, and thrillers, but this series absolutely shattered expectations, and looking at the quality, this was no mistake or lucky accident. The show is chilling, gripping, and thoroughly fascinating from start to finish. Peters' performance is transformative, and the way that this well-known murderer's life appears on-screen adds a new dimension to the true depths of horror that he inflicted on his victims. As long as you can stomach the horror of it all, this is one of the best shows on Netflix. 6 Stranger Things Stranger Things may have the appearance of a nostalgic horror series, but it's really a coming-of-age sci-fi story that blends nostalgia with captivating storytelling. Well... at least for most of the show's run, it was captivating. Unfortunately, Stranger Things didn't quite stick the landing when it comes to closing out the show, but that doesn't entirely diminish its earlier success. Digging deeper into that point, Stranger Things also managed to pull in its largest audiences during the final seasons of its run, with season 4 amassing 140.7 million minutes of watch time, and season 5 coming in just shy with 133.8 million minutes watched. Stranger Things helped put Netflix on the map and proved that the platform could produce its own content to a high standard. 5 Money Heist Money Heist is in a similar boat to Lupin, in that the show being natively in Spanish likely led to it having a lower total audience than an English-language series, but despite the barrier, it did manage to get some degree of global acclaim. With the final three parts of the series racking up 80 million, 106 million, and 99.2 million minutes watched respectively, this is comfortably one of the all-time most popular shows on Netflix. Also, similar to Lupin, this series follows a group of criminals as they pull off increasingly spectacular jobs. It's thrilling, features an incredible ensemble cast, and the series is steeped in mystery that unfolds in the most deliciously rewarding way as the show progresses. 4 Wednesday Adapted from the popular Addams Family stories, this series created by Tim Burton shifts the focus to young Wednesday Addams as she navigates school life among her fellow freakish peers. Jenna Ortega absolutely dominated this role, and the series went incredibly viral, becoming the most-watched English-language show of all time on Netflix with 252.1 million minutes watched in season 1. Unfortunately, the falloff in season 2 was equally spectacular, as the numbers dropped to a comparatively measly 119.3 million minutes watched. That being said, this is still higher than most of the other entries on this list, and the show is absolutely going to continue to thrive on Netflix. With the above in mind, Wednesday has ups and downs. It's quirky, unique, and charming, with an impressive cast and vibrant visuals. But the show doesn't quite stack up to other entries on this list. 3 Adolescence For instance, Adolescence proved to be one of the most ambitious and gripping shows to come from Netflix, with a whopping 142.6 million minutes watched. The conceit of this series is how grounded and real it feels, with the true-crime story unfolding as the season wears on. While it does have some foundation in true events, the actual narrative is fictional, but the quality of the performances, the impressive technicality of making each episode in one continuous shot, and the way this show kept audiences on the edge of their seats earn it a spot in the top 3. 2 The Queen's Gambit Next up, taking second place among all of the entries here, The Queen's Gambit is simultaneously one of the most watched shows on Netflix, with 112.8 million minutes watched of this limited series, and one of the most underrated. Anya Taylor-Joy delivers a career-defining performance and makes a subject that many people had no connection to into something invigorating. The series follows a chess prodigy, Beth Harmon, who climbs the ranks and overcomes societal expectations to become one of the best chess players in the world. Its ability to surprise and delight, while also building layered and complex characters, sets it apart from many of the shows on this list, and ultimately earns it the second-place ranking. 1 Squid Game Image via Netflix However, despite the suggestion that the numbers don't necessarily translate to what is distinctly the best, Squid Game is an exception. Despite being a foreign-language series, Squid Game ascended to become the most-watched show on Netflix of all time. Season 1 amassed a mind-boggling 265.2 million minutes watched, followed by 192.6 million for season 2, and 145.8 million for season 3. Yes, there was a drop-off, but this series literally broke barriers in terms of becoming so widely popular that English-speaking audiences tuned in. On top of that, the show delivers much of the same quality that The Queen's Gambit does, with layered characters, deep emotional narratives, and complex story beats that transform mundane ideas, like children's playground games, into something much more sinister. Squid Game subverts expectations, explores the depths of its characters, features world-class talent, and resulted in a show that changed how many audiences engage with entertainment. As a result, of course, it deserves the top spot in terms of quality Netflix shows.