JuicyTalk
2026 has brought even more hits for Netflix with episodic releases, and a few have been so big that they can be considered the biggest shows of the year for the streamer. This is possible for Netflix thanks to the wide range of original, episodic content it has to offer. Between fresh non-fiction series, continuations of beloved hits, reality TV, and documentaries, there’s always something for everybody.
Subscribers frequently embrace the constant flow of new shows, with these series often holding potential to become incredibly popular around the world. That’s what happened in 2025 when Adolescence became a smash hit, climbing to second place all-time on Netflix’s global TV charts, and Stranger Things season 5 and Wednesday season 2 finished their runs inside the top 5.
Netflix’s 2026 TV shows include a mixture of familiar and new once again. Long-running shows like Virgin River came back. Reality TV series in Love Is Blind and Love on the Spectrum received new seasons, too. New titles diving into the thriller, horror, sci-fi, and other genres also held the ability to breakout and capture the attention of the entire globe.
That’s exactly what has happened throughout the year for several releases. Aided by official viewership data, here are Netflix’s 10 most-watched TV shows of 2026, so far.
10
The Dinosaurs Season 1
Steven Spielberg helped make one of Netflix’s biggest shows of the year with The Dinosaurs season 1. The four-episode nature documentary narrated by Morgan Freeman and produced by Spielberg through Amblin Entertainment racked up 23.4 million views this year. It spent three weeks in the top 10 before dropping out, with its 10.4 million views in week 1 of release the most for the title.
9
XO, Kitty Season 3
Netflix concluded its To All The Boys sequel series in 2026 by releasing XO, Kitty season 3 in April. The final eight episodes of the show garnered 23.7 million views during three weeks in the top 10 global charts. Its first week was the best of the run, as it earned 12.9 million views. Despite its 9th-place ranking on the year, it marks the worst performance for the series.
Season 2 opened to 14.2 million views and drew 27.1 million views after three weeks. Season 1’s views were not shared publicly by Netflix at the time, but its hours viewed through six weeks in the top 10 indicate it was a much bigger hit. It’s no wonder Netflix ended XO, Kitty after season 3, then.
8
Nemesis Season 1
One of Netflix’s newest hits has come with Nemesis season 1. The eight-episode crime drama debuted in May and has consistently found its audience. In its first three weeks of release, Nemesis season 1 has amassed 24.4 million views. It’s remained in the top three globally each week, with week 2 delivering its highest views at 11.4 million, generating a #1 global finish.
Whether the series can climb higher will depend on how well it maintains a grip on subscribers in the weeks to come.
7
Run Away
Netflix’s partnership with Harlan Coben paid off with a hit in 2026 in the form of Run Away. The six-episode miniseries starring James Nesbitt and Minnie Driver arrived on January 1, and despite the attention Stranger Things season 5 still drew at the time, Run Away debuted at #2 globally with 15.6 million views.
Overall, the series spent three weeks in the top 10 and totaled 25.3 million views. That made it one of 2026’s most-watched Netflix shows early on, but it continues to slide down the ranking as bigger titles come and surpass it.
6
The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4
The Lincoln Lawyer returned for 10 new episodes in 2026 when season 4 dropped in February. The series accumulated 26.4 million views across four weeks in the top 10 charts. The best performance came in week 2, where it collected 9.6 million views and jumped to #1 worldwide. The Lincoln Lawyer season 4 has slid out of the top 5 yearly ranking since then.
However, this marked a much stronger start for the series than before. While season 3 earned 28.1 million views across six weeks in the top 10, it was only at 23.9 million after four weeks, which is 2.5 million views fewer than season 4. The fourth season may not have had as strong legs, but it makes it clear why Netflix renewed The Lincoln Lawyer for season 5.
5
The Night Agent Season 3
Debuting in mid-February, The Night Agent season 3 became one of Netflix’s most-watched 2026 shows early on. Gabriel Basso returned as Peter Sutherland for another 10 episodes. The Night Agent season 3 earned 26.7 million views across four weeks in the top 10 charts. The best was week 2, where it drew 9.9 million views.
The performance is probably a bit disappointing for Netflix. The Night Agent season 2 had 43.8 million views in its first five weeks. Season 1’s viewership figures haven’t been revealed, but its hours viewed were significantly higher than both sequel seasons. It’s no wonder The Night Agent season 4 will be the last.
4
Man On Fire Season 1
After routinely seeing Denzel Washington’s movie trend on the service, Netflix rebooted Man on Fire as a TV series in 2026. Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as John Creasy, the seven-episode action thriller climbed up these charts quickly. Man on Fire season 1 has earned 35 million views so far.
It spent two weeks as the #1 show on the planet upon its debut, generating 11 and 12.6 million views in the respective weeks. The other weeks have seen it stay in the top 5. The strong performance is why Man on Fire season 2 is expected to be announced by Netflix eventually.
3
One Piece Season 2
Netflix keeps finding success by adapting the popular manga into a live-action fantasy action series. One Piece season 2 delivered 39.5 million views across five weeks in the top 10 charts. This included spending three consecutive weeks at #1, which is tied for the longest streak for any Netflix original series this year.
This was made possible by its 16.8 million views in week 1 and only dropping to 11.1 million in week 2. Competition was so limited in week 3 that One Piece stayed on top with only 5.9 million views. While this has made season 2 one of the year’s most-watched shows, the viewership figures are down from season 1.
The debut episodes spent eight weeks straight in Netflix’s top 10, pulling in 63.6 million views during that timeframe. 57.8 million of those views were collected during its first five weeks. That puts One Piece season 2 behind the first season’s viewership by 18.3 million views. Luckily for Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates, One Piece season 3 has already been confirmed.
2
His & Hers
Netflix’s biggest new hit of 2026 on the TV front is His & Hers. The six-episode mystery thriller starring Jon Bernthal and Tessa Thompson gained worldwide attention after its early January release, where it spent three weeks at #1 on the global charts. His & Hers earned 90.6 million views across seven weeks in the top 10.
However, the total viewership is confirmed to be a bit higher. Netflix’s all-time most-watched shows chart has His & Hers listed at 10th with 98.2 million views. This means that after dropping out of the top 10, it made another 7.6 million views during the rest of its first 91 days of release (which is the period of time Netflix tabulates views for all-time rankings).
That shows just how strong interest remained in His & Hers throughout its first three months on Netflix. It currently holds the 2026 record for the most views in weeks 2, 3, and 4 for all TV shows after collecting 29.5, 17.2, and 11 million views across those times. And while it was Netflix’s most-watched show for the year for a while, it has been dethroned.
1
Bridgerton Season 4
Netflix’s global hit historical romance series, Bridgerton, has retained strong viewership upon its 2026 return. Bridgerton season 4 earned 130.8 million views after spending nine consecutive weeks in the top 10 charts. This was aided by Netflix giving the season a two-part release; the first four episodes were released on January 29, and the remaining four episodes came out on February 26.
Bridgerton season 4, part 1, debuted at #1 worldwide with 39.7 million views, the highest opening week for any 2026 Netflix series. Part 2 launched to 28 million views and returned the series to the #1 global spot. Bridgerton season 4’s nine weeks in the top 10 is also the most for any of Netflix’s shows this year.
Rank | 2026 Netflix Show | Total Views |
|---|---|---|
1) | Bridgerton season 4 | 130.8 million |
2) | His & Hers | 90.6 million |
3) | One Piece season 2 | 39.5 million |
4) | Man on Fire season 1 | 32.1 million |
5) | The Night Agent season 3 | 26.7 million |
6) | The Lincoln Lawyer season 4 | 26.4 million |
7) | Run Away | 25.3 million |
8) | XO, Kitty season 3 | 23.7 million |
9) | The Dinosaurs season 1 | 23.4 million |
10) | Unchosen season 1 | 22.3 million |
Even as the most-watched Netflix original series in 2026 so far, the viewership figures are lower for this franchise. Season 3 spent 11 weeks in the top 10 and generated 150.1 million views. Bridgerton season 4 trailed it every single week, resulting in a 19.3 million decline in views. Thankfully, season 5 is already greenlit and set to arrive in 2027.
- founded
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January 16, 2007
- founders
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Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph
