Squid Game leads with an unprecedented 2.2 billion hours viewed, more than double its closest competitor. Netflix's global reach has created entertainment phenomena that transcend borders.
The Data
Netflix's global streaming dominance has created entertainment phenomena unlike anything traditional television could achieve. These shows don't just trend—they become cultural moments watched by hundreds of millions worldwide.
| Rank | Show | Hours Viewed | Origin | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Squid Game (S1) | 2.20B | South Korea | 2021 |
| 2 | Stranger Things (S4) | 1.80B | USA | 2022 |
| 3 | Wednesday (S1) | 1.71B | USA | 2022 |
| 4 | Dahmer | 1.35B | USA | 2022 |
| 5 | Bridgerton (S2) | 1.19B | UK/USA | 2022 |
| 6 | All of Us Are Dead | 1.15B | South Korea | 2022 |
| 7 | Money Heist (S5) | 1.13B | Spain | 2021 |
| 8 | The Night Agent | 1.03B | USA | 2023 |
| 9 | Ginny & Georgia (S2) | 1.02B | USA | 2023 |
| 10 | The Glory | 0.97B | South Korea | 2023 |
Analysis
Squid Game's dominance is unprecedented. At 2.2 billion hours viewed, the South Korean survival drama more than doubled any previous Netflix record when it debuted in September 2021. The show became a global phenomenon, sparking merchandise, Halloween costumes, and a reality competition spinoff. Season 2 in 2024 proved the franchise's staying power.
International content breaks through. Three of the top ten shows originate outside the United States—Squid Game and All of Us Are Dead from South Korea, and Money Heist from Spain. This data validates Netflix's strategy of investing in local-language content with global appeal.
2022 was Netflix's peak. Seven of the top ten most-watched shows debuted in 2022, coinciding with post-pandemic viewing habits and Netflix's content investment peak. Stranger Things 4, Wednesday, Dahmer, and Bridgerton S2 all launched within months of each other.
The Billion-Hour Club
Reaching one billion hours viewed is an extraordinary achievement. To put it in perspective:
- 1 billion hours = 114,155 years of continuous viewing
- If every person on Earth watched, that's 7.5 minutes each
- Squid Game's 2.2B hours would take a single person 250,000 years to watch
Methodology
Hours viewed data comes from Netflix's official weekly Top 10 charts and quarterly earnings reports. Netflix counts hours viewed within the first 91 days of release. For returning seasons, only that season's hours are counted.
