Netflix’s British wave: A look at the top shows and films of 2024
A British takeover on Netflix
In the first half of 2024, Netflix experienced a significant British influence, with four of its top ten global shows originating from the UK. These include the gripping series Fool Me Once, the Emmy-winning Baby Reindeer, the stylish The Gentlemen, and the heartfelt One Day.
Bridgerton’s continued reign
Shonda Rhimes’ Bridgerton Season 3, set in the UK, was the second most-watched show worldwide from January to June 2024. Garnering an impressive 91.9 million views within two months of its May 14 premiere, the Bridgerton universe collectively amassed 189 million views in the first half of the year. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story saw its views double to 24 million, while the first two seasons of Bridgerton experienced a fivefold increase in viewership.
Top TV shows and films
Most-watched TV shows
The most-viewed TV shows on Netflix for the first half of 2024 were:
- Fool Me Once (108 million views)
- Bridgerton Season 3 (92 million views)
- Baby Reindeer (88 million views)
- The Gentlemen (76 million views)
- Avatar The Last Airbender Season 1 (71 million views)
Most-watched films
On the film front, the top titles were:
- Damsel starring Millie Bobby Brown (143.8 million views)
- Lift starring Kevin Hart (129.4 million views)
- Society of the Snow (103.8 million views)
- Under Paris (84.7 million views)
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie (80.3 million views)
A deeper dive into genres
Netflix’s data reveals a diverse range of popular content across various genres:
Prestige TV and films
- Ripley (9 million views)
- The Crown Season 6 (12 million views)
- Griselda (69 million views)
- 3 Body Problem (52 million views)
- Scoop (19 million views)
Romance
- Mother of the Bride (78 million views)
- Doctor Slump (14 million views)
- Heartstopper (5 million views across two seasons)
Comedies
- Young Sheldon (106 million views across six seasons)
- The Roast of Tom Brady (22 million views)
- Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer (17 million views)
- Alpha Males (14 million views from two seasons)
Reality TV
- Love Is Blind Season 6 (21 million views)
- Perfect Match Season 2 (11 million views)
- Is It Cake? Season 3 (9 million views)
Animated films
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie (80 million views)
- Minions (73 million views)
- The Boss Baby (64 million views)
Documentaries
- American Nightmare (55 million views)
- The Greatest Night in Pop (25 million views)
- Formula 1: Drive to Survive (12 million views)
- America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (6 million views)
- Love on the Spectrum (11 million views)
Netflix’s transparency and industry impact
Netflix’s co-CEO has emphasized the importance of transparency in sharing viewing data, which covers 99% of the service’s viewing time. This move aims to provide greater clarity to creative partners, agents, and the industry. However, it also serves as a testament to Netflix’s dominance in the subscription-streaming market. The company hopes that competitors will follow suit, although this seems unlikely given Netflix’s vast scale.
In the first half of 2024, Netflix users watched over 94 billion hours of content, a slight increase from the previous year. This data, part of Netflix’s semiannual viewing measurement reports, highlights the platform’s extensive reach and the diverse tastes of its global audience.
For a detailed look at the latest Netflix Engagement Report, which includes data on 6,801 show titles and 9,360 films, visit the full spreadsheet here.