The numbers are in, and they are staggering. Netflix has officially pulled back the curtain on its viewership for the second half of 2025, revealing a world where we spent a collective 96 billion hours glued to our screens.
From the long-awaited return of Eleven to the viral sensation of k-pop demon-slaying, the H2 2025 Engagement Report tells a story of a streamer that is no longer just a platform, but a cultural architect. Whether it’s the record-breaking subscriber growth or the seismic $72 billion bid for Warner Bros, Netflix isn’t just winning the streaming wars—it’s ending them.
The K-Pop Phenomenon: Why ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ is King
If you thought Squid Game was big, meet your new overlord. The most successful title on the entire service—by a country mile—was the animated musical fantasy KPop Demon Hunters.
Clocking in at a jaw-dropping 482 million views (calculated as total hours watched divided by runtime), the Sony-produced film has become a genuine global juggernaut. It successfully captured the “sing-along” magic typically reserved for Disney classics, proving that Netflix’s investment in high-quality animation and global music trends is paying off in ways the industry never expected.
The Clash of the Titans: Wednesday vs. Stranger Things
For months, the biggest question in pop culture was: Who wins in a fight—Wednesday Addams or Eleven? Based on the data, the pigtails have it.
Wednesday Season 2 officially took the crown as the most-watched series of late 2025 with 124 million views. Jenna Ortega’s brooding detective work managed to hold off the cultural behemoth that is Stranger Things 5, which landed in second place with 94 million views.
However, there is a massive asterisk next to the Hawkins crew. Stranger Things 5 launched very late in the year, and its highly anticipated series finale didn’t actually drop until New Year’s Day 2026. This means the 2025 data doesn’t even include the finale’s massive viewing spike. Even more impressive? The “Halo Effect” is real. All five seasons of Stranger Things charted in the top 15, with a combined 275 million views as fans binged the entire library to prepare for the end.
Crime, Dystopia, and Cozy Mysteries
Beyond the heavy hitters, Netflix found massive success in specific niches. Eric Bana’s Untamed, a gritty crime drama set against the breathtaking (and dangerous) backdrop of Yosemite National Park, was a sleeper hit that nearly matched Stranger Things with 93 million views.
Meanwhile, the third—and allegedly final—season of Squid Game proved that the world still has an appetite for dystopian social commentary, pulling in 79 million views. For those looking for something a bit less stressful, the “cozy crime” adaptation of The Thursday Murder Club charmed its way to 69 million views, proving that retirees solving murders is a genre with legs.
Movie Night: Sandler, Frankenstein, and Dynamite
On the film side, while KPop Demon Hunters was in a league of its own, other blockbusters made their mark:
- Happy Gilmore 2: Adam Sandler’s return to the green scored 135 million views, proving nostalgia is still a potent currency.
- Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein: The visionary director’s “stitched together” masterpiece earned 98 million views, becoming an instant holiday classic for horror fans.
- A House of Dynamite: This heavy-hitting nuclear war drama resonated deeply with audiences, pulling in 76 million views.
The Tiny Titans: Kids’ Content Dominance
Never underestimate the power of a toddler with a remote. Gabby’s Dollhouse remains a cornerstone of the platform with 108 million views, while the classic Peppa Pig (90 million) and newcomer Ms. Rachel (73 million) ensured that parents across the globe stayed subscribed.
The Big Picture: AI and the Warner Bros. Merger
The report wasn’t just about shows; it was about the future of the company. Netflix added 23 million new subscribers in 2025, bringing their total army to 325 million people. With $45.2 billion in annual revenue, the company is now making aggressive moves into new territory.
Two major developments are set to define 2026:
The AI Pivot: Netflix confirmed it is “ramping up” AI usage to handle subtitle localization and the creation of targeted advertisements. This move aims to make global content even more accessible, ensuring a show made in Korea or Brazil feels like a local hit in Ohio or London.
The Warner Bros. Megadeal: Perhaps the biggest story in Hollywood is Netflix’s move to purchase Warner Bros. in an all-cash $72 billion deal. If approved, this would bring the DC Universe, Harry Potter, and HBO under the same roof as the Netflix Originals, fundamentally changing the theatrical and streaming landscape forever.
The Verdict
Netflix has spent 2025 proving it can do it all: from prestige dramas like Untamed and Frankenstein to the commercial juggernauts of Wednesday and KPop Demon Hunters. As we move into 2026, the question isn’t whether Netflix can stay on top—it’s whether anyone else can even stay in the race.
