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Adolescence, led by Owen Cooper and directed by Philip Barantini, has taken Netflix by storm in a way few expected. Since its March 13, 2025 release, the psychological crime drama has earned both critical acclaim and a massive global audience, and it has now officially risen to the second spot on Netflix’s list of the most-watched English-language shows. This climb marks a significant shift in the platform’s rankings, overtaking the likes of Stranger Things Season 4, which had long dominated the upper echelons of the chart. With 141.2 million views in just three months, Adolescence is showing no signs of slowing down, steadily approaching the reigning champion, Wednesday Season 1.
Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday, a Tim Burton-backed horror-comedy series, still holds a commanding lead with an astounding 252.1 million views and remains Netflix’s most-watched English series. Anticipation is building around its second season, especially with rumors swirling about Lady Gaga’s involvement, which could only amplify its massive appeal. However, Adolescence’s gritty realism, tense storytelling, and Owen Cooper’s haunting performance have clearly resonated with a wide audience, signaling that prestige drama still holds powerful sway in the streaming world.
Trailing just behind the top two is Stranger Things Season 4, which garnered 140.7 million views in its opening quarter, now edged out by Barantini’s drama. Rounding out the rest of the English-language top 10 are heavyweights like DAHMER: Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Bridgerton Seasons 1 and 3, The Queen’s Gambit, The Night Agent, Fool Me Once, and Stranger Things Season 3. These titles highlight Netflix’s mix of suspense, period drama, and biographical horror as the consistent crowd-pullers.
Outside of the English list, Korean juggernaut Squid Game continues to dominate the international charts, with Season 1 collecting a record-breaking 265.2 million views and Season 2 following closely behind at 192.6 million. With Season 3 launching on June 27, expectations are sky-high for another global phenomenon, potentially breaking the platform’s all-time records once again.
Still, the shake-up in the English rankings brought on by Adolescence underscores a shift in audience tastes toward more psychologically complex narratives. With both Wednesday Season 2 and Stranger Things Season 5 on the horizon later this year, the competition is bound to heat up, promising more surprises in what has already been a landmark year for streaming television.