Over ten years ago, with the launch of its very first original series, Netflix established itself as the world’s leading streaming platform, offering new films, documentaries and entertainment every week, but series remain one of the main reasons for subscribing to Netflix. Among the most popular are The Crown, which ended after six seasons, House of Cards, which was the first series in Netflix’s history, and the unforgettable adventure of the girls in Orange is the New Black. Yet (surprise!) none of them are among the most viewed series in the platform’s history. Having revealed the top most popular films on Netflix, let’s move on to the most viewed series, based on the number of hours watched!
- La Casa de Papel, season 3 (80 million views)
If you hear the word ‘Spanish Netflix series’, you’re probably thinking of La Casa de Papel – and you’re right! In fact, it was one of the first non-English-language series to become a worldwide hit. In 5th place in this top ten is part 3 of the adventures of Tokyo, the Professor and the others, the first to be produced by Netflix. And to think that after its broadcast in Spain on Antena 3 and its low ratings, the series almost never got a sequel!
- La Casa de Papel, season 5 (99 million views)
The final season of La Casa de Papel, which went online on Netflix at the end of 2021, failed to dethrone the most popular season (part 4, as you’ll see below). Nevertheless, the Spanish series is also present in 4th place in this top of the most popular series on the platform and is the only series to appear three times in this ranking. The Professor would be proud!
- Lupin, season 1 (99 million views)
Cock-a-doodle-doo, Lupin is also in the top 3 most viewed series in the history of Netflix! Part 1 of Assane Diop’s adventures won over not just France, but the whole world, with Omar Sy approaching 100 million views in 2021. A success for this drama created by George Kay and François Uzan, which is also the only French series in this top 5
- La Casa de Papel, season 4 (106 million views)
The prize for the most popular season of La Casa de Papel goes to the fourth series. In these episodes, The Professor is initially convinced that Lisbon is dead. At the same time, Nairobi is seriously injured by a shot orchestrated by Alicia, while Gandia captures Tokyo. In short, there’s more action, explosions and tears. All in all, a great La Casa de Papel!
- Squid Game, season 1 (265 million views)
It’s THE queen of Netflix series, and not just a little! Released in September 2021, Squid Game was a veritable tidal wave on the platform, breaking all records. To date, it remains THE most viewed series in the platform’s history, and not even the number 1 series in the English-language rankings has been able to dislodge it! For the few who missed it, this Korean series follows Seong Gi-Hun, a down-on-his-luck man who is recruited to take part in a deadly game in which 456 people battle it out for a prize of 45.6 billion won (around €32 million). Violent and bloody, the drama was such a hit that Netflix decided to give it a season 2 and create a reality show based on the series.
So it’s a very good ranking, even if some series like Stranger Things or Vampire Diaries deserve to be there!
