Netflix’s Most-Watched List Goes Global: Non-English Shows Steal the Spotlight!

English-language shows no longer dominate Netflix’s most-watched list, according to its latest biannual engagement report. Non-English titles from the UK and South Korea are making waves globally.

Since December 2023, Netflix has been releasing viewership data every six months for titles surpassing 50,000 hours of watch time. The latest report, covering January to June, accounts for 99% of all viewing on the platform.

Non-English series have claimed a significant portion of the most-watched list. The report reveals that 10 of the top 25 most-viewed shows in the first half of 2025 were in languages other than English.

Topping the charts was the UK psychological crime thriller “Adolescence,” with a staggering 145 million views. South Korea followed closely, with “Squid Game” Seasons 2 and 3 securing the second and third spots, respectively, outpacing the US political thriller “Zero Day.”

Other Korean titles also garnered substantial attention. “When Life Gives You Tangerines” drew 35 million views, while the first season of “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call” attracted 34 million. Both seasons of “Weak Hero” – “Class 1” and “Class 2” – earned 22 million and 20 million views, respectively.

Scandinavian content made a strong showing as well. Denmark’s “Secrets We Keep” logged 34 million views, Norway’s “Number 24” brought in 24 million, and Sweden contributed three breakout hits: “The Are Murders” Season 1 (33 million), “The Breakthrough” (29 million), and “The Glass Dome” (20 million).

Colombia continued its success following last year’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude” (5 million). Recent entries include “Medusa” Season 1 (21 million), “Fake Profile: Killer Match” (20 million), and “Karol G: Tomorrow Was Beautiful” (13 million).

In the film category, American features dominated the top 10 list. The action-packed “Back in Action,” starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz, led the pack, followed by the psychological crime drama “Straw” and the romantic comedy “The Life List.”
Legacy Netflix originals continue to captivate audiences. Nearly half of all original series viewing came from titles released in 2023 or earlier. Standouts like “Orange Is the New Black,” “Ozark,” and “Money Heist” each surpassed 100 million hours viewed during the first half of 2025.

On the film front, Netflix originals “Red Notice,” “Leo,” and “We Can Be Heroes” all logged over 20 million views.

Anime remains a major draw for global audiences. New titles like “Sakamoto Days” Season 1 attracted 24 million views, while legacy franchises such as “Naruto” amassed 45 million views across seasons. Studio Ghibli classics “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle” each drew 6 million views.

Kids and family programming continues to thrive. Highlights include the animated feature “KPop Demon Hunters” (37 million), “Ms. Rachel” Season 1 (53 million), France’s “Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight” (16 million), and “Gabby’s Dollhouse,” which tallied an impressive 108 million views across seasons.