Netflix’s most-watched shows and series of 2020

 

2020 may have been a difficult year for the movie industry, with cinemas closed around the world and the big blockbusters indefinitely postponed. Netflix, however, filled in the gap with an extensive catalog, including everything from future Christmas classics to some very NSFW fare which was fine, as many were working from home anyway. With the help of Reelgood, a streaming tracking service, Variety recently published a list of the platform’s 50 most popular shows of the year. 

After nearly 11 months of divvying out points, the year-end list is finally ready. In order, here are Netflix’s 3 most popular shows and series of 2020: 

1. COCOMELON 

'Cocomelon' the unsettling kids show that's breaking Netflix records. A streaming extension of the wildly popular animated YouTube channel has become a huge hit by pacifying kids so their parents can breathe. According to Forbes, 

Cocomelon recently broke a record by remaining in Netflix’s top 10 most-watched shows for 62 days. That’s longer than Avatar: The Last Airbender. It’s longer than Ozark. It’s longer than Tiger King, The Umbrella Academy and Love is Blind.

2. THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 

The Queen's Gambit has been a huge hit for Netflix. In the first 28 days it was available on the streaming giant, it set a record for the most viewers ever for a scripted limited-run series, with more than 62 million accounts watching at least part of an episode.  

Only The Witcher and Tiger King had more viewers during that window. That means that not only is The Queen's Gambit one of Netflix's biggest hits right now, it's one of its most popular shows ever. I don't know that anyone could have predicted that a scripted limited series about chess would become the most popular show on the world's largest streaming service, but, hey, it's 2020. 

3. TIGER KING 

Tiger King was already one of Netflix’s most viral shows, but now, the streamer has confirmed it’s also one of the biggest and it tied Stranger Things’ third season as one of the most watched shows on Netflix.

Netflix’s letter to shareholders notes that Tiger King was watched by more than 64 million households in its first four weeks. That’s the same number as Stranger Things’ third season, which Netflix said was the most watched season of the entire show back in October 2019. Those numbers make it a big success for Netflix.