Netflix's streaming data is always fascinating to analyze, as the platform's algorithm has proven capable of launching anything from Bridgerton to Squid Game to The Tiger King into a cultural phenomenon over the weekend. Creators behind some of Netflix's most popular shows discussed news for titles at the recent Tudum event, but new, less-d shows are constantly popping up out of nowhere. 2025's Adolescence is one of the greatest examples.

Adolescence Is One Of Netflix's Biggest TV Show Releases Ever

No One Could Have Foreseen Adolescence's Tremendous Success

2025's miniseries, Adolescence, is now the second-most-viewed English-language Netflix show of all time, according to data on Netflix Tudum. With 141.2 M unique views, it falls far short of Wednesday season 1's 252.1 M. In of total hours viewed, it only has 541.4 M, while Stranger Things season 4 has 1,838 M. This is because Adolescence is still a relatively recent release, though, while Stranger Things season 4 has had three years to accumulate viewership.

Adolescence is a British psychological drama about a family whose lives are turned upside-down when their 13-year-old son is arrested for murdering another child. Adolescence has earned a 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and has been hailed as one of the top new shows of 2025. With only four episodes, it's an easy show to binge for anyone who can handle the more mature material. The top five shows can be seen on the graph below:

Our Take On Adolescence's Success

Adolescence Is A Surprising But Welcomed Hit

The average runtime for Adolescence is short at 3 minutes and 50 seconds, which could be due to the more intense material. Many of the shows it competes with, such as Wednesday, Bridgerton, and Stranger Things, are relatively easy to digest. DAHMER is another heavy show, but creator Ryan Murphy is a professional at making entertaining, easy-to-consume television. Adolescence is much more of a fringe title, making it irregular to see at the top of the list, and I find that rather exciting.

I don't mean this to put down Stranger Things or other shows like it, but light-hearted, fantastical shows, or comedies, are typically found at the top of charts for anything in the film industry, be it movie theater box office or streaming data. Adolescence might not be for everyone, as demonstrated by the short average runtime, but the fact that it holds the position it does means that audiences are trying it, and I'm always going to stand behind audiences pushing their boundaries with art.