What is Netflix's most watched original show and film?

Over the years, Netflix has released a number of original titles with some going on to become bigger hits than others. Although it was hard to say which ones were actually more popular as the streaming platform had, until now, never released official numbers.

During a presentation at this year’s CodeCon in Los Angeles, Netflix chief executive Ted Sarandos finally revealed some statistics from the company’s viewing data that unveiled the most-watched shows and films, the number of users watching them and how many hours those users had watched content during the first month of release.

Scroll through our gallery above to see the most watched TV series by number of users.

Dystopian Korean thriller Squid Game, which has drawn praise from fans and critics, holding a 100 per cent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and became the first Korean series to be No 1 in the US, has just become the most-watched original Netflix show ever.

"There's a show on Netflix right now that is the No 1 in the world, like everywhere in the world. It's called Squid Game. Squid Game will definitely be our biggest non-English language show in the world, for sure," Sarandos said at September's conference. He added there's "a very good chance it's going to be our biggest show ever."

And on Tuesday, Netflix confirmed his suspicions, tweeting: "Squid Game has officially reached 111 million fans – making it our biggest series launch ever.”

Here's a closer look at Netflix's 10 most-watched shows and films:

Netflix top 10 most-watched series by number of accounts

Squid Game, season one - 111 million
Bridgerton, season one – 82 million
Lupin, part one – 76 million
The Witcher, season one – 76 million
Sex/Life, season one – 67 million
Stranger Things, season three – 67 million
Money Heist, part four – 65 million
Tiger King, season one – 64 million
The Queen’s Gambit – 62 million
Sweet Tooth, season one – 60 million

Netflix top 10 most-watched films by number of accounts

Extraction – 99 million
Bird Box – 89 million
Spenser Confidential – 85 million
6 Underground – 83 million
Murder Mystery – 83 million
The Old Guard – 78 million
Enola Holmes – 77 million
Project Power – 75 million
Army of the Dead – 75 million
Fatherhood – 74 million

The bio

Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.

Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.

Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.

Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.

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DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates

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Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

Brief scores:

Everton 0

Leicester City 1

Vardy 58'

'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

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RESULTS

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner: Arjan, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).

5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Jap Nazaa, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi.

6pm: Al Ruwais Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 1,200m
Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinal.

6.30pm: Shadwell Gold Cup Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Sanad, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.

7pm: Shadwell Farm Stallions Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi.

7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Canal, Harry Bentley, Satish Seemar.

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

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9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Squads

Australia: Finch (c), Agar, Behrendorff, Carey, Coulter-Nile, Lynn, McDermott, Maxwell, Short, Stanlake, Stoinis, Tye, Zampa

India: Kohli (c), Khaleel, Bumrah, Chahal, Dhawan, Shreyas, Karthik, Kuldeep, Bhuvneshwar, Pandey, Krunal, Pant, Rahul, Sundar, Umesh

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Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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The Freedom Artist

By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)

MATCH STATS

Wolves 0

Aston Villa 1 (El Ghazi 90 4' pen)

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Man of the match: Emi Martinez (Aston Villa)

Top 5 concerns globally:

1. Unemployment

2. Spread of infectious diseases

3. Fiscal crises

4. Cyber attacks

5. Profound social instability

Top 5 concerns in the Mena region

1. Energy price shock

2. Fiscal crises

3. Spread of infectious diseases

4. Unmanageable inflation

5. Cyber attacks

Source: World Economic Foundation

The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
On sale: 2026
Price: Not announced yet

What is Netflix's most watched original show and film?

For the first time, Netflix has released viewing data tied to its original programming

Netflix top 10 most-watched series by number of accounts

Netflix top 10 most-watched films by number of accounts

The bio

While you're here

While you're here

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme

Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis

Islamophobia definition

Brief scores:

'The worst thing you can eat'

More on Quran memorisation:

RESULTS

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

Squads

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Who's who in Yemen conflict

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

MATCH STATS

The specs