After three months since its release, the gripping U.K. limited series Adolescence continues to dominate Netflix’s all-time most popular English-language shows. It has now climbed to the No. 2 spot, surpassing Stranger Things 4 (2022). The only Netflix original show with higher views is Wednesday: Season 1 (2022). Notably, Wednesday, Adolescence, and Stranger Things all revolve around stories of troubled teenagers.
Other major Netflix originals that Adolescence recently outperformed include Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Bridgerton Seasons 1 and 3, The Queen’s Gambit, The Night Agent: Season 1, Fool Me Once, and Stranger Things 3.
Current Netflix Most Popular English-Language Shows by Views:
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Wednesday: Season 1 (2022) — 252.1 million views
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Adolescence: Limited Series (2025) — 141.2 million views
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Stranger Things 4 (2022) — 140.7 million views
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Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022) — 115.6 million views
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Bridgerton: Season 1 (2020) — 113.3 million views
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The Queen’s Gambit (2020) — 112.8 million views
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Bridgerton: Season 3 (2024) — 106.0 million views
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The Night Agent: Season 1 (2023) — 98.2 million views
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Fool Me Once (2024) — 98.2 million views
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Stranger Things 3 (2019) — 94.8 million views
Adolescence is a four-episode British crime drama co-created and co-written by Stephen Graham (Boardwalk Empire) and Jack Thorne. Graham also stars as Eddie Miller, father of 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who faces arrest for allegedly stabbing a classmate. Each episode, directed by Philip Barantini, is filmed in a single continuous take, exploring Jamie’s story through perspectives of the police, his psychiatrist, and his family.
Premiering on March 13, Adolescence achieved a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 90 score on Metacritic. It attracted 24.3 million views within its first four days, debuting at No. 1 on Netflix’s English TV charts and topping the charts in 71 countries.
In its second week, Adolescence grew in popularity as viewers compared it to the British limited series Baby Reindeer. By week three, it topped the English TV charts again with an additional 30.4 million views, entering the top 10 in all 93 countries where Netflix English TV charts are available. Week four saw it become the fourth most-watched Netflix original English-language show ever, and by week five, it entered the top three.
“It’s saving lives… that feels quite special,” said Owen Cooper, referring to the show’s impact. He noted Adolescence educates young viewers about the dangers of toxic social media behavior. Reflecting this impact, UK schools are beginning to screen the series for students.
According to Gold Derby’s Emmy predictions, Adolescence is a strong contender for Best Limited Series, with Cooper nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Erin Doherty for Best Supporting Actress. Stephen Graham ranks second for Best Actor, trailing Colin Farrell (The Penguin). Other Emmy hopefuls include Ashley Walters as detective inspector and Christine Tremarco as Jamie’s mother.
