"Stranger Things" (Netflix image)
Nielsen: Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ Breaks Own Weekly Streaming Record Through Jan. 4
January 29, 2026
The “Stranger Things” series finale hit Netflix on New Year’s Day and quickly generated a record-breaking weekly viewing total of 8.65 billion viewing minutes across 42 episodes through Jan. 4, according to new data from Nielsen. The sci-fi drama now holds the four biggest single-week totals of any streaming title on record.
Although the show’s viewing total did not contribute to its accumulated viewership in 2025 (which concluded on Dec. 28), “Stranger Things” still clinched the top original title of the year with 40 billion viewing minutes.
The Paramount+ original “Landman” captured 1.58 billion minutes, marking its seventh consecutive week with more than 1 billion minutes, and third consecutive finish at No. 2 overall. The Billy Bob Thornton-starrer has charted on the originals chart each week since its second season began on Nov. 16. The series also finished as the No. 4 streaming original of the year with 18.9 billion minutes generated in 2025.
The “Netflix Effect” continued to work in favor of “The Closer,” as the catalog police drama gained nearly 500 million minutes week-over-week to finish at No. 3 overall and No. 1 among acquired titles with 1.43 billion minutes across 111 episodes on Netflix, Pluto TV and Peacock. Adults 50+ were the main drivers of viewing, contributing 70% of watch time.
“Homeland” tabulated its largest weekly total yet with 1.08 billion minutes across 97 episodes on Netflix and Hulu, taking No. 4 overall.
Children’s animated show “Bluey” gained about 200 million minutes week-over-week to total 1.06 billion minutes across 154 episodes on Disney+. This marks the 55th time the series has reached the billion-minute mark in the top 10. The animated series was crowned the top overall streaming title for the second year in a row with 45.2 billion minutes in 2025.
Prime Video’s episodic release strategy for season two of “Fallout” has led to consistent week-over-week gains for the series. The sci-fi series climbed to 962 million minutes across 11 episodes, having added episode three on Dec. 31. The show ranked No. 3 on the originals chart and moved up to No. 6 overall. “Fallout” also continued to lead top 10 originals among the 18-49 age demographic, which represented 59% of its viewing this week.
Two new original series made their top 10 debuts during the week. “Run Away” on Netflix notched 862 million minutes to land at No. 4 among originals and No. 7 overall. Peacock’s “The Copenhagen Test” (373 million minutes, No. 10 original) also drew the highest concentration of Black viewers (20%) and the highest concentration of Asian viewers (12%) across all top 10 titles.
HBO Max’s “The Pitt” (495 million minutes, No. 7) returned to the originals chart for the first time since season one wrapped in April 2025, as viewers awaited the season two premiere on Jan. 8.
With Christmas over, the Netflix true crime documentary Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story (620 million minutes) ranked No. 1 on the movie chart.
Avatar: The Way of Water (249 million minutes, No. 8) on Disney+ returned to the movie chart for the first time since last July, following the theatrical release of the sequel Avatar: Fire and Ash on Dec. 19. Zootopia (260 million minutes, No. 7) returned as the theatrical run of Zootopia 2 continued through the holidays.
