Netflix’s Breakout Limited Series Gains Momentum
Netflix’s limited drama series Adolescence has made an extraordinary leap in viewership rankings, securing the No. 4 spot on the Netflix Most Popular English TV series list just one month after its debut. The series, which originally premiered on March 13, has now garnered a staggering 114.5 million views, according to Netflix’s latest weekly report.
From Strong Debut to Record-Breaking Climb
Adolescence initially entered the top 10 at No. 9 but has since rocketed up the charts after pulling in an additional 17.8 million views between March 31 and April 6. Its performance not only overtakes all seasons of Bridgerton, The Night Agent Season 1, and Stranger Things Season 3, but it is also on track to surpass Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, which currently holds third place with 115.6 million views.
If this momentum continues, Adolescence may soon challenge Stranger Things Season 4 for the No. 2 position, which sits at 140.7 million views. With 65 days still left in its premiere window, the show’s future in the rankings looks even brighter.
A Cultural Phenomenon with Global Reach
Set in working-class England, Adolescence follows a raw and emotionally gripping coming-of-age narrative, powered by standout performances from Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper. The show’s international appeal and critical acclaim have made it a cultural talking point across social media.
Its massive viewership figures have also helped it make UK streaming history. According to BARB, it became one of the most-watched debuts for an English-language series in the UK.
Netflix’s Weekly Rankings See Mixed Results
While Adolescence soars, not every new release is finding the same success. Documentary series Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer made a strong debut at No. 2 on the weekly list with 13 million views. In contrast, new medical drama Pulse, produced by Carlton Cuse and Zoe Robyn, underperformed with only 6.5 million views during its premiere weekend.
Political thriller The Residence is also struggling to hold its audience, drawing just 4.6 million views this week—nearly half of what it recorded the previous week.
Film Category Led by ‘The Life List’
On the film side, Sofia Carson’s romantic drama The Life List continues to dominate with 29.2 million views, retaining its first-place spot for the second consecutive week. Meanwhile, Back in Action, starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz, climbed to sixth place on the Most Popular English Films list with a cumulative 144.6 million views.
What’s Next for ‘Adolescence’?
With its current trajectory and continued buzz, it seems inevitable that Adolescence will secure a higher position in the coming weeks. The drama’s rapid rise underlines not just its storytelling power but also Netflix’s dominance in producing globally resonant, binge-worthy content.
Stay tuned as this coming-of-age juggernaut continues its climb—and possibly rewrites the record books in the process.