2024 proved to be another blockbuster year for streaming as it dominated our entertainment choices, offering a vast array of content that catered to every taste and mood. From gripping dramas and laugh-out-loud comedies to heart-stopping thrillers and heartwarming romances, streaming platforms have become our go-to companions for endless entertainment. This year also saw groundbreaking international shows, star-studded movies, and binge-worthy series that set social media abuzz. As we reflect on the year, let’s dive into what captured our attention, kept us hooked, and became the most-streamed content of 2024!
January–March 2024 (A Promising Start)
The year kicked off with an impressive lineup of premieres and returning fan favorites that had viewers glued to their screens. From visually stunning sci-fi to action-packed thrillers, the year delivered a little something for everyone.
Netflix’s Blockbusters
Netflix kicked off the year with 3 Body Problem, a breathtaking sci-fi adaptation that attracted 11 million viewers in just four days, becoming the most-streamed title in the U.S. during its debut week.
According to the report on 2024’s biggest pop culture moments, Crime fans were hooked on Griselda, featuring Sofia Vergara in a transformative role as the notorious Colombian drug lord. The gripping drama cemented Netflix’s reputation as a hub for compelling crime stories.
Disney+ Breaks New Ground
Disney+ introduced Shogun, an epic historical drama that swept the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards with 18 wins, including Outstanding Drama Series.
On a lighter note, Bluey continued to charm families everywhere, retaining its status as one of Disney+’s most-streamed shows.
Prime Video’s Action Highlights
Prime Video kept viewers on edge with Reacher (Season 2) and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, a modern twist on the classic action-comedy that became a standout hit.
Timeless Favorites Stay Strong
Long-running series like Grey’s Anatomy and Suits proved their staying power, maintaining impressive viewership across platforms. Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender introduced a new generation to the beloved tale.
From groundbreaking debuts to timeless favorites, early 2024 was a streaming goldmine, offering endless entertainment for all.
The most-streamed new shows in the U.S. from January to March 2024:
3 Body Problem (Netflix)
Avatar: The Last Airbender (Netflix)
Big Bang Theory (Max)
Bluey (Season 3) (Disney+)
Fool Me Once (Netflix)
Grey’s Anatomy (Season 20) (Netflix)
Griselda (Netflix)
Love Is Blind (Netflix)
Monk (Netflix/Peacock/Prime Video)
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Prime Video)
NCIS (Netflix/Paramount+)
Reacher (Season 2) (Prime Video)
Shogun (Disney+)
Suits (Netflix/Peacock)
The Gentleman (Netflix)
The Resident (Hulu/Netflix)
This Is Us (Hulu/Netflix)
True Detective: Night Country (Season 4) (Max)
Vikings (Netflix)
Young Sheldon (Max/Netflix)
April–June 2024 (A Fresh Wave of Captivating Stories)
Spring 2024 brought a fresh wave of captivating stories and much-loved fan favorites, with streaming platforms stepping up their game. From scandalous documentaries to explosive, action-packed dramas, there was no shortage of entertainment to binge.
Netflix’s Addictive Content
Netflix had fans buzzing with Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies, and Scandal, an in-depth documentary exploring one of history’s most infamous dating sites. Meanwhile, Supacell introduced a fresh take on the superhero genre. Fans also flocked to Bridgerton (Season 3), which brought new characters and storylines, cementing its place as Netflix’s sixth most-watched English-language series of all time.
Hulu’s Record-Breaking Hits
Hulu had its own hits, including The Bear (Season 3), which shattered records by drawing 5.4 million viewers in its first four days. Under the Bridge kept mystery fans hooked with its gripping narrative.
Prime Video Delivers the Action
Action fans couldn’t get enough of The Boys (Season 4), which garnered 55 million viewers globally—a 20% jump from its previous season. House of the Dragon (Season 2) continued its reign, while Hacks maintained its signature mix of sharp humor and emotional storytelling.
Timeless Favorites Stand Strong
Beloved shows like Bluey, Love Is Blind, and NCIS held their ground in the rankings. Fan favorites Grey’s Anatomy and Young Sheldon also continued to dominate, proving that some stories never go out of style.
Overall, timeless favorites and returning shows kept viewers engaged and glued to their screens in the second quarter.
The most-streamed new shows in the U.S. from April to June 2024:
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies, and Scandal (Netflix)
Bob’s Burgers (Hulu)
Bridgerton (Season 3) (Netflix)
Dead Boy Detectives (Netflix)
Dexter (Netflix/Paramount+)
Family Guy (Hulu)
Hacks (Max)
House of the Dragon (Season 2) (Max)
Outer Range (Hulu)
Perfect Match (Netflix)
Reba (Hulu/Netflix)
Star Trek: Discovery (Paramount+)
Supacell (Netflix)
Sweet Tooth (Netflix)
The Bear (Season 3) (Hulu)
The Boys (Season 4) (Prime Video)
Under The Bridge (Hulu)
Worst Roommate Ever (Netflix)
Your Honor (Paramount+)
July–September 2024 (A Quarter Dominated by Fantasy Shows)
As the summer heat peaked, streaming platforms delivered thrilling fantasy tales, true crime hits, and fan-favorite returns.
Netflix’s Blockbusters: Mythology Meets True Crime
Netflix served up an eclectic mix, from Kaos, a bold reimagining of Greek mythology, to Monsters: The Lyle & Erik Menendez Story, a chilling deep dive into one of America’s most infamous true crime cases.
The Umbrella Academy made a winning return with its final season, dominating as the most-watched U.S. streaming original in August, with 863.1 million minutes viewed in a single week.
Meanwhile, Selling Sunset continued to deliver its signature blend of high-end real estate and addictive drama, proving reality TV’s enduring appeal.
Disney+ Expands Fan-Favorite Worlds
Disney+ delighted fans with Agatha All Along, a magical WandaVision spin-off that drew 9.3 million views in its first week. The Star Wars universe grew darker with The Acolyte, set during the High Republic era.
Over on Hulu, Only Murders in the Building returned with another brilliant season of comedic mystery, while Secret Lives of Mormon Wives captivated audiences with its shocking scandals.
Prime Video’s Grand Fantasy Escapades
The Rings of Power continued to mesmerize audiences, with Amazon reporting an impressive 40 million viewers in just 11 days.
With a perfect mix of myth, mystery, and magic, the summer of 2024 offered some of the most engaging content of the year, keeping viewers entertained through every sizzling moment.
The most-streamed new shows in the U.S. from July to September 2024:
Agatha All Along (Disney+)
Cobra Kai (Netflix)
Desperate Lies (Netflix)
Emily In Paris (Netflix)
Futurama (Netflix)
Kaos (Netflix)
Monsters: The Lyle & Erik Menendez Story (Netflix)
Only Murders In The Building (Hulu)
Prison Break (Netflix)
Receiver (Netflix)
Rings of Power (Prime Video)
Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Hulu)
Selling Sunset (Netflix)
The Accident (Netflix)
The Acolyte (Disney+)
The Good Girl’s Guide To Murder (Netflix)
The Mole (Netflix)
The Penguin (Max)
The Perfect Couple (Netflix)
The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)
October–December 2024 (Closing the Year in Style)
As fall settled in, streaming platforms offered a mix of nostalgic favorites and fresh, innovative content. From animated adventures to intense dramas, the final stretch of 2024 kept audiences engaged and entertained.
Netflix Delivers Blockbusters
Netflix kept the hits coming with Arcane (Season 2), which, despite a slight dip in viewership, remained at the top of Netflix’s charts. Outer Banks brought summer nostalgia to fall with its gripping teen drama.
Squid game returned for its second season and became an instant hit. Released on Dec 26, the second installment of “Squid Game” has become the third most-watched TV season on Netflix, trailing behind only its own first season (265 million) and “Wednesday” (252 million). It has so far garnered 160 million views.
Apple TV+ Impresses with Variety
Apple TV+ solidified its reputation with standout hits like Shrinking, Slow Horses, and Silo. While Apple didn’t release specific viewership numbers, these shows consistently appeared in Nielsen’s Top 10 most-streamed series, solidifying the platform’s growing reputation for compelling content.
Max Delivers Epic Stories
Max thrilled viewers with Dune: Prophecy, continuing the saga of epic battles and intricate world-building. Meanwhile, Paramount+ brought grit and drama with a Sylvester Stallone-led series, Tulsa King.
Prime Video’s Captivating Drama
Cross, a gripping detective drama, premiered to over 25 million viewers, becoming a fall standout.
The most-streamed new shows in the U.S. from October to November 2024:
Arcane (Netflix)
Cross (Prime Video)
Dune: Prophecy (Max)
Emilia Perez (Netflix)
I Am A Killer (Netflix)
Lost (Hulu/Netflix)
Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Outerbanks (Netflix)
Shrinking (Apple TV)
Silo (Apple TV)
Slow Horses (Apple TV)
The Cage (Netflix)
The Great British Baking Show (Netflix)
The Lincoln Lawyer
Tulsa King (Paramount+)
With a blend of familiar favorites and innovative new releases, the last quarter of 2024 offered a rich variety of stories, ensuring there was something for every viewer to enjoy.
Streaming: What’s Next for 2025
2024 ended on a promising note as streaming platforms delivered a flurry of exciting releases in December. But the real excitement lies ahead, as 2025 promises to be a banner year for streaming.
New seasons of iconic shows like The White Lotus, Stranger Things, Severance, Yellowjackets, and The Last of Us are poised to dominate screens worldwide. Additionally, platforms are betting big on live events, building on Netflix’s recent success with the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson match.
As the lines between traditional broadcasting and streaming blur, viewers can look forward to more live sports, concerts, and global events seamlessly integrated into their streaming experience.
2025 is shaping up to be a groundbreaking year, blending innovation with storytelling to deliver more unforgettable moments for audiences around the world.
