Feb 20, 2024,08:00am EST
In January, an eight-part Netflix thriller titled “Fool Me Once” secured the coveted title of the most-watched streaming program in the United States, according to Nielsen data. This marks the first instance in seven months that an original series has clinched the top spot, coinciding with a surge in streaming activity attributed largely to the NFL playoff season.
Key Points:
“Fool Me Once,” a British series released by Netflix at the onset of the year, garnered a total of 6.5 billion minutes of streaming, establishing itself as January’s most-streamed program.
Following closely behind, the animated children’s show “Bluey” claimed the second spot with 5.5 billion streaming minutes, while “Reacher” on Amazon Prime secured the third position with 4.3 billion minutes viewed.
With its January achievement, “Fool Me Once” became the first original streamer series to top the charts since Netflix’s “Queen Charlotte – A Bridgerton Story” dominated May 2023 with 5.4 billion minutes watched.
Notably, “Fool Me Once” ranks among the most-streamed shows over the past year, surpassing other monthly titleholders such as “S.W.A.T.,” “Outer Banks,” and “New Amsterdam.”
Background:
“Fool Me Once” has maintained its presence in Netflix’s top 10 most-watched shows for six weeks. It recorded 21.1 million hours viewed in the week of Feb. 5 to 11, making it the fifth most popular English show on the platform.
The series, based on Harlan Coben’s 2016 novel, revolves around two families seeking truth in the aftermath of tragic events. Despite receiving mixed reviews, it has garnered significant viewership.
What’s Next:
- Encouraged by the success of “Fool Me Once,” Netflix has greenlit adaptations of two more Harlan Coben novels, “Missing You” and “Run Away,” to be produced by Quay Street Productions.
Tangent:
January witnessed a surge in TV viewership, attributed to colder weather and the NFL postseason. Notably, the NFL wildcard game between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs, exclusively broadcast on NBC’s Peacock, garnered 3.9 billion viewing minutes.
YouTube maintained its position as the top streaming platform for the 12th consecutive month, followed by Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu, according to Nielsen data.
In summary, “Fool Me Once” has emerged as a breakout hit, signaling Netflix’s ongoing success in captivating audiences with compelling original content.