As we reach the midway point of 2025, Netflix has already released numerous shows that quickly climbed to the top of its viewing charts.
The lineup has included a mix of comedy, gripping murder mysteries, true crime documentaries, and military narratives. Although Netflix’s binge-watching model often means that shows usually only stay at the top for about a week, some series have maintained their spot for several weeks. The hit show Adolescence has held the number one position longer than any other in 2025 thus far (while Stranger Things season 5 is gearing up for its debut), enjoying almost a month at the helm.
With 15 different titles taking the top spot this year (check the full list below), it can be challenging to determine the best Netflix offerings, and that’s where I step in. Here are my selections for seven of the most-watched shows on this streaming giant that are truly worth your time.
Missing You
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Episodes: 5
Main cast: Rosalind Eleazar, Jessica Plummer, Richard Armitage, Lenny Henry, Steve Pemberton, Marc Warren, Samantha Spiro, Lisa Faulkner, Mary Malone, Ashley Walters, Alice Offley, James Nesbitt, Matt Willis
Top show: January 6 – 12
This is another entry in Netflix’s collection of Harlan Coben adaptations. Fans of these collaborations know the drill – a thrilling story with familiar British faces set in a slightly surreal version of the UK.
Missing You doesn’t break new ground, but it offers a captivating storyline about a detective (played by Rosalind Eleazar) who finds her long-lost fiancé on a dating app. With five binge-worthy episodes, the plot unravels old wounds and reveals hidden truths.
The Night Agent season 2
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Episodes: 10
Main cast: Gabriel Basso, Luciane Buchanan, Amanda Warren, Arienne Mandi, Brittany Snow, Louis Herthum, Berto Colon, Keon Alexander, Michael Malarkey, Teddy Sears
Show duration at #1: January 20 – February 9
After a successful premiere, Netflix’s adaptation of Matthew Quirk’s spy novels made a comeback this year, maintaining its position among the top shows for several weeks.
Season 2 of The Night Agent resumes nine months after the intense ending of the first season, featuring Peter (Gabriel Basso) on a mission in Thailand, following his heroic act of saving the president which granted him full membership in Night Action.
While I won’t give away too much, expect plenty of twists and just as few allies for Peter as in the previous season throughout the ten thrilling episodes.
Zero Day
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Episodes: 6
Main cast: Robert De Niro, Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Plemons, Joan Allen, Connie Britton, Bill Camp, Dan Stevens, Matthew Modine, Angela Bassett
Number 1 show: February 24 – March 2
Iconic actor Robert De Niro makes his television debut in Netflix’s gripping drama Zero Day.
The story is set in the wake of a massive cyberattack that results in countless deaths. De Niro plays George Mullen, a former U.S. president who is heading the investigation while grappling with his own challenges. To uncover the truth, Mullen must navigate through a maze of false information and power struggles among those in tech.
Firmly positioned in the ‘could happen’ category of thrillers, Zero Day presents a captivating narrative spread across six binge-worthy episodes, featuring a stellar ensemble cast that includes Angela Bassett, Matthew Modine, Lizzy Caplan, and Jesse Plemons.
Adolescence
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Episodes: 4
Main cast: Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Faye Marsay, Mark Stanley, Christine Tremarco, Owen Cooper, Amélie Pease, Hannah Walters, Jo Hartley, Erin Doherty
Number 1 show: March 10 – April 6
The streaming hit of the spring (or autumn for those in the southern hemisphere), real-time crime drama Adolescence has topped the Netflix charts longer than any other series this year, claiming the top spot for nearly a month.
The narrative revolves around 13-year-old Jamie (Owen Cooper), who is arrested for murdering a classmate. Each episode delves into the aftermath of Jamie’s horrific act, examining his arrest, the police interrogation at their shared school, a therapy session with his psychologist (Erin Doherty), and the effects on Jamie’s family.
With an impressive performance by newcomer Cooper, alongside notable contributions from Doherty and co-writer Stephen Graham as Jamie’s father, the show stands out under the expert direction of Phillip Barantini, who utilizes a continuous one-shot filming technique.
Black Mirror Season 7
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Episodes: 6
Main cast: Rashida Jones, Chris O’Dowd, Awkwafina, Emma Corrin, Harriet Walter, Peter Capaldi, Asim Chaudhry, Will Poulter, Paul Giamatti, Cristin Milioti, Jesse Plemons
Top show: April 14 – April 20
Charlie Brooker’s sci-fi anthology made a return this year with a more straightforward format after exploring themes of horror and interactive storytelling in previous seasons.
This season features six episodes (check out our ranking of every Black Mirror season 7 episode). It included the show’s first-ever sequel episode along with a sort-of-sequel, bringing viewers back to the USS Callister. Other intriguing stories were ‘Common People’, about a brain replacement requiring a subscription, the mind-bending ‘Bête Noire’, and ‘Hotel Reverie’, a tribute to classic Hollywood with a modern twist. Additionally, there was a retro-game thriller ‘Plaything’ and an emotional episode ‘Eulogy’, where users can explore nostalgic photographic memories.
As is typical of the Netflix era of Black Mirror, the cast is filled with well-known actors, including Paul Giamatti, Peter Capaldi, Emma Corrin, Awkwafina, Chris O’Dowd, and Rashida Jones. Remarkably, the hit series held the number one position for just one week, before being overtaken by our next entry…
You season 5
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Episodes: 10
Main cast: Penn Badgley, Charlotte Ritchie, Griffin Matthews, Anna Camp, Madeline Brewer
Number 1 show: April 21 – April 27
Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) returns for the fifth and final season of the thrilling series.
The conclusion revisits Joe and Kate (Charlotte Ritchie) three years after their move from London to New York in search of happiness. The couple appears to be doing well, with Kate as the CEO of Lockwood and Joe being a well-liked family man. However, as challenges arise from Kate’s family and old temptations creep in, viewers are left wondering if Joe’s past will impact the man he is now.
As the story focuses on a man who valued secrecy, You season 5 paves the way for a dramatic ending involving everyone’s favorite flawed character.
The Four Seasons
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Episodes: 8
Main cast: Tina Fey, Will Forte, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Marco Calvani, Erika Henningsen, Colman Domingo, Steve Carell
Top show: May 5 – May 11
Tina Fey’s new comedy showcases three couples who vacation together annually, facing unexpected challenges when one couple announces a breakup.
This show is a remake of the 1981 film The Four Seasons by Alan Alda and takes viewers on a sentimental and humorous exploration of friendships and relationships over four beautifully depicted seasons.
With impressive viewing numbers, the series has been greenlit for a second season, so join Fey, Steve Carell, Will Forte, and Colman Domingo on this adventure.
What else has made it to number one on Netflix this year?
If none of these shows interest you, here’s the complete list of TV shows that have reached the top of Netflix in 2025:
- Missing You
- American Primeval
- The Night Agent season 2
- Surviving Black Hawk Down
- American Murder: Gabby Petito
- Zero Day
- Running Point
- Adolescence
- Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing
- Black Mirror season 7
- You season 5
- The Four Seasons
- American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden
- Sirens
- Ginny and Georgia season 3
