Netflix has released its latest What We Watched engagement report, revealing that subscribers streamed more than 97 billion hours of content between January and June 2026—the highest six-month viewing total in the platform’s history.
The milestone highlights the growing global appeal of Netflix’s diverse catalog, with original series, films, live events, documentaries, anime, and international productions all contributing to record-breaking engagement.
The report also marks the final biannual edition of Netflix’s transparency initiative. Beginning in 2027, the streaming giant will switch to publishing annual engagement reports, replacing the current twice-yearly format.
According to Netflix, the goal remains to measure not only the total number of hours watched but also the variety of programming that keeps audiences returning across different genres and languages.
New series and returning favorites dominate Netflix’s charts
Netflix’s most-watched series during the first half of 2026 was His & Hers, which amassed 104 million views after its debut. Bridgerton Season 4 followed closely with 100 million views, while South Korean productions continued their global momentum with Teach You a Lesson climbing to 48 million views less than a month after its release.
Returning seasons also boosted interest across established franchises. Netflix reported that the arrival of Bridgerton Season 4 nearly tripled viewership for earlier seasons and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, bringing the entire franchise to 180 million combined views during the six-month period.
Other returning hits included ONE PIECE, The Night Agent, The Lincoln Lawyer, and Virgin River, all of which saw significant viewing increases across multiple seasons.
Action films and international content continue to drive engagement
Original movies remained a major draw for subscribers, led by War Machine, which became Netflix’s biggest film of the half with 147 million views. Other action releases, including The Rip, Apex, and Thrash, also ranked among the platform’s most-watched titles.
Animation continued its strong performance as Swapped reached 131 million views, while KPop Demon Hunters added another 130 million views despite premiering more than a year ago.
Romantic comedies such as Office Romance and Voicemails for Isabelle, along with book adaptations like People We Meet on Vacation and Remarkably Bright Creatures, also attracted sizable audiences.
International programming remained one of Netflix’s biggest strengths, with non-English titles accounting for more than one-third of all viewing. South Korea delivered several standout performers, including Teach You a Lesson, Can This Love Be Translated?, The Art of Sarah, and Bloodhounds Season 2.
India also achieved its strongest six-month performance yet, led by Dhurandhar, which became the platform’s most-watched non-English film of the report.
Live events, anime, documentaries, and family content broaden Netflix’s appeal
Netflix’s engagement report also highlighted growing interest in programming beyond scripted dramas and films. Live specials such as The Roast of Kevin Hart and BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG each attracted 21 million views, while documentary titles including The Crash and The Dinosaurs reached millions of viewers worldwide.
Anime continued to expand its audience, with Netflix reporting that more than half of its members have now watched at least one anime title. New releases including BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai, STEEL BALL RUN: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and Cosmic Princess Kaguya! each recorded around 8 million views.
Family programming also remained a consistent performer. Ms. Rachel led Netflix’s children’s content with 69 million views across two seasons, followed by Mark Rober’s CrunchLabs, Salish & Jordan Matter, and Danny Go!, underscoring the platform’s continued investment in educational and family-friendly entertainment.
