Top ten most watched shows ever on Netflix might surprise you

Looking for something new to watch this January? Or perhaps an old favorite to dip back into. Taking some tips from what lots of other people have been watching could be a great way to do so.

This could be similar to looking for a busy restaurant that's popular with the locals. It should be a sign of a great place to eat. So why wouldn't you want to see the shows that have almost one and a quarter billion views from people watching on Netflix?

That’s the staggering number of views that the ten most watched shows on Netflix in English have clocked up. All those people can't be wrong, can they? Now, there is a slight warning here, too; you might likely be one of those viewers for some of the shows in the top ten. That’s fine and not a problem, it just shows what good taste you have. Let’s dive into the top ten Netflix shows and their seasons as ranked on Tudum based on the viewing numbers.

Top ten most-watched Netflix shows ever

10 - Bridgerton: Season 2

Views: 93.8 million

Bridgerton is a Regency-based historical drama set in and around London in the 1880s. Think Jane Austen-style novels, but with a bit more sex and scandal. It's instead based on books by Julia Quinn. A twist in the stories is its diverse approach in contrast to the actual period. People of color take up important social positions, and plus-sized characters feature in key and influential roles.

Season 2 follows Lord Bridgerton, played by Jonathan Bailey on his quest for a suitable wife. The search looked doomed until the arrival of a pair of sisters from India on the scene. There is plenty of scandal and intrigue involved.

9 - Stranger Things: Season 3

Views: 94.9 million

Coming-of-age dramas appear strongly in this top ten list. Here’s the third season of Stranger Things to remind us how good that genre can be. Stranger Things adds a mix of nostalgia, horror, sci-fi, and mystery to that for a great drama. Set in a small town in Indiana in the 1980s, scientific experiments at a local laboratory have caused havoc with a gateway between Earth and another dimension known as the Upside Down.

Season three has a strong cast again, featuring Winona Ryder, among many others. We’re up to 1985 and it seems as though the Upside Down connection and threat has returned. As has the mysterious entity the Mind Flayer. Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, leads the group as they set out to destroy the threat.

8 - Fool Me Once

Views: 98.2 million

One of an outstanding collection of Harlan Coben thrillers adapted for Netflix shows. An excellent cast led by four main characters played by Michelle Keegan, Richard Armitage, Adeel Akhtar, and Joanna Lumley tackles a huge mystery. A widow, played by Keegan, has just buried her husband when she sees him a couple of weeks later on a nanny cam video talking to their baby daughter. It’s stylish, thrilling, and full of twists and turns.

7 - The Night Agent: Season 1

Views: 98.2 million

Time for an all-action thriller. The Night Agent involves an FBI agent, played by Gabrel Basso, caught up in a huge US government conspiracy story. He’s soon on the hunt for the traitor and mole on the inside while dealing with the growing threat against himself and others. Highly popular when released a second series issue to hit our Netflix screens later this month.

6 - Bridgerton: Season 3

Views: 106 million

Season three offers more regency lust and romps as Penelope, played by Nicola Coughlan, sets out to build her confidence and find a husband. Will she give up on Colin who she has eyed for some time? His role in helping her search suggests that may happen, but things don't always work out as expected. If you liked the first two seasons you’ll love this one. If you haven't seen them, you could start at this point, but logically watching them first makes sense.

5 - The Queen’s Gambit

Views: 112.8 million

At first, this doesn't sound like it has broad appeal. The fifth position in the most watched series on Netflix ever, and almost 113 million views tells you there is more to it. The Queen’s Gambit is yet another coming-of-age story. This time it’s set in the 1950s and 1960s and tells the tale of a young American orphan with huge potential as a chess player. Drugs and alcohol get involved and emotions run high. Anya Taylor-Joy plays the chess star Beth Hamilton superbly.

4 - Bridgerton: Season 1

Views: 113.3 million

Inevitably season one is up there in the top shows. This sets the scene for the seasons to follow. Daphne, played by Phoebe Dynevor, is the eldest Bridgerton daughter. It’s time for her to make her appearance as a debutante and find a suitable prospect for marriage. Will it be true love or just someone suitable and appropriate?

3 - DAHMER:Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

Views: 115.6 million

Quite a contrast to the other shows. This biographical drama focuses on the life of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, played by Evan Peters. Its high position shows how popular gruesome stories are. It tells the story behind the killings, some close escapes he had from being captured, and some of the issues the Police had which meant he wasn't caught and stopped sooner.

2 - Stranger Things: Season 4

Views: 140.7 million

Back with Stranger Things and season four. This is set just eight months after Season Three and sees mysterious murders of teenagers affect the town badly. Other plotlines see Eleven, again played by Millie Bobby Brown, visit a top-secret Nevada facility and has two characters trying to find a third in a soviet prison camp. It’s a clever mix of storylines.

Two more points to add about Stranger Things overall. Firstly the music used is brilliant, as an example it was season four which helped Kate Bush have a big hit again with “Running Up That Hill”. And then secondly, in case you were wondering, seasons one and two aren’t in this top ten, but both are high quality and recommended for viewing.

1 - Wednesday: Season 1

Views: 252.1 million

The top spot goes to the opening season of Wednesday. This follows young Wednesday Addams, from the long-running Addams family set of characters and stories. In this first set of episodes, she is investigating a murder mystery at her new school. To quote the original family’s theme tune “It's creepy and it's kooky, mysterious and spooky, it's altogether ooky”. It is a great coming-of-age series with fun and mystery starring Jenna Ortega in the title role.