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Adolescence is making significant waves in the television landscape.
In just three weeks since its premiere, this gripping U.K. limited series has carved out a position among Netflix’s top 10 most popular shows of all time, currently holding the 9th spot. This achievement has resulted in Adolescence surpassing Stranger Things 3 by approximately 2 million views and its ascent seems far from over. Interestingly, Stranger Things 4 remains the crowning season of the series, ranking second overall, only behind Wednesday’s inaugural season.
The updated rankings of Netflix’s all-time most viewed original TV series are as follows:
Wednesday: Season 1 (2022) — 252.1 million views
Stranger Things 4 (2022) — 140.7 million views
Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story: Limited Series (2022) — 115.6 million views
Bridgerton: Season 1 (2020) — 113.3 million views
The Queen’s Gambit: Limited Series (2020) — 112.8 million views
Bridgerton: Season 3 (2024) — 106.0 million views
The Night Agent: Season 1 (2023) — 98.2 million views
Fool Me Once: Limited Series (2024) — 98.2 million views
Adolescence: Limited Series (2025) — 96.7 million views
Stranger Things 3 (2019) — 94.8 million views
Co-created and co-written by Stephen Graham, known for Boardwalk Empire, and Jack Thorne, Adolescence comprises four episodes focusing on a crime drama narrative. Graham also plays Eddie Miller, a father whose 13-year-old son, Jamie Miller (portrayed by Owen Cooper), becomes embroiled in a tragic incident involving the death of a classmate allegedly at Jamie’s hands. Each episode is crafted to be viewed as a single take, exploring Jamie’s story from multiple perspectives, including those of law enforcement, his psychiatrist, and family members. The directorial vision comes from Philip Barantini.
Upon its launch on March 13, Adolescence achieved remarkable critical acclaim, boasting a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 90 on Metacritic. It amassed an impressive 24.3 million views in the initial four days, quickly claiming the top position on Netflix’s English TV rankings and achieving metrics in 71 countries worldwide.
The show’s momentum continued into its second week, bolstered by positive audience feedback, leading to further comparisons to another critically acclaimed British limited series, Baby Reindeer. In its third week, Adolescence secured the number one spot again, adding another 30.4 million views and making it into the top 10 in all 93 regions where the ranking is tracked.
“It’s saving lives … that feels quite special,” Cooper remarked, highlighting the show’s impact. He noted that Adolescence serves as an important lesson for young audiences regarding the dangers of toxic behaviors often perpetuated on social media. In recognition of its educational value, schools across the U.K. will begin showing the series to students.
As the awards season approaches, Adolescence is emerging as a serious contender for accolades, with predictions suggesting it is in a strong position to win Best Limited Series. Graham finds himself in a competitive spot for Best Movie/Limited Actor, while Cooper is a notable contender for Best Movie/Limited Supporting Actor. Other cast members, including Erin Doherty as the psychologist, Ashley Walters as the detective inspector, and Christine Tremarco as Jamie’s mother, are also being considered for potential Emmy nominations.
Source
www.goldderby.com