As we hit the halfway point of 2026, our streaming data shows us that so far, the top five overall titles have combined for 108 billion minutes, up from 103 billion last year. We are revisiting our mid-year streaming check, which was published for the first time last July. The analysis has uncovered some interesting trends, including a new class of streaming originals, the growing role of unscripted series, and a solid first half for streaming original movies, even in the face of a <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/ytd/” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>rebounding box office.
When Netflix’s Stranger Things ended its run on December 31st, 2025, it marked the end of an era. Hands down the most-watched streaming original of all time, the adventure series managed to bring viewers of all ages together and leaves a lasting legacy. Even six months on from the finale’s release, Stranger Things managed to edge out two-time ARTEY award winnerBluey as the most-watched streaming title overall for the first half of the year (23.2 billion total minutes).
The Boys on Prime Video was another long-running original series that ended its run this year, and it ranks sixth among Originals with 9.6 billion minutes. It was the number two Original among men 18-34, just behind top overall performer Stranger Things, and topped all streaming series during the month of May.
While some high-profile Originals have wrapped, several newer shows have emerged as major contenders. Chief among them at the moment is HBO Max’s The Pitt, which finished second to among Originals and third Overall with 21.1 billion minutes. The medical drama’s second season saw a big lift in viewership over the first, and a third season is on the way. Other young originals to keep an eye on include Paramount+’s Landman (12.4 billion minutes, #4), Prime Video’s Fallout (8.0 billion minutes, #9), Hulu’s Paradise (5.7 billion minutes, #14), and Netflix’s One Piece(5.7 billion minutes, #15).
Last year, just two unscripted series made any of our Top 20 tables, with Love is Blind (Netflix) and Love Island USA(Peacock) charting among Originals. Both series have returned this year, with Love Island USA coming in 2.2 billion minutes ahead of where it was in 2025 and finishing at number 13. Meanwhile, newcomer The Traitors,also from Peacock, finished ahead of both dating series with 7.7 billion minutes (#11). Both The Traitors and Love Island USA were also top 10 Originals among adults 18-34.
And the influx of unscripted shows goes beyond Originals this year. The Acquired Top 20 was entirely comprised of scripted fare in 2025, but this time around both The First 48 (11.3 billion minutes, #14) and Survivor (9.4 billion minutes, #20) made the list. Importantly, The First 48 also made the overall list and was the number one title among Black viewers.
We can look no further than reigning ARTEY champion Bluey to understand just how big an impact kids can have on the rankings. As noted previously, Bluey came in second overall in our mid-year rankings, but retained the top spot on the Acquired table with 22.8 billion minutes. It was also the top title among kids 2-11 by a substantial margin. Paw Patrol (13.6 billion minutes) and Spongebob Squarepants (16.9 billion minutes) were the number two and three titles among kids 2-11, and both easily made the Overall and Acquired lists. What is interesting about Spongebob is that it was also the number two Overall title among adults 18-34.
Lastly, though we separated kids movies and general audience movies this time around, a combined list would see kids films occupying nine of the 20 slots.
Just seven of the top 20 general audience movies were streaming originals last year, but that number jumped to 12 for the first half of this year. That includes the top two, The Rip (4.4 billion minutes) and War Machine (3.5 billion minutes), both from Netflix. Prime Video also had two of its own features make the list with The Wrecking Crew (2.9 billion minutes, #4) and Jack Ryan: Ghost War (1.9 billion minutes, #16).
