📈METHODOLOGY
For this viewership overview, I am usingmillions of CVEs, or Complete Viewings Equivalents. I divide the minutes watched from the Luminate Top 10 and Top 50 by the duration of the titles to compare programs of different lengths released on different dates. This is not an audience count in terms of viewers, but an arbitrary indicator also used by Netflix since June 2023 under the name “views.”This overview is limited only to the United States.
🎥FILMS AND DOCUMENTARIES
🔝THE 10 MOST-WATCHED NEW STREAMING ORIGINAL FILMS
Among the 79 new films released on streaming in the first half of 2026 that make up my dataset for this analysis, the current leader in the film category arrived early in the year:The Rip, starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, which garnered the highest number of CVEs after its first 14 and 28 days of availability on Netflix back in January. The Top 10 thus includes 8 Netflix films, clearly divided into two genres: action films and romantic comedies (with one drama,Remarkably Bright Creatures).
Netflix comedies are relegated outside the Top 10. The other two films come from Prime Video:Jack Ryan: Ghost WarandThe Wrecking Crew. This seems like a rather weak harvest for Prime Video, considering it released about ten new US films in the first half of the year.
The first Apple TV film ranks 32nd (Outcome), the first Tubi film is 20th (Stepfather), the first Hulu film is 21st (Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice), and the first Peacock film is 33rd (Strung).
🔝THE 10 MOST-WATCHED NEW STREAMING ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARIES
It is a true phenomenon in the US: the documentaryThe Crash, which flew under the radar, has accumulated the highest number of CVEs, including both films and documentaries! Apparently, the documentary went viral on TikTok, which would explain its performance in the US. With 29.9 million CVEs in 14 days and 35.7 million in 28 days, it is the undisputed leader across all services and all film types, even when including new films previously released in theaters, such asZootopia 2according toLuminate in its half-year report!
Behind it, the performance is naturally less impressive, even thoughMaternal Instinctwould have a spot in the overall Top 10 for all films. Here again, Netflix dominates the vast majority of the rankings, with only one non-Netflix documentary:#SkyKingon Hulu.
📺SCRIPTED SERIES
🔝THE 10 MOST-WATCHED NEW STREAMING ORIGINAL BINGE-RELEASED SERIES
My dataset includes 47 new series released Netflix) that managed to enter the weekly Luminate Top 10 or Top 50. The two leaders are Netflix limited series:I Will Find YouandHis & Hers, which have accumulated more than 15.9 million EVCs in 14 days
Netflix dominates the first 7 spots in the rankings, followed by two Peacock series (The ‘BurbsandM.I.A.) and one Prime Video series (Scarpetta).
In this Top 10, there is no sign of theMalcolm in the Middlesequel (18th, and the first Hulu series),Wonder Man(22nd, and the first Disney+ series),Off Campus(the “phenomenon” which ranks only 16th), orSpider-Noir(14th), both of which are Prime Video series. It is worth noting that Prime Video and Peacock have apparently switched to binge releases for almost all their new series, which is an interesting development.
🔝THE 10 MOST-WATCHED NEW STREAMING ORIGINAL WEEKLY RELEASED SERIES
Among the new weekly-release series, I have only 13 contenders for the Top 10, so the net is cast quite wide. However, the clear winner by a large margin is Taylor Sheridan, whose two new series for Paramount+,Dutton RanchandThe Madison, occupy the top two spots in the rankings.
Naturally, this ranking gives significant prominence to less visible services like Apple TV+ (4 series) and Hulu (3 series), since Netflix, Prime Video, and Peacock now release their series disappointment for the new Star Trek series, whileNot Suitable For Work, the latest comedy series from Mindy Kaling, lands in 11th place
🔝THE 10 MOST-WATCHED RETURNING STREAMING ORIGINAL BINGE-RELEASED SERIES
Among the 23 new seasons of returning series released million EVCs in 14 days for its 4th season
The rankings are once again dominated by Netflix series, but the final season ofThe Bearmanages to carve out a small spot in 8th place. Just outside the rankings, we find season 2 ofCitadel(12th, Prime Video) andTed(13th, Peacock).
🔝THE 10 MOST-WATCHED RETURNING WEEKLY RELEASED SERIES
Finally, let us conclude this overview with the new seasons of “existing” series (I have 14 titles in my dataset). Season 2 ofThe Pittmakes a triumphant return and finishes in first place, far ahead of season 2 ofParadiseon Hulu.
If Prime Video has abandoned weekly releases for its new series, it retains them for new seasons, precisely to maintain fan loyalty for those specific shows. Thus, the final season ofThe Boysappears in 5th place, behind two returning Apple TV+ series.
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