Netflix's 'His & Hers' Leads the Pack in the First Half of 2026
Jon Bernthal and Tessa Thompson's crime thriller 'His & Hers' dominated the Netflix charts in the first half of 2026, attracting a staggering 104 million views globally from its premiere on January 8 to the end of June. This impressive performance puts it at the top of the list for most-watched shows in the first half of the year, according to Netflix's biannual 'What We Watched' report.
The show's success is notable, as it outshone even the highly anticipated Season 4 of 'Bridgerton', which amassed 100 million views from its launch on January 29 to the end of June, securing second place. This marks a significant shift from the second half of last year, where returning series dominated the rankings.
Another newcomer, 'I Will Find You' by Harlan Coben, took third place with 64 million views, despite its late arrival on June 18. The series is on track to become one of Netflix's most popular titles, with over 85 million views in under 30 days, making it a strong contender for the Top 10 Most Popular English Series list.
Netflix's K-drama 'Teach You A Lesson', which landed on June 5, has also proven its popularity with an outsize performance over the last month. 'Run Away' and 'Man on Fire' also made the Top 10 list with more than 40 million views each.
What's interesting is that five of the Top 10 most-watched series in the first half of this year premiered within that timeframe, a stark contrast to the second half of last year when seven of the Top 10 rankings were heavy-hitting returning series.
However, Netflix's struggle to retain audiences for returning series persists. 'One Piece' and 'The Night Agent', whose recent seasons made the Top 10 for the first half of the year, were down in their opening weeks compared to previous installments. This further illustrates Netflix's inability to replicate the audience loyalty enjoyed by some of its earlier hits, such as 'Stranger Things 5', which is among the Top 5 most-watched series with 56 million views, despite the series finale dropping on New Year's Eve.
Netflix's recent seasons of 'Running Point', 'Beef', 'A Man On the Inside', 'Nobody Wants This', 'The Four Seasons', and 'A Good Girl's Guide to Murder' have also slumped in comparison to previous seasons.
In other news, Netflix has announced a shift in its reporting strategy, moving away from six-month reports to annual viewing snapshots, beginning Q1 2027. This change reflects the company's focus on quality over quantity, marking a significant transition in how Netflix communicates its content's performance.
The first half of 2026 has been an intriguing period for Netflix, with a mix of newcomers and returning series vying for viewers' attention. As the platform continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to see how these trends shape the future of streaming.
