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Travis Clark
Updated
2021-10-19T20:52:26Z
- Netflix said that "Squid Game" was its biggest original series ever with 142 million households watching in the first four weeks.
- It topped "Bridgerton," which was watched by 82 million households.
- Insider ranked Netflix's biggest originals based on how many member households watched each in the first 28 days.
- Netflix counts a view if an account watches at least two minutes of a show or movie.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
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10. "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness" season one — 64 million
Description: "A zoo owner spirals out of control amid a cast of eccentric characters in this true murder-for-hire story from the underworld of big cat breeding."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 86%
What critics said: "A compelling series in fits and starts that doesn't amount to much more than a trip through an extremely strange world filled with extremely strange people." — Newsday
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9. "La Casa de Papel (Money Heist)" season four — 65 million
Description: "Eight thieves take hostages and lock themselves in the Royal Mint of Spain as a criminal mastermind manipulates the police to carry out his plan."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 80%
What critics said: "All the joy in the heist format is wondering how the robbers will escape. With Money Heist, I'm starting to dread the new ways the producers will find to keep me locked in." — Independent
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8. (tie) "Maid" — 67 million
Description: "After fleeing an abusive relationship, a young mother finds a job cleaning houses as she fights to provide for her child and build them a better future."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 97%
What critics said: "The Netflix miniseries illustrates the endless Catch-22 poor people in America face." — The Ringer
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8. (tie) "Stranger Things" season three — 67 million
Description: "When a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and one strange little girl."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 89%
What critics said: "It's a real and joyful return to form for the show that has been taken fiercely to the hearts of people who weren't there the first time round and, perhaps even more fiercely, by those who were." — Guardian
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8. (tie) "Sex/Life" season one — 67 million
Description: "A woman's daring sexual past collides with her married-with-kids present when the bad-boy ex she can't stop fantasizing about crashes back into her life."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 23%
What critics said: "Sex/Life drowns itself in the shallow end, so to speak, by failing to even generate much heat. There are plenty of R-rated scenes-so many, actually, that they get repetitive." — Time Magazine
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5. "La Casa de Papel (Money Heist)" season five— 69 million
Description: "Eight thieves take hostages and lock themselves in the Royal Mint of Spain as a criminal mastermind manipulates the police to carry out his plan."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 80%
What critics said: "I dig smart heist stories. But I don't care much for ones about fictional wars and I'm worried about what Money Heist might become in future episodes. It looks like the show might have changed genres in its final season." — Ask
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4. (tie) "The Witcher" season one — 76 million
Description: "Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster-hunter for hire, journeys toward his destiny in a turbulent world where people often prove more wicked than beasts."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 67%
What critics said: "And although The Witcher is more fantasy balderdash, it's also somewhat addictive fantasy balderdash. Bring on the blood-spilling, the orgies, the haunted forests and wizards: It seems we can't get enough." — Detroit News
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4. (tie) "Lupin" season one — 76 million
Description: "Inspired by the adventures of Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief Assane Diop sets out to avenge his father for an injustice inflicted by a wealthy family."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 98%
What critics said: "The series also doesn't waste a single minute, packing each and every moment full of suspense. Put all of that together, and it's an early front-runner to steal a spot as one of the best shows of the year." — Slate
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2. "Bridgerton" season one — 82 million
Description: "The eight close-knit siblings of the Bridgerton family look for love and happiness in London high society. Inspired by Julia Quinn's bestselling novels."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 89%
What critics said: "There are eight episodes of Bridgerton, and they all have endings that are like chapters in a good book: They leave you in a spot where you just want to read one more chapter before you turn off the light for the night." — NPR
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1. "Squid Game" season one — 142 million
Description: "Hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children's games. Inside, a tempting prize awaits — with deadly high stakes."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 92%
What critics said: "A twisty, fast-paced, action-packed show whose episodes end in killer cliffhangers — in other words, the ultimate binge bait." — Time Magazine
Disclosure: Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Business Insider's parent company, Axel Springer, is a Netflix board member.
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