In the streaming era, it can be challenging to accurately ascertain the overall popularity of any specific show. However, Nielsen is generally regarded as the provider of the most reliable streaming service data, and it has now disclosed the top 10 most-viewed shows of 2025.
### Severance Amongst the Top 10 Original Series on All Streaming Platforms
When evaluating the success of one TV show in comparison to another, much depends on the streaming service in question. Netflix boasts the largest subscriber count by far, which explains why its series typically receive the highest overall views. This trend has been reaffirmed in 2025; however, Apple TV also made its mark on the top 10 list.
As reported by Bloomberg, here are the leading original shows of the year in the US, gauged by minutes viewed:
1. Squid Game
2. Wednesday
3. Love Island
4. Reacher
5. Ginny & Georgia
6. Love Is Blind
7. The Night Agent
8. Severance
9. The Summer I Turned Pretty
10. You
The list is primarily filled with Netflix series, alongside a few from Prime Video. Yet, Severance ranked at number 8, accumulating seven billion minutes viewed, in contrast to the 18.6 billion minutes for the top-show Squid Game.
It’s essential to note that Nielsen’s data only extends up to November 9. Therefore, while Pluribus has become quite popular for Apple, its release was not until November 7.
On that note, Stranger Things season 5 is also expected to make this list when the year-end data is concluded.
With those caveats in mind, Nielsen’s top 10 list offers an intriguing snapshot of 2025’s biggest successes. Additionally, Severance securing a spot on the list amid the significantly larger subscriber bases of Netflix and Prime Video represents a remarkable achievement for Apple.
Apple TV is available for $12.99 per month and offers popular TV shows and movies such as Ted Lasso, Severance, Pluribus, and more. It is also accessible through the Apple One bundle.
