Netflix is notoriously cagey about releasing viewing figures for its shows. When it announced that 80 million accounts had watched Bird Box, the figure was met with some skepticism. Did that include customers who watched 15 minutes then turned it off?
On the back of that criticism, they have released additional information on the viewing figures of their most watched shows or films in Quarter 1 of 2019.
The figures are based on the four week period from when the show was first aired. Netflix counts a viewer if they have watched at least 70% of the film or an episode.
Top of the watch list is, as mentioned above, Bird Box. Starring Sandra Bullock, this was the biggest hit for Netflix with 80 million households tuning in to the thriller. The blockbuster Triple Frontier, starring Oscar Isaac and Ben Affleck was next with 52 million watching in the first month.
The Umbrella Academy is next up with 45 million viewers. The fantasy drama about a highly dysfunctional family of superheroes was a massive hit and season 2 has already been commissioned. It also makes it the most popular new Netflix episodic series in the first quarter of 2019.
The Woody Harrelson and Kevin Costner movie, The Highwaymen garnered 40 million viewers. The duo plays real-life Texas Rangers who tracked down Bonnie & Clyde in the 1930s.
Our Planet, is on course to be one of Netflix's most successful global documentary series launched to date. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, the series took more than four years to shoot in 50 countries. But with over 25 million member households projected to watch it in the first month, the wait clearly paid off.
That puts it on a par with You vs The Wild. The family-friendly Bear Grylls interactive show was seen by 25 million people in its first 28 days of release. And continuing the success of Netflix Documentaries, FYRE The Greatest Party That Never Happened, has been watched by more than 20 million households in its first month.
While there are no viewing figures available, Netflix did say that Kingdom, the Korean zombie drama has become the service's most successful debut series. What makes that interesting is that it attracted wide viewership outside Korea, particularly in the rest of Asia. It's an incredible show with Season 2 already in production.
So there are the top shows by viewing figures from Netflix this quarter. What will top the list in Quarter 2?