Netflix Just Proved It Doesn’t Need ‘Stranger Things’ Anymore

For almost a decade, Stranger Things has been Netflix’s biggest show as well as one of the most successful franchises in TV history. Even though the series wrapped up last year to a lukewarm response from fans, the show still sits comfortably at the top of the recently released 2025-26 Nielsen’s Top 25 rankings. That’s notable because it proves something that Netflix has worked hard to achieve. These days, the streamer doesn’t need to keep telling stories set in Hawkins or the Upside Down— and that’s because it’s doing just fine with new smaller-budget shows.

In fact, Netflix’s breakout thriller His & Hers sits right behind the Duffer Brothers’ supernatural juggernaut at the second spot— and that proximity means something. While Netflix’s most famous franchises, like Stranger Things and Squid Game, both concluded with anticlimactic finales, their streaming numbers haven’t dipped much. The data suggests that viewers aren’t just looking for new big-budget IP. They just want good storytelling.

Viewers Want High-Quality Storytelling, Not Big Franchises

Maybe that doesn’t sound like news to you, but for Netflix, that’s significant. The success of His & Hers reveals that audiences want something different than big‑budget fantasy or sci‑fi epics. As the new series climbs the charts as one of 2026’s biggest shows on streaming, it’s clear that character‑driven dramas can perform just as strongly as shows built on spectacle. Its ratings make one thing obvious: Netflix keeps viewers hooked when it invests in storytelling first.

Last year’s 2024–25 Nielsen rankings emphasized the same trend. Netflix’s limited series Adolescence placed higher than flashier, star‑driven titles, even though it was a grounded show with fairly small ambitions— and it resonated even more than Yellowstone or Landman. As a viewer, I can’t help but think this evolution is healthy for the streaming era.

For years, Netflix tried to find its own Game of Thrones, pouring resources into world‑building epics like The Witcher, and Prime Video did the same thing when it came to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. But both streamers underestimated the raw power of story, forgetting that it’s the main ingredient for any successful TV show.

Netflix

Now, Netflix has the data to prove that fresh voices are worth the investment. That’s why the Nielsen rankings for His & Hers and Adolescence are a big deal, and could point the streamer in the right direction. They show that Netflix can build hits without building elaborate universes that require extensive visual effects.

This shift from the popularity of long-running shows with spin-off potential to intimate limited series could motivate Netflix to greenlight similar projects. Personally, I’m drawn to shows with shorter seasons because they don’t demand years of commitment. It’s also less of a risk as a viewer, because if a show doesn’t get renewed for another season, I’m not left wondering about unfinished storylines. That’s a major problem that has persisted throughout the streaming era.

As streamers like Netflix reflect on the recent Nielsen rankings, they should consider that audiences are connecting more with grounded shows that don’t require multiple seasons of investment. If the streamers recognize the shift in popularity from fantasy epics with massive stakes to limited series, the next wave of streaming hits may look far more grounded and geared toward awards consideration.