We’re streaming our shows more and more, especially as COVID-19 keeps us inside and isolated from friends and family. Despite how much we’re streaming, though, broadcast TV is still a dominant force as revealed by Nielsen, the long-running authority on television viewership.
Nielsen revealed the most streamed shows and movies of 2020, split up between original (Mandalorian, Ozark) and acquired (The Office, Supernatural) content.
The most-streamed series of 2020 include The Office, Grey’s Anatomy, and Criminal Minds. The Office wins with over 57 billion minutes streamed from Netflix in 2020. Grey’s Anatomy was at 39 billion, and Criminal Minds at 35 billion. The list also includes NCIS, Schitt’s Creek, Supernatural, Shameless, New Girl, The Blacklist, and Vampire Diaries.
Netflix’s Ozark is the most streamed “original” show with 30 billion minutes streamed, followed by Lucifer with 18 billion, and The Crown with 16 billion. That list also includes Tiger King, The Mandalorian, Umbrella Academy, the Great British Baking Show, Boss Baby: Back in Business, Longmire, and You.
The longform format of television lends itself to big streaming numbers, but Nielsen also released a list of most-streamed movies, with a mix of original and acquired content. Disney+ dominates the list with seven of the ten spots. Frozen 2 and Moana take the top two spots, followed by Secret Life of Pets. The list fillows out with Onward, Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, Hamilton, Spenser Confidential, Aladdin (2019), Toy Story 4, and Zootopia. This is pure conjecture, but we’re going to guess that a lot of those movies have been watched a dozen times by younger eyes, helping push them past the likes of more mature content like Netflix’s Old Guard and Hulu’s Palm Springs.
If you’ve already streamed all of these shows and movies, you should check out our lists of the best comedies, best tv shows, and the best content you might’ve missed throughout the last year.
