Here Are the Top Watched Streaming Shows and Movies in the First Half

The first half saw a number of buzzy shows, from Disney Plus’s The Mandalorian to Netflix’s Beef and Arnold Schwarzenegger-starring Fubar. Netflix took eight of the top 10 spots, but the crown went to Max’s The Last of US.

The rundown of top streaming shows comes from a State of Viewership report from television technology company Samba TV, which broke down some of the biggest viewership trends in the first half of 2023.

Max had two hits in The Last of US and Succession, which ranked eighth. Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal, The Night Agent, That ’90s Show and Fubar rounded out the top five.

The data shows that despite aggressive spending on buzzy programs, Netflix continues to hold a solid position against its rival streamers (it also holds an advantage as the player with the largest base). Disney Plus, one of the most successful services out of the gate, only had one show in the top 15, The Mandalorian, which drew criticism for its third season for its uneven pacing and storytelling.

Likewise, Netflix dominated the list of streaming movies, with You People, a comedy starring Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy, topping the list, followed by Jennifer Lopez action flick The Mother and Adam Sandler comedy Murder Mystery 2 rounding out the the top 2.

Amazon Prime Video’s Shotgun Wedding (also starting Lopez) and Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Air, which recounts Nike’s partnership with Michael Jordan, were the only two non-Netflix titles on the list.

Samba TV noted that “diversity and representation proved to be a differentiator for streamers looking to engage diverse audiences.”

Top shows:

1. The Last of US S1
2. Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal S1
3. The Night Agent S1
4. That ’90s Show S1
5. Fubar S1
6. Beef S1
7. MH370: The Plane That Disappeared S1
8. Succession S4
9. The Diplomat S1
10. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story S1
11. Outer Banks S3
12. You S4
13. The Mandalorian S3
14. Ginny & Georgia S2
15. Mayfair Witches S1

Top movies:

1. You People
2. The Mother
3. Murder Mystery 2
4. Your Place or Mine
5. Extraction 2
6. Luther: The Fallen Sun
7. The Pale Blue Eye
8. Shotgun Wedding
9. We Have a Ghost
10. The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker
11. Air
12. Dog Gone
13. Pamela: A Love Story
14. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Mus Die
15. Chupa