Top 10 Most Watched TV Shows in 2024
Television has long captivated audiences worldwide with its ability to transport viewers into captivating stories and worlds. From gripping dramas to hilarious comedies, TV shows have a widespread appeal that transcends cultural boundaries. In 2024, a select few TV shows have risen to the top, garnering massive global viewership and cementing their place in pop culture.
This article delves into the top 10 most-watched TV shows of 2024, exploring their diverse genres, compelling narratives, and the factors that have contributed to their widespread popularity across the globe. We'll analyze critically acclaimed series like Grey's Anatomy, which continues to enthral audiences in its 20th season, as well as newcomers that have taken the world by storm.
1. First on the List: 3 Body Problem
In its second week on Netflix, the sci-fi thriller "3 Body Problem" rose to an impressive 15.6 million views, a staggering 41.8% increase from its debut week of 11 million views. This meteoric rise dethroned Guy Ritchie's crime drama "The Gentlemen" as the most-watched TV show on Netflix, with "The Gentlemen" logging 7.8 million views in its fourth week.
3 Body Problem follows Ye Wenjie, a brilliant astrophysicist who witnesses her father's tragic demise during the tumultuous Chinese Cultural Revolution. Pressed into military service, her expertise leads her to a clandestine military facility nestled in a remote corner of the country.
A pivotal choice made there to respond to extraterrestrial communication entangles a group of contemporary scientists, compelling them to confront mankind's most profound peril.
2. The Top Show: Shogun
Shogun ranks as the 2nd top TV show in 2024. In the "Shōgun" series, the paths of two ambitious individuals intersect John Blackthorne, a daring English sailor whose voyage ends in a Japanese shipwreck, forever altering his perception through immersion in an unfamiliar culture, and Lord Toranaga, a cunning daimyo embroiled in perilous political conflicts. Alongside them is Lady Mariko, possessing invaluable talents but ensnared by her family's dishonorable past, as she navigates the intricate web of loyalty and worthiness.
The premiere episode of the FX series 'Shogun' delivered a sizable streaming audience worldwide, gathering 9 million streaming views globally on Hulu, Disney+, and Star+ in its first 6 days of release. This impressive debut marked the best worldwide premiere to date for a Disney General Entertainment scripted series (excluding Marvel, Star Wars, Disney Branded TV, Pixar, and National Geographic).
Domestically, the 'Shogun' premiere episode scored the best streaming debut for an FX show on Hulu, edging out the season 2 opener of 'The Bear.' Outside the US, 'Shogun' topped season 1 of 'The Kardashians' as the top Disney General Entertainment series premiere.
- The 9 million streaming views equate to about 630 million minutes of viewing time (or 10.5 million hours) for the 70-minute premiere episode.
- In addition to the strong streaming numbers, the 'Shogun' premiere episode also had a promising on-air debut on FX, averaging 764,000 same-day viewers for the first episode and 442,000 viewers for the second episode.
- The premiere episodes of the 10-episode 'Shogun' series have pulled in 9 million views globally across Hulu, Disney+, and Star+ in its first six days of availability.
'Shogun' has received strong reviews from critics, holding a 99% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The series was created for television by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, with Marks serving as showrunner and executive producer. The first 3 episodes of 'Shogun' are now available to stream, with new episodes airing Tuesdays through April 23.
3. Runner-Up: The Gentlemen
The runner-up to the top 3 TV shows for 2024 is The Gentlemen. The storyline focuses on Edward Horniman, who finds himself thrust into a world he never imagined upon inheriting 15,000 acres of land and the prestigious title of Duke of Halstead.
Discovering his estate entangled in a sprawling weed-growing empire overseen by Susie Glass, Edward must navigate a treacherous landscape filled with eccentric and dangerous figures, all with their own hidden agendas. In a bid to safeguard his legacy and ensure his survival, he must confront challenges that threaten both his home and his life.
The TV series "The Gentlemen," a spinoff of the 2019 film, had a solid opening on Netflix, delivering almost 1.21 billion minutes of viewing over its first four days (it premiered on March 7). It ranked second among all streaming series for the week of March 4-10, 2024, behind "Love Is Blind" which had 1.5 billion minutes of viewing. "The Gentlemen" edged out Millie Bobby Brown's movie "Damsel" for second place overall, with "Damsel" having 1.209 billion minutes of viewing compared to 1.205 billion for "The Gentlemen".
Other notable shows that topped the billion-minute mark that week were:
- Bluey (1.1 billion on Disney+).
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine (1.04 billion on Netflix and Peacock).
In the UK, "The Gentlemen" TV series premiered on Netflix on March 7, 2024, and had an audience of more than 3.5 million viewers in its first week. This performance secured "The Gentlemen" 27th place in the list of the 50 most-watched TV shows in the UK during the seven days to March 10. The highest-rated show of the week was "Death In Paradise," which was watched by 7.3 million viewers on the BBC.
While "The Gentlemen" outperformed other notable Netflix launches in 2024, including "One Day" (1.7 million viewers) and "Damsel" (1.8 million viewers) in their first weeks, it could not match the blockbuster debut of "Fool Me Once," which had 6.3 million viewers in January 2024 and is now Netflix's 8th most-watched original on record in the UK.
4. Ripley
"Ripley" is an American psychological thriller television series based on Patricia Highsmith's 1955 crime novel "The Talented Mr. Ripley". The 8-episode limited series was created, written and directed by Steven Zaillian. It stars:
- Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley.
- Johnny Flynn as Dickie Greenleaf.
- Dakota Fanning as Marge Sherwood.
Originally set to air on Showtime, the series moved to Netflix in February 2023. "Ripley" premiered on Netflix on April 4, 2024.
The series received positive reviews, with:
- 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes
- Weighted average score of 75 out of 100 on Metacritic.
Critics praised the series' visual style, Andrew Scott's performance as Tom Ripley, and the faithful adaptation of Highsmith's novel.
Aspect | Critic Praise |
|---|---|
Visual Style | Captivating cinematography and production design |
Andrew Scott's Performance | The nuanced portrayal of the complex antihero |
Adaptation | Faithful to the source material while adding fresh perspectives |
The psychological thriller delved into themes of identity, obsession, and the consequences of deceit, resonating with audiences worldwide.
5. Invincible
"Invincible" is an adult animated superhero TV series created by Robert Kirkman for Amazon Prime Video, based on the Image Comics series of the same name. The series follows 17-year-old Mark Grayson as he develops superpowers under the guidance of his father Nolan Grayson/Omni-Man, the most powerful superhero on the planet. It has received critical acclaim, with praise for its animation, action sequences, story, and voice performances.
The series has been renewed for a second and third season, with the first season premiering in 2021, the prequel special "Invincible: Atom Eve" released in 2023, and the second season set to premiere in two parts in late 2023 and early 2024. Key plot points in the second season include Angstrom Levy's escape, tension between Mark and his mother, Debbie, Mark's travel to the planet Thraxa, and Nolan's capture by the Viltrumite Empire.
As of April 7, 2024, "Invincible" was:
- The 4th most popular TV show online
- The 1st most popular TV show on Amazon
- The 5th most torrented show.
In the last 12 months, "Invincible" had its best rank at #1 on November 24, 2023, and was in the top 10 for 49 days, with 1 day at #1. Merchandise for "Invincible" includes action figures, a PopSocket, and t-shirts.
The show's popularity can be attributed to its unique perspective on superheroes, its expansive animation premise, and its authentic superhero parody elements. "Invincible" sets itself apart from other comic book adaptations by focusing on the perspective of the superheroes rather than the non-superheroes, allowing it to be a more authentic superhero parody.
Key Metric | Value |
|---|---|
Audience Demand (US, last 30 days) | 44.5 times the average TV series (Exceptional) |
Demand Increase (last 30 days, rolling 30-day avg) | 40.8% |
Animation Genre Rank (US) | 99.6th percentile |
Within the animation genre in the U.S., "Invincible" ranks in the 99.6th percentile, meaning it has a higher demand than 99.6% of all animation titles.
6. Renegade Nell
"Renegade Nell" is a British historical fantasy TV series that premiered in March 2024 and had 1 season with 8 episodes. On April 7, 2024, the show ranked #29 in popularity among all TV shows online, with an engagement score of 13.66.
The show's Wikipedia page had 19,198 pageviews on that date, ranking it #10 in Wikipedia pageviews among TV shows. The show's subreddit had 185 members, ranking it #1,306 in Reddit subscribers among TV shows. It had an average of 2,409 active torrents, ranking it #104 in torrent activity among TV shows]. On IMDb, the show had a ranking of #6 on April 7, 2024.
The new action-adventure fantasy TV series "Renegade Nell" premiered exclusively on Disney+ on March 29, 2024]. The series was written and created by BAFTA award-winning writer Sally Wainwright, with Ben Taylor as the lead director. It stars Louisa Harland as the lead character, Nell Jackson, a quick-witted and courageous young woman who becomes a notorious outlaw in 18th-century England. The supporting cast includes:
- Frank Dillane
- Alice Kremelberg
- Yì Okoronkwo
- Jake Dunn
- Bo Bragason
- Florence Keen
- Nick Mohammed
- Joely Richardson
- Adrian Lester
The series blends historical fiction with fantasy elements, following Nell's adventures as she navigates the treacherous landscape of 18th-century England while evading capture from the authorities.
With its unique premise and talented ensemble cast, "Renegade Nell" has garnered attention from audiences and critics alike, contributing to its impressive online popularity rankings.
7. Love Story Amidst Chaos - The Walking Dead: The One Who Lives
"The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live" is a highly anticipated spin-off continuation of the story of Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) from the iconic zombie apocalypse series "The Walking Dead". The series picks up from where Rick was presumed dead in Season 9, following Michonne's journey to find him.
Andrew Lincoln, who portrays Rick, revealed that the first few episodes are emotionally charged, with him doing "a lot of crying," but the series also promises intense action sequences and car chases. One such thrilling scene features Lincoln, Gurira, and Pollyanna McIntosh (who played Jadis) engaged in an intense car chase.
The spin-off's conception dates back to Season 6 of the original series, as "The Walking Dead's" Chief Content Officer, Scott M. Gimple, had been planning for this continuation, anticipating Andrew Lincoln's eventual departure. The series premiere of "The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live" is scheduled for February 25, 2024, on AMC and AMC+.
Premise | Continuation of Rick Grimes and Michonne's story |
|---|---|
Stars | Andrew Lincoln, Danai Gurira, Pollyanna McIntosh |
Showrunner | Scott M. Gimple |
Premiere | February 25, 2024 (AMC and AMC+) |
With its emotional depth, high-stakes action, and beloved characters from the original series, "The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live" promises to be a captivating addition to the franchise, exploring the enduring love story amidst the chaos of the zombie apocalypse.
8. Comedic Brilliance: Ted
The TV show Ted is a prequel to the 2012 and 2015 "Ted" movies. It is set in 1993, when the main character, Ted, is just coming off his fame and trying to live a normal life with his owner/best friend, John Bennett.
The show's first seven-episode season has been well-received, with many reviewers praising the humor, writing, and acting as being on par with Seth MacFarlane's other successful shows like "Family Guy" and "American Dad." Reviewers highlight the strong chemistry between the main characters, Ted and John, and John's family members, especially his father, played by Scott Grimes.
The series premiered on Peacock on January 11, 2024. It has a Tomatometer score of 72% based on 39 reviews, with an Audience Score of 90% based on 500+ ratings. The Critics Consensus states: "The silly old bear isn't quite up to new tricks with this foul-mouthed sitcom, but fans of Seth MacFarlane's caustic comedy will get plenty of kick out of Ted's latest antics."
Aspect | Score/Rating |
|---|---|
Tomatometer Score | 72% (39 reviews) |
Audience Score | 90% (500+ ratings) |
Metascore | 51 (18 critic reviews) - "Mixed or average" |
User Score | 6.7 (61 user ratings) - "Generally favourable" |
The show has received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising it as a "hilarious expansion of the 'Ted' franchise" while others find it repetitive and predictable.
Many reviewers hope the show will be renewed for additional seasons to continue the story and characters. The series has been described as having the same type of dark, edgy humor as the "Ted" movies. Some reviewers note that it may not be for everyone but is very entertaining for fans of MacFarlane's style of comedy.
9. Wartime Drama: Masters of the Air
'Masters of the Air' is a 2024 American war drama miniseries created for Apple TV+ by John Shiban and John Orloff, following the actions of the 100th Bomb Group, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber unit in the Eighth Air Force in eastern England during World War II.
Serving as a companion to the previous HBO miniseries 'Band of Brothers' and 'The Pacific,' the series consists of 9 episodes with a total budget of $250 million, making it the most expensive Apple TV+ series to date.
The main cast includes Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, Barry Keoghan, and Nikolai Kinski, with the series directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, Dee Rees, Anna Boden, and Ryan Fleck. Principal photography began in England in 2021 but was delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions].
The series received positive reviews, with critics praising its production values and character development, while a companion documentary titled 'The Bloody Hundredth' narrated by Tom Hanks, was also released on March 15, 2024, on Apple TV+.
Aspect | Praise | Criticism |
|---|---|---|
Production Values | Praised for CGI and visual quality | Some feel it has an overly stylized look |
Character Development | Praised by some critics | Others criticize the character development |
Historical Accuracy | - | Issues raised around ages, experience levels, and portrayal of events |
Portrayal of RAF | - | Complaints of negative depiction as incompetent and cowardly |
The series follows the airmen as they risk their lives on bombing missions over Nazi Germany, with storylines centered around major characters like Majors Cleven and Egan, Lt. Crosby, Lt. Rosenthal, and others.
While receiving generally positive reviews for its production values, character development, and ability to stand alongside other acclaimed WWII dramas, audience reviews have been more mixed, with some praising the emotional depth and aerial combat sequences, while others criticizing the pacing and character development. Executive-produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, the series continues their collaboration on WWII-themed projects.
However, some authors argue that these shows often overlook the broader context and contributions beyond just the American frontline troops, such as the work of over 120,000 U.S. servicemen posted to wartime China and 200,000 in India, as well as the disproportionate deployment of Black American troops to dangerous hardship postings.
They suggest that Hanks and Spielberg should pivot to a new era of WWII storytelling that is more attuned to the war's vast landscapes, complex political dimensions, and the critical part international cooperation and sacrifice played in the Allied victory.
10. Action-Packed Adventure: The Brother's Son
"The Brother's Son" is a 2024 action-comedy drama series released on Netflix, revolving around Charles Sun, a Taipei gangster played by Justin Chien, his mother portrayed by Michelle Yeoh, and his younger brother Bruce, played by Sam Song Li. The series received critical acclaim, especially for Michelle Yeoh's performance, and spent 5 weeks in the Netflix Top 10 for English-language series, peaking at #2]. It boasts a 91% Rotten Tomatoes audience score.
Despite the critical praise, "The Brother's Son" struggled to find consistent viewership, slipping under 2 million viewers in its final weeks in the Top 10. Consequently, Netflix announced the cancellation of the series after just one season, much to the dismay of the cast:
- Michelle Yeoh expressed her "heartbreak" at the decision, finding it hard to understand].
- Justin Chien praised his co-stars and thanked the viewers, saying the audience's love made their "collective work, sacrifices, and heartache, worth it".
The series showcased an action-packed adventure, blending elements of crime drama, family dynamics, and cultural exploration. While it initially captured audiences with its unique premise and stellar performances, its viewership declined, leading to its premature cancellation after a single season.
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