Streaming viewership surged in 2025, with audiences collectively spending 16.7 trillion minutes watching content – a 19% increase from the previous year. According to Nielsen’s second annual ARTEY Awards, certain titles rose above the rest, proving their staying power in an increasingly crowded market. These results underscore the growing importance of streaming as a primary entertainment source, and how quickly content can capture global attention.
Top Overall Performers
‘Bluey’ topped the charts as the most-watched streaming title overall, with 45.2 billion viewing minutes. The Australian animated series maintains its dominance after leading viewership in 2024, proving its widespread appeal to both children and families. This highlights how global content – not just English-language productions – can become cultural phenomena.
Following closely behind was ‘Stranger Things,’ claiming the top spot for streaming originals with 40 billion minutes watched. The popularity of the show demonstrates the continued strength of established franchises in retaining audiences.
Genre Leaders
Other notable winners included ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ (20.6 billion minutes) as the top kids movie and ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ (7.1 billion minutes) for general audiences. The success of these titles shows that niche content can also draw significant viewership when executed well.
‘The Pitt’ (11.4 billion minutes) earned recognition as the top new original drama series, while ‘Running Point’ (5.1 billion minutes) secured the award for best new comedy. The unscripted category saw ‘Sean Combs: The Reckoning’ take the lead with 4.8 billion minutes watched, showing that true crime and celebrity documentaries remain highly engaging for viewers.
Binge-Worthy Classics & Streaming Icons
Nielsen also highlighted ‘Gunsmoke’ as the most-binged series, with over 50 episodes drawing sustained viewership. This suggests that classic content with extensive libraries can still thrive in the streaming era. Finally, Seth MacFarlane was awarded Streaming Icon of the Year for his consistent ability to drive high viewership across multiple platforms.
These awards confirm that streaming is no longer just about new releases. Established franchises, binge-worthy classics, and high-quality originals all contribute to sustained growth in the market.
