Netflix has once again proven its global dominance in the streaming wars, securing the top three spots in Google’s most-searched TV shows of 2025 with ‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story,’ ‘Squid Game 3,’ and ‘Adolescence’ leading the charge worldwide.
The streaming giant’s remarkable performance in Google’s annual Year in Search rankings underscores another phenomenal year for the platform, which has delivered both its most successful movie of all time and multiple series that achieved global phenomenon status. This digital dominance reflects the massive cultural impact Netflix continues to wield across international markets.
Building on its impressive 2024 performance—when Netflix claimed half of all trending TV shows in Google’s Year in Search, with British series ‘Baby Reindeer’ taking the crown over Prime Video’s ‘Fallout’—the streaming service has maintained its commanding presence in 2025. While Netflix shows may not have quite matched last year’s volume, the platform’s stranglehold on the top three globally-searched series positions tells a compelling story of sustained audience engagement.
The rankings, compiled from top-trending search data and published annually by Google, serve as a fascinating barometer of public interest and cultural buzz, though they don’t directly correlate with actual viewership numbers. Nevertheless, they provide invaluable insights into what captured the global imagination throughout 2025.
Global Television Dominance: Netflix Claims the Crown
Netflix’s television content proved irresistible to global audiences, with the streaming service securing more series in the worldwide top 10 than any other platform. Leading the pack was ‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story,’ followed by the highly anticipated ‘Squid Game 3’ and the breakout hit ‘Adolescence.’
The complete global television rankings reveal Netflix’s commanding presence:
1. Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix)
2. Squid Game 3 (Netflix)
3. Adolescence (Netflix)
4. Severance (Apple TV)
5. The Summer I Turned Pretty (Prime Video)
6. Pluribus (Apple TV)
7. The White Lotus (HBO)
8. American Primeval (Netflix)
9. Alien: Earth (FX)
10. Landman (Paramount)
Movie Market Tells Different Story
While Netflix’s television content dominated searches, the global movie landscape presented a more diverse picture, though the streaming platform still managed to secure notable positions. The worldwide movie search rankings were topped by Universal Pictures’ ‘Anora,’ with Netflix’s ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ claiming the sixth position.
The global movie search rankings unfolded as follows:
1. Anora (Universal Pictures)
2. Superman (Warner Bros. Pictures)
3. A Minecraft Movie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
4. Thunderbolts* (Marvel Studios)
5. Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
6. Happy Gilmore 2 (Netflix)
7. Final Destination: Bloodlines (Warner Bros. Pictures)
8. Weapons (Warner Bros. Pictures)
9. 28 Years Later (Sony Pictures)
10. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures)
United States: Netflix’s Home Ground Advantage
Netflix’s performance in the American market proved even more impressive, with the platform securing additional victories. ‘The Hunting Wives,’ one of 2025’s most popular breakout series that has already been renewed for another season, claimed the top spot in US television searches.
US television search rankings revealed:
1. The Hunting Wives (Lionsgate/Netflix)
2. The White Lotus (HBO)
3. The Pitt (HBO)
4. The Summer I Turned Pretty (Prime Video)
5. Squid Game (Netflix)
6. Severance (Apple TV)
7. MobLand (Paramount)
8. Adolescence (Netflix)
9. Andor (Disney+)
10. IT: Welcome To Derry (HBO)
The American movie market delivered Netflix’s biggest triumph of 2025, with ‘KPop Demon Hunters’—the platform’s most successful film ever—topping the US search charts. ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ also climbed two positions compared to global rankings, securing fourth place.
US movie search rankings showed:
1. KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
2. Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
3. The Minecraft Movie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
4. Happy Gilmore 2 (Netflix)
5. Thunderbolts* (Marvel Studios)
6. F1 (Apple)
7. Jurassic World Rebirth (Universal Pictures)
8. Final Destination Bloodlines (Warner Bros. Pictures)
9. Weapons (Warner Bros. Pictures)
10. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Marvel Studios)
New Metric Reveals Audience Confusion
Google introduced an intriguing new category for 2025: the most “explained” searches, tracking content that left viewers scratching their heads and seeking clarification online. Predictably, Netflix dominated this category as well, suggesting the platform’s content successfully challenged and engaged audiences with complex narratives.
The most “explained” searches in the US included:
1. The Woman in the Yard (Universal Pictures)
2. Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
3. Weapons (Warner Bros. Pictures)
4. Adolescence (Netflix)
5. Sirens (Netflix)
6. A House of Dynamite (Netflix)
7. Straw (Netflix)
8. The Hunting Wives (Lionsgate/Netflix)
9. We Were Liars (Prime Video)
10. Wayward (Netflix)
United Kingdom: Local Flavor with Global Appeal
The UK market mirrored American trends while incorporating distinctly British programming preferences. ‘Adolescence’ claimed the top television spot, while local productions like ‘Missing You’ and ‘Department Q’ found their way into the rankings alongside international hits.
UK television search rankings featured:
1. Adolescence (Netflix)
2. MobLand (Paramount)
3. Missing You (Netflix)
4. The Celebrity Traitors (BBC)
5. This City Is Ours (BBC)
6. Squid Game (Netflix)
7. The Summer I Turned Pretty (Prime Video)
8. Severance (Apple TV)
9. Playing Nice (ITV)
10. Dept. Q (Netflix)
British movie preferences showed strong interest in horror and franchise content, with ’28 Years Later’ leading the pack:
1. 28 Years Later (Sony Pictures)
2. Nosferatu (Universal Pictures)
3. Superman (Warner Bros. Pictures)
4. A Minecraft Movie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
5. Happy Gilmore 2 (Netflix)
6. Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
7. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Universal Pictures)
8. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures)
9. Thunderbolts* (Marvel Studios)
10. Snow White (Disney)
The Bigger Picture: Netflix’s Strategic Victory
These search rankings paint a picture of Netflix’s continued evolution as a cultural powerhouse, successfully balancing global appeal with regional preferences. The platform’s ability to generate content that not only attracts viewers but also sparks conversations, debates, and the need for explanations demonstrates sophisticated storytelling that resonates across diverse audiences.
From psychological thrillers like ‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story’ to the highly anticipated continuation of ‘Squid Game’ and breakthrough series like ‘Adolescence,’ Netflix has proven its capacity to create appointment television in an age of infinite choice. The success of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ as the platform’s most successful film ever also signals Netflix’s growing prowess in feature-length content.
As the streaming landscape becomes increasingly competitive, with Apple TV, HBO, Prime Video, and others vying for audience attention, Netflix’s dominance in search trends suggests the platform has successfully maintained its position as the default destination for premium entertainment content. The company’s ability to generate cultural moments—the kind of shows and movies people actively seek information about—remains unmatched in the industry.
These 2025 search rankings ultimately reflect Netflix’s mastery of the modern entertainment ecosystem, where success is measured not just in viewing hours but in cultural impact, social media buzz, and the kind of water-cooler conversations that drive people to Google for answers, explanations, and deeper understanding of the content that captivates them.
