Topline
Of the top live-action shows, docuseries and animated series at Netflix so far this year, 30% of the most-watched English-speaking TV shows are based on novels, toys, video games or other existing works.
Michelle Keegan in "Fool Me Once."
Key Facts
So far this year, Netflix has had 33 shows break onto its weekly Top 10 most-watched chart—and 10 are based on existing intellectual property (IP).
Of those 10, eight were produced by Netflix and, in total, the streamer’s originals account for 25 of the 33 top-performing shows of the year.
Of the 25 most-watched shows Netflix has released this year, 32% are adaptations of existing work.
Five of the existing IP shows are based on novels, one on a toy, one on video games, one on a comic, one on a previously published scientific research study and one on the writings of a famous actor.
In total, the 10 shows were watched for 923 million hours in their combined 24 weeks on Netflix’s most-watched chart.
Netflix’s Top Existing Ip Shows Of The Year
"Fool Me Once” (581.1 million hours) — A limited series based on a Harlan Coben novel, "Fool Me Once" is in its seventh week on the top-10 English TV show chart on Netflix and claimed the title of the most-watched program across all streamers for the month of January.
"One Day” (101.5 million hours) — A limited series released on Feb. 8, “One Day” has been in the top 10 most-watched shows on Netflix for the last two weeks. The series is based on the 2009 novel of the same name by David Nicholls and racked up 101.5 million viewing hours in its first 11 days of streaming.
"My Life with the Walter Boys."
“My Life With the Walter Boys” (83.9 million hours in 2024) — Despite having been released in 2023, the coming-of-age story remained on the most-watched English TV show chart on Netflix for the first four weeks of the year. The series is based on a novel that was first posted to Wattpad, a website known as the home for amateur romance, teen and fanfiction stories.
"Boy Swallows Universe" (63.3 million hours) — The Australian miniseries debuted on Netflix on Jan. 11 and spent three weeks on the most-watched chart. The show is based on an Indie Book Award-winning novel of the same name by Trent Dalton.
“You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment” (39.8 million hours) — Based on a Stanford University study published last fall, "You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment" is a four-episode docuseries that studies the impacts of a vegan diet on 22 sets of twins. The series was on the Netflix most-watched chart for two weeks.
“Warrior” (14.1 million hours) — Based on the writings of beloved actor Bruce Lee, "Warrior" was canceled by Cinemax in December but, like many series before it, has found a new life on Netflix. "Warrior" became the eighth most-watched show of last week after just three days on the streamer, and fans are calling for the "mind-blowing" series to be revived.
"Resident Alien" (12.7 million hours) — Originally produced by the SyFy channel, this science fiction mystery drama is based on the "Resident Alien" series published by Dark Horse Comics. The show’s first season was Netflix's ninth most-watched English show last week as its third season premiered on SyFy.
Hannah John-Kamen in "The Stranger."
“The Stranger” (12.2 million hours) —The adaptation of another Harlan Coben novel, "The Stranger" is an eight-part thriller that premiered in January and earned one week on the top-10 chart.
“Sonic Prime” (11 million hours) — The third season of the animated show "Sonic Prime" stayed on Netflix's top-10 chart for two weeks after its January release—the series is based on the Sonic the Hedgehog video game universe.
“Masters of the Universe: Revelation” (3.4 million hours) — This animated series is a sequel to another show that ran for several years in the mid 1980s and was based on the "Masters of the Universe" toy line by Mattel. The show was on the Netflix most-watched chart for one week in January.
What To Watch For
Netflix has more Harlan Coben adaptations coming down the pipe. The streamer greenlit the adaptations of "Missing You" and "Run Away" last month, both of which will be turned into limited series. They'll be the ninth and 10th Coben adaptations for Netflix, which has also produced "Gone for Good," "The Woods," "Hold Tight," “The Innocent," "Stay Close" and "Safe." Coben in 2018 signed a five year, multi-million dollar deal that gave Netflix the rights to turn 14 of his books into series or films. The works have been produced internationally and into various languages, including "The Woods" (made in Poland), “The Stranger” (made in England) and "The Innocent" (made in Spain).
Key Background
Movie and television screens have been hit with franchise works, remakes, sequels or other films based on existing IP for decades, and their relative success has seen studios like Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros. lean into the idea of continuing what works. Last year, the highest grossing film of the year, “Barbie,” was based on Mattel’s doll. Its success led the toy maker to announce dozens more films will be put into production, including those based on "Polly Pocket," "Hot Wheels" and "Barney." Earlier this month, Disney CEO Bob Iger said the company will slow down its production of original Disney+ series and focus more on sequels and existing franchises in the near future. Hollywood studios are poised to lean heavily on sequels and additions to popular franchises to draw moviegoers to theaters this year, with dozens of such films slated to be released. In the coming weeks, “Dune: Part Two” (March 1), “Kung Fu Panda 4” (March 8) and “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (March 29) will all hit theaters.
Big Number
7. That's how many of the top 10 highest-grossing domestic movies of 2023 were based on existing IP. "Avatar: The Way of Water" (No. 7)," John Wick: Chapter 4" (No. 9) and "Sound of Freedom" (No. 10) were the only films not based on a toy, video game, book or comic. “Avatar” and “John Wick” were sequels.
Surprising Fact
The last time the highest-earning film of the year wasn't an IP or franchise work was in 1998. "Titanic," a fictionalized account of a true shipwreck, was written for the screen by James Cameron. The film earned $600 million domestically in its original release, the equivalent of $1.12 billion today.
