The beloved Australian animated series Bluey has once again dominated the United States streaming landscape, securing its position as the most-watched television show of 2025 for the second consecutive year. According to year-end data released by Nielsen on Thursday 29 January 2026, the programme amassed a staggering 45.2 billion minutes of viewing on Disney+ across the US, solidifying its top spot and outperforming major competitors.
Bluey's Remarkable Achievement Against Industry Giants
This victory is particularly notable as Bluey achieved this monumental viewing figure with a catalogue of just 154 episodes, most of which are under ten minutes in length. In contrast, many other shows in the top rankings benefit from extensive back catalogues accumulated over many seasons. The series, which follows the adventures of a young Blue Heeler dog named Bluey and her family, has evolved from a popular children's programme into a global cultural phenomenon since its 2018 debut.
Streaming Rankings and Notable Competitors
Netflix's flagship science-fiction drama Stranger Things, which released its fifth and final season in 2025, emerged as the most-watched original streaming series of the year with just under 40 billion minutes viewed. However, it placed third in the overall rankings, behind Bluey and the long-running medical drama Grey's Anatomy, which secured second place with 40.92 billion minutes streamed on Netflix and Hulu.
The Nielsen Streaming Content Ratings, which measure total minutes viewed across major US platforms including Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, Paramount+, and Peacock, revealed that nine of the top ten titles were either long-running network series with large catalogues or established animated shows, rather than streaming originals. The full top ten list for 2025 is as follows:
- Bluey (45.2 billion minutes)
- Grey's Anatomy (40.92 billion minutes)
- Stranger Things (just under 40 billion minutes)
- NCIS (36.9 billion minutes)
- SpongeBob SquarePants (34.3 billion minutes)
- Bob's Burgers (34.1 billion minutes)
- Family Guy (33.4 billion minutes)
- The Big Bang Theory (32.4 billion minutes)
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (26.8 billion minutes)
- Criminal Minds (24.1 billion minutes)
The Enduring Appeal and Future of Bluey
Bluey's success is widely attributed to its refreshing and emotionally resonant storytelling, which has captivated not only children but also parents worldwide, often moving audiences to tears. The show concluded its third season in April 2024 with a special 28-minute episode, and fans have much to anticipate with the announcement of a feature-length film scheduled for theatrical release in 2027.
The upcoming movie will be written and directed by Bluey creator Joe Brumm and produced by Ludo Studio in collaboration with BBC Studios. It will feature returning voice talent from the series, including Melanie Zanetti as Chilli and David McCormack as Bandit, ensuring continuity for its devoted fanbase.
Broader Streaming Trends in 2025
Nielsen's comprehensive report indicates that total streaming consumption in the US reached a record 16.7 trillion minutes in 2025, marking a 19 per cent increase from the previous year. This represents the highest annual total ever recorded, underscoring the continued growth and dominance of streaming platforms in the entertainment landscape.
In separate film streaming rankings, Netflix's animated feature KPop Demon Hunters led as the most-streamed movie of the year with 20.6 billion minutes watched. Disney+'s Moana 2 followed with 9.4 billion minutes, while Happy Gilmore 2 was the most-streamed general-audience film with 7.1 billion minutes.
Among new streaming series, HBO Max's The Pitt emerged as the biggest debut of 2025, accumulating 11.4 billion minutes viewed and placing just outside the overall top ten. Netflix's The Residence, which has since been cancelled, ranked second among new originals with 9.5 billion minutes, while comedies Running Point and The Four Seasons were the highest-ranking new comedies with 5.1 billion and 5.0 billion minutes respectively.
It is important to note that Nielsen's 2025 report concluded on 28 December, meaning that the viewing figures for Stranger Things do not include its highly anticipated series finale, which was released on New Year's Eve. This timing may have influenced the final rankings, yet Bluey's commanding lead demonstrates its unparalleled and sustained popularity in the competitive streaming market.
