This was the most-watched Netflix show of 2020

The most-watched Netflix shows of 2020 have been released but is your favorite at the top?

Pop art image of a TV in pink and blue
(Image credit: Getty)
Selina Maycock
By Selina Maycock
last updated

The 25 most-watched Netflix shows of 2020 have been released - but who came out on top?

When it comes to settling down to watch a drama or Christmas movie, paid-for streaming services are often our first go-to. And when there's something amazing we've seen, we can't wait to shout about it. 

But what have people around the world been watching in 2020?

A post shared by The Queen’s Gambit (@the.queensgambitnetflix) (opens in new tab)

A photo posted by on

Must-watch show The Queen's Gambit has hit the number one top spot - despite only being released in October.

And it comes as no surprise as the limited series, starring Anya Taylor-Joy (opens in new tab) as chess champ, Beth Harmon, has barely been out of the top 10 since - it's even beaten royal favorite The Crown in many countries as the most-watched show.

But if you've not seen it, here's what you can expect from the American coming-of-age period drama, based on Walter Tevis' 1983 novel of the same name.

A post shared by The Queen’s Gambit (@the.queensgambitnetflix) (opens in new tab)

A photo posted by on

Created for Netflix by Scott Frank and Allan Scott, The Queen's Gambit is set in the mid-1950s, then continues into the 1960s, where it follows the life of an orphaned chess prodigy on her rise to the top of the chess world while struggling with emotional problems, drug problems, and alcohol dependency. Not only is the show a hit, it's seen the popularity of the board game boosted too.

Other most-watched Netflix shows of 2020 are (love it, or hate it) Emily in Paris (opens in new tab), The Crown and The Last Dance.

And during a difficult year, unsurprisingly old favorite Friends lived up to its catchphrase, "I'll be there for you..." and was a show that viewers turned to for some nostalgia comfort.

Top 25 most-watched Netflix shows of 2020 in full

  1. The Queen's Gambit
  2. Emily in Paris
  3. Lucifer
  4. The Umbrella Academy
  5. Money Heist
  6. Dark Desire
  7. Friends
  8. The Crown
  9. Ratched
  10. Dark
  11. Yo soy Betty la fea
  12. Last Dance
  13. Pablo Escobar, The Drug Lord
  14. Snowpiercer
  15. Haunting of Bly Manor
  16. Cursed
  17. Cobra Kai
  18. 100 Dias Para Enamorarnos
  19. It's Okay to Not Be Okay
  20. Locked Up
  21. Modern Family
  22. Warrior Nun
  23. Too Hot to Handle
  24. Away
  25. Barbarians
Selina Maycock
Selina Maycock

Selina is a Senior Entertainment Writer with more than 14 years of experience in newspapers and magazines. She currently looks after all things Entertainment for GoodtoKnow, Woman&Home and My Imperfect Life.

Before joining Future Publishing, Selina graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2006 with a degree in Journalism. She is fully NCTJ and NCE qualified and has 100wpm shorthand. Having spent the start of her career working on local newspapers and online, Selina spent six years as Acting News Editor and Entertainment Reporter at the Scunthorpe Telegraph where she dug into hard news stories, conducted interviews, covered court reporting, features, and entertainment, whilst going to gigs in her spare time.

Whilst at the paper she was awarded an O2 Media Judges' Special Award for helping a terminally ill cancer sufferer realise his dying wish and marry his childhood sweetheart through a successful newspaper campaign. Things like this are close to her heart when it comes to using journalism to make a positive difference in people's lives.

Selina later branched further into all things celebrity to became a Showbiz Writer at Heat magazine, covering red carpet events, showbiz parties, and various launches before going freelance for two years. One of her biggest celebrity achievements - aside from generating celebrity exclusives - was interviewing Take That (including Robbie Williams) and bumping into Simon Cowell so much at events she told him 'I'm calling you my showbiz dad!'

In 2017 she joined TI Media as a senior reporter on Woman, Woman's Own, Woman&Home, Woman's Weekly celebrity desk before branching online in 2020 when Future gave her the opportunity to focus on digital-first.

When she's not interviewing celebrities you can find her exploring new countryside walking routes, catching up with friends over good food, or making memories.

Latest