
I've watched most of Netflix's top-streamed shows in 2025 — here are 3 to watch and 2 you should skip
Netflix recently shared its latest Engagement Report, revealing the shows and movies that its subscribers binged from January to June 2025. The report details a huge 99% of all content viewing occurred in the first half of 2025, with over 95 billion hours streamed globally.
The appeal of Netflix Originals remained strong throughout the report, with audiences continuing to engage in not only new productions but also older, much-loved entries in the streamer's catalogue. Netflix notes that nearly half of the viewing for Netflix Originals in this report came from titles that debuted in 2023 or earlier.
That said, as a certified binge-watcher, I can attest that not everything in Netflix's original television catalogue is worth watching — even with the hours upon hours of streams that titles have received in the past six months.
I've put together three of the best Netflix shows I've watched this year — and two I wouldn't recommend — to compare to the streamer's data. I've also taken into account Rotten Tomatoes scores and other reviews from fellow Tom's Guide writers.
So, without further ado, here are the top three shows to watch on Netflix and two you should definitely skip.
As per Netflix's report, the UK series "Adolescence" reigned supreme as the most-watched show, amassing 144.8 million views in the past six months to date. The show was released on March 13, 2025, and has been viewed globally for 555 million hours.
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Over a 3.5-hour runtime, the series catapulted audiences into the chilling story of 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who is accused of murdering a teenage girl who went to his school. The one-shot crime drama proceeds to follow the unravelling of Jamie's family, including his dad Eddie (Stephen Graham). It also details the ins and outs of the police investigation fronted by Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe (Ashley Walters), whose son attends Jamie's school, and the harrowing assessment of Jamie's condition made by Briony Ariston (Erin Doherty), the clinical psychologist assigned to his case.
The show scored a massive 98% RT score, with audiences giving it a 74% rating, securing it as a must-watch limited series. Even here at Tom's Guide, our reviewer said that it "might be the best original show Netflix has ever made". If you're a fan of gripping crime dramas, "Adolescence" is not to be missed.
This cult-followed K-drama has been the most talked about Netflix Original series in years, and the entire show takes out three spots in the top ten most-streamed list. "Squid Game" season 2, which debuted late last year, beats out the final season that dropped last month, cultivating 117.3 million views and 840 million hours streamed globally. Across all three seasons, the show has received over 231 million views.
The series follows Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-Jae) as he accepts a strange invitation to compete in a series of children's games for a share of a 45.6 billion won prize. After the first round, Gi-hun and the other 455 players learn the harsh realities of the games — the pot only grows by 100 million won once a player is eliminated (read: killed).
With a solid 86% rating on RT, and a nice 66% audience score, "Squid Game" delivers on drama, mystery and nice comedic moments, courtesy of some interesting character arcs. Now that all seasons are available to stream, you could easily binge the series on a weekend… and give yourself something to talk to your colleagues about on Monday.
Hilarious, easy-to-watch and stars Kate Hudson? Sign me up! After debuting in February, this basketball-based comedy has received over 41 million views and 209 million hours streamed, which is no mean feat for a Mindy Kaling production.
When a scandal forces her brother to resign, Isla Gordon (Hudson) is appointed the president of the Los Angeles Waves, a prestigious basketball team and her family's business. Often overlooked by her brothers, the board and the players, Isla works to prove herself the right person for the job — and (spoiler alert), does just that.
The series was renewed for a second season and has a nice 82% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. It delves into tough topics but plays it all off with a healthy dose of tomfoolery, secret brothers and loving relationships — platonic ones, too. I cannot wait for the next instalment, and my only wish is for a LeBron James cameo.
Despite performing rather well in Netflix's report, ranking in fourth after "Adolescence" and "Squid Game" seasons 2 and 3, "Zero Day" received an underwhelming response from me (and Rotten Tomatoes).
The limited series follows former US President George Mullen (Robert De Niro), who, as the head of the Zero Day Commission, leads an investigation into a devastating cyberattack that wreaked havoc and caused thousands of fatalities across the country.
The series was De Niro's first major television role, but even the beloved actor couldn't save it from getting a poor 53% RT critics score and 53% audience rating. Admittedly, I always try to finish a series, but I couldn't make it past the first episode for this one, and not even the appearance of Lizzy Caplan could reinvigorate my spirits for this political thriller.
There's a lot to unpack here, but let's start with the figures from the report, shall we? The second season of "XO, Kitty" was released on January 16, 2025, and has since achieved 35.3 million views and 143 million hours streamed in the past six months. Comparatively, the rom-com's first season obtained 14.7 million views in that time, with eager rewatchers anticipating the new season.
Starring the beloved younger sister from the "To All The Boys" movies, Katherine "Kitty" Song Covey (Anna Cathcart) takes on Seoul, Korea, as she attends the Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS) alongside her long-distance boyfriend, Dae (Choi Min-young), and rediscover a connection to her mom, a former student of KISS.
Now, I am a sucker for a rom-com series or film, and there's a fond place in my heart for the Netflix original movie trilogy, in which Kitty comes to life. But that's where I draw the line, unfortunately, as this spin-off seriously fell flat.
The interwoven storylines and endless love triangles are often confusing, the side characters are somewhat annoying, and the only episode I thoroughly enjoyed in the latest season was when Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) came to visit — and his brief appearance didn't restore my faith in the series. I'd argue the 63% audience score may be conflated with the love for the movies, but I seriously hope season three gives fans (and Kitty) the justice they deserve.
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USA Today
7 minutes ago
- USA Today
Adam Sandler's 15 best movies, ranked (including 'Happy Gilmore')
With Adam Sandler, it's been a tale of two careers: the goofy comedian of his "Saturday Night Live" and early film days, and the more accomplished thespian of his later years (who can still be goofy when needed). But whether or not you prefer his more serious outings to man-child Billy Madison and hockey-loving golf savant Happy Gilmore – who returns in the sequel "Happy Gilmore 2" (streaming now on Netflix) – Sandler has enjoyed a profound evolution as an actor and performer. It's only a matter of time until he nabs an Oscar nomination (and probably should have at least one by now). Who could have imagined that back when he was singing the Hanukkah song on "SNL"? In honor of his latest outing, we're ranking the Sandman's 15 best movies. (While the original "Happy" makes the cut, the cameo-filled follow-up sadly does not.) Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox 15. 'Murder Mystery' (2019) New York cop Nick (Sandler) and hairdresser wife Audrey (Jennifer Aniston) go on their dream European vacation, which goes awry when they're invited on a billionaire's yacht and are embroiled in a murder case. OK, they're no Sherlock and Watson, but Sandler and Aniston end up making a decent detective duo. 14. 'Happy Gilmore' (1996) The sports comedy is one of Sandler's sillier outings, playing the title hockey player who takes up pro golf to help save his beloved grandma's house. The high-profile cameos, though, are fantastic, from Bob Barker (as himself) brawling with Sandler to Carl Weathers in one of his best roles as Happy's one-handed coach. 13. 'Anger Management' (2003) In his comedy heyday, Sandler partnered with Jack Nicholson for this buddy flick, with Sandler as a dude sent to therapy after an in-flight incident and Nicholson as the doctor whose unorthodox techniques exacerbate his new patient's rage problems. On paper, it should have been better, but it's still worth watching two A-listers going at it. 12. '50 First Dates' (2004) "The Wedding Singer" might be the best Sandler/Drew Barrymore rom-com team-up but "First Dates" is the sweetest: A womanizing veterinarian (Sandler) becomes enamored with an art teacher (Barrymore) with amnesia and commits to winning her over day after day. 11. 'Airheads' (1994) Watching this gonzo music comedy 30 years ago, who could have imagined Brendan Fraser as an Oscar winner, Steve Buscemi with an Emmy and Sandler as a somewhat serious actor? They're cast as hard-rock goofballs who take a radio station hostage with water pistols filled with hot sauce to get their demo tape played. 10. 'Leo' (2023) Apologies to the "Hotel Transylvania" faithful: A 74-year-old fifth-grade pet lizard is the animated role Sandler was born to play. His title character Leo worries about his mortality and hatches an escape plan but instead makes a bunch of young friends in the delightfully weird and subtly touching musical comedy. 9. 'The Waterboy' (1998) As a great man once said, "That's some high-quality H2O!" Bullied by the football players he keeps hydrated, mother-loving Louisiana college waterboy Bobby Boucher (Sandler) finally snaps and unlocks an aggressive side that makes him a gridiron wunderkind. He can play outside linebacker for our team anytime. 8. 'The Meyerowitz Stories' (2017) Writer/director Noah Baumbach's dramedy cast Sandler and Ben Stiller as estranged half-brothers who reunite for an art retrospective for their aging sculptor dad (Dustin Hoffman). A lifetime of dysfunction and a health scare ignite a sibling rivalry that gives both Stiller and Sandler plum complex roles to play. 7. 'Spaceman' (2024) In a decidedly dramatic yet still oddball role, Sandler plays a Czech astronaut halfway through a lonely, one-man mission to investigate a cosmic purple cloud near Jupiter. Cracks form in the long-distance relationship with his wife (Carey Mulligan), and he works through his feelings by befriending a mysterious talking alien spider (Paul Dano). 6. 'You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah' (2023) Sandler takes a backseat to his real family in this delightful coming-of-age comedy. The role of devoted dad suits him well opposite wife Jackie and daughters Sadie and Sunny, the latter of whom plays a middle-schooler looking forward to her bat mitzvah and instead finds a whole heap of girl drama. 5. 'Funny People' (2009) Director Judd Apatow's darkly funny yet feel-good dramedy casts Sandler in a role he knows very well: mega-popular comedian/movie star. When he's diagnosed with a terminal disease, Sandler's character befriends a young stand-up (Seth Rogen), reconnects with the love who got away (Leslie Mann) and finds a new lease on life. 4. 'The Wedding Singer' (1998) The best of Sandler's straight-up comedies is a 1980s retro affair packed with style and cool music. A wedding singer (Sandler) hits it off with a reception waitress (Drew Barrymore) and he promises to play her wedding. Of course, they fall in love, but not without some crises of confidence, Reagan-era high jinks and old-lady rapping to make things interesting. 3. 'Hustle' (2022) Sandler marries his loves – acting and hoops – as a Philadelphia 76ers basketball scout who discovers a standout streetballer (ex-NBA player Juancho Hernangómez) in Spain and brings him to America. Both help each other out in a rousing narrative chock-full of real-life roundball stars and choice Sandler zingers. 2. 'Punch-Drunk Love' (2002) Paul Thomas Anderson's romantic dramedy is the first to really toss Sandler in the awards-season mix. The comedian earned a Golden Globe nod as a lonely plunger salesman with serious rage issues who starts dating his sister's co-worker (Emily Watson), though a phone-sex extortion scheme threatens the budding relationship. 1. 'Uncut Gems' (2019) Get ready for a two-hour anxiety-fest. Josh and Benny Safdie's intricately crafted crime thriller finds Sandler in prime form as a gambling jeweler who wants to make serious bank off a rare opal. He runs afoul of the wrong people, leading to an intensely stressful final act fueled by a close NBA playoff game.


New York Post
an hour ago
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Joe Exotic says he will die in prison unless Trump pardons him
Would-be killer and ex-'Tiger King' star Joe Exotic claims he is now riddled with cancer and will die in prison unless President Trump pardons him — insisting to The Post, 'I will not make it another five years.' The 62-year-old felon — who is in federal lockup in Fort Worth, Texas, for a murder-for-hire plot against his rival — said he fears he won't even make it to his parole eligibility in 2030 because his cancer tumors just keep growing. 'I'm not gonna make it. I'm gonna die,' the ex-Netflix star said in an exclusive phone interview Monday while serving a 21-year sentence for plotting to kill big-cat arch-rival Carole Baskin and for violating federal wildlife laws. Advertisement 5 'Tiger King' star Joe Exotic told The Post he will likely die of cancer in prison — unless he is pardoned by President Trump. Netflix US/AFP via Getty Images 5 Exotic is serving a 21-year prison sentence for plotting to kill his rival Carole Baskin. Santa Rosa County Jail via AP, File 'My earliest out day right now is Oct. 30, 2030. And that's why I plead to President Trump so hard. … With the cancer that I have, let me get out and find some real medical care instead of the taxpayers paying for half-assed medical care. Advertisement 'Try going through that [chemo] for a year, puking your ass off by yourself in a concrete room,' he added. Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage, announced he'd been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2021. The incarcerated former zookeeper now says the cancer has spread to his lungs — and doubled in size. 5 Exotic has been battling prostate cancer behind bars since 2021. AP Advertisement 5 Exotic is pleading with Trump to release him from prison so he can receive 'real medical care' for his cancer. Getty Images Exotic — who starred in Netflix's 2020 'Tiger King' true-crime series about his life and dark slide while caring for exotic big cats at his zoo in Oklahoma — insisted his health woes have only worsened due partly to the stress of his husband, Jorge Flores Maldonado, being deported to Mexico from the US earlier this year. 'I'm dealing with prostate cancer, lung cancer. I'm waiting for a [positron emission tomography] scan because I think the prostate cancer is in my ribs now,' Exotic said. 'And the stress of [Jorge] being in Mexico with nothing. He's living like a homeless person right now, and there's nothing I can do to help because I'm stuck in here.' Advertisement 5 Exotic's husband Jorge Flores Maldonado was deported to Mexico. Obtained by the New York Post The fallen star's migrant hubby was booted from the US by ICE in May after getting busted late last year for allegedly driving a car loaded with six other undocumented immigrants across the US-Mexican border. The pair met and fell in love while in prison when Maldonado was there on immigration raps. Exotic, betting Trump to step in and spring him early from the pokey, told The Post: 'Let me get up and pay my own bills and work and try and make it the next five years so I can bring Jorge back to America.' But he also suggested he has come to terms with the fact he'll likely die behind bars. 'I've already got my will done. So everything goes to Jorge so he can at least move on,' he said. 'I have nothing, absolutely nothing. So, you know at this point right now, I wish cancer would hurry up and take me before I have to endure five more years of hell in America.'

Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
I tried Martha Stewart's one-pan pasta and had dinner on the table in 20 minutes
Martha Stewart told me she loves making her one-pan pasta when she only has 20 minutes. Stewart's dish barely takes five minutes of prep and leaves almost zero mess. Her one-pan pasta is very light and simple. I'd make it again, with a few changes. Meghan Markle made headlines after making one-pan pasta on her Netflix show "With Love, Meghan," but she wasn't the first to bring it to the masses. That honor goes to another very famous woman. Martha Stewart told me that her magazine was the first to include one-pan pasta, and it's a recipe she swears by when she's short on time. "It's delicious, and you can do so many different kinds of pasta and so many different flavorings," she said. "Add tomatoes, the spaghetti and basil, and a little bit of salt and water, the cheese at the end. It cooks in 20 minutes and you're done!" Martha Stewart's one-pan pasta has made headlines in the past. Stewart released the recipe in 2014 and demonstrated how to make it on her PBS show, "Martha Stewart's Cooking School." "Here is the recipe that's taken the internet by storm," Stewart says in a clip posted on her official YouTube channel that year. "This is an odd dish because you'll never believe you can cook pasta in so little with all the other ingredients." "It's fragrant and well-cooked and just ready to eat," she added. "Can you imagine? This is it!" The dish requires just a few basic ingredients. And there's very minimal prep. Then, I thinly sliced my onion and a few cloves of garlic. You know that scene in "Goodfellas," when the mobsters are all in jail together and make that beautiful Italian feast? That is exactly how I felt as I carefully sliced through my onion and garlic, watching as they nestled together just as they had in Martin Scorsese's famous shot. I didn't use a razor like Paulie, but I was still pretty proud of my handiwork. Plus, my prep was already finished. Unlike most pasta recipes, you don't bring the water to a boil before throwing the noodles into the pan. Stewart's recipe requires that you throw everything into the pan at once for maximum ease. I accidentally put the 4 ½ cups of water into the pan first instead of last, as Stewart does in her cooking demo. Thankfully, it didn't make a difference. Then, I added my linguine, cherry tomatoes, onion, and garlic. I topped it off with Stewart's required seasonings. I added two basil leaves, two tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes, two teaspoons of salt, and a few twists from my pepper grinder. The tomatoes and basil popped brightly against the yellow of the linguine, reminding me of spring. I wondered if the dish would taste as fresh as it looked. Then, I turned on the stove and struggled to mix everything. Stewart's recipe instructs you to stir and turn the pasta "frequently with tongs," which was a challenge at the start. I didn't want to break the pieces of linguine, so after a few failed attempts, I decided to let the pasta soften a little in the water. After a few minutes had passed, the pasta was fully submerged. The pan almost looked like a clear chicken noodle soup, or an Italian spin on pho. It felt weirdly therapeutic to watch the pasta move around in that clear broth as I delicately turned the linguine with my tongs. And it wasn't long before the water started to really boil. The top of the pan was covered in little bubbles as I continued to flip the pasta. It was around this time that the entire kitchen filled with an incredibly fresh aroma, just as Stewart had promised. I frequently checked to see if the pasta was al dente, per Stewart's instructions. I used my tongs to grab a noodle from the pan and drop it into my ladle, splashing some cold water on it before taking a bite to see if the pasta was ready. The second time I tested a noodle, around the 14-minute mark, I could tell that the flavors from the tomatoes, basil, and seasonings had infused into the linguine. Overall, it took 20 minutes for Stewart's pasta to cook. While Stewart's website said the pasta should take "about nine minutes," the recipe also states that the water will be "nearly evaporated" when the dish is ready. It wasn't until the 20-minute mark that I could see a significant drop in the pan's water level, and it took just as long for the noodles to cook. Since Stewart herself had told me that the pasta is usually ready in about 20 minutes, I wasn't too worried about waiting it out. After plating the noodles, I topped my pasta with plenty of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Stewart's one-pan pasta is really light, but the dish has a hint of richness thanks to the olive oil and tomatoes, which had a nice blistered texture. While the dish tasted fresh — and paired great with my glass of rosé — I thought it was just a tad plain. I got a lot more flavor out of the noodles once I added extra pepper and crushed red pepper flakes. I would make Stewart's one-pan pasta again — with a few changes. Next time, I'll add more basil, which I think could have really brightened up the flavors, as well as more tomatoes — my favorite part of the dish. I saw in the comments on Stewart's recipe that some had tried the dish with chicken stock instead of water, which I think is a great idea. Others discussed sautéing the onions and garlic first. While that technically defeats the purpose of a one-pan recipe, I do think it's a modification worth trying. Overall, I still enjoyed cooking Stewart's one-pan pasta, which surprised me given my ongoing case of kitchen fatigue. It was soothing to watch all those ingredients spin around one pan as my kitchen filled with delicious smells.