Bluey Surprises as Most-Streamed Show of 2025, Outperforming Stranger Things
In a surprising turn of events that might astonish many viewers, a children's cartoon has emerged as the most-streamed show of 2025 in the United States, rather than the latest blockbuster drama. The Australian animated series Bluey has taken the top spot with a staggering 45.2 billion minutes watched across Disney+ last year, marking the second consecutive year the show has held the number one position on Nielsen's year-end streaming rankings.
How Bluey Outperformed Major Competitors
Instead of adult-oriented series like Stranger Things dominating the annual charts, Bluey's gentle adventures of a young Blue Heeler puppy and her family captivated audiences across age groups. The show's episodes, typically around ten minutes or less, appeal to young children while charming older viewers with clever writing and subtle humor. These brief, repeatable episodes mean fans often watch multiple times in single sessions, significantly boosting total viewing minutes.
In contrast, Netflix's Stranger Things – which released its much-anticipated fifth and final season in late 2025 – amassed close to 40 billion minutes streamed and was the most-watched original series of the year. However, when measured across all platforms and genres, it ranked third overall, behind Bluey and the long-running medical drama Grey's Anatomy.
The Numbers Behind the Rankings
The Nielsen data reveals fascinating insights into streaming performance:
- Bluey: 45.2 billion minutes watched on Disney+
- Grey's Anatomy: Approximately 40.9 billion minutes viewed on Hulu and Netflix
- Stranger Things: Just under 39.95 billion minutes streamed
What makes Bluey's achievement particularly remarkable is the context. Despite having only 154 relatively short episodes compared to shows with hundreds of longer episodes, Bluey's format proved no handicap. A typical drama might have episodes running 40-plus minutes, yet Bluey's repeat viewing power propelled it to the top.
Changing Viewing Habits and Streaming Measurement
Experts suggest Bluey's success exposes a broader shift in viewing habits, where family-friendly content – particularly shows that are easy to revisit – can compete directly with prestige dramas and big-budget originals. In an increasingly crowded media landscape, repeat viewing by young children and nostalgic adults keeps short-form content consistently high in rankings.
The sustained popularity of Bluey also reflects how streaming measurement has evolved. Nielsen's streaming ratings now track not only unique viewers but overall minutes watched, emphasizing engagement over time rather than just reach. Under this metric, the sheer volume of repeat viewing can propel even short-form shows to the top of streaming charts.
Bluey's Journey and Industry Context
Bluey first premiered on ABC Australia in 2018, created by Joe Brumm and produced by Ludo Studio. Since then, its gentle depiction of family life, imagination, and social lessons has won critical acclaim and a global audience. Awards such as Emmys and BAFTAs have recognized the series' quality, contributing to its cult appeal beyond its target audience of young children.
The 2025 data comes amid a record year for streaming overall. American viewers logged an estimated 16.7 trillion minutes of streamed content across platforms – a roughly 19 percent increase over the previous year. This surge highlights how central services like Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, and Paramount+ have become to entertainment consumption.
For many fans and industry observers, Bluey's continued dominance serves as a reminder that storytelling appeal transcends specific genres or audiences. In a crowded streaming marketplace, even modest productions can outperform major shows when they establish genuine connections with viewers across generations.
