Severance, Apple TV+’s standout sci-fi thriller, has officially made waves in 2025’s streaming wars by landing in the top 5 most-streamed series in the U.S., according to Nielsen’s latest data. 
While Netflix still holds the crown with four shows in the top 10 – including the year’s top title Squid Game – Apple’s heavy $20 billion investment in content is finally bearing fruit.
Severance pulled in an impressive 9.275 billion minutes watched, placing it at #5 on the list, just behind The Night Agent and Ginny & Georgia, and ahead of Netflix’s You at #9. The second most-watched show was Reacher from Amazon, with 13.313 billion minutes of viewership. Topping them all was Squid Game, racking up a staggering 15.074 billion minutes.
Although Severance is the only Apple TV+ title in the top 10, it’s a major win for a platform that’s still building its content reputation. The data, sourced from U.S.-only viewing via connected TVs and devices, doesn’t include global streaming numbers – which could tell a very different story. But even this partial snapshot shows Apple making a dent in Netflix’s long-held dominance.
Interestingly, while Netflix still dominates by volume, its grip is slipping. In 2021, over 80% of the most-watched titles were Netflix originals. In 2025, that figure has dropped to under 50%, a direct result of rising competition from rivals like Apple TV+, Amazon, and others.
Still, Apple’s foothold remains fragile. Severance’s success could be short-lived unless Apple follows up with more breakout hits. For now, it’s their single representative in the big leagues of streaming TV. Meanwhile, on the movie front, Apple’s F1-themed film is performing strongly at the box office, pulling in $393.39 million globally.
The race is far from over, but one thing’s clear – Apple TV+ is no longer just a spectator. It’s officially in the game.
1 comment
Severance is a masterpiece, finally ppl noticing it!