Hold onto your hats, because the streaming world has just been rocked by a pint-sized, blue-hued phenomenon! For the second year in a row, the Australian animated series Bluey has claimed the top spot on the US streaming charts, according to Nielsen’s 2025 year-end report. But here's where it gets even more fascinating: despite a slight dip from 55.62 billion minutes in 2024 to 45.2 billion minutes this year, Bluey’s dominance is nothing short of remarkable. Consider this—the show consists of 154 episodes, most of which are under 10 minutes long, making its viewership numbers a testament to its universal appeal. And this is the part most people miss: in a sea of binge-worthy dramas and comedies, a short-form, family-friendly show has managed to outshine nearly everything else on Disney+.
Coming in second place, for the second consecutive year, is Grey’s Anatomy, with 40.9 billion minutes watched across its 455 episodes, each roughly 40 minutes long. The continued reign of both Bluey and Grey’s highlights a broader trend in streaming: the power of “library series.” Nine out of Nielsen’s top 10 shows are long-running series with extensive back catalogs, including fan favorites like Family Guy, NCIS, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. These shows prove that audiences love diving into well-established worlds, episode after episode. But here’s where it gets controversial: are we sacrificing fresh, original content for the comfort of familiar shows?
Speaking of originals, Netflix’s Stranger Things was the only new series to crack the top 10 this year, with just under 40 billion minutes watched. Its success was undoubtedly boosted by the release of its fifth and final season in November and December. However, it’s worth noting that Nielsen’s 2025 calendar ended on December 28, meaning the series finale—which dropped on New Year’s Eve—isn’t included in these numbers. Could Stranger Things have clinched a higher spot if the finale had been counted? It’s a question that’s sure to spark debate among fans.
Beyond Bluey, the only other children’s show to make the top 10 was SpongeBob SquarePants, proving that kids’ content still holds significant sway in the streaming landscape. Meanwhile, Bluey’s creator, Brisbane animator Joe Brumm, announced in 2024 that he’s stepping away from the series—though he’ll still write and direct the full-length movie adaptation set for a 2027 release. The show’s third season wrapped with a 28-minute special episode, The Sign, followed by a surprise shorter episode aptly titled Surprise!.
While a fourth season hasn’t been officially announced, producer Sam Moor assured fans, “It is not the end for Bluey. I’m sure we have many more surprises in store for you.” ABC, the Australian streamer that co-commissioned the series with the BBC, echoed this sentiment: “We have no plans to end the show.” So, what’s next for Bluey? And more importantly, what does its continued success say about the future of streaming? Is it a sign that short-form, family-friendly content is the way forward, or will audiences eventually crave something entirely different? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—we’re all ears!
