(Credit: Netflix)

If you ever wanted a snapshot of what the world is collectively bingeing while avoiding work, sleep, and barrages of responsibility, the global top ten series list on Netflix is the place to start. It is dramatic, bizarre, occasionally brilliant, and always surprising. This week’s chart has everything from true crime, political thrillers, feminist reality TV, and something that might just be a documentary about a salad. And yet, somehow, it all works.

Continuing still at number one is Sirens, a limited series that has been generating buzz since its trailer dropped. Slick, dark, and built for cliffhangers, it is the kind of show that makes you say “just one more” until you are staring at the end credits at 03:00, wondering what to do. Right behind it is Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders, a slow-burn docuseries that pulls you into the eerie stillness of a real-life pharma crime that shook the world. Because apparently, nothing says “a relaxing night in” like unsolved poisonings.

Dept Q and American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden are both riding the true crime-adjacent wave. The former taps into moody Scandi-noir energy, while the latter is more high-stakes and heavy on the history. They are different in pace and style, but both scratch the same itch, the one where people want to feel like detectives without leaving the couch.

And then we have Bet, Raw, and The Four Seasons: three completely different shows that still landed in the middle of the global rankings. Bet is sleek, emotionally charged, and filled with plot twists. Raw is newer, a bit rougher around the edges, and seems to be thriving on word-of-mouth and social media buzz. There’s definitely promise there. The Four Seasons brings the drama in a more restrained, light-hearted and almost lyrical way, which is probably why it stands out in a list dominated by darker tones.

If the bottom half of the list looks like a descent into true crime hell, that is because it kind of is. Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story is the kind of show that makes you want to shower after each episode. It is deeply disturbing but fascinating enough to keep global viewers hooked. On the other hand, She the People is the palette cleanser on the list, being bold, loud, and smart, with a fresh energy that is easy to binge but hard to forget.

Finally, FOREVER rounds out the list as a quiet show with a strong emotional core; it is less talked about but attracting eyes all around. Sometimes, that is all a show needs to stay in the game, a loyal audience and enough mystery to keep people coming back for more.

What this week’s list proves is there’s no single formula for success. Viewers want intensity, but also escape. They want justice, but also the mess. And, most importantly, they want options, which Netflix is giving them, one wildly varied top ten at a time.

The 10 most popular series on Netflix this week

• Sirens (Limited Series)
• Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders: Season 1
• Dept. Q: Season 1
• American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden: Season 1
• Bet: Season 1
• Raw: Jan 2025 – May 26, 2025
• The Four Seasons: Season 1
• Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story (Limited Series)
• She the People: Season 1
• FOREVER: Season 1