(Credits: Netflix)

It might be a global operation that delivers original film and television content produced in countless countries around the world, but according to the man in charge, it’s the United Kingdom that’s leading the way in capturing the imagination of Netflix subscribers everywhere.

The company may have been founded and is currently headquartered in the United States, which is invariably where the vast majority of exclusive projects are created, scripted, and shot, but Ted Sarandos has nonetheless revealed that Britain is responsible for all four of the platform’s biggest shows of the year.

What makes it even more impressive is that only one was a returning show, with the other three comprising either first seasons or limited series. Naturally, the only legacy title in the bunch was Bridgerton, which has been one of the jewels in Netflix’s content crown since the first batch of episodes dropped in December, 2020.

However, across the first six months of 2024 – which includes the two-part release of the third season that spent weeks at the top of the most-watched charts – Chris Van Dusen’s period drama didn’t reach the top of the pile despite amassing a hefty 92 million views from the beginning of January to the end of June.

Instead, the limited series Fool Me Once took top honours and was the only show to reach a nine-figure tally after racking up 108million views. Of course, Harlan Coben has become an entity unto himself on Netflix, with the show marking the eighth of his novels to be adapted into a miniseries by the streamer, but the Michelle Keegan and Joanna Lumley-starring mystery is the most successful by far.

Third spot went to Richard Gadd’s semi-autobiographical Baby Reindeer, with the creator, writer, and star recently winning three Primetime Emmys for ‘Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series’, ‘Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie’, and ‘Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie’, with the series scooping six prizes in total.

With 88 million views, it’s comfortably one of Netflix’s most-watched miniseries ever, and it hasn’t left the headlines yet either due to Fiona Harvey’s ongoing litigation. The Gentlemen, Guy Ritchie’s adaptation of his own movie, rounded out the quartet with 76 million viewers, and the darkly comic crime caper was recently confirmed for a second season renewal.

Sarandos confirmed that the full top ten of 2024’s biggest hits will be revealed on Thursday, September 18th, but the top four spots all being taken by British productions underlines the strength – and popularity – of the nation’s streaming output.