In a remarkable demonstration of enduring popularity, the Australian children's cartoon Bluey has been crowned the most streamed show in the United States for the second year running. According to the definitive annual data from Nielsen, the series about a family of blue heeler dogs captivated American audiences for a staggering 45.2 billion minutes throughout 2025.
A Familiar Chart-Topping Duo
This achievement solidifies Bluey's position as a cultural phenomenon, even as its viewing time saw a decrease from the 55.62 billion minutes recorded in 2024. The show's consistent performance is particularly notable given its format; with 154 episodes, most lasting less than ten minutes, it requires immense engagement to accumulate such figures.
Holding firm in second place for the second consecutive year was the long-running medical drama Grey's Anatomy. US viewers spent 40.9 billion minutes with the doctors of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, a testament to the show's expansive catalogue of 455 episodes, each typically around forty minutes in length.
The Dominance of 'Library Series'
The continued success of these two programmes underscores a significant trend within the streaming landscape: the power of established 'library series'. These are shows with extensive back catalogues that viewers return to repeatedly. This trend was overwhelmingly evident in Nielsen's 2025 year-end rankings, where nine out of the top ten slots were occupied by such long-running series.
Chart mainstays like Family Guy, NCIS, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit all featured prominently, demonstrating that audiences frequently seek comfort and familiarity in vast libraries of existing content.
Original Content Makes a Stand
Breaking this pattern was the notable exception of Netflix's Stranger Things. The hit original series was the sole non-library show to crack the top ten, registering just under 40 billion minutes of viewership. Its performance was significantly boosted by the highly anticipated release of its fifth and final season in November and December 2025.
It is important to note that Nielsen's 2025 calendar concluded on December 28th. Consequently, the data does not include the viewership for the series finale episode, which premiered on New Year's Eve, suggesting its total impact may be even greater.
The Landscape of Children's Programming
Within the children's entertainment sphere, Bluey's dominance was nearly absolute. The only other youth-oriented show to reach the top ten for the year was the perennial favourite SpongeBob SquarePants, highlighting Bluey's unique cross-generational appeal that resonates far beyond its target preschool audience.
Questions Surrounding Bluey's Future
The show's future has been a topic of keen interest among its global fanbase. The third season concluded in April 2024 with a special 28-minute episode titled 'The Sign', followed a week later by a surprise shorter episode. As of now, a formal announcement regarding a fourth season of the television series has not been made.
Adding to the uncertainty, creator Joe Brumm revealed in 2024 that he would be stepping back from the day-to-day production of the series. However, he remains committed to writing and directing the forthcoming full-length Bluey movie, scheduled for cinematic release in 2027.
Reassurances about the beloved cartoon's continuity have been offered by key figures. Producer Sam Moor, speaking ahead of the season three finale, assured fans, "It is not the end for Bluey. I'm sure we have many more surprises in store for you." This sentiment was echoed by a spokesperson for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the show's original co-commissioner with the BBC, who confirmed, "We have no plans to end the show."
The sustained streaming supremacy of Bluey and its fellow library series points to a shifting paradigm in viewer habits, where depth of content and nostalgic value increasingly rival the allure of brand-new releases.
