In this guide, we will take a look at the top 15 most-watched TV shows of 2023. If you wish to see the top ones, feel free to head straight to the 5 Most Watched TV Shows of 2023. 

Television has merged seamlessly into contemporary culture, bringing information and pleasure to viewers all around the world. When a movie or television show shoots on location, it creates jobs, generates income, and spurs the creation of related infrastructure, giving the local economy a quick boost. 

Motion Picture Association says that the sector provides $21 billion in annual payments to more than 260,000 companies in cities and small towns across the nation, and the sector is made up of more than 122,000 companies, 92 percent of which have fewer than 10 employees. When a movie shoots on location, the local economy can receive a daily boost of up to $250,000.

Popular films and television shows can occasionally help the tourism industry. For instance, 20th Century Fox’s blockbuster television series This Is Us, streamed on Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)’s Amazon Prime Video, contributed more than $61.5 million to the Californian economy, while Marvel’s Black Panther employed more than 3,100 local Georgians and paid them more than $26.5 million in compensation. The Post and The Greatest Showman, two Oscar-nominated films, helped New York’s local economy by more than $108 million.

Viewership isn’t near the levels it used to be due to the proliferation of TV shows and other forms of entertainment. With the introduction of streaming services, the business has quickly changed to accommodate this circumstance and has been given new life. The streaming age was started by Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX), but other companies quickly realized their potential and entered the market, including Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) with Amazon Prime, HBO with HBO Max, which is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD), and Disney+ by The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS).

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns led to a surge in the number of people turning to streaming platforms for their television entertainment. Rather than watching one episode per week, people started “binge-watching” entire seasons in one sitting. As a result, streaming companies have seen exponential growth over the past decade, with millions of new viewers added each year. The pandemic provided an additional boost to this trend in 2020.

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) had a record-breaking 37 million new customers in 2020, while The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)’s Disney+ crossed the 100 million subscriber mark in just 16 months. The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) has been able to generate total revenue of $23.51 billion as of 2022 while Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) generated $33.81 billion in the same year. Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN), on the other hand, generated $514 billion in revenue in 2022, leaving behind both The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) and Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD).

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However, in 2022 more than $300 billion in market value was lost as a result of Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)’s announcement that its subscriber base had decreased, which destroyed its shares and other streaming companies’ values. Each streaming service has experienced slower growth rates due to intense rivalry brought on by a large number of formidable rivals, and the future of the Tv show industry will rely on how streaming companies fare.  

The Impact Of Covid On The Entertainment Industry

The global market for theater, home entertainment, and mobile entertainment reached $80.8 billion in 2020, an 18% fall from the previous year and the lowest since 2016. The box office plummeted from $42.3 billion in 2019 to $12 billion in 2020, which was the most significant decline.

Compared to 2019, when it made up 43% of all entertainment spending worldwide, live theater only made up just 15% of that total. The 15 most-watched TV shows of 2023 are a testament to the industry’s ability to adapt and overcome challenges, providing audiences with engaging and exciting content that they can’t get enough of. As the world continues to recover from the pandemic, the TV show industry is poised to continue its growth, creating new and exciting shows that audiences will love. 

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Our Methodology 

For our methodology, we have ranked the 15 most-watched TV shows of 2023 based on their total number of hours viewed, in ascending order. To support our methodology, we have taken the data from various reliable sources including Statista.  

Here is our list of the 15 most-watched TV shows of 2023.  

15. The Last Of Us

Total Number Of Hours Viewed: 388 million 

The Last of Us is a TV show based on the popular video game of the same name, available for streaming on Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD)’s HBO. It offers a fresh and thrilling take on the zombie apocalypse genre, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre. The story revolves around Joel and Ellie who battle to survive in a world that has been decimated by a deadly fungus in their survival story. Joel’s plan to smuggle Ellie out of a suffocating quarantine zone quickly turns into a harrowing trek through a lifeless America. 

14. The Glory: Season 1

Total Number Of Hours Viewed: 436.9 million 

The Glory is a Netflix original series that portrays a young woman who decides the best course of action for taking revenge after being bullied to the point of dropping out of school. She adopts the son of the person who tormented her the most after getting a job as a primary school teacher to exact her retribution. The IMDb rating for this show is 8/10 and is definitely an exciting watch. 

13. Ginny And Georgia: Season 2

Total Number Of Hours Viewed: 504.7 million 

Tune into Ginny & Georgia if you like a light watch with good plot lines and a dash of romance and humor. This TV show, which centers on Ginny Miller, a typical adolescent who lives with her immature 30-year-old mother, Georgia Miller, will likely resonate with most mothers and daughters. The show has a rating of 7.5/10 on IMDb and is highly recommended for viewing with your mothers.

12. Inventing Anna: Limited Series

Total Number Of Hours Viewed: 511.92 million 

The Netflix original series Inventing Anna is based on the real-life exploits of con artist Anna Delvey, a Russian-born woman who impersonated a wealthy German heiress to gain access to New York City’s social elite. The program chronicles her experiences and those she meets along the road, including a journalist who develops a fascination for her tale. The series has received plaudits for its engaging acting and engrossing depiction of the deceit and manipulation present in the world of high society.

11. The Witcher

Total Number Of Hours Viewed: 541 million 

A Netflix original series called The Witcher is based on the well-known Andrzej Sapkowski book series. The series follows the exploits of monster hunter Geralt of Rivia as he makes his way across a perilous and morally grey world. The TV show is well-known for its breathtaking visuals, intricate characters, and exciting action scenes, and has been rated 8.1/10 on IMDb. After Season 1’s December 2019 premiere, which was a huge success, the show was renewed for more seasons. 

10. All Of Us Are Dead: Season 1

Total Number Of Hours Viewed: 560.78 million 

The South Korean Netflix original series All of Us Are Dead is based on the webtoon “Now at Our School” and is rated 7.5/10 on IMDb. The zombie-thriller television program is set at a high school where a mystery illness has transformed the students into walking dead. The plot centers on a group of pupils who must cooperate to survive and leave the school. Amid the crisis, the show examines themes of survival, friendship, and coming-of-age. 

9. Lucifer: Season 5

Total Number Of Hours Viewed: 569.48 million 

Lucifer is a popular Netflix series that follows the life of Lucifer Morningstar, the devil, who has retired from Hell and settled in Los Angeles to run his nightclub. Season 5 shows Lucifer juggling his complicated relationship with his father, God, and his feelings for Chloe. Michael, Lucifer’s twin brother, who causes havoc in his life, is another new character introduced in the show.  

The show’s fifth season ends with a dramatic cliffhanger that blends comedy, drama, and supernatural themes, setting the stage for the final season. Fans have praised the show’s writing, acting, and character development, making it one of Netflix’s most popular original series with a rating of 8.1/10 on IMDb.

8. Stranger Things: Season 3

Total Number Of Hours Viewed: 582.1 million 

If you’re a fan of E.T., Dungeons & Dragons, melancholy Electronica, and many others of the early 80s, then this classic TV show is definitely for you. Young Will Byers vanishes from his small-town neighborhood one afternoon. Eleven, a young woman with a shaved head, shows in and joins Will’s friends and family in the search for the missing youngster. Things turn supernatural and strange from there onward, guaranteeing you laughs, a few cries, and jump-scares all the way. 

In the third season of Stranger Things, viewers are reunited with familiar characters like Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will as they join forces to combat a new threat in Hawkins, Indiana. The team encounters fresh faces, such as Robin, a Scoops Ahoy ice cream shop employee who joins Steve’s team. The season delves into the characters’ romantic lives and teenage growth and development. The season was highly praised for its nostalgic 1980s setting, character development, and the cast’s performances with an IMDb rating of 8.7/10.

7. Money Heist: Season 4 

Total Number Of Hours Viewed: 619 million 

The Netflix hit series Money Heist, also called “La Casa de Papel,” is a Spanish show that has captivated a global audience. Season 4 starts with the group attempting to save Rio, who got caught by the authorities in the previous season. As the robbery proceeds, things become more intricate, and the team faces tough choices. The season is filled with surprises and dramatic turns that keep the audience in suspense. 

6. Bridgerton: Season 1

Total Number Of Hours Viewed: 625.49 million 

The debut season of Bridgerton centers on Daphne Bridgerton, the eldest daughter of her family, as she maneuvers through the cutthroat marriage scene of the elite social class in Regency-era London. Her concocted romance with Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, helps shield her from unsuitable suitors. The series delves into the lives and intrigues of other affluent families, with stunning visuals and detailed wardrobe designs. 

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Disclosure. None: The 15 Most Watched TV Shows of 2023 is originally published on Insider Monkey.