#Streaming Ratings: ‘Young Sheldon,’ ‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Reap the Netflix Effect

Three weeks after premiering on Netflix, Young Sheldon has ascended to the most watched show on streaming platforms in the United States. A platform switch to Netflix also sent The Super Mario Bros. Movie to its biggest streaming week to date.

The two titles, which rank second and third on Nielsen’s streaming chart for the week of Dec. 4-10, are the latest examples of Netflix’s multiplying power. Young Sheldon had 1.63 billion minutes of viewing on Netflix and Max for the week, after recording 1.85 billion minutes a week earlier and 963 million for its first week on both platforms. The Big Bang Theory prequel had never charted before the past three weeks (it was previously exclusive to Max) and has easily surpassed its parent show in viewing time all three weeks. The Big Bang Theory had 592 million minutes of watch time on Max for Dec. 4-10.

Similarly, The Super Mario Bros. Movie had a solid run on Peacock earlier in the year, hitting a high of 717 million minutes of viewing for its first week in late July and early August. After mostly falling out of the top 10 in the fall, however, the movie jumped to 1.35 billion minutes of viewing for its first full week on Netflix. (On a smaller scale, Paramount+’s School Spirits also hit the charts with an assist from Netflix, ranking eighth among original series with 326 million minutes of viewing across both streamers.)

Another Netflix movie, Sam Esmail’s Leave the World Behind, grabbed the top overall spot in its opening week with 1.92 billion minutes of watch time. Squid Game: The Challenge cooled a little to 1.03 billion minutes after two weeks above 1.4 billion, but it still grabbed the top original series spot. YA breakout My Life With the Walter Boys premiered to 673 million minutes of viewing on Netflix, good for third on the originals list.

Nielsen’s streaming ratings cover viewing on TV sets only and don’t include minutes watched on computers or mobile devices. The ratings only measure U.S. audiences, not those in other countries. The top streaming titles for Dec. 4-10 are below.

Overall

1. Leave the World Behind (Netflix), 1.92 billion minutes viewed
2. Young Sheldon (Max/Netflix), 1.63 billion
3. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Netflix), 1.35 billion
4. Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), 1.03 billion
5. Obliterated (Netflix), 917 million
6. Grey’s Anatomy (Netflix), 915 million
7. Bluey (Disney+), 838 million
8. Candy Cane Lane (Prime Video), 803 million
9. NCIS (Netflix/Paramount+), 679 million
9 (tie). Suits (Netflix/Peacock), 679 million

Original Series

1. Squid Game: The Challenge, 1.03 billion minutes
2. Obliterated, 917 million
3. My Life With the Walter Boys (Netflix), 673 million
4. Virgin River (Netflix), 636 million
5. The Crown (Netflix), 401 million
6. Bad Surgeon: Love Under the Knife (Netflix), 360 million
7. World War II: From the Frontlines (Netflix), 331 million
8. School Spirits (Netflix/Paramount+), 326 million
9. The Great British Baking Show (Netflix), 293 million
10. The Santa Clauses (Disney+), 277 million

Acquired Series

1. Young Sheldon, 1.63 billion minutes
2. Grey’s Anatomy, 915 million
3. Bluey, 838 million
4. NCIS, 679 million
4 (tie). Suits, 679 million
6. The Big Bang Theory (Max), 592 million
7. Cocomelon (Netflix), 564 million
8. Friends (Max), 504 million
9. Criminal Minds (Hulu/Paramount+), 469 million
10. Gilmore Girls (Netflix), 447 million

Movies

1. Leave the World Behind, 1.92 billion minutes
2. The Super Mario Bros. Movie, 1.35 billion
3. Candy Cane Lane, 803 million
4. Family Switch (Netflix), 632 million
5. Leo (Netflix), 501 million
6. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Disney+), 498 million
7. Home Alone (Disney+), 472 million
8. The Grinch (2018) (Peacock), 447 million
9. Elf (Hulu/Max), 443 million
10. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (Disney+), 328 million