iWorld
Netflix dominates SVOD viewership in the US, Stowaway leads the charts
New Delhi: Netflix is continuing its dream run in the United States, and it remains way ahead of its competitors Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. Well, this is what the latest report from US-based information, data, and market measurement firm Nielsen seems to suggest. Netflix is clearly showing its dominance in all three categories that include, movies, original series, and acquired shows.
Stowaway & Thunder Force leads the movie category
Nielsen’s data suggests that the science fiction thriller Stowaway which is currently streaming on Netflix is the most-watched movie in the United States. Directed by Joe Penna, this film set against the backdrop of a dangerous Mars mission stars Anna Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim, Shamier Anderson, and Toni Collette in the lead roles.
Stowaway is closely followed by Thunder Force in the second spot in the movie category. Despite a thumbs down from the critics, Thunder Force is still one of the most-watched movies in the United States. Thanks to the scintillating onscreen chemistry between Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer. The film is directed by Ben Falcone, and it revolves around the life of two childhood best friends who turn into superheroes in the latter part of their lives.
Synchronic, American Me, and The Little Rascals are the other Netflix films that are included in Nielsen’s top 10 movies list in the United States. Animated movies have saved Disney+ in the movie category with Frozen, Frozen II, Moana, and Ryan and the Last Dragon included in the Neilsen list. However, no films from Amazon Prime Video succeeded in finding a spot in this list of most-watched movies in the United States.
Disney+ dominates the original category
Disney Plus’ Falcon and the Winter Soldier continues to be the most-watched original series. The series created by Malcolm Spellman is based on the Marvel Comics characters Sam Wilson / Falcon and Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier. As the final episode of the series ended on 23 April, audiences are now eagerly waiting for a possible next installment, either in the form of a film or series, as Falcon has been appointed as the next Captain America.
Closely following Falcon and the Winter Soldier in Nielsen’s list is Shadow and Bone which is being streamed on Netflix. Even though Shadow and Bone failed to recreate the magic of HBO’s Game of Thrones, the series based on Leigh Bardugo’s novel successfully catered to the needs of fantasy lovers.
Amazon Prime Video’s anthology horror series Them is included in Nielsen’s top 10 list of original series. Other series that found their place in the list are The Circle, The Crown, Great British Baking Show, Lucifer, The Serpent, Life in Color, and Dad Stop Embarrassing Me, which are currently streaming on Netflix.
In the acquired original series category, all the ten inclusions are from Netflix’s arsenal. NCIS is topping the list followed by Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Cocomelon, The Baker and the Beauty, and Heartland.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
