Netflix reveals its 5 most-watched series around the world right now

It’s that time again, when the week’s drawing to a close and we’re all busy planning our weekend viewing.

It’s going to be a busy couple of days on the box, with the likes of the FA Cup and Eurovision taking centre stage, but if you’re after something a little different there’s no need to worry as Netflix will have you covered.

This week’s top five most-watched chart really does have something for everyone, whether you’re into romcom, true crime or fancy a few action thrills.

But can Man On Fire hang in there in the top spot or has something else blazed a path to the top? Let’s take a look at the five shows you’ve all been watching…

5. If Wishes Could Kill – 3,600,000 views

Kicking off this week’s countdown is this YA horror series from South Korea, a cautionary saga which suggests you should be careful what you wish for.

If Wishes Could Kill follows five high school students who discover a mobile app called Gringo, which claims to make its users’ wishes come true.

However, things quickly turn more sinister after a classmate dies unexpectedly, and the students discover that the app is predicting their deaths too — leaving them to uncover the truth behind Gringo before anybody else meets their maker.

It’s a familiar enough storyline, one which has sparked the inevitable comparisons to the Final Destination movies, but this is scary and engaging enough to be worth your while.

4. My Royal Nemesis – 3,900,000 views

From horror to romcom now with this royal-themed miniseries, also from South Korea, taking the crown for the most watched non-English language show of the week.

My Royal Nemesis blends time-travel fantasy and comedy to tell the story of a legendary villainess from the country’s Joseon dynasty, whose soul is transferred into the present day, landing in the body of an aspiring actress.

As she gradually takes over her host and adapts to modern life, matters are further complicated when she crosses paths with a ruthless tycoon. Cue love-hate dynamics galore.

3. Worst Ex Ever: Season 2 – 8,000,000 views

Shocking true crime series Worst Ex Ever – focusing on disturbing accounts of domestic violence and coercive control – was such a big hit when it dropped on Netflix in 2024, reaching the top 10 charts in 65 countries, that it’s on surprise to see it return.

As with the first series, it focuses on four particular cases, including the story of Kelly and ‘perfect man’ Wade, who turned out to be anything but, and a former 90-Day Fiance star hiding a dark secret from his girlfriend.

We also meet Katie, whose girlfriend Joyce revealed herself to have violent control issues, as well as Karen, who filed a restraining order against her partner Scott, only for him to enact a terrifying revenge.

It’s far from easy viewing – in fact it’s utterly chilling at times – but this is compelling stuff that deserves all the praise it’s had from viewers.

2. Should I Marry A Murderer? – 8,000,000 views

More true crime now, with this one hanging in there in the runners-up spot for a second week.

Should I Marry A Murderer? is a British documentary series which tells the true story of Caroline Muirhead, a pathologist whose fiance, Alexander ‘Sandy’ McKellar, confessed to her in 2020 that he had been involved in a fatal hit and run accident three years earlier.

The series documents how the couple met on Tinder, his subsequent confession and how Caroline became a ‘fiancee turned key witness’ when she stayed engaged to Alexander while gathering evidence against him.

1. Man On Fire – 12,600,000 views

Spending a second week in pole position, it’s the small screen remake of 2004 Denzel Washington thriller Man on Fire — and the show just keeps on racking up viewers, adding a massive 12 million to its tally over the past few days.

Both the TV show and film are based on A.J. Quinnell’s 1980 novel of the same name, with The Watchmen’s Yahya Abdul-Mateen ll taking over where Washington left off as the fearsome but fragile bodyguard John Creasy.

With a 60 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this one’s proved more of a hit with critics than the movie, which scored just 39 per cent, with Abdul-Mateen’s performance coming in for particular praise.

The question is — will its run at number one be extinguished next week?