The week ending May 3rd, 2026, saw a dynamic shift in Netflix’s global viewership, with the action-packed survival thriller APEX maintaining its formidable presence atop the English Film charts for a second consecutive week. Despite strong competition, its sustained performance solidifies its position as one of the year’s most significant cinematic debuts on the platform. On the television front, the much-anticipated international thriller Man on Fire made a respectable entry with 11 million views, setting the stage for crucial discussions regarding its potential second season, particularly given its ambitious production scale. Meanwhile, the second season of Mindy Kaling’s comedy series, Running Point, experienced a softer return than its debut season, raising questions about its long-term trajectory. Other notable trends included a significant drop in viewership for the Stranger Things animated spin-off, Tales from ’85, and the unwavering appeal of true crime docu-series, exemplified by the strong debut of Should I Marry a Murderer?. This week’s data underscores Netflix’s diverse content strategy, balancing big-budget genre fare with niche and international productions.
APEX Sustains Momentum, Remains a Top Film Debut
The survival thriller APEX continued its impressive run, holding the number one spot on the English Film chart for its second week. The film not only retained its audience but saw a slight increase in viewing hours, climbing by just over 5% to 63.6 million hours, translating to a substantial 40.2 million views. This strong hold in its sophomore week is a testament to its compelling narrative and high production value, suggesting robust word-of-mouth and sustained audience engagement. Following its debut, APEX immediately established itself as the third-biggest movie debut of 2026, a position it successfully maintained despite new releases. It trails only The Rip and War Machine by approximately 3 million views in their respective second weeks, indicating a strong competitive standing among Netflix’s major film releases for the year.
The film’s performance highlights a consistent demand for high-octane thrillers within Netflix’s global audience. Its ability to grow viewership in its second week, rather than experience the typical post-debut dip, is particularly noteworthy. This trajectory positions APEX as a strong contender for breaking into Netflix’s all-time most-watched films list, a feat that requires sustained engagement over several weeks. Industry analysts suggest that this kind of enduring popularity for original films is crucial for Netflix, as it validates significant investment in direct-to-platform features and helps to define the streamer’s cinematic identity against traditional studio releases. The film’s success likely provides valuable data for Netflix’s content acquisition and production teams, reinforcing the viability of the survival thriller genre.
‘Man on Fire’ Ignites with 11 Million Views, Season 2 Fate in Focus
The highly anticipated big-budget international thriller, Man on Fire: Season 1, made its debut on the English TV charts, securing the top position with 11 million views. This is a solid start for a new property, especially one that reportedly involves extensive international filming and a considerable production budget. The series, which features a sprawling narrative across multiple countries, was positioned as a flagship drama for the streamer, aiming to capture the global audience that has flocked to similar high-stakes, action-oriented thrillers.
However, despite its respectable debut, the 11 million views figure places Man on Fire in a category that, while successful, might not immediately guarantee an automatic Season 2 renewal given its expected high costs. For comparison, some of Netflix’s most definitive international hits, such as Lupin or early seasons of Money Heist, often command significantly higher viewership figures in their opening weeks, cementing their renewal prospects. While Man on Fire is clearly resonating with a segment of the audience, its performance will be closely scrutinized against its budget to determine its economic viability for future installments. Netflix’s renewal strategy often balances initial viewership with long-term retention and cost-effectiveness. The coming weeks will be critical in assessing if the series can build sufficient momentum and engagement to justify further investment in a complex, multi-country production. Netflix executives are likely evaluating not just the raw numbers, but also completion rates and subscriber acquisition data to make an informed decision on its future.
‘Running Point’ Season 2 Faces Sophomore Slump Amidst Strong Season 1 Re-engagement
Mindy Kaling’s comedy series, Running Point, returned for its second season, opening to an initially positive reception but showing a noticeable decline compared to its inaugural season. In its second week, Season 2 garnered 6.7 million views, marking a roughly 44% drop from Season 1’s debut week, which saw 21.5 million views. This decline is a common challenge for returning comedy series, which often struggle to replicate the initial buzz of their first seasons.
Despite the drop for Season 2, a significant silver lining emerged: Running Point: Season 1 also reappeared in the weekly charts, securing 2.5 million views. This phenomenon, known as "re-engagement," suggests that the release of the new season has prompted new viewers to discover the series from the beginning or encouraged existing fans to revisit the earlier episodes. This simultaneous viewership for both seasons is a positive indicator for Netflix, as it demonstrates the show’s ability to attract and retain an audience across its entire catalog. While a 44% dip for the sophomore season is not ideal, the overall engagement with the Running Point universe suggests the show still has a dedicated following. Industry experts often consider such dual-season performance when evaluating renewal prospects, as it points to a healthy, growing fandom. The series is unlikely to become a multi-season behemoth like some of Netflix’s longest-running dramas, but its current performance suggests a potential for 3-4 seasons, provided it continues to demonstrate solid, if not explosive, audience loyalty.
True Crime Continues to Dominate: ‘Should I Marry a Murderer?’ Debuts Strong
The enduring popularity of true crime content on Netflix was once again underscored by the strong debut of the UK-produced docu-series, Should I Marry a Murderer?. The series immediately captivated audiences, securing the second spot on the English TV charts, just below Man on Fire, with an impressive 10.6 million views in its first week. This performance reaffirms the genre’s consistent ability to attract a large and dedicated viewership, regardless of the specific sub-topic within true crime.
While its debut views place it below some of Netflix’s most colossal true crime hits, such as American Nightmare or Depp vs. Heard, it aligns closely with the successful performance of titles like Killer Sally, Amy Bradley is Missing, and Trust Me: The False Prophet. This consistent pattern demonstrates that Netflix’s investment in true crime docu-series is a reliable strategy for audience engagement. The psychological intrigue, real-life drama, and investigative elements inherent in these narratives resonate deeply with a broad demographic. The success of Should I Marry a Murderer? reinforces the platform’s data-driven approach to content commissioning, identifying and capitalizing on genres with proven, high-demand viewership. This trend is unlikely to abate, suggesting continued investment in diverse true crime offerings, from high-profile cases to more niche, psychologically driven explorations.
‘Stranger Things: Tales from ’85’ Sees Steep Drop in First Full Week
The animated spin-off, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, experienced a significant viewership decline in its first full week of availability. After a softer-than-expected debut, the series’ viewing hours dropped by 26%, narrowly making it into the weekly top 10 with 2.1 million views. This marks its second appearance, and potentially its last for a while, in the highly competitive weekly charts.
Despite already being renewed for a second season, the show’s current performance suggests it is not fully capitalizing on the immense popularity of its flagship series, Stranger Things. Its viewership numbers are tracking substantially below comparable animated titles on the platform, such as Devil May Cry: Season 1. The challenge for Tales from ’85 lies in translating the live-action phenomenon into a compelling animated format that resonates with the same broad audience. The brand power of Stranger Things is undeniable, but this spin-off’s trajectory indicates that even the strongest intellectual properties require compelling standalone content to thrive. The significant drop raises questions for Netflix’s strategy regarding franchise expansion and whether future spin-offs will need to more closely align with the core appeal of the original series or carve out a distinct identity to attract and retain viewership.
Animated Features Shine: ‘Swapped’ and ‘Miraculous World’ Make Strong Debuts
Beyond the live-action realm, animated content demonstrated robust performance. The film Swapped made an impressive debut, securing the second-biggest animated movie opening for a Friday release on Netflix, according to available data. This is a significant win for Skydance Animation, highlighting their growing influence on the streamer’s animated film slate. Its success underscores Netflix’s continued commitment to expanding its animation library and signals a positive reception for family-friendly and genre-diverse animated features.
Additionally, Miraculous World: Paris, Tales of Shadybug and Claw Noir entered the English Film charts at number nine with 3.3 million views, showcasing the enduring appeal of the Miraculous franchise. These strong animated film debuts suggest a healthy and growing audience segment for animation on the platform, reinforcing Netflix’s strategy to invest heavily in both original and acquired animated content.
International Success Stories: ‘Envious’ Concludes Strong, ‘My Dearest Señorita’ Makes an Impact
Netflix’s global content strategy continued to yield diverse results, with several non-English titles making a mark. The Argentinian comedy series, Envious, concluded its run with a strong fourth and final season. Debuting at number five on the Non-English TV chart with 3 million views, Season 4 managed to surpass the viewership of Season 3, nearly matching its best opening week from Season 2. This consistent performance throughout its run, which began in 2024, underscores the series’ ability to maintain a dedicated international audience and highlights the success of long-form, regionally produced comedies on the global stage. Its strong finish is a positive sign for Netflix’s investment in diverse international programming.
From Netflix Spain, My Dearest Señorita debuted on the Non-English Film charts with 1.7 million views. This film is particularly notable for its unique and important subject matter, exploring the journey of a young woman from a traditional family who discovers she is intersex, delving into themes of self-discovery, gender identity, and unexpected love. While its viewership numbers might be lower compared to some recent Spanish blockbusters, its appearance in the top 10 is considered a significant achievement given its niche and sensitive topic. This success reinforces Netflix’s commitment to diverse storytelling and providing a platform for narratives that might not traditionally find mainstream distribution, celebrating impact beyond sheer volume.
Underperformers and Notable Absences
Not all titles found immediate success this week. While fewer "no-shows" were reported than in previous weeks, some notable omissions included Funny AF With Kevin Hart, which despite ongoing live episodes, remained absent from the English TV charts. This suggests that live or variety-style comedy specials, even with prominent talent, face challenges in securing consistent top-tier viewership compared to scripted series or docu-series. Furthermore, Netflix India’s new sports thriller, Glory, failed to chart, indicating that even genre-specific content from major international markets can struggle to break through without significant initial traction or marketing push. These instances serve as reminders of the highly competitive nature of content consumption on the platform, where even established names or popular genres are not guaranteed chart success.
Full Netflix Top 10s for Week Ending May 3rd, 2026
English TV
| Rank | Title | Hours | Views | Week # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man on Fire: Season 1 | 61,000,000 | 11,000,000 | 1 |
| 2 | Should I Marry A Murderer?: Limited Series | 26,800,000 | 10,600,000 | 1 |
| 3 | Unchosen: Season 1 | 39,700,000 | 8,800,000 | 2 |
| 4 | Running Point: Season 2 | 32,000,000 | 6,700,000 | 2 |
| 5 | Hulk Hogan: Real American: Limited Series | 12,900,000 | 3,100,000 | 2 |
| 6 | Raw: April 27, 2026 | 5,200,000 | 2,800,000 | 1 |
| 7 | Running Point: Season 1 | 12,500,000 | 2,500,000 | 6 |
| 8 | Danny Go!: Season 1 | 4,600,000 | 2,300,000 | 3 |
| 9 | Salish & Jordan Matter: Season 1 | 7,700,000 | 2,200,000 | 4 |
| 10 | Stranger Things: Tales From ’85: Season 1 | 10,100,000 | 2,100,000 | 2 |
English Film
| Rank | Title | Hours | Views | Week # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apex | 63,600,000 | 40,200,000 | 2 |
| 2 | Swapped | 26,400,000 | 15,500,000 | 1 |
| 3 | Thrash | 6,200,000 | 4,300,000 | 4 |
| 4 | Migration | 5,700,000 | 4,100,000 | 4 |
| 5 | KPop Demon Hunters | 6,500,000 | 3,900,000 | 46 |
| 6 | 180 | 5,900,000 | 3,700,000 | 3 |
| 7 | Roommates | 6,500,000 | 3,600,000 | 3 |
| 8 | Trust | 5,200,000 | 3,500,000 | 2 |
| 9 | Miraculous World: Paris, Tales of Shadybug and Claw Noir | 2,600,000 | 3,300,000 | 1 |
| 10 | Gladiator II | 7,300,000 | 3,000,000 | 3 |
Non-English TV
| Rank | Title | Hours | Views | Week # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | If Wishes Could Kill: Limited Series | 44,800,000 | 7,500,000 | 2 |
| 2 | Flunked: Season 1 | 16,500,000 | 4,000,000 | 2 |
| 3 | Sold Out on You: Limited Series | 16,300,000 | 3,700,000 | 2 |
| 4 | Straight to Hell: Season 1 | 27,500,000 | 3,300,000 | 1 |
| 5 | Envious: Season 4 | 13,100,000 | 3,000,000 | 1 |
| 6 | Santita: Season 1 | 8,500,000 | 1,900,000 | 1 |
| 7 | Fake Profile: Season 3 | 11,300,000 | 1,700,000 | 3 |
| 8 | Ronaldinho: The One and Only: Limited Series | 4,200,000 | 1,500,000 | 3 |
| 9 | Bloodhounds: Season 2 | 10,400,000 | 1,500,000 | 5 |
| 10 | Alpha Males: Season 5 | 4,100,000 | 1,200,000 | 3 |
Non-English Film
| Rank | Title | Hours | Views | Week # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buen Camino | 6,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 1 |
| 2 | Je m’appelle Agneta | 6,700,000 | 3,500,000 | 1 |
| 3 | My Dearest Señorita | 3,300,000 | 1,700,000 | 1 |
| 4 | Son-In-Law | 2,500,000 | 1,400,000 | 1 |
| 5 | Love at Last | 2,000,000 | 1,300,000 | 2 |
| 6 | Yiya Murano: Death at Tea Time | 2,200,000 | 1,300,000 | 2 |
| 7 | Raakaasa | 2,700,000 | 1,200,000 | 1 |
| 8 | Do Deewane Seher Mein | 2,800,000 | 1,200,000 | 3 |
| 9 | Prey | 1,700,000 | 1,200,000 | 4 |
| 10 | Janur Ireng | 1,800,000 | 1,100,000 | 1 |
Conclusion and Future Outlook
The weekly Netflix global top 10s for the period ending May 3rd, 2026, paint a vivid picture of the platform’s diverse content strategy and evolving audience preferences. The continued dominance of APEX in film and the solid, if cautious, debut of Man on Fire on the TV side highlight the enduring appeal of high-stakes thrillers. True crime remains a consistently strong performer, demonstrating a robust and reliable audience segment. However, the challenges faced by returning comedies like Running Point and spin-offs like Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 underscore the highly competitive nature of subscriber attention and the critical need for sustained narrative quality and marketing. The successes of animated features and culturally significant international titles like My Dearest Señorita also reinforce Netflix’s commitment to broad appeal and diverse storytelling. As Netflix continues to navigate the complexities of global streaming, these weekly insights provide crucial data points for future content commissioning, production investment, and marketing strategies aimed at maintaining its leadership in the entertainment landscape.
