Streaming Ratings, Week of November 3: Frankenstein Scares Its Way to No. 1
Meta description: Frankenstein debuts at No. 1 on Netflix’s global Top 10 for the week of November 3, leading a rebound in streaming engagement.
After a week with no streaming title crossing the billion-minute threshold, the U.S. streaming landscape snapped back into focus. Nielsen’s latest data shows Frankenstein (2025) landing at No. 1 for the week of November 3 with 1.258 billion viewing minutes. The Netflix original film, a modern take on Mary Shelley’s classic, outpaced established hits like The Witcher and Stranger Things in total minutes viewed. Its debut signals a strong appetite for high-concept genre content, even in a crowded November slate.
The top 10 also reflects the enduring power of long-running franchises and library content. The Witcher ranked second with 945 million minutes, while Stranger Things held third at 921 million. Grey’s Anatomy and NCIS, both available across multiple platforms, remained in the top five, underscoring the continued draw of proven network dramas in the streaming era. Bluey and Bob’s Burgers rounded out the kids and animation segment, showing that family viewing remains a stable pillar of streaming consumption.
Industry trends and market overview
Frankenstein’s No. 1 debut is more than a one-off win. It fits a broader pattern of event-style originals driving short-term spikes in engagement. Netflix’s own global Top 10 for the week of November 3 shows a similar dynamic, with Rulers of Fortune: Season 1 leading the non-English TV list with 44.4 million views. The platform’s strategy of pairing global originals with localized hits continues to pay off, especially in markets where non-English content can dominate.
The week also highlighted the growing importance of limited series and short-form formats. Death by Lightning, a limited series about President James Garfield’s assassination, debuted at No. 5 on Netflix’s English TV list with 11.6 million views. Bad Influencer, a South African drama about counterfeit handbags, entered at No. 3 in English TV with 22.2 million views. These entries suggest that tightly plotted, culturally specific stories can achieve broad appeal when backed by strong platform promotion.
Linear TV still commands massive audiences for live events, as the Nielsen national TV rankings for the week of November 24–30 show. NFL games, Thanksgiving Day parades, and Sunday Night Football dominated the top 10 in viewership. But streaming’s role as a destination for on-demand, appointment-style viewing is solidifying. Frankenstein’s performance proves that a well-marketed original can still cut through the noise and capture a mass audience.
Platform dynamics and content mix
Netflix’s global Top 10 reveals a platform balancing global tentpoles with regional hits. The Witcher: Season 4 led English TV with 53.4 million views, while Rulers of Fortune: Season 1 topped non-English TV with 44.4 million views. This dual-track approach allows Netflix to maintain relevance across diverse markets without over-relying on any single region or genre.
Film performance remains a key differentiator. KPop Demon Hunters held at No. 2 on the English film list with 12.4 million views in its 21st week, demonstrating rare longevity for a streaming movie. A House of Dynamite, Kathryn Bigelow’s nuclear thriller, stayed in the Top 10 with 10.2 million views in its third week. These numbers suggest that prestige-driven, high-concept films can sustain interest when paired with strong creative talent and clear genre hooks.
What this means for advertisers and planners
For media buyers, Frankenstein’s debut offers a clear signal: event-driven originals still deliver concentrated audience density. A No. 1 ranking with over a billion minutes of viewing creates a valuable, time-limited window for brand integration and promotional campaigns. Advertisers looking to reach broad, engaged audiences should prioritize these launch windows rather than relying solely on evergreen library content.
The data also reinforces the value of platform-specific strategies. Netflix’s global Top 10 shows that non-English content can drive significant volume, especially in key international markets. Advertisers with global footprints should consider aligning campaigns with regional hits like Rulers of Fortune or Physical: Asia, where local relevance can amplify impact. At the same time, linear TV’s dominance in live events means that a balanced mix of streaming and broadcast remains essential for mass reach. Ultimately, effectively reaching audiences in today’s fragmented media landscape requires a holistic, data-informed approach across all advertising avenues. Just as data guides streaming and broadcast strategies, optimizing out-of-home (OOH) advertising – a powerful channel for broad awareness – also benefits from precise insights. To this end, Blindspot is an advanced platform that helps companies optimize and manage their out-of-home advertising campaigns with data-driven insights, offering a crucial tool for a truly integrated media plan. Explore its capabilities at https://seeblindspot.com/