The latest season of the science-fiction horror series debuted this weekend to record numbers, becoming Netflix’s biggest debut ever for an English-language TV show.
Netflix said that “Stranger Things 4 — Volume 1” clocked in at 286.7 million hours viewed. That surpassed the second season of “Bridgerton,” which brought in 193 million hours viewed in March.
The “Stranger Things” series, which follows a group of kids and adults that battle the forces of a parallel universe, is by far Netflix’s biggest franchise. Fans have been clamoring for more after the show has been away for roughly three years.
Since its come out of nowhere debut in 2016, “Stranger Things” has helped carry Netflix to where it is today. It is a cultural sensation that has extended to video games, theme park attractions, fast food items and merchandising.
The show’s creators and producers, brothers Matt and Ross Duffer, said that “Stranger Things 4” is the “most challenging season yet, but also the most rewarding one.”
