2023’s Most Popular TV Shows Include Netflix Hits And Horror Thrillers
2023 was a year packed with fantastic TV shows, with titans like Succession coming to a thrilling end and still burgeoning series like The Bear somehow getting better in their sophomore season.
Interestingly, critical water-cooler conversation starters like these didn’t end up in the most-searched shows of the year, though, according to Google Trends. Let’s take a look at some of the series that people were rabidly searching for this year and why that might be the case.
1. The Last of Us
Unsurprisingly, the Max adaptation of The Last of Us video game series topped the Google Trends list for 2023’s most searched shows.
Not only did the show prove that a video game TV adaptation could be incredible, but it also expanded on the already-incredible story with installments like the devastating Bill and Frank episode.
Expect this series to continue to top the most-searched charts when the second season brings the second game to life.
2. Ginny & Georgia
The second season of the Netflix dramedy Ginny & Georgia also got a ton of Google searches in 2023, probably to check on the status of the third season.
By ending a hugely popular Netflix season on a cliffhanger, you’re bound to get millions of people combing Google to find out if season three is on the way.
Good news for Ginny & Georgia fans, because a third season will indeed be coming out, and it was even renewed for a fourth!
3. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Bridgerton is always a surefire massive hit for Netflix, so it’s no surprise that the prequel spin-off Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story was one of the most-searched 2023 TV shows.
The series follows the titular queen’s marriage to King George and all the Bridgerton-style drama that comes with it. There’s definitely no slowing the Bridgerton hype train down, and Netflix knows it.
4. Daisy Jones & The Six
What do you get when you combine a buzzy young cast with an interesting premise based on a fictional 1970s rock band’s rise and fall? You get Daisy Jones & The Six, which ended up being an early 2023 hit show for Amazon Prime Video.
It subsequently got people interested in finding out if it was actually based on a true story (it isn’t). Come for the great lead performances by Riley Keough and Sam Claflin, and stay for the genuinely catchy tunes.
5. Wednesday
Wednesday was already one of the most buzzed-about TV shows in 2023 before it even hit Netflix, and then the Jenna Ortega Wednesday dance went viral. The rest is history.
Even without the dance, you have Tim Burton taking on an Addams Family spin-off with a perfectly cast Ortega as the titular Addams Family daughter and a genuinely engrossing mystery set at a spooky school. This one was always going to top the charts.
6. That 90’s Show
The first five entries on the list all lived up to or exceeded the expectations of those searching for the shows on Google, but That 90’s Show is definitely on the trend list for different reasons.
People were undoubtedly hyped for a sequel to the fantastic That 70’s Show, but it sadly didn’t live up to expectations.
While it’s always great to see Red and Kitty back in Wisconsin, people just didn’t resonate with the series.
7. Kaleidoscope
Netflix truly had a grip on the 2023 most-searched TV show list, and Kaleidoscope likely climbed the rankings just on premise alone. The series was a bank heist show with a star-studded cast with episodes that could be watched in any order.
While that lofty idea was undeniably interesting, the final product didn’t quite justify the hype, though it still made for an intriguing experiment.
8. Beef
Beef rightfully burst onto the 2023 most-search TV show list thanks to its incredible performances, taut storytelling, and off-the-wall finale episodes.
Easily making many people’s top-ten shows of 2023 lists, this series demanded everyone’s attention and likely sent them straight to Google to ask the question on everyone’s mind – is there going to be more? Even if there isn’t, the series was a ride well worth taking.
9. The Idol
There are plenty of shows on here because people were excited about them or because they were generally good and interesting to talk about. You could say The Idol was interesting to talk about, but not because it was good.
From The Weeknd’s strange performance as an abusive self-help guru to the rumored controversies behind the scenes, the show certainly got a ton of attention. Just not for the reasons that TV shows typically want to get attention.
10. The Fall of the House of Usher
Of course, Netflix managed to find its way into the top ten most-searched shows of 2023 one more time with Mike Flanagan’s latest project, The Fall of the House of User.
Of course, it’s Mike Flanagan making a miniseries adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe, so it’s obviously going to be good. And it was a great way to bookend a year that was full of all-time great TV series and episodes.
Source: Google Trends
