Prime Video series Reacher, starring Alan Ritchson, topped the digital streaming charts in the US after being watched for 1.5 billion minutes during the week of August 10-16. According to Nielsen data, 79% of this total, or approximately 1.19 billion minutes, came from the first three episodes of season 4, which were released on August 12. Although the season fell short of the 1.69-1.84 billion minutes recorded during the opening weeks of previous seasons, it reached the 5th-highest weekly viewing time in the Nielsen rankings. Ted Lasso was watched for 996 million minutes and Lioness for 955 million minutes; viewership for both productions increased, with Lioness reaching its highest figure to date. The Big Bang Theory retained the top spot with 1.09 billion minutes, while The Simpsons entered the top 10 for the first time since 2024 with 484 million minutes. Netflix production Son Ev led the film rankings with 869 million minutes. The data covers television viewing in the US only; computer and mobile viewing are not included.
Why it matters
Reacher’s rise toward the top of the weekly rankings shows that the series continues to command strong viewer interest, while its failure to reach the opening levels of previous seasons presents a different picture when it comes to the initial momentum of the new episodes. The fact that most of the viewing came from the season’s first three episodes raises questions about the extent to which overall performance depends on the episode release schedule. The increase in viewership recorded by productions such as Ted Lasso and Lioness also shows that competition between platforms cannot be explained by the success of a single series alone. However, Nielsen’s measurement covers only viewing on television screens in the US, meaning that consumption on computers and mobile devices is not taken into account; therefore, the data reflect a specific viewing segment rather than the productions’ total audience reach.
Background
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