Unseating a Giant: Naruto Takes the Crown as Netflix’s Most-Watched Anime of 2025

For years, the anime world has been a battlefield of titans, with new sensations like One Piece and Demon Slayer consistently dominating streaming charts. However, a recent and surprising report from Netflix has just shaken up the hierarchy, revealing that the number one most-watched anime of the first half of 2025 isn’t a new-age shonen hit, but a beloved classic: Naruto. This stunning revelation, which comes a full decade after the original series concluded, proves the enduring power of nostalgia and the incredible staying power of a well-told story. The data released by Netflix shows that anime viewership is skyrocketing, and while new series are performing well, it’s the classics that are truly outshining the competition.

According to Netflix’s “What We Watched: The First Half of 2025” report, anime viewership has grown at a rate ten times faster than any other content category on the platform, with over 4.4 billion hours streamed. The report reveals a fascinating trend: while new and highly-anticipated shows like Solo Leveling and Sakamoto Days have found a strong audience, it’s the long-running, completed series that are amassing the most cumulative hours. This phenomenon is perfectly encapsulated by Naruto, which, along with its sequel Naruto: Shippuden, has pulled in an astonishing 51 million total views, a figure that includes both hours watched and total viewers. This places it well ahead of other top contenders and proves that for many fans, the call of the Hidden Leaf Village is still too strong to ignore.

The success of Naruto is a multifaceted story. Firstly, the series has a massive, built-in audience of veteran fans who are either rewatching the series or sharing it with a new generation of viewers. The complete availability of both the original series and Shippuden on the platform makes it a perfect entry point for new fans and a source of comfort viewing for old ones. The recent expansion of the series’ availability into new global territories on Netflix has also contributed to its incredible surge in popularity. While other shows might be dominating in specific regions or for a short period, Naruto is proving to have a truly global and timeless appeal, drawing in viewers from all corners of the world.

The Competition and the Shifting Landscape of Anime Streaming

While Naruto has taken the top spot, the competition is fierce, and the rest of the list offers a compelling look at the modern anime landscape. One Piece, a series that has seen a recent boost in popularity due to its live-action adaptation and the ongoing Egghead Island arc, is still a major player. It landed in the top five, with 28 million hours watched. However, the data reveals a surprising contender that managed to outpace even these shonen giants in some metrics: the collective library of Studio Ghibli films.

The enchanting and visually stunning movies from Studio Ghibli, with their timeless themes and universal appeal, garnered an impressive 39 million views, placing them firmly in second place. This demonstrates that for many viewers, the anime experience isn’t just about long-running serialized stories but also about the emotional depth and artistic quality of feature films. Other notable entries in the top five include the long-running detective series Detective Conan and the iconic franchise Pokémon, both of which demonstrate the staying power of classic properties. This data paints a picture of a diverse and dynamic audience that is drawn to both nostalgic favorites and new, high-quality content.

What This Means for the Future of Anime on Netflix

The success of Naruto as Netflix’s number one anime is a powerful statement about the state of the industry. It proves that while original content and new releases are important, a strong back catalog of fan-favorite classics is a huge asset. For Netflix, this data solidifies their position as a major player in the anime streaming space, with a diverse library that caters to a wide range of tastes. The incredible growth of anime viewership on the platform suggests that this is a trend that is only going to continue to accelerate. The success of classics like Naruto gives us a clear indication that new generations are discovering these foundational stories, ensuring their legacy will continue for years to come. For fans of anime, this is a clear sign that the medium is more popular and accessible than ever before, with an incredible amount of quality content, both old and new, available at their fingertips.