Netflix’s acquired drama The Hunting Wives vaulted to No.1 among streaming series for the week of July 28–Aug 3, 2025, logging 1,579 million minutes watched on U.S. TV sets. Nielsen’s Top 10 places the show above most new originals, with viewing up 16% from its premiere week — a rare non-franchise breakout that bumped big summer titles. The shift highlights how single-week viewing spikes still shape platform narratives and ad strategies, even as Nielsen measures only TV-set minutes, not mobile or desktop viewing.
Why Nielsen’s July 28–Aug 3 chart matters for Netflix now
- Netflix’s acquired drama The Hunting Wives reached 1,579M minutes in one week (Jul 28–Aug 3).
- The show improved 16% over its premiere week, lifting Netflix’s weekly totals.
- It ranked No.1 among series and No.2 overall behind Happy Gilmore 2 (1,989M minutes).
- Nielsen measures minutes on TV sets only; mobile/desktop viewing is excluded.
- Next data release will show whether the spike sustains or normalizes.
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Netflix’s acquired Starz-to-Netflix drama becoming the top series for the week is notable because it’s not a legacy franchise or blockbuster movie. The title’s jump to 1.579 billion minutes (Nielsen, Jul 28–Aug 3) signals strong engagement from TV audiences and gives Netflix a fresh promotional narrative mid-summer. That surge reshapes marketing windows, affects partner ad buys, and pressures rival streamers to react — especially because Nielsen’s weekly snapshots remain a currency for industry headlines and studio bargaining.
What Nielsen numbers say about binge patterns and platform power
Nielsen’s Top 10 (Jul 28–Aug 3) shows multiple Netflix entries in high ranks, including films and series hitting billion-minute weeks. The Hunting Wives’ 16% week-over-week gain and Netflix supplying 8 of the Top 10 streaming titles (per Nielsen listing) underline platform concentration: a single streamer can occupy broad mindshare even when several new releases compete. Because Nielsen counts TV-set minutes only, the measured dominance likely underestimates total viewing across mobile and desktop platforms — but still matters for advertisers and network PR.
The key minutes and ranks that explain Netflix’s sudden No.1 week
| KPI | Value + Unit | Scope/Date | Change/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top series minutes | 1,579 million minutes | US, week Jul 28–Aug 3, 2025 | Surge to No.1 among series |
| Top movie minutes | 1,989 million minutes | US, week Jul 28–Aug 3, 2025 | Highest overall (Happy Gilmore 2) |
| Week-over-week change (THW) | +16% | Compared to premiere week | Strong retention/growth signal |
| Netflix titles in Top 10 | 8 titles | Nielsen Top 10, Jul 28–Aug 3, 2025 | Platform concentration vs rivals |
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Summary: Nielsen’s TV-only minutes show Netflix dominating the week with major single‑week spikes.
Conclusion
The Hunting Wives’ Nielsen breakout is a reminder that surprise hits still emerge outside blockbuster franchises and can redirect industry attention in a single week. Expect Netflix to lean into this momentum for PR and retention, while rivals and advertisers watch the next Nielsen snapshot for signs of staying power. What happens next will shape September promotion calendars and platform negotiations.
Sources
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/streaming-ratings-july-28-aug-3-2025-1236356217/
- https://www.nielsen.com/data-center/top-ten/?market=us&week=2025-07-28
Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.