Let's cut through the noise.
You want to know who won the streaming war? Good luck. The battlefield shifts every quarter, and Q2 2025 was no exception. Prime Video still holds the pole at 21%, Netflix nips at its heels at 20%. Nothing new there—just two titans sweating it out under the same tent.
But here's what did change: the middle class of streaming got shaken up. Disney+ climbed two points to 14%, overtaking Max. Hulu ticked up to 11%, nudging past HBO's declining ship. Apple TV+ and Paramount+ held steady, like background players who've accepted their roles. Starz? Down to 1%. Ouch.
Numbers are one thing. Content is another.
So what did viewers actually love this spring?
Let's talk movies first. April through June wasn't just about summer blockbusters—it was about catalogs. About legacy. About how some platforms still know how to pull old strings and make them sing again.
Amazon Prime Video led both total and average movie popularity. Their catalog? Deep, wide, and occasionally surprising. The Accountant 2 (April 5, 2025) hit #1 and lingered in the Top 10 for nearly a month. Not exactly Citizen Kane , but people watched. They watched Deep Cover too (May 3, 2025), a straight-to-streaming action comedy that didn't overstay its welcome—two weeks in the Top 10. Respect.
Netflix followed close behind, powered by exclusives like The Old Guard 2 (April 12), which peaked at #1 and stayed in the Top 10 for a week. It wasn't just sequels—Heart Eyes flirted with the top spot before fading. Havoc , starring Tom Hardy, never cracked #2 but hung around for over a month. That's staying power.
Disney+ saw a revival. Not just because of Marvel, though Captain America: Brave New World (May 3, 2025) made waves. No, the real surprise was Danny Boyle's back catalog. 28 Weeks Later (2007) came back from the dead, hitting #2 and sticking around for 27 days. Why? Because 28 Years Later is coming soon. Nostalgia sells. Always has.
Apple TV+ kept its nose clean. Less is more. Their entire strategy: quality over quantity. And it worked. Fountain of Youth (April 19) peaked at #2, spent nine days in the Top 10. Echo Valley (May 10) did the same. The Gorge (June 7) even reached #1. None of these names mean much outside Cupertino—but on the platform, they mattered.
Hulu? Second in both categories. Legacy titles helped—Independence Day , 28 Weeks Later —but new films like Anora (October 2024 premiere at NYFF, now streaming) ruled the charts for 118 days. That's not a sprint. That's a marathon. Presence (Sundance premiere, January 2024) also held strong. Hulu doesn't chase trends. It curates.
HBO Max had early access to big titles—Mickey 17 (March 2025 theatrical release, May 2025 streaming debut) sat at #1 for nearly two months. A Minecraft Movie (May 21) didn't quite land, but it tried. And Sinners (June 14 premiere) clawed its way into the Top 10 and stayed there.
Now, TV shows.
Prime Video topped total series popularity again. Not because everything was great—but because Your Friends & Neighbors (May 17) was a breakout. Hit #1 and didn't budge for 50 days. The Handmaid's Tale Season 6 (May 1) peaked at #2 and stuck around for three weeks. The Bondsman (June 20) was a flash-in-the-pan success—#1 for a week. That's all you need sometimes.
Netflix followed closely. Squid Game Season 3 (May 24) returned to #1, held for 13 days. Dept Q (May 10) flew under the radar until it didn't—peaked at #1, stayed for a month. These weren't flashy—they were effective. Relentless.
Apple TV+ crushed the average popularity metric again. All their hits were originals. Stick (April 12) reached #1 and stayed for 22 days. Murderbot (May 3) did better—45 days in the Top 10. The Studio (June 1) matched it. Three titles. Three winners. That's efficiency.
Hulu leaned into animation and reality. Rick and Morty Season 8 (May 5) hit #2 and hovered for 18 days. Love Island USA (May 28) peaked at #5, didn't last long. But The Bear Season 4 (May 22) crossed platforms and made waves everywhere. That's the kind of show that becomes cultural shorthand.
Disney+ ranked second in average series popularity. Franchise content carried the load—Andor Season 2 (April 10) ruled the charts for nearly two months. Ironheart (May 15) peaked at #2. Again, The Bear Season 4 showed up here too. Cross-platform synergy is rare. When it happens, it matters.
HBO Max placed fourth in total, third in average. The White Lotus Season 3 (May 26) lived at #1 for 61 days. The Last of Us Season 2 (April 14) followed suit—58 days in the Top 10. The Gilded Age Season 3 (June 3) didn't break records but held ground. HBO knows how to launch prestige. Doesn't always land—but when it does, it sticks.
So where does this leave us?
Prime Video and Netflix aren't going anywhere. They're the anchors. The ones everyone else tries to catch. But Disney+ is closing in—fast. Hulu's playing the long game. Apple TV+ is quietly building something special. Max? Sliding. Starz? Barely breathing.
Audiences this spring weren't chasing novelty. They wanted comfort. Legacy. A mix of the familiar and the fresh. Some platforms understood that. Others didn't.
Streaming isn't about growth anymore. It's about retention. Loyalty. And right now, only a few are earning it.
U.S. SVOD Movie Catalog Popularity (Q2 2025)
| Rank (Total Popularity) | Rank (Avg. Popularity) | Platform | Top Films |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | #1 | Prime Video | The Accountant 2, Nosferatu, Conclave |
| #2 | #2 | Hulu | Anora, 28 Weeks Later, Independence Day |
| #3 | #4 | Netflix | The Old Guard 2, Heart Eyes, Havoc |
| #4 | #3 | HBO Max | Mickey 17, A Minecraft Movie, Sinners |
| #5 | #6 | Disney+ | Captain America: Brave New World, 28 Weeks Later, Sunshine |
| #6 | #5 | Apple TV+ | Fountain of Youth, Echo Valley, The Gorge |
U.S. TV & Series SVOD Catalog Popularity (Q2 2025)
| Rank (Total Popularity) | Rank (Avg. Popularity) | Platform | Top Shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | #5 | Prime Video | The Handmaid's Tale (S6), Your Friends & Neighbors (S1), The Bondsman (S1) |
| #2 | #4 | Netflix | Squid Game (S3), Dept Q (S1), The Four Seasons (S1) |
| #3 | #6 | Hulu | Rick and Morty (S8), Love Island USA (S7), The Bear (S4) |
| #4 | #3 | HBO Max | The White Lotus (S3), The Last of Us (S2), The Gilded Age (S3) |
| #5 | #1 | Apple TV+ | Stick (S1), Murderbot (S1), The Studio (S1) |
| #6 | #2 | Disney+ | Andor (S2), Ironheart (S1), The Bear (S4) |
Source: JustWatch
