Netflix has unveiled its inaugural 'What We Watched: A Netflix Engagement Report', a biannual deep dive into the viewing habits of its global audience. The report, which covers the first half of 2023, offers a comprehensive look at what people watched on the streaming giant over a six-month period.

The report includes data on every title that was viewed for over 50,000 hours, the premiere date for any Netflix TV series or film, and whether a title was available globally. It covers more than 18,000 titles, representing 99% of all viewing on Netflix, and nearly 100 billion hours viewed.

Over 60% of Netflix titles released between January and June 2023 appeared on Netflix's weekly Top 10 lists. This reflects trends similar to those in the Top 10 lists, including the popularity of returning favourites, new series, films across every genre, non-English stories, and older, licensed titles.

Non-English stories generated a significant 30% of all viewing, highlighting the global reach and diversity of Netflix's content. The report also underscores the staying power of titles on Netflix, which extends well beyond their premieres. For instance, 'All Quiet on the Western Front', which debuted in October 2022, generated 80 million hours viewed between January and June.

However, Netflix emphasises that success on the platform comes in all shapes and sizes, and is not determined by hours viewed alone. It's about whether a movie or TV show thrilled its audience and the size of that audience relative to the economics of the title.

To compare between titles, Netflix suggests using their weekly Top 10 and Most Popular lists, which take into account run times and premiere dates. This approach provides a more nuanced understanding of what resonates with viewers and what doesn't.