What if the secret to Netflix’s biggest hits is not on your
TV screen, but in your hands and the device you are scrolling? As millions
scroll through TikTok, seemingly random clips turn shows into global sensations
overnight, Netflix rolls out new features to mimic this viral magic, and the
question arises: Does TikTok deserve the real credit for these streaming
sensations?
Before exploring how TikTok’s viral power has shaped
Netflix’s biggest successes, it is important to understand how this first came
to light.
The first news media outlet to spotlight TikTok’s influence
on Netflix’s breakout successes was What’s on Netflix
. It revealed that titles
such as Squid Game
, Straw
, and Baby Reindeer
owe
much of their meteoric rise to TikTok’s viral trends. Instead of relying solely
on traditional advertising, these shows found new life through user-generated
content, memes, and challenges that rapidly spread across the platform.
001 HOUR pic.twitter.com/agv6cXzPsT
— Netflix (@netflix) June 27, 2025
A closer look at Squid Game
illustrates
this phenomenon. The series initially had a modest start in Netflix’s Top 10,
but after scenes like the Red Light Green Light game exploded on TikTok,
viewership flew in the following weeks. This pattern repeated with Adolescence
and Baby
Reindeer
, both of which saw significant audience jumps after their most
shareable moments became TikTok sensations.
As Netflix observes these trends, it is clear the company is
not content to simply watch from the sidelines.
The impact of TikTok is not limited to just new releases.
Older series such as The Woman in the House Across the Street from the
Girl in the Window
and Ginny & Georgia
have
re-emerged in Netflix’s charts after memorable clips resurfaced on TikTok. Even
global hits like Wednesday
, and Bridgerton
have
stayed in the spotlight thanks to viral dances, music edits, and memes that
keep audiences engaged long after their premieres.
— Wednesday (@WednesdaysDaily) June 24, 2025
Recognizing this trend, Netflix has begun experimenting with
its own TikTok-inspired vertical video
feed, aiming to capture some of the
viral magic. However, without social features like likes and shares, Netflix’s
attempt may struggle to match the engagement and cultural momentum that
TikTok’s algorithm generates so effortlessly. The streaming giant now finds
itself both competing with and learning from the platform that has become the
real tastemaker for what the world watches next.
Read More: Drowning in Netflix Picks? These 15 Shows in 2025 Are Must-Watch
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