Netflix’s Run Away Dethrones Stranger Things As #1 Show

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Netflix’s new crime thriller, Run Away, has surprisingly become the most popular show on the platform, even surpassing Stranger Things shortly after its finale aired. This engaging British series, adapted from a Harlan Coben novel, has quickly gained a global following.

The unexpected conclusion of ‘Run Away’ is well-supported by eight episodes of intriguing mystery, full of twists, turns, and lingering questions. James Nesbitt, known for his roles in crime thrillers, delivers his typical strong performance in this miniseries, and Minnie Driver and Ruth Jones (‘Gavin & Stacey’) both give some of the best work of their careers.

While the finale of Stranger Things generated a lot of buzz heading into the new year, a show that premiered with much less promotion on January 1st has actually become more popular with viewers in the U.S. Though Stranger Things was a major TV event in 2025, so far in 2026, Run Away is dominating Netflix.

This gripping crime thriller, created by Danny Brocklehurst – the mind behind popular Netflix series like The Stranger and Stay Close – immediately grabs your attention and doesn’t let go until its shocking conclusion. Brocklehurst and the writing team expertly control the narrative, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

Run Away Reached Number 1 On Netflix’s American Chart, Ahead Of Stranger Things

On January 6th, the series Run Away became the most popular show on Netflix in the U.S., quickly surpassing Stranger Things. While it has since been overtaken by the live WWE Raw broadcast, it’s expected to return to number one once wrestling fans are finished watching.

Worldwide, Stranger Things is currently slightly more popular than Run Away, but the gap is closing quickly after Run Away‘s big increase in viewers last weekend. It’s very likely that Run Away will be the most-watched show in both the US and around the world by the end of the week.

As a movie buff, I’ve been following the numbers, and Run Away‘s success on Netflix is just incredible – it’s clearly blown past what even Netflix thought was possible. But honestly, I think Stranger Things‘ finale being a little…disappointing helped too. Everyone was expecting it to be a huge, history-making event, and when it wasn’t quite that, it created an opening for something else to rise to the top.

The Stranger Things Finale Has Failed To Resonate With Viewers

The fact that Stranger Things didn’t stay at the top of Netflix’s U.S. charts for very long after its final episodes were released on December 31st is likely because of how Netflix releases shows. Unlike traditional television, Netflix usually drops entire seasons or groups of episodes all at once.

Because the streaming service released this episode several days after the others, it’s hard to accurately judge how popular it really was. Most people watched it all at once when it came out, unlike a full season or limited series that viewers typically spread out over several days.

Okay, so even factoring in all the streaming competition, the final numbers for Stranger Things weren’t as huge as I thought they’d be. Honestly, the finale just didn’t quite land with a lot of people, and it didn’t seem to bring in a ton of new fans like some shows do. It’s a bit of a letdown, because I was expecting it to be a massive event!

Even before the final episode, some viewers were disappointed with how Stranger Things season 5 looked and felt, and the ending likely didn’t improve things. Meanwhile, Run Away‘s straightforward style offers a refreshing change of pace from a season finale that many felt didn’t live up to the hype.

Netflix Has A Proven Track Record Of Delivering With Harlan Coben Adaptations

The success of Run Away is also due to Netflix’s history of popular Harlan Coben adaptations, many of which were led by writer and producer Danny Brocklehurst. These previous shows have created a dedicated audience who were eager to watch the newest installment, helping it quickly reach the top of the charts.

Netflix now offers 12 screen adaptations of Harlan Coben’s novels, including popular originals like The Stranger and Stay Close, both created by Brocklehurst. Given the huge success of Run Away, it’s likely that all future Coben adaptations on Netflix will also be very popular.

Run Away’s Promotional Campaign Has Been Simple But Effective

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The team behind Run Away approached their marketing much like they did the show itself – by staying focused and consistent. They used a classic thriller setup – a missing daughter – and built their campaign around a direct question to viewers: “How far would you go to bring her back?”

The show’s popularity is likely boosted by consistently featuring Harlan Coben’s name in all promotional materials, like titles, posters, and trailers. Netflix has also been effectively drawing viewers in with a suspenseful preview of the series.

I’ve been watching Run Away blow up, and it’s honestly amazing! The marketing felt pretty simple, but it’s worked incredibly well. It started with people just talking about it, and now it’s become a total streaming phenomenon – it’s really taken on a life of its own and become a viral hit.

Will There Be A 2nd Season Of Run Away?

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With the show proving so popular, viewers are already eager for a second season of Run Away. However, despite Netflix’s desire to please fans, it’s highly unlikely to happen. All fifteen of Harlan Coben’s novels adapted for TV have been created as self-contained, one-season miniseries.

Unlike his Myron Bolitar books – which are becoming a Netflix series – most of Harlan Coben’s novels tell complete, standalone stories with clear endings, just like Run Away. Stretching these stories out would weaken their impact.

Fans of the Netflix series Run Away have something to look forward to: a new Harlan Coben miniseries called I Will Find You is coming soon. It has the potential to be another big hit, surpassing other popular streaming dramas.

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2026-01-07 21:55