On July 19th, it marked 29 years since the first chapter of One Piece appeared in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine back in 1997. Today, almost three decades later, One Piece is more popular than anyone could have predicted – Luffy has become a symbol of Shonen Jump, and the series has grown into a huge and lasting franchise.
Over the past three to five years, One Piece has experienced incredible growth as a franchise – perhaps more than in the previous thirty! This is largely thanks to the new live-action series on Netflix. It’s a significant addition to the world of One Piece, and it’s even become more popular than the original anime.
One Piece’s Live-Action Lands Major Streaming Milestone
Filming has finished on Season 3 of Netflix’s live-action One Piece, titled The Battle of Alabasta, and it’s scheduled to release in 2027. The show is already a hit, but its popularity recently reached a new high. According to Netflix’s viewing report for the first half of 2026, ONE PIECE: Season 2 was the seventh most-watched series on the platform between January and June.
The One Piece live-action series has become a huge hit for Netflix! According to their latest report covering the first six months of 2026, viewers have now watched over 1 billion hours of the show since it premiered in 2023. Combining both seasons, the total watch time reaches an incredible 1.33 billion hours – that’s around 172.9 million views. Netflix expects these numbers to keep growing throughout the rest of 2026 and jump even higher when Season 3 arrives in 2027.
2027 Will Be One Piece’s Biggest Year In Decades
The live-action adaptation of One Piece is a huge success, and arguably the most significant expansion of the franchise since the anime began. It’s not only winning over longtime fans, but also drawing in new viewers and gaining mainstream attention. The series’ impact is undeniable, and over the past three years, it’s brought One Piece more recognition than it’s had in its thirty-year history.
With Season 3 planned for 2027, One Piece is expected to continue gaining popularity. The year ahead looks set to be huge for the series – potentially the biggest in decades – with both the live-action Season 3 and a remake by Wit Studio scheduled for release in February 2027. This timing also coincides with the series’ 30th anniversary.
Both the live-action series and the remake are expected to significantly boost the popularity of One Piece. The live-action show will attract new fans, while the remake will make the anime easier for modern viewers to enjoy. Plus, with the original anime looking better than ever in its final arc, there’s soon going to be no excuse not to start watching—or to get completely swept away by—One Piece, especially if it keeps gaining fans as quickly as it is.
2026-07-20 15:08