Image: Stranger Things, Netflix
This week, 12 - 18 February, Spongebob Squarepants remained the most in-demand show with 67.8 times the average series demand in the United States, a 6% increase from last week. The increase came shortly after an announcement at the ViacomCBS Investor Event on February 15 where it was revealed that three new Spongebob character spinoff movies for Paramount+ were in the works at Nickelodeon Studios; the first of which will release in 2023.
Attack on Titan remained in second place with 60 times more demand than the average show, and was followed by South Park in third place with 53.1 times the average demand. The Japanese anime series recently posted an announcement on the official AoT website stating that episode 87 of the final season would be delayed by a week due to a “special program”. The announcement has led to a lot of excitement and anticipation online, with many fans speculating that a movie will be released on the original air date instead.
Demand for The Walking Dead saw a 10% increase this week, ahead of its final season premiere, making it the tenth most in-demand show in the country. The series was 41.3 times more in demand than the average show this week. The first episode of season 11 part 2 aired this Sunday, February 20 and has fans of the long running, beloved zombie series buzzing with anticipation as the story heads towards its conclusion.
The Mandalorian stayed at the top of the digital original rankings for the third week in a row despite a 4% decline in demand, making it 46.7 times more in demand that the average series in the US. The Book of Boba Fett also remained in second place with 43.3 times the average series demand, a 3% decrease from last week.
Stranger Things shot up the rankings this week and became the third most in-demand digital original after Netflix finally revealed the premiere dates for the fourth season, both parts 1 and 2. The announcement led to an 11% increase in demand for the series, making it 36.6 times more in demand than the average show in the US. Next on the chart is HBO Max’s latest hit Peacemaker, which also had a good week with a 6% increase in demand that came after James Gunn and John Cena announced that the series had been renewed for a second season.
Rounding up the chart this week, we have Pam & Tommy in ninth place, down from sixth last week following a 13% decline in demand despite being in the midst of episode releases. We do expect to see an increase in demand for the show around its series finale, which is set to release on March 09. Ozark held on to its position in the chart this week at tenth place despite a 9% decrease in demand as it heads into the fourth week post its season four release.
