Forget ‘Stranger Things,’ This Netflix Teen Hit Built a Cultural Empire of Its Own [Exclusive]

In telling the story of Netflix's rise as the current largest premium streamer, a few series must be mentioned as catalysts for the platform's growth and modern identity. Early forays into original content, like Orange Is the New Black, House of Cards, Narcos, BoJack Horseman, and Daredevil, showed that a service of its kind was capable of pioneering the next generation of must-watch television. The debut of Stranger Things in 2016 and subsequent expansion of the series, meanwhile, took things further by demonstrating the pure cinematic scale streaming could provide, with the ability to make stars and tell stories that feel like blockbusters. Bridgerton would then become a shining example of Netflix's ability to support literary series adaptations, and Squid Game broke cultural barriers, opening up more viewers than ever to the artistry of international television.