New Stranger Things Show Already Dethroned On Netflix

1 week ago 12

Published Apr 27, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT

Felipe Rangel is a Movie and TV Journalist ScreenRant. He has been writing about movies and TV since 2021. Felipe joined ScreenRant in 2022, working across different teams, covering everything from breaking news to features to reviews and more.

Felipe is a writer who is an avid film and TV fan, with superhero movies and series being his biggest passion. He graduated from college in 2019, having studied Journalism. Before college, he spent a month studying at the Oxford English Centre. His superhero knowledge expands to the comics, with his undergraduate thesis being "Politics Reflected In American Comics."

Stranger Things' return is turned upside down.

Stranger Things: Tales from '85 is currently the 8th most-watched TV show on Netflix in the United States, falling in the streamer's nationwide chart, while the most-watched TV show on Netflix in the US is Running Point. While the sci-fi series is not as high on the streamer's nationwide chart as expected, the Stranger Things spinoff still ranks above shows like Trust Me: The False Prophet and Million Dollar Secret. Between the basketball comedy series and Tales from '85 are Unchosen, Hulk Hogan: Real American, Supernova Strikers: Genesis, Beef, Funny AF with Kevin Hart, and This Is a Gardening Show.

Given how popular Stranger Things was, it is a surprise that Tales from '85 has not managed to lead Netflix's TV show chart in the US, with the sports comedy Running Point accomplishing that feat instead. That said, the latter stands on different ground. After all, Running Point season 2 recently debuted on Netflix on April 23, with those who had already enjoyed the first season of the global hit basketball series tuning back in. While Tales from '85 builds on one of Netflix's most-watched TV shows, the Stranger Things spinoff is animated and is in its first season.

Running Point ranking higher than Stranger Things: Tales from '85 on Netflix's United States chart could also be explained by the difference in reception between the two shows. On Rotten Tomatoes, Running Point season 2 currently stands at a stellar 88% critics' score and a healthy 76% audience score. As for Netflix's first Stranger Things spinoff, Tales from '85 is at a decent 63% critics' score but a disappointing 50% audience score. Not only are more viewers watching the sports series than the Stranger Things animated spinoff, but Running Point is also landing better than Tales from '85 with those viewers.

When it comes to ScreenRant's reviews, Running Point also comes out on top in relation to the Stranger Things spinoff. In ScreenRant's Running Point season 2 review, critic Cher Thompson gave the sports comedy a 6 out of 10 score, citing Kate Hudson's charm and ability to spark chemistry with anyone onscreen as the show's best weapon.

In ScreenRant's Stranger Things: Tales from '85 review, critic Kara Hedash gave the sci-fi series a 5 out of 10 score, praising the fresh action sequences and returning characters, but commenting on how the spinoff doesn't have a set audience. Running Point and Stranger Things: Tales from '85's journey on Netflix's chart is only beginning.