The streaming giant said its original shows and movies were watched on its platform more than any other content in 2019, with the Adam Sandler-Jennifer Aniston comedy Murder Mystery being its most popular film with U.S. viewers. (The Wall Street Journal)

Talking point: Netflix previously reported viewership by counting the number of households that watched at least 70 per cent of a movie or show. This year’s rankings are based on how many households watched at least two minutes of a movie or show within its first 28 days of release. Netflix said this methodology provides a better indication of what people want to watch. There is also no independent reporting of the company’s viewership. The company didn’t disclose how much original content it released in 2019—it spent an estimated US$15 billion on originals this year—or how many people watched each ranked show. Earlier this month, the company released its Canadian audience breakdown in detail for the first time. Netflix has dominated the decade, seeing a 4,100 per cent rise in shares since the end of 2009—a return no other S&P 500 component has experienced this decade. The viewership numbers are another sign of how important original content could be as the streaming wars heat up.