India's Streaming Success: Netflix Reveals Top Shows and Films of 2026

Netflix has unveiled its 'What We Watched Report' for the first half of 2026, highlighting India's remarkable contribution to global streaming. With Indian titles generating 688 million views, films like 'Dhurandhar' and series such as 'Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web' have made significant impacts. This report showcases India's rising influence in the OTT space, with several titles breaking into global rankings and demonstrating the international appeal of Indian storytelling. Read on to explore the biggest hits of the year and their global reception.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 17, 2026, 17:22 IST

Netflix's Impressive Viewership in India

It's that exciting time of year again when Netflix discloses its most popular shows and movies from the first half of the year. As OTT platforms continue to break viewership records globally, the streaming giant's latest What We Watched Report for January to June 2026 highlights India's significant impact, revealing that Indian titles amassed an astonishing 688 million views within just six months. From hit films like Dhurandhar to praised series such as Kohrra, Indian narratives have captivated audiences across the globe. Let's explore the standout OTT successes of this year.

Top Films on Netflix

What were Netflix's most watched films?

According to the What We Watched Report for the first half of 2026, India emerged as the leading contributor to non-English film viewership on the platform, securing the third position globally for overall film consumption, following the United States and the United Kingdom. Four Indian films—Dhurandhar, Accused, Made in Korea, and Mardaani 3—made it to Netflix's Global Top 100 Films list, indicating a growing international interest in Indian cinema.

Leading the charge was Ranveer Singh's spy thriller Dhurandhar, which became the most-viewed Indian film on Netflix during this period, racking up an impressive 37 million views, marking it as the biggest Indian streaming triumph of the first half of 2026. The film's success on OTT is matched by its remarkable performance at the box office. Additionally, five Netflix Original films made it to the Global Top 500 Films list, including Accused, Made in Korea, Kartavya, Maa Behen, and Toaster. Notably, Made in Korea made history as the first South Indian film to reach the top spot on Netflix's Global Non-English Films chart upon its release, showcasing the increasing global appeal of regional Indian cinema.

Indian Series Gain Global Recognition

Indian series find audiences worldwide

Indian web series also had a remarkable six months on Netflix, with several titles achieving global rankings across various genres. Emraan Hashmi's Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web became India's highest-ranked series ever on Netflix's Global Top 100 TV list, setting a new standard for Indian streaming content.

It was accompanied by five other Indian series in the Global Top 500 TV rankings: the controversial yet binge-worthy Desi Bling, Maamla Legal Hai, India's Got Latent featuring Samay Raina, Glory, and Kohrra. This diverse selection underscores the rising international demand for Indian crime dramas, comedies, reality shows, and scripted originals. Meanwhile, The Great Indian Kapil Show emerged as the second most-viewed Indian series on Netflix based on viewing hours during this reporting period.