Streaming hit new highs in 2020 as audiences spent more time at home amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Netflix is nearing 200 million subscribers worldwide. Disney Plus has 87 million subscribers since launching in November 2019. Major media companies like WarnerMedia and NBCUniversal launched their own streaming competitors with HBO Max and Peacock, respectively.
But what were the biggest hits among all of these streaming options?
Research company Parrot Analytics provided Business Insider with its list of the top 20 most in-demand streaming originals of the year. The company measures "demand expressions," which take into account viewership, engagement, and desire of a series weighted by importance. The list is ranked by how much more in demand the shows are compared to the average series in the US.
The list is dominated by Netflix, from the comic-book hit "Umbrella Academy" to the former YouTube series, "Cobra Kai." Some shows, like "Stranger Things," did not release a new season this year, but the demand is still palpable.
But Disney took the top spot with its live-action blockbuster "Star Wars" series, "The Mandalorian," which wrapped up its second season last week.
A common theme throughout the list is the sci-fi/fantasy genre. Back in January, Business Insider found that streaming TV's biggest shows fell into this genre, are heavy on adventure elements, and are based on preexisting material, based on Parrot Analytics data. Nearly a year later, not much has changed in that regard.
Companies will continue to tap into these elements in 2021 and beyond. Amazon is developing shows based on the fantasy book series "The Wheel of Time" and "The Lord of the Rings." Netflix has multiple "Witcher" projects in the works along with "Resident Evil," based on the hit video game, and more. Disney Plus is developing at least 10 Marvel shows and 10 "'Star Wars" shows.
That doesn't even begin to cover all the high-profile, IP-based content in the works from the numerous streamers battling for consumer dollars.
Below are the 20 most popular original streaming TV shows of 2020, based on audience-demand data: