While new Netflix titles like "Stranger Things" Season 5, "Adolescence," and "KPop Demon Hunters" generated significant buzz in 2025, an older series, the 2013 crime drama "The Blacklist," has also achieved impressive viewership numbers, proving its enduring appeal.

According to FlixPatrol data for the first half of 2025 (January to June), "The Blacklist," which concluded its 10-season run in 2023, was the 15th most popular crime show on the platform. During this period, the series accumulated a staggering 24 million views and a total of 376.1 million hours watched, underscoring a significant demand among Netflix subscribers for its particular style of entertainment.

Fundamentally, "The Blacklist" operates as a procedural, but with a unique twist. The series kicks off when Raymond Reddington, portrayed by the Emmy-winning James Spader, one of the world's most wanted criminals, surrenders to the FBI. His sole condition is to speak exclusively with rookie FBI profiler Elizabeth Keen, played by Megan Boone. Despite initial skepticism, Reddington quickly demonstrates his invaluable expertise, offering insights into the workings and minds of the world's most formidable criminals. Over its ten seasons, Reddington and Keen form an unlikely partnership, working to dismantle a roster of dangerous individuals known as "The Blacklist," all while slowly unraveling the mysterious connection between them.

The core appeal of "The Blacklist" lies in its procedural format. Each episode typically presents a new criminal from Reddington's extensive list, allowing the FBI team to investigate, piece together clues, and bring about a resolution by the episode's end. This episodic structure, characterized by a lack of major cliffhangers and intense serialized drama, positions "The Blacklist" as an ideal "casual" or "comfort watch." Unlike high-commitment shows such as "Stranger Things" or "Wednesday," which demand focused viewing and an understanding of intricate mythological worlds and past events, "The Blacklist" can be enjoyed sporadically or out of order without viewers feeling lost. This accessibility makes it an invaluable asset for Netflix, catering to a different viewing preference.

Beyond its easy-watching nature, the series' success in 2025 also attests to its consistent quality. Throughout its decade-long run, "The Blacklist" maintained strong critical and audience reception, garnering an average of 91% among critics and 75% among fans on Rotten Tomatoes. Even within its formulaic setup, the show managed to deliver surprising and high-stakes threats, with Seasons 5 and 6 notably achieving a perfect 100% critic score. A significant factor in its quality is James Spader's magnetic performance as Raymond Reddington. Spader masterfully embodies the ruthless yet layered criminal, captivating audiences with a character that is both spine-chillingly cunning and unexpectedly complex, a role that earned him two Golden Globe nominations. The talented ensemble cast also includes Ryan Eggold, Diego Klattenhoff, Harry Lennix, and Hisham Tawfiq, contributing to the show's overall strength under the creation of Jon Bokenkamp.

Ultimately, "The Blacklist"'s remarkable performance on Netflix in 2025 offers a clear insight into contemporary viewer desires. It demonstrates that while highly serialized, bingeworthy dramas remain popular, there is an equally strong demand for high-quality, entertaining shows that are easy to pick up, offer comfort, and require less dedicated focus. "The Blacklist" seamlessly fulfills these criteria, and its impressive viewership figures emphatically confirm its sustained relevance.