From the "Volume" LED tech used in The Mandalorian to the cutting-edge CGI of Avatar: The Way of Water .
A close partner that revolutionized the industry with a low-budget, high-return horror model.
At the forefront of this revolution is , which has become synonymous with streaming success. In 2025, the platform continued to produce the most-watched content globally. The British limited series Adolescence topped Netflix's charts with a staggering 144.8 million views, followed closely by seasons 2 and 3 of the Korean thriller Squid Game . However, the undisputed king of the platform was the return of Wednesday , whose second season amassed over 120 million views, beating even the final season of Stranger Things for the top spot. These hits, alongside established successes like The Night Agent , Ginny & Georgia , Zero Day , and American Primeval , solidified Netflix’s position as the leading force in streaming originals.
HBO remains the undisputed gold standard for premium television, blending massive budgets with elite storytelling.
: High-budget, tentpole releases with massive global appeal.
Universal has built a resilient empire by balancing massive action franchises with high-concept horror and animation.
Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) , Star Wars franchise, Frozen , and Avatar .
: Marvel has a unique feature - its "Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) continuity team," which ensures consistency across all Marvel movies and TV shows, tracking characters, plotlines, and timelines.
Stranger Things , Squid Game , Bridgerton , and The Crown .
: The largest player, encompassing major units like Marvel Studios , Lucasfilm (Star Wars), Pixar , and 20th Century Studios (formerly Fox).
Uses viewer algorithms to determine which genres, actors, and directors to fund. Apple Studios & Amazon MGM Studios
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is currently undergoing a significant strategic transformation. Reports indicate the company is preparing to spin off its cable networks (including HGTV, TNT, and CNN) to focus more heavily on its studios and streaming business. This has not, however, slowed down its production output. WBD’s slate for 2025 is filled with a wide array of content. On the unscripted side, new series include the true-crime for discovery+ and the unique Dancing With Sharks for Shark Week. For its streaming service, Max, the company is adding high-profile features like the A24 horror film Opus and HBO original documentaries such as Billy Joel: And So It Goes . The network is also investing in returning reality hits like Gold Rush and Deadliest Catch , while debuting new scripted and unscripted programs from a variety of production partners.