Pluribus Achieves Milestone as Apple TV’s Top Original Series Post-Finale
The science fiction series Pluribus has concluded its inaugural season with a significant surge in viewership, marking a pivotal achievement for Apple TV+. The show’s finale week not only elevated its popularity but also positioned it as the sole Apple TV+ original to secure a spot in Nielsen’s Top 10 Originals chart during the competitive holiday season.
According to Nielsen data, Pluribus amassed 483 million minutes of viewing time in the United States between December 22 and 28, reflecting a 40% increase from the previous week’s 360 million minutes. This substantial growth propelled the series from ninth to sixth place on the Top 10 Originals chart.
Comparative Viewership Data:
– Pluribus: 483 million minutes viewed, 40% week-over-week increase, ranked No. 6 on Nielsen’s Top 10 Originals.
– Stranger Things: 6.89 billion minutes viewed, ranked No. 1 on both Originals and Overall charts.
– Landman: 1.64 billion minutes viewed, ranked No. 2 overall.
– Fallout: 918 million minutes viewed, ranked No. 3 on Originals and No. 7 overall.
– The Closer: 974 million minutes viewed, ranked No. 1 among acquired titles.
– Taylor Swift: The End of an Era: 377 million minutes viewed, boosted by final episodes.
Impact of the Season Finale:
The timing of Pluribus’ season finale played a crucial role in its viewership surge. With only nine episodes available, the series achieved viewing figures typically associated with shows boasting more extensive episode libraries. It outperformed titles such as Mayor of Kingstown, Percy Jackson & the Olympians, The Beast in Me, and Taylor Swift: The End of an Era, standing as Apple TV+’s only entry on the Top 10 Originals list that week.
Competitive Landscape:
The success of Pluribus is particularly noteworthy given the intense competition during the holiday season. Stranger Things dominated the charts, leading both the Originals and Overall rankings with 6.89 billion minutes viewed following the release of new episodes from its final season. Other strong performers included Landman with 1.64 billion minutes and Fallout with 918 million minutes, both benefiting from new episode releases.
Apple’s Statement:
In a separate statement, Apple described Pluribus as its most-watched show ever, stating that the series had become Apple TV+’s most watched show of all time. However, the company did not provide specific numbers to support this claim, making direct comparisons with other Apple TV+ releases challenging.
Conclusion:
The Nielsen data offers a clear snapshot of Pluribus’ momentum. The finale week indicates that the series gained traction at a critical moment, effectively navigating a crowded holiday streaming window. While the data only covers U.S. audiences, the significant increase suggests strong engagement and growing interest as the season concluded.
