What We Watched: Netflix 2020

To say the least, it’s been a very emotional year. And What We Watched 2020 reveals the full spectrum of moods and emotions our members expressed through what they chose to watch - ranging from 😳 to 🤣, not forgetting 😭 or 😲 and 🤯. Here’s a look at the biggest viewing trends on Netflix in Mexico in 2020 - some obvious, some a bit more surprising:

We escaped: Nothing like a good laugh to clear your mind. From saying goodbye to El Cacas in La Casa de las Flores to discovering the adventure of parenthood with Ahí te encargo and laughing away the Halloween scares with Hubie Halloween, these were some of the most popular comedies in Mexico this year. 

We got an adrenaline high: Mexicans also loved adrenaline-soaked (and bicep-filled) action titles with Extraction, Spenser Confidential, The Old Guard, Project Power, and Cobra Kai ranking among the most popular action titles of the year. 

We ‘traveled’ while staying home: The urge to travel was real, and Mexicans branched out into all corners of the world. Despite the very scary zombies of #Alive and Kingdom: Season 2, Mexicans watched twice as much K-Content as last year. Spain’s The Platform, Elite: Season 3, and La Casa de Papel: Season 4, as well as Turkey’s The Protector, were also among the most popular international titles. Mexico was also a top destination for countries around the world to visit on their screens with the thriller Dark Desire landing in the top 10 lists of more than 75 countries and Control Z traveling to countries like Brazil, Saudi Arabia, France, and the United States. 

We cried: Obviously. In April, searches on Netflix for “sad movies” quadrupled. Thankfully, we stocked up on kleenex, since the tears kept coming with some of the most popular dramas and documentaries including Miracle in Cell No. 7, Se busca papá and Las tres muertes de Marisela Escobedo. 

But later, we found reasons to dance: Whether we were blasting slowed down cumbias with the Tercos in Ya no estoy aquí, singing along with Selena: La Serie, or dancing away with BLACKPINK, 2020 didn’t stop us from showing off our best moves. 

We fell in love:  In 2020, we watched three times more romance than last year - The Kissing Booth 2, To All The Boys P.S I Still Love You, Love, 100 días para enamorarnos, and The Princess Switch: Switched Again were the ones that left us looking like 😍.

We let our imagination fly: From fighting enemies with swords to unlocking magical doors, Mexicans enjoyed more fantasy than ever this year5. Locke & Key and The Letter for the King were among the most popular fantasies of the year. We also watched twice as much anime this year - Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution, The Seven Deadly Sins: Imperial Wrath of the Gods, and Spirited Away  were the most popular.  

We ate (a lot): In the spirit of trying new hobbies, searches on Netflix for cooking terms tripled in March, and shows like Sugar Rush and Nailed It! Mexico: Season 2 became tasty viewing winners. But the real victory came when we all joined forces to position the tlayuda and introduced it to the world with Street food Latin America.

We put family first: In 2020, we missed our families more than ever so we filled the void with complex (fictional) family dynamics. Over the Moon, Enola Holmes, and The Willoughbys were among the most popular titles built around families. Once we neared the holidays, kids and family viewing was dominated byThe Christmas Chronicles: Part Two and Jingle Jangle. 

Footnotes

• All % difference stats are based on total view hours difference between Jan -Nov 2019 versus Jan - Nov 2020 for Netflix Mexico members.

• All ‘most popular’ title stats are based on titles that premiered on Netflix between Jan and Nov 2020

• Viewing of action was up more than 60%.

• Based on the number of searches on Netflix in April compared to March.

• Viewing of fantasy nearly tripled

• Based on the number of searches on Netflix in March compared to February.