Netflix’s New #1 Thriller Beating Stranger Things Highlights A Major Streaming Trend

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Netflix’s new thriller series, Run Away, isn’t flawless, but its popularity shows that even the massive hit Stranger Things can’t overshadow all streaming content. The final season of Stranger Things has generated a lot of fan reactions, and many of those responses were exactly what people expected.

Wow, the reaction to the Stranger Things finale was something else! I saw fans absolutely loving every single choice the creators made, while others were so upset they started hoping Netflix would secretly release an alternate ending! It just proves that even with a massive TV event like this, you can’t please everyone – the whole ‘ConformityGate’ thing really blew up online. It was a wild ride, and clearly, a lot of people had strong feelings about how it all wrapped up.

Interestingly, a major talking point surrounding the finale wasn’t about Stranger Things itself, but about Netflix. The streaming service invested heavily in the final season, spending more money than ever before on both its production and its marketing.

Harlan Coben’s Run Away Is Another Number One Thriller Novel Adaptation For Netflix

Ben Blackall/Netflix

It’s surprising to learn that the final episodes of Stranger Things season 5 were knocked out of the number one spot on Netflix in just four days by the new series Run Away. Based on the popular novel by Harlan Coben, Run Away follows James Nesbitt as he searches for his missing daughter, Paige.

When Simon attacks Paige’s boyfriend, Aaron, and Aaron is later found dead, Paige’s father immediately becomes the prime suspect. While his wife, Ingrid, is in a coma, Simon has to locate Paige and prove his innocence by uncovering the true killer. Harlan Coben’s suspenseful novel received a somewhat divided reaction from critics when it was first published.

Despite its predictable plot – similar to many other thriller adaptations on Netflix – Run Away quickly became the platform’s most popular show just days after the release of Stranger Things. Clearly, fans weren’t bothered by the show’s twist ending or lack of originality.

The biggest lesson from the show’s success is clear: thrillers are dominating Netflix. Many of the streamer’s most popular new series are based on this genre, like adaptations of novels such as The Hunting Wives (2025) and Run Away. Netflix continues to find success by turning these gripping, fast-paced books into shows.

Thriller Books Provided Netflix With Some of 2024 and 2025’s Biggest Hits

Image courtesy of Everett Collection

Netflix is likely pleased with this news because thrillers generally cost less to make than their blockbuster shows. While hits like Squid Game, Stranger Things, and Wednesday consistently draw viewers, they also require significant financial investment.

Creating and marketing popular shows like Stranger Things, Wednesday, and Squid Game is very costly. These shows rely on special effects and feature large casts, often including famous actors. Adapting a thriller novel, however, can be done on a much smaller budget and with a simpler story.

Despite being a big success for Netflix in 2025, The Hunting Wives didn’t cost nearly as much to make as season 5 of Stranger Things. The popular show You, which ran for five seasons, was also relatively inexpensive compared to other major hits like Bridgerton and Wednesday.

While not every show is a hit, Netflix has consistently found success with thriller adaptations in recent years. Shows like The Hunting Wives, the popular Fool Me Once (which remains one of their most-watched titles), and The Stranger demonstrate that viewers really enjoy this type of content.

Run Away Is Only The Start Of Netflix’s Promising Thriller Adaptations In 2026

As someone who really enjoyed Run Away, I’m thrilled to hear it’s just the beginning of some great thriller adaptations coming to Netflix in 2026. It’s amazing to see how far they’ve come! I remember when they canceled Mindhunter because of the cost – now, it seems like psychological thrillers are exactly what people tune in for, and Netflix is delivering.

Upcoming adaptations include a fresh take on Ira Levin’s The Boys from Brazil. Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods will be a captivating story about a family falling apart after their daughter goes missing. And How To Kill Your Family will adapt Bella Mackie’s first novel for the screen.

The new book is being adapted into a series starring Anya Taylor-Joy, known for her leading role in the popular show The Queen’s Gambit. The series, The God of the Woods, will also reunite a producer and writer from the acclaimed show Mindhunter, promising a similar mix of suspense and compelling characters.

The upcoming psychological thriller, Out of the Dust, will explore a strict religious group, similar to the premise of Run Away. However, unlike Run Away, this British thriller isn’t based on a pre-existing book. The success of Run Away—especially its victory over Stranger Things—suggests a promising future for Netflix’s upcoming thriller adaptations of novels.

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2026-01-06 22:39