CHRIS STEVENS: Are you one of the growing army of Netflix zombies who just can’t find anything to watch?
The article argues that many Netflix subscribers are paying for the service but rarely watching it, a group described by analysts as “subscription zombies”. It says viewers may be tiring of the platform’s original shows, and that Netflix’s modest growth in viewing time and falling share price point to a business that has lost momentum.
The article cites Netflix’s UK top ten, led by the romcom *Nobody Wants This*, alongside a reality show based on the Stanford Prison Experiment and the Canadian thriller *Below*. It notes that *Ghosts*, which ended three years ago, is among the chart’s offerings, while the writer criticises *East of Eden*. Netflix viewing minutes per person have risen by 2 per cent in 2026; its shares have fallen from $93.76 at the start of the year to $65.85 by last week, and are down from a peak of $134.
In short
- Netflix viewing time per person has risen by just 2 per cent in 2026.
- The article says more subscribers are paying without regularly watching.
- Netflix shares have fallen sharply from their 2025 peak.
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The case for
The article’s figures and examples support the view that Netflix may be losing some viewers’ interest: time watched has risen only slightly, its share price has fallen, and the chart includes older or criticised titles. Subscribers who pay but rarely watch suggest that the service may not be offering enough appealing new programmes to justify its cost.
The case against
A modest rise in viewing time does not by itself show that Netflix has lost momentum: people may value having a broad catalogue available even if they watch intermittently, and a UK top ten is only a snapshot of viewing. Share prices can fall for reasons beyond audience interest, while the mix of new and older programmes may reflect varied tastes rather than a lack of worthwhile content.
Explained simply
Netflix is a streaming service that charges subscribers a regular fee to watch films and television programmes online. Its library includes shows it has made itself as well as programmes from other broadcasters, and its UK top ten is one snapshot of what viewers are watching.
The term “subscription zombies” refers to people who keep paying for a service but use it little or not at all. For a subscription business such as Netflix, how often people watch can matter alongside how many people subscribe, because it may affect whether they keep paying.
Netflix competes with other streaming services and traditional television for viewers’ time and spending. Viewing figures and share prices are different measures: viewing indicates audience activity, while a share price reflects what investors are willing to pay for a stake in the company.