Pluribus Finale Drives Apple TV+ Series to Record Viewership Milestone

Apple TV+'s sci-fi thriller Pluribus shattered its viewership records during its season finale week, according to Nielsen streaming data released today. Between December 22-28, the series accumulated 483 million minutes viewed in the U.S., marking a significant 40% increase from the prior week's 360 million minutes. This surge propelled Pluribus to sixth place on Nielsen's Top 10 Originals chart—its highest position since launch.

The finale-driven momentum demonstrates notable efficiency: Pluribus reached this milestone with just nine total episodes available. By comparison, chart-topper Stranger Things (6.887 billion minutes viewed) leveraged 41 episodes across multiple seasons, while Paramount+'s The Beast in Me and Disney+'s Percy Jackson & the Olympians utilized larger episode counts. Only Amazon's Fallout—which placed third with 10 episodes—came close in episode efficiency.

Pluribus outperformed major competitors despite Apple TV+'s smaller subscriber base. It ranked as the sole Apple series in Nielsen's Top 10 Originals during this period, surpassing established shows like Mayor of Kingstown and Taylor Swift: The End of an Era. The data aligns with Apple's recent announcement naming Pluribus its "most-watched series ever," though the company hasn't disclosed global figures beyond Nielsen's U.S.-only metrics.

This viewership spike highlights Apple TV+'s strategy of prioritizing high-impact limited series. Unlike Netflix's binge-centric model, Apple released Pluribus weekly—a structure that built anticipation toward the finale. The show's performance suggests strong audience retention despite lacking the back catalogs common among rivals. Pluribus remains available globally on Apple TV+, which operates at $12.99/month with apps across iOS, Android, smart TVs, and streaming devices.

For Nielsen methodology details, visit their official measurement guidelines.