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Duffer Brothers Have Most-Watched Show on Netflix Despite Leaving Streaming Giant Last Month

In August 2025 news broke that the Duffer Brothers, Matt and Ross, were leaving Netflix for Paramount thanks to a new four-year contract in a move that allows the brothers to make movies for the big screen.

"We couldn't be more thrilled to be joining the Paramount family," the brothers said in a statement at the time. "To be part of that mission is not just exciting – it's the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. And to do so at a studio with such a storied Hollywood legacy is a privilege we don't take lightly."

"We're also excited to reunite with our friends Cindy [Holland] and Matt [Thunell], who were among the very first to believe in us and an unusual little script we wrote that became ‘Stranger Things.' They took a chance on us in 2015, and they're taking a chance again – we can't wait to create new stories together."

The Duffer brothers official exit didn't come until April and now the duo has the most-watched movie on Netflix a month after their departure.

'The Boroughs' Takes the Top Spot

What's on Netflix revealed the brothers' new show The Boroughs took over the top spot on the move-watched series rankings.

"Over on the TV Series charts, the Duffer Brothers' sci-fi series The Boroughs has successfully completed its climb to the top, dethroning Nemesis to claim the #1 spot with 77 points," it said.

What is 'The Boroughs' About?

Netflix revealed the following tagline for the show:

"In a seemingly perfect retirement community, a grieving newcomer's monstrous encounter inspires him to join a misfit crew of unlikely heroes who uncover a dark secret that proves their 'golden years' are more dangerous, and they are more formidable, than anyone expects.

The Duffer Brothers, who produced the show, noted, "While the heroes in The Boroughs have a few more years on them than the kids from Stranger Things, they are a similarly lovable bunch of misfits, and we can't wait for you to join them on an adventure that is at turns scary, funny, and deeply touching."

The show received a whopping 97% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and now has fans in a stranglehold.

Related: Netflix Quietly Cancels New Series After Just 1 Season

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 6:07 PM.

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