Netflix has made a brilliant move in tapping into the popularity of animated movies and shows. The streaming giant now ranks as one of the top anime streaming platforms in several major countries, even surpassing Crunchyroll. Over the past few years, Netflix has been quietly building its anime library with classic titles and the latest releases for its audience. 

And its library spans multiple genres, including intense action and romance. So, it is no surprise that Netflix has managed to beat one of the biggest and most popular anime streaming platforms in the world, which still boasts a massive collection of titles and a large global user base.

As recently reported by GEM Partners' Anime Global White Paper 2026 (survey of 15k people across 15 countries) published on April 16, 2026, Netflix leads in 7 out of 9 major markets. These major countries include Japan, China, India, South Korea, the US, the UK, Germany, France, and Brazil. As for Crunchyroll, which is one of the most dedicated and well-known anime brands, boasting more than 1,000 titles, it got the top 1 spot in any of these countries except for spot 3 in Brazil. But Netflix’s rise in the anime space is not surprising, especially given the streaming giant’s announcement last year that its anime viewership has tripled over the past five years.

At Anime Expo in Los Angeles, Netflix revealed that nearly 50% of its users, estimated at around 300 million, watch anime. Netflix also reported that in 2024, their anime shows were viewed over 1 billion times globally, with 80–90% of viewers preferring dubbed content. In response, the platform has expanded its dubbing and language support to up to 33 languages, which is higher than Crunchyroll’s 18 languages. And Netflix has also shared a glimpse of its most popular anime shows on the platform.

What If Being a Hero Was a Punishment? This Anime Takes Fantasy to Another Level

Sakamoto Days had topped the charts across several countries, as per its last report.

The action-comedy Sakamoto Days, which follows former hitman Taro Sakamoto, now a convenience store owner, husband, and father, became the most-watched anime TV show on Netflix in 2025. The first season was streamed more than 24.4 million times last year, as per Netflix. As of 2026, the show holds an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Another title that found massive success on Netflix is Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2. Similar popular titles on Netflix are Pokémon Concierge, Beastars Final Season, Jujutsu Kaisen, My Happy Marriage, Spy x Family, Delicious in Dungeon, and more. And to meet growing demand, the streaming giant continues to expand its library with more titles. All in all, Netflix’s global anime strategy appears to be working, as it has surpassed major anime streaming platforms in several countries.

'Jujutsu Kaisen' Season 3 Episode 11: Your Complete Guide From Release Date to Preview

What do you think about Netflix's new feat in the anime market? Let us know in the comments.