What the GCC is watching: The Shows and Films Dominating Streaming Screens

TDT | Manama

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From Arabic dramas and Turkish hits to Hollywood franchises and Indian entertainment, streaming audiences across the Gulf are showing a remarkably diverse appetite. Current viewing charts across major platforms including Netflix, Shahid, Prime Video, OSN and STARZPLAY reveal a mix of regional favourites and international blockbusters.

Netflix: Thrillers, Drama and Big Franchises Netflix's latest charts in Saudi Arabia and the UAE show strong interest in thriller and drama titles. The Whisper Man is among the leading films, while Years of Darkness, Mousetrap and The Early Spring are featuring prominently among TV shows. In the UAE, The Gentlemen has also climbed to the top of Netflix's TV rankings.

The popularity of The Gentlemen comes as Netflix expands its September offering, with the second season among the platform's major new releases in the UAE.

Shahid: Arabic Content Remains Strong For Shahid, locally produced and Arabic-language entertainment continues to dominate. In Saudi Arabia, Benaat Omar leads the TV rankings, followed by Love on Paper and Torn Apart. Among films, Shelter currently sits at No. 1, with Venom: The Last Dance also attracting viewers.

The Bahrain chart similarly places Love on Paper and Benaat Omar at the top, highlighting the continued strength of regional content among Gulf audiences.

Prime Video: Reacher Leads the Pack Prime Video is seeing strong demand for international action and drama. In the UAE, Reacher currently tops the TV rankings, followed by Qesma w Naseeb and Off Campus. The Runner is also among the leading films.

The platform's September lineup is adding further momentum, with Neagley, the Reacher spin-off, among its major new releases alongside The Runner and other original productions.

OSN: Classics Still Have a Huge Audience OSN's current UAE rankings demonstrate the enduring appeal of established franchises. Game of Thrones leads the TV chart, while Marty Supreme tops the movie rankings. Harry Potter, The Mentalist, Friends and The Sopranos are also attracting significant audiences.

Interestingly, Game of Thrones is currently the top OSN TV show across several GCC markets, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE.

STARZPLAY: Regional and International Mix STARZPLAY's UAE rankings reflect another distinctive combination of Indian, Arabic and international entertainment. Uyir, Premalu and Archana 31 Not Out are among its leading films, while Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi and Lioness feature prominently among TV offerings.

The GCC Streaming Picture Taken together, the charts show that there is no single Gulf viewing trend. Audiences are moving comfortably between Arabic originals, Turkish dramas, Indian films, Hollywood blockbusters, action franchises and long-running classics.

The biggest takeaway is the continued importance of local and regional storytelling alongside global entertainment. Shahid's strong Arabic-language performance sits alongside Netflix's international hits, Prime Video's action-led catalogue and OSN's enduring appeal of premium Hollywood and HBO programming.

For Gulf viewers, streaming is no longer about choosing between local and international entertainment -- they are watching both.