This Netflix Crime Drama Might Have Ended 4 Years Ago, but It’s Pulled More Than 100M Hours of Watch Time

While plenty of show creators can point to the pitfalls of streaming, from shorter seasons to long gaps between releases, it’s hard to deny its biggest benefit: the way it allows audiences to rediscover series long after they’ve ended. Netflix’s Engagement Reports provide the clearest evidence of this, offering a snapshot of how older titles continue to resonate years after their finales. In its most recent report covering the first half of 2025, the streamer logged more than 95 billion viewing hours across genres and languages. Nearly half of that came from Netflix Originals released in 2023 or earlier, proving just how strong the long tail of streaming really is.

Some familiar hits, like Orange Is the New Black and Ozark, are expected to hold their ground, but the real standout is the Spanish-language phenomenon Money Heist (La Casa de Papel), which has once again proven itself to be one of Netflix’s most enduring global hits. Four years after it concluded, the Spanish-language phenomenon racked up more than 100 million hours of watch time in just six months of 2025. That’s an astonishing number for a series that wrapped its story in 2021, and it cements Money Heist as not just one of Netflix’s most popular shows, but one of the most rewatchable and influential original series the streamer has released.

‘Money Heist’ Became a Global Sensation After Its First Season

It’s both surprising and not surprising that Money Heist continues to pull in such impressive numbers. On the one hand, it feels like a no-brainer: the series is impeccably crafted, from its sharp writing to its compelling performances, and it always had the DNA of a global hit. On the other hand, when it first aired on Spain’s Antena 3 in 2017, it was only a modest success and far from a national phenomenon. It wasn’t until Netflix acquired the rights, re-edited the episodes and relaunched them to a worldwide audience later that year that the show transformed into an international obsession. The fact that something that barely made waves in its home country could go on to break language barriers and inspire global blockbusters like Squid Game is exactly what makes its enduring popularity so fascinating.

Much of Money Heist’s power comes from the characters created by Álex Pina. At the center is The Professor (Álvaro Morte), whose cold precision and meticulous planning set the stage for everything, but it was his deep and hidden vulnerabilities that made him so unforgettable. Told largely through the perspective of Tokyo (Úrsula Corberó), the series gave its ensemble cast room to shine, balancing The Professor’s calculated genius with the messy humanity of his crew. Characters like Denver (Jaime Lorente), Nairobi (Alba Flores), Rio (Miguel Herrán), and, eventually, Berlin (Pedro Alonso) became fan favorites. Even though they were wreaking havoc and robbing banks, their characters were so well-developed that it was hard not to care about them or even root for them.

This rare balance of action and character depth is what made Money Heist so captivating, and why it continues to resonate with audiences years after its finale. The ensemble’s unexpected fame reflected the show’s breakout appeal. None of the actors imagined their work would become central to Netflix’s global streaming push, but soon they were garnering millions of social media followers overnight as Money Heist was winning famous admirers like Stephen King, Mindy Kaling, and Bad Bunny. That kind of cultural crossover is rare, and it’s a testament not only to Álex Pina’s sharp storytelling but also to the cast’s layered performances, which elevated every twist and cliffhanger into something unforgettable.

‘Money Heist’ Has Become One of the Most Influential Shows on Netflix

By the time Money Heist wrapped its five-part run in December 2021, it had already cemented itself as one of Netflix’s crown jewels. So much so that it inspired several expansions within just a couple of years. In 2022, Netflix released Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area, which reimagined the story against the backdrop of a divided Korea, and in 2023 came Berlin in 2023, a spin-off focused on Pedro Alonso’s fan-favorite character. These additions not only introduced new audiences to the franchise but also sent many longtime fans back to the original, keeping its momentum alive even after the finale. Earlier this year, Netflix announced that Berlin had begun filming its second season, a sign that the world of Money Heist isn’t finished captivating viewers.

The show’s long-term influence on Netflix, and streaming more broadly, can’t be overstated. Before Money Heist, subtitled international programming was often considered niche in many markets. Its runaway success proved that audiences around the world were more than willing to engage with non-English content if the storytelling was compelling enough. That revelation reshaped Netflix’s strategy, encouraging heavy investment in international originals like Lupin and Squid Game, both of which benefited from the path paved by Money Heist. Also mentioned in their 2025 Engagement Report, Netflix revealed that more than one-third of all viewing hours came from non-English titles.

It’s remarkable to think that the series that once struggled to gain traction on Spanish television is now credited with changing the trajectory of global entertainment. Money Heist’s success showed that audiences care less about language than they do about great stories and memorable characters. To Netflix’s credit, the streamer leaned into that momentum, ordering more episodes after the series first went global and giving creator Álex Pina the space to expand his vision. He took full advantage, digging deeper into the ensemble and raising the stakes until no character felt truly safe. That combination of unpredictability and humanity kept audiences hooked from start to finish and has made the series endlessly rewatchable.

Four years later, Money Heist remains one of Netflix’s most important originals, not just for the staggering viewing hours it continues to generate, but for its cultural and industry impact. Its staying power lies in unforgettable characters, relentless cliffhangers, and sharp writing that never lets audiences look away. By setting a new global benchmark, the series opened the door for other groundbreaking international hits to thrive, and even long after the final heist ended, it’s still managing to steal the world’s attention.

All seasons of Money Heist are available to stream on Netflix.

Money Heist

Release Date

2017 – 2021-00-00

Showrunner

Álex Pina

Writers

Álex Pina, Javier Gómez Santander

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