Disney’s bets on its existing IP catalogue reveal to be a success. Variety and independent data insights company Luminate report that book and comic adaptations lead the numbers for Disney+ original series viewership, with data collected from December 29, 2023, to May 10, 2024.
The first season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians took the first spot, with 23.3% of original series viewing time on Disney+ spent following the story of a demigod trying to find his place in the world as a son of Poseidon. Loyal fans of the YA novel embraced the show’s faithfulness to the book after going through failed film adaptations in the early 2010s.
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Despite lukewarm reviews, Marvel’s Echo placed second in viewership at 11.8%, an impressive feat considering that the miniseries has only five episodes, all released simultaneously on January 9, 2024. Following the events of Hawkeye, Maya Lopez retreats to her hometown to come to terms with her Native American roots.
Echo is the first release under the Marvel Spotlight banner, highlighting a “more grounded, character-driven” approach focused on the heroes rather than the wider MCU continuity.
Related: Echo Producer Hypes Up Charlie Cox's 'Incredible' Daredevil Cameo
Surprisingly, Marvel’s hit series X-Men ‘97 already placed third, even though the first season was still ongoing during data collection. The show’s 10-episode run has been praised by fans and critics alike for its reverence for mutant lore while drawing in new audiences with complex, high-stakes storylines.
Former showrunner Beau DeMayo reacts positively to this news, highlighting the exciting impact of recent animation hits in viewership:
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Another Marvel series, Loki season 2, also topped the charts at 8th place despite the show finishing in November 2023.
Rounding up the Top 10 are Renegade Nell S1 and A Real Bug’s Life, as well as four original series from Far Far Away: Star Wars: The Bad Batch S3, Ahsoka S1, The Mandalorian S3, and The Mandalorian S1.