8 Shows That Came Out Of Nowhere And Took The World By Storm

These days, it’s hard to predict which TV shows will become hits. With so many streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, and HBO Max, viewers have endless choices, and new shows are added constantly. Despite these challenges, some shows still unexpectedly become incredibly popular.

Many popular TV shows became hits unexpectedly, often starting with buzz from viewers and growing through online fan support. These shows didn’t become successful overnight – they often spent years building an audience. Here’s a look at eight shows that really surprised everyone online and became major hits.

Schitt’s Creek

Back in January 2015, almost no one in the US knew about the show Schitt’s Creek. The comedy originally aired in Canada and didn’t get much attention in the States at first. It stayed relatively unknown online until Netflix started streaming it. When Netflix added the third season of Schitt’s Creek, the show quickly became incredibly popular, and it stayed that way right up to the final season.

With Eugene and Daniel Levy at the heart of it, Schitt’s Creek truly lives up to the hype. The show follows the Rose family, who lose their fortune and are forced to rebuild their lives in the small, quirky town of Schitt’s Creek. As they adjust to a much simpler lifestyle, their eccentric personalities often collide with those of the town’s friendly, but sometimes bewildered, residents.

Abbott Elementary

Before 2021, Quinta Brunson was mostly known for her comedy work at BuzzFeed. However, she recently transitioned to traditional television after leaving BuzzFeed, and that’s when her hit show, Abbott Elementary, came along. The mockumentary-style comedy first aired on ABC in late 2021 to positive reviews, but it really took off when it became available on streaming services like Hulu, earning widespread critical acclaim by the end of its first season.

Quinta Brunson created Abbott Elementary, a comedy that feels like a modern take on shows like The Office. The show follows the funny and often chaotic lives of teachers at a public elementary school in West Philadelphia, with Brunson herself playing the main character, Janine Teagues. When a documentary crew starts filming the challenges faced by local schools, Janine and her coworkers don’t hesitate to showcase the humorous side of teaching—from dealing with quirky substitutes and unruly students to navigating workplace drama. Abbott Elementary had all the makings of a popular show, and while it took a little while to gain traction after its first season, it eventually became a hit.

Ted Lasso

When Ted Lasso first premiered on Apple TV+ in 2020, its success wasn’t guaranteed, even with a well-known lead actor. Though the show received good reviews and had ten episodes for its first season, it didn’t become a major talking point until after season one finished airing. The timing of its launch was also challenging, as the global pandemic was diverting people’s attention.

After a hugely successful first season, Ted Lasso received a record number of nominations at the Primetime Emmy Awards – and rightfully so. The show starts with a funny idea: what if an American football coach who isn’t very experienced was hired to coach a professional soccer team in England? This unusual setup leads to plenty of hilarious moments, but it’s Jason Sudeikis’ engaging performance that gives Ted Lasso a genuine heart, which is essential for any popular series.

The Bear

Hulu has a knack for nurturing successful shows. While series like The Handmaid’s Tale proved their ability to handle popular content, 2022’s The Bear launched Hulu into a new phase of growth. The show, starring Jeremy Allen White, didn’t generate much buzz beforehand, but everything changed when Hulu released the entire first season all at once. After its June premiere, The Bear rapidly gained a dedicated following, leading Hulu to quickly renew it for another season before the year was out.

At first glance, The Bear didn’t seem like a potential success, but the show’s excellent writing quickly proves otherwise. Jeremy White delivers a captivating performance as Carmy Berzatto, a talented chef who returns home after a family tragedy. He inherits his brother’s sandwich shop, and things quickly become stressful. However, it’s the show’s unpredictable and relatable characters that truly make The Bear so enjoyable, and it’s great that viewers gave it a chance.

Succession

Family secrets are always captivating, and the show Succession understands that perfectly. Created by Jesse Armstrong, the darkly comedic series didn’t generate much buzz before its June 2018 debut on HBO. Despite initial quiet praise, Succession quickly gained momentum and became a television standout. By the second season, it was considered essential viewing, and critics now rank it among the best TV series of the 2010s.

At first glance, the plot of Succession is straightforward: it’s a story about a wealthy family and the intense conflicts that arise when business and personal lives are intertwined. The show centers on the Roy family, whose fortune is starting to unravel. As the family’s company hangs in the balance, the Roy siblings and their stepmother engage in a power struggle, leading to unexpected and dramatic consequences.

Severance

It’s rare for a TV show to generate as much excitement as Severance. This sci-fi psychological drama, with only two seasons so far, is a standout in building suspense. The show premiered in February 2022 with Adam Scott leading the cast, and its popularity grew steadily. While each episode was highly praised, the complex mystery unfolded slowly, delaying widespread recognition. However, by the end of the first season, Severance‘s compelling story had captivated audiences online.

It’s no surprise that Severance became so popular, thanks to its brilliant writing and stunning visuals. The show centers around employees of Lumon Industries, a biotech company that uses a procedure called ‘severance’ to separate workers’ memories of their work and personal lives. As these employees begin to question what they’re doing at Lumon, their outside lives are disrupted by strange and unsettling events.

Heated Rivalry

Often, popular shows don’t live up to the buzz, but “Heated Rivalry” is a definite success story. Released in November 2025, the Canadian drama quickly exceeded all expectations. It put ice hockey and a captivating queer romance front and center, becoming Crave’s first internationally popular show. Surprisingly, the show gained widespread attention quickly, as it hadn’t received much discussion outside of LGBTQ+ communities and book clubs beforehand.

With its compelling story, the new show Heated Rivalry was set up for success. Created by Jacob Tierney, this sports drama is visually stunning and a faithful adaptation of Rachel Reid’s popular Game Changers book series. The show stars Ilya Rozanov as Shane Hollander, one of two rising hockey stars who begin a secret romance. Heated Rivalry delivers the kind of LGBTQ+ romance that fans haven’t seen enough of – reminiscent of hits like Yuri on Ice from 2016 – and its popularity is certainly earned.

Squid Game

No other TV show has generated as much excitement as Squid Game. Created by Hwang Dong-Hyuk, this Korean survival drama became a massive hit when it premiered on Netflix in 2021, breaking all viewership records. Despite little initial promotion, the growing popularity of Korean entertainment, often called the ‘Korean wave,’ quickly brought Squid Game to the attention of viewers worldwide. Its shocking twists and intense challenges created a global buzz, making it Netflix’s most popular series ever.

After being delayed for years, the South Korean drama Squid Game finally found an audience on streaming platforms, and viewers quickly became obsessed. The series centers on Seong Gi-hun, a divorced and indebted man who desperately wants to provide for his family. He joins a competition with 455 other people, all hoping to win a large sum of money. However, Gi-hun soon realizes the game is far more dangerous than he imagined – players must compete in deadly challenges, and he’ll have to risk everything to survive.

2026-04-04 20:50