Lioness Series Draws 3.3 Billion Streaming Minutes
The CIA-themed drama ranks among the top original streaming shows for September 2026.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Television
Live Poll
Do you prefer watching original streaming series over established franchise spin-offs?
The series Lioness reached 3.3 billion minutes viewed on the streaming platform Paramount Plus throughout September 2026. This performance marks the show as the joint third most-watched original streaming program for the month.
Why it matters
The viewership spike reflects growing audience engagement as the program continues its multi-season run. Critics have also noted improved reception over time, with later seasons earning higher scores than the show's debut.
Lioness recorded 3.3 billion minutes viewed in September 2026, trailing the top-ranked show Reacher at 4.6 billion minutes. The show has seen positive momentum in critical reception, rising from a 54 percent Rotten Tomatoes score in season one to 90 percent in season two and 88 percent in season three.
The players
Zoe Saldaña
The actress stars in Lioness as a CIA agent tasked with leading a specialized black ops team.
Paramount Plus
This subscription streaming platform serves as the exclusive host for the Lioness television series.
The details
The program, which stars Zoe Saldaña as a CIA agent leading a black ops team, tied with the series Neagley for third place in original streaming viewership. It utilizes the Nielsen measurement system to track the time audiences spend with the show on Paramount Plus.
Timeline
July 23, 2023: The series Lioness premiered.
September 1-30, 2026: The series accumulated 3.3 billion minutes viewed.
Industry Dynamics
The show follows the competitive metrics established by the Nielsen streaming top 10 charts to gauge series success against industry rivals. This positioning reflects how successful original content drives long-term subscriber retention on major streaming platforms.
Viewers can access all current seasons of the drama on Paramount Plus. The show's high viewership metrics suggest it remains a priority for the platform, which may influence future availability and new episode releases.
The takeaway
The upward trajectory in both critical scores and total viewing minutes indicates that the series has successfully built a loyal following over three seasons. Prospective viewers may find the series increasingly compelling given the significant jump in critical ratings since the debut season.
Further reading
For more information on industry trends, visit the Television section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Movieweb.
Live Poll
Do you prefer watching original streaming series over established franchise spin-offs?
