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

You never know what is going to blow up when it comes to television nowadays. With streaming services reigning over the industry, it has never been harder for shows to stand out. From Netflix to Prime Video and HBO Max, netizens have thousands of TV shows at their fingertips whenever they want, and new titles are dropping weekly at this point. But even with these hurdles stacked before them, a number of TV shows have managed to take the world by storm out of absolutely nowhere.

From word-of-mouth to online fan campaigns, some of the biggest shows on television owe their status to surprise success. Some of your favorite TV series spent years trying to become an overnight success, and we’re breaking down eight knockout hits that took the whole Internet by surprise:

Schitt’s Creek

In January 2015, few fans in the United States had any idea what Schitt’s Creek was. The satirical sitcom launched in Canada on CBC Television, and to say the show got little recognition stateside puts things lightly. Schitt’s Creek remained a quiet secret amongst fans online before Netflix blew up their spot. The streaming service’s release of Schitt’s Creek season three sent the sitcom into the stratosphere, and this momentum carried through to its final season.

Starring Eugene and Daniel Levy, Schitt’s Creek deserves all its accolades. The hit series tells the story of the Rose family, a once-wealthy clan who falls from grace after a business manager embezzles their fortune. Led by Johnny Rose, the family moves to a motel in the fictional town of Schitt’s Creek as they adjust to their new lives, and the family’s surreal personalities quickly clash with the locals who are eager to meet their new neighbors.

Abbott Elementary

Prior to 2021, the world best knew Quinta Brunson for her work at BuzzFeed, but that is no longer the case. The actress made the leap to network television after leaving BuzzFeed’s booming studio, and this move made way for one of television’s most beloved mockumentaries. Abbott Elementary made its debut in late 2021 on ABC to quiet acclaim. But thanks to streaming services such as Hulu, Abbott Elementary ended season one as a critical darling.

Created by Brunson, Abbott Elementary pays homage to TV titans like The Office as it follows the unpredictable lives of teachers at an elementary school in West Philadelphia. Janine Teagues, who is played by Brunson, takes center stage as the show’s lead. When a documentary crew comes in to film a piece on underfunded schools in the area, Ms. Teagues and her colleagues are quick to show just how awkward teaching can be. From substitute teachers to misbehaving students and rogue affairs, Abbott Elementary has all the ingredients of a hit; it just took some time to blow up after season one went live.

Ted Lasso

Even with a major star at the helm, Ted Lasso was anything but a surefire hit when it launched. The sports comedy made its debut on Apple TV+ in 2020, a time when the global pandemic was splitting attention across the board. With a ten-episode order for season one, Ted Lasso got its start with solid reviews, but Jason Sudeikis’ pet project did not begin dominating headlines until season one wrapped.

In the wake of its first season, Ted Lasso made history at the Primetime Emmy Awards with its number of nominations, and the praise was deserved. Driven by its unpredictable leads, Ted Lasso asks a simple question: What if a bumbling college football coach is hired to coach a Premier League soccer team over in England? The absurd premise makes way for some wild comedy as Sudeikis’ charm spills through the cracks, grounding Ted Lasso with the kind of realness that every hit show needs.

The Bear

Hulu knows how to handle a runaway hit. Series like The Handmaid’s Tale put the streaming service to the test, and in 2022, The Bear carried Hulu into its next great era. Starring Jeremy Allen White, The Bear had little fanfare leading up to its release, but that all changed when Hulu dropped the entirety of season one overnight. Following its June debut, The Bear quickly ramped support, prompting Hulu to renew the original hit before the end of the year.

From the outside, The Bear might not sound like a hit in the making, but its tight writing speaks for itself. White brings Carmy Berzatto to life with a chaotic energy as the award-winning chef returns to his hometown. Grieving, White takes over the sandwich shop his late brother operated, and tempers flare before long. It is the show’s unruly characters that make The Bear a downright joy to watch, so it is only right netizens gave the show a proper shot.

Succession

Few things are more interesting than a family secret, and Succession knows that well. Created by Jesse Armstrong, the black comedy did little to stir attention ahead of its release in June 2018. The show quietly hit HBO, and while it earned praise, Succession‘s rise to the top was inevitable. By the start of season two, the drama was rising as one of television’s must-see series, and critics now refer to Succession as one of the greatest TV series of the 2010s.

The show’s plot is simple to start. Succession is all about family drama and the lines of succession that come when you mix business with personal legacy. The show follows the Roy family as it crumbles under the weight of its own wealth. With the clan’s business at stake, the Roy siblings begin warring over control with their stepmother, and the struggle sparks fallout nobody could’ve predicted.

Severance

Few television series manage to spark the kind of hype that Severance brings about. With just two seasons under its belt, the psychological drama is a masterclass in sci-fi suspense. The series came to life in February 2022 with star Adam Scott at the helm, and its success was a slow burn. Severance earned top marks with every episode, but its slow-burn mystery delayed the show’s success as season one went on. But by the end of the season, Severance‘s deep drama had the entire Internet hooked.

Given the show’s impressive writing, it is easy to see why Severance transformed into a hit. Not only is the show’s cinematography next level, but its story is just as bold. The series follows the workers of Lumon Industries, a biotech brand who requires its workers to undergo severance whenever they come to work. The process splits a person’s memories between their personal and professional lives. As the employees at Lumon question their goal at work, their outside selves grow suspicious of their job as unexplained events begin wreaking havoc on their lives.

Heated Rivalry

Sometimes, all the hype you hear is worth it. Some TV series aren’t everything fans claim they are, but Heated Rivalry is a clear exception. Released in November 2025, Heated Rivalry surpassed everyone’s expectations upon its launch. The Canadian drama put ice hockey center stage with its engrossing queer romance, giving Crave its first international hit. However, the show’s sudden rise to fame came out of nowhere as Heated Rivalry wasn’t talked about much outside of LGBTQ+ circles and literary clubs.

Given Heated Rivalry‘s delicious story, the show had every reason to succeed. Created by Jacob Tierney, the sports drama not only looks gorgeous, but it is a well-thought-out adaptation of Rachel Reid’s cult book series, Game Changers. Heated Rivalry brings Shane Hollander to life with Ilya Rozanov, two top-tier hockey players who find themselves falling into a secret relationship as their careers skyrocket. Heated Rivalry is an overdue tribute to LGBTQ+ romance similar to that found in older hits like Yuri on Ice from 2016, so its success is well deserved.

Squid Game

No television series can match Squid Game when it comes to fervor. It’s simply not possible. Created by Hwang Dong-Hyuk, the Netflix survival drama shattered viewership records when the Korean series debuted in 2021. The show was given little attention ahead of its global launch, but the Korean wave pushed Squid Game in front of netizens as season one went on. The show’s backstabbing reveals, and bloody games sparked buzz across the globe, turning the unexpected K-drama into Netflix’s most-watched TV series of all time.

After spending years in development limbo, streaming gave Squid Game the venue it needed to hit screens, and netizens were hungry for the drama. The show follows a divorced father and gambling addict named Seong Gi-hun in South Korea who wants better for his family. He is given the chance to strike it rich along with 455 other hard-up bystanders in need of cash. After agreeing to the game, Gi-hun discovers the contest isn’t what it appears, as players are pitted against one another in games of life-or-death. And to come out alive, Gi-hun is forced to make the biggest gambles of his life.