Over the years, Netflix has gradually grown its anime library by consistently investing in both original productions and high-profile acquisitions. While some of these original anime shows on Netflix have limited appeal, others cater to larger audiences because they tie into existing popular franchises. A new anime on Netflix belongs to the latter category since it serves as an extension of a widely known manga and anime franchise.
Since its premiere on March 19, 2026, the anime in question has risen in the ranks to become one of the most popular new releases on Netflix right now and has even dethroned other shows to rank #2 in the United States.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run Is Already A Hit On Netflix
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run serves as the sixth season of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure anime. It directly adapts Steel Ball Run, which is the seventh part of Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga series. So far, the anime has only released its first episode and is already scaling Netflix’s top 10 charts.
As reports confirm (via FlixPatrol), JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run even managed to beat some of the biggest Netflix shows, like One Piece and Virgin River, on March 20, 2026, in the US. Globally, as of March 21, 2026, the anime retains its strong hold in Netflix’s top 10 charts by only ranking below One Piece (via FlixPatrol).
Since only the first episode of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run has come out, the anime can be expected to further rise in the ranks as its new installments premiere on Netflix. While only time will tell what the future holds for the anime, its solid start already spells promise for its future episodes.
Why JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Has Been So Popular Worldwide
Purely in terms of sheer volume, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is one of the largest manga series of all time. It has further been expanded into a full-fledged franchise through everything from live-action adaptations to light novels, video games, and even anime spin-offs. The anime franchise seems to have such a wide appeal, especially in the United States, because it often drops fun references to Western music and fashion.
Over 100 million copies of the manga are already in circulation, highlighting how it has not only stood the test of time but also continued to grow in popularity across generations and global audiences. The main anime series based on the original manga by Hirohiko Araki has its own solid legacy and consists of over 190 episodes so far.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure‘s anime has not only consistently shattered many sales records with each new season but has also earned several prestigious awards. As JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run‘s early success suggests, the anime is still showing no signs of slowing down and will likely continue expanding its global footprint.
Netflix’s Steel Ball Run Release Schedule Explained
Surprisingly, despite being backed by such a massive franchise, Steel Ball Run does not have a fixed release schedule on Netflix. Early rumors suggested that it would follow a regular weekly release schedule. However, that has now seemingly been dismissed, with no updates surrounding its next episode’s release date.
When the director of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s new anime story, Yasuhiro Kimura, was asked about Steel Ball Run‘s episode 2 (via AniTrendz), he, too, gave an ambiguous response by saying:
“I want to see it soon, too! When will it be? I don’t know. It takes a lot of time to make just one episode, but production is going smoothly, and I’m looking forward to seeing the finished episode as much as you are!”
Kimura’s statement suggests that even though the Netflix anime‘s episode 2 does not have a confirmed release date yet, its team is actively working on its production and trying to get it out as soon as possible. Hopefully, the wait for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run‘s next episode will not be too long and will actually worth it when it finally premieres.