The U.S. streaming picture this morning is split between two kinds of momentum: established hits such as Lioness and Lanterns continuing to hold their ground, and fresh arrivals such as The Paper and Apple TV’s Last Seen trying to break into viewers’ queues.
Platforms Reviewed
Netflix, HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock, Apple TV, Hulu and Prime Video were reviewed using current platform information, Netflix’s latest U.S. Top 10, FlixPatrol’s September 9 U.S. rankings, and official streamer release pages.
Main Highlights
Paramount+ — Lioness Remains a Major Streaming Draw
Lioness continues to lead Paramount+ viewing in the latest U.S. ranking, ahead of a catalog-heavy field that includes South Park, Criminal Minds, NCIS and newer platform programming. On Paramount+ via Amazon Channels, Lioness is also No. 1 today.
Season 3 remains in active release, with Episode 6 having arrived September 6. Paramount+ describes the current season as pushing Joe deeper into a web of foreign operatives, hidden networks and personal betrayals.
Why it is trending: Lioness combines several factors that streamers increasingly value: a recognizable creator in Taylor Sheridan, major stars including Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman, and a weekly release pattern that keeps the series visible for months rather than days.
OTT takeaway: Weekly drops can still be extremely effective when a show already has a committed audience.
HBO Max — Lanterns Holds the Top Spot
Lanterns remains the leading HBO Max title in today’s U.S. Amazon Channels ranking, followed by President Curtis, 90 Day Fiancé and House of the Dragon.
The DC series has now spent more than three weeks near the top of the platform’s rankings after its August debut.
Why it is trending: Franchise recognition gives Lanterns an immediate discovery advantage, but its staying power is more important than its launch. HBO Max is showing that a superhero property can function as an ongoing prestige-series draw rather than simply an opening-week event.
OTT takeaway: Familiar IP may attract the first click, but sustained chart performance depends on keeping viewers engaged episode after episode.
Netflix — Death of the Pastor’s Wife Continues Its True-Crime Run
Netflix’s latest U.S. weekly ranking places Death of the Pastor’s Wife at No. 1 for a second week, followed by Beauty in Black Season 3 and the new documentary entry Instadocs: The Decoy Plane. The Gentlemen Season 2 also entered the U.S. Top 10 during the week ending September 6.
Globally, Netflix says Death of the Pastor’s Wife drew 13.9 million views during that same week, while The Gentlemen Season 2 generated 6.7 million views.
Why it is trending: True crime continues to perform especially well when the case is recent, emotionally charged and already familiar to audiences through news or social media.
At the same time, The Gentlemen shows the opposite side of Netflix’s strategy: premium scripted entertainment that can build a returning franchise.
OTT takeaway: Netflix’s strongest current mix is not one genre—it is the combination of high-urgency nonfiction and recognizable returning scripted series.
Peacock — The Paper Season 2 Arrives Today
One of today’s most important streaming launches is Season 2 of The Paper, which became available on Peacock at 3:00 AM Eastern this morning. All 10 episodes are being released together.
The Office universe spinoff returns to the Toledo Truth Teller newsroom, with Domhnall Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore, Chelsea Frei and Oscar Nuñez among the returning cast. Peacock says the new season expands the workplace comedy into bigger reporting assignments, office rivalries and a developing romance.
Because the season arrived only hours before this data collection point, it is too early to call it a chart leader. But it is one of the most important titles to watch today and tomorrow.
Why it could trend quickly: The series has immediate brand recognition through its connection to The Office, and the full-season drop makes it highly bingeable.
OTT takeaway: Peacock is betting that familiar television universes can create repeat engagement without simply rebooting the original show.
Apple TV — Last Seen Debuts Into a Strong Drama Lineup
Apple TV is also launching a significant new series today: Last Seen, a six-episode crime thriller led by Patrick Brammall. The story follows a former police officer who believes a mysterious emergency call may have come from his daughter, who disappeared 11 years earlier.
Early critical reaction is strong; The Guardian called it one of the standout streaming dramas of the year.
Meanwhile, Apple’s existing shows remain highly visible. In today’s Amazon Channels ranking, Ted Lasso sits behind only the movie Mayday, while Silo and Dark Matter also remain near the top.
Why it matters: Apple continues to build around a smaller number of premium dramas with long viewing tails rather than flooding the service with weekly releases.
OTT takeaway: Apple’s strength remains concentration: fewer titles, but several that maintain audience attention over extended periods.
Prime Video — Reacher Still Has Franchise Power
Across today’s wider Prime Video rankings, Reacher remains the platform’s strongest television performer, with Sterling Point, Off Campus and the newly released The Grand Tour also prominent internationally.
The Grand Tour, released September 4, is also currently listed as the top September streaming TV title in FlixPatrol’s release-calendar momentum rankings.
Why it matters: Prime Video increasingly looks like a platform organized around durable franchises—Reacher, The Boys, Fallout and now extensions or companion properties built around established audiences.
Short Trend Takeaway
The clearest pattern in U.S. streaming today is the tension between durability and novelty.
Lioness and Lanterns demonstrate the power of weekly franchise viewing. Death of the Pastor’s Wife shows how fast true crime can become an event. And The Paper and Last Seen arrive today hoping to convert launch-day curiosity into sustained attention.
For streamers, the ideal formula increasingly looks like this: one big new release to create urgency, plus several established shows that keep subscribers coming back between premieres.
Video Links to Watch
Netflix has the official trailer for Death of the Pastor’s Wife on Tudum. Watch the official Death of the Pastor’s Wife trailer
Paramount+ hosts the official Lioness Season 3 trailer and current episode hub. Watch the Lioness Season 3 official trailer
Peacock/NBCUniversal has published the official The Paper Season 2 trailer. Watch The Paper Season 2 official trailer
