Andor, Disney’s darker and more mature Star Wars series, has quietly surged in viewership, reaching the #2 spot on the U.S. streaming charts for the week of May 1–8, according to data from Luminate (via Variety). Despite minimal promotion from Disney, the series has seen a 48% increase in viewing time, totaling 714.6 million minutes watched in just one week.
This performance places Andor ahead of high-profile series like Netflix’s You (final season), Paramount’s MobLand, and even Apple TV+’s Your Friends & Neighbors. While still trailing behind Netflix’s breakout dramedy The Four Seasons, this rise signals a renewed interest in the show, particularly as its second season approaches its climax.
A Slow Burn That’s Winning Viewers
Since its debut, Andor has been widely praised for its grounded storytelling, slow-burn espionage narrative, and mature tone—qualities that set it apart from more action-heavy Star Wars offerings like The Mandalorian or Obi-Wan Kenobi. Its lead character, Cassian Andor (played by Diego Luna), doesn’t command the same mainstream recognition as Jedi icons or bounty hunters, which initially limited its reach. 
Moreover, Andor lacks many of the franchise’s hallmark crowd-pleasers—there are no lightsaber battles, no Force-wielding heroes, and no endearing alien mascots. Instead, the series focuses on political intrigue, revolution, and character-driven storytelling. While critics lauded these creative decisions, the broader Star Wars audience, particularly younger viewers, seemed slower to embrace the shift.
Streaming Success Despite Franchise Fatigue
Part of Andor‘s earlier underperformance can be attributed to what some are calling Star Wars fatigue. With a saturated release schedule and varying quality across recent projects, many long-time fans have grown wary of Disney’s handling of the universe. Despite this, Andor has steadily won over skeptics—including vocal YouTube critic The Critical Drinker, who recently reversed course, calling it “the best Star Wars since the original trilogy.”
Release Strategy Boosts Viewership
Andor’s recent jump in the charts is likely influenced by Disney’s release strategy, which drops three episodes at a time, giving viewers significantly more weekly content than single-episode releases on platforms like Apple TV+ or Hulu. This binge-friendly approach likely inflated total viewing minutes.
That said, Andor still competes with Netflix shows that launch entire seasons in one drop, offering an even greater time-spent advantage during release weeks. Yet Andor’s ability to outpace several of them speaks volumes about its growing popularity.
What’s Next for Andor?
The final three episodes of Season 2 have just dropped, and early reactions suggest the conclusion could further boost its already strong momentum. Critical buzz has intensified, and streaming figures may climb even higher in the coming weeks.
Viewers and analysts alike are awaiting updated data from Nielsen, widely considered the benchmark for U.S. streaming performance. If current trends hold, Andor may be poised to finish its second season with some of the strongest numbers for any Star Wars series since The Mandalorian.
