Stranger Things bigger hit for Netflix than House of Cards, Daredevil and Narcos

The audience for the show's first season puts it as the streaming service's third biggest TV series

Not even the head honchos at Netflix could have foreseen the success of Stranger Things, the supernatural sci-fi series that has swept the world since its streaming service debut last month.

From the creative minds of The Duffer Brothers, the 80s-set show stars Winona Ryder as the mother of missing child Will Byers whose disappearance triggers a series of extraordinary mysteries in Hawkins, Indiana.

While it's been near impossible to avoid mention of Stranger Things across the web over these past few weeks, it's unknown whether the intense word-of-mouth has correlated into successful viewing figures for Netflix - especially considering all eight episodes dropped simultaneously. Until now, that is.

Business Insider has reported how its success compares with other Netflix shows: Stranger Things is officially one of it's biggest properties of all time having racked up 8.2 million viewers in its first 16 days.

The only two TV shows to have beaten Stranger Things is Fuller House - which was recently (rather unexpectedly) announced as Netflix's most-watched series - and the latest season of Orange Is the New Black . This makes Stranger Things more popular than House of Cards, Narcos and Marvel properties Daredevil and Jessica Jones.

Netflix's chief executive Reed Hastings recently confirmed plans are in motion to make a second season. Such was the popularity of the show's soundtrack - scored by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein - that it's to get a two-volume release.