Why Daredevil: Born Again Broke a Shocking MCU Record Despite Critical Acclaim
Despite rave reviews and a long-anticipated comeback, Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 just broke a record — but not the kind Marvel Studios hoped for. Charlie Cox’s gritty return as Matt Murdock delivered everything fans of the original Netflix series wanted: darkness, intensity, and mature storytelling. Yet, the series failed to crack Nielsen’s Top 10 Original Streaming Shows List, a first for any live-action MCU Disney+ series.
What went wrong with Daredevil: Born Again? And what does it say about the current state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Let’s explore the data, potential reasons for its low viewership, and what it all means moving forward.
Daredevil: Born Again – What the Numbers Say
From March 4 to April 15, 2025, Daredevil: Born Again streamed exclusively on Disney+. Despite an 87% score on Rotten Tomatoes and widespread praise from longtime fans and critics alike, the show didn’t make it to Nielsen’s Top 10 — a shocker for a flagship MCU project.
Here’s the breakdown of weekly streaming minutes:
- Episode Release Window Total Minutes Watched
- Episodes 1 & 2 465 million
- After Episode 3 464 million
- After Episode 4 373 million
- After Episodes 5 & 6 344 million
- After Episode 7 470 million
- After Episode 8 463 million
- After Episode 9 385 million
At its peak (Week 5), the show brought in under 470 million minutes — far behind competitors like The White Lotus, Bluey, and 1923, which pulled over 1 billion minutes in the same period.
A First for the MCU: Live-Action Show Misses the Top 10
While animated MCU entries like What If…?, I Am Groot, and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man have failed to hit the Top 10 before, this marks the first-ever live-action MCU Disney+ series to miss the list entirely. Only Secret Invasion, a widely criticized series, shares the same fate — but even it had more buzz during its run.
Why Did Daredevil: Born Again Underperform?
1. R-Rating on a Family Platform
Though many praised the show’s mature tone, Disney+ is still perceived as a family-first platform in the U.S.. The R-rated content may have alienated casual viewers or younger audiences — even if Echo (also R-rated) managed to make the Nielsen list earlier in 2024.
2. Franchise Fatigue
The MCU isn’t bulletproof anymore. Recent projects have received mixed reactions, and audience enthusiasm has cooled. Even hits like Thunderbolts and Ms. Marvel struggled to sustain momentum, suggesting fans aren’t showing up in droves like they used to.
3. Minimal Marketing & Hype
Compared to MCU juggernauts like WandaVision or Loki, Born Again received less aggressive marketing. It also competed with buzzy returning series like The White Lotus and The Resident, which naturally diverted attention.
4. Lack of Episodic Hook
Despite the strong character work, Born Again was more of a slow-burn procedural drama than a spectacle-laden MCU entry. This may have made it harder for the average viewer to stay engaged week-to-week.
What This Means for Marvel’s Streaming Future
Marvel’s Disney+ dominance may no longer be guaranteed. With shows like Ironheart, Wonder Man, and Agatha: Darkhold Diaries up next, the studio is shifting focus to more niche or experimental characters. If Daredevil: Born Again couldn’t hook viewers — despite fan demand — these upcoming series may struggle even more.
However, Season 2 of Born Again is already in production, and with lessons learned, it could bounce back stronger. The multiverse arc (Deadpool & Wolverine, Avengers: Doomsday) might also help revive interest.
