The “Suits” phenomenon looks to be repeating itself for Netflix. The Hollywood Reporter cites data from Nielsen that shows that “Prison Break,” which originally aired starting in 2005, has become the newest licensed title to experience a huge growth in viewership after being licensed to the world’s largest streaming service. We’ll explore the phenomenon a little more fully, and take a guess at what shows might be next to strike it big on Netflix.

Key Details:

• “Prison Break” was streamed for 1.6 billion minutes between Aug. 5 and Aug. 11.
• A survey from 2023 showed a majority of viewers were choosing older library titles as their favorites as opposed to new originals.
• “Homicide: Life on the Street” and other titles could be big hits on Netflix.

The enlarged global reach of Netflix gives it a unique platform to vault older, licensed titles to streaming ratings glory. Netflix had 278 million subscribers at last count, and with an audience that size older shows have a potentially huge number of new eyes that have never seen them before once they’re put on the world’s largest streamer.

“Prison Break” is the latest beneficiary of this, having been streamed for 1.6 billion minutes during the week of Aug. 5 - Aug. 11. That’s a big jump from the 758 million minutes the show accrued on Netflix in its first week of availability there, July 29 - Aug. 4.

Netflix is well aware of the success of licensed titles on its platform, and is constantly on the lookout for new licensing deals that could cause older shows to blow up in popularity. As part of a huge viewership data dump in 2023, Netflix revealed that “Suits” had compiled 130 million hours of streaming time in June of that year, despite not reaching the service until June 17.

A late 2023 survey from Hub Research found that viewers were responding to these older shows in a big way. It found that of streaming users between 16-74 years of age who discovered a new favorite show over the course of 2023, 64% said their chosen title was an older series with several seasons currently available; many who picked an established show as their favorite identified “Suits” by name. Only 36% said their favorite streaming show of 2023 was a brand-new title.

Which Shows Could Be Next?

‘Homicide: Life on the Street’

“Homicide: Life on the Street” consistently found itself on the list of titles that viewers wanted to stream most but could not until this summer. The show is now available in full on Peacock after legal issues surrounding its music rights were finally ironed out. Netflix would have to make a licensing deal with NBCUniversal to get “Homicide,” but NBCU is the same company that agreed to license “Suits” to the streamer, and that deal worked out well for both.

‘The Hughleys’

The 1998 comedy series “The Hughleys” starring comedian D.L. Hughley is another great candidate to see a “Prison Break”-like resurgence. The show focuses on Hughley portraying a highly successful vending machine salesman, who decides to move his family to a primarily-white neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. Its time-tested premise and its vivacious cast could draw huge viewership numbers. The show has four seasons available and made its Netflix debut on Sept. 2.

‘The Good Wife’

“The Good Wife” premiered on CBS in 2009, and like “Homicide: Life on the Street” it would require a new licensing deal between Paramount Global and Netflix to get it on the streamer. But it’s a legal drama in the same vein as “Suits,” and its rich cast of characters combined with a premise that could as well be ripped from today’s headlines would likely draw the attention of viewers. “The Good Wife” has seven seasons’ worth of episodes, which would help boost its viewing time on Netflix all the higher. It’s currently available to stream on Paramount+.

‘The Wire’

“The Wire” is one of the more recognizable titles from the early days of prestige TV on HBO, which makes it possible that in spite of past licensing deals between Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix, WBD may want to keep it as an exclusive of its own streamer Max. But if Netflix could get it, the show might vault to the top of streaming charts quickly, with a charismatic cast and a portrayal of the Baltimore Police Department that is highly unique among police procedurals across its five seasons.

‘Homeland’

“Homeland” may have lost a bit of focus premise-wise in later seasons, but the show is still one of the highest-regarded titles on Hulu because of its early seasons. In the beginning, the show focuses on an American soldier who may — or may not — have been turned against his country while serving in the Middle East. The high tension, quality performances (especially by Claire Danes), and excellent writing of the show would definitely grab the attention of Netflix audiences, and its eight seasons would give audiences plenty to chew on. “Homeland” is currently available on Hulu and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME