By Sabrina Guidry
Following Season 4’s release in February 2026, Bridgerton once again topped Netflix’s global top 10 list. The second part of the season saw viewership surge over 800% compared to the first, cementing the show’s continued success.
Since its initial release in December 2020, Bridgerton continues to be one of Netflix’s most successful shows, boasting over 240 million total hours watched. While Bridgerton is a show set in 19th-century England with period-accurate sets and customs, one of the reasons for its enduring popularity comes from the integration of modern elements. Specifically, the show incorporates orchestra covers of modern pop songs throughout episodes, such as “360” by Charli XCX and “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift. In addition, Bridgerton features an inclusive and diverse cast, and attempts to provide commentary on modern social issues like that of gender and class inequality.
Bridgerton is an example of the growing prominence and success of period dramas in film and television. Over 10% of all global scripted television premieres in 2025 were period dramas, up from 8.1% the year prior. One notable recent historical drama, Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, grossed over $80 million domestically at the box office. The opening weekend for the movie in February was one of the most successful period piece openings in box office history, and the film has now surpassed over $200 million worldwide. Similarly to Bridgerton, Emerald Fennell’s adaptation took a modern approach, with a soundtrack created by pop artist Charli XCX and characters donning colorful, creative costumes. The slightly modern creative direction did generate publicity, some of which was significant controversy around the considerable departures from the original text. Ultimately, the financial success of the film suggests that modern twists in film adaptations of classic novels surely boost engagement, but can also lead to some dissatisfied viewers.
Period pieces have been successful for decades, as evidenced both by the 2005 film and 1995 television adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. The present increase in popularity of historical dramas can be attributed to a shift in marketing and promotion, modified for the age of social media. The rise of influencers on platforms like TikTok and Instagram have changed the way films and TV shows are promoted. There are now often various in-person events and pop-ups to encourage viewership, and influencers are invited to premieres. Bridgerton's notable collaborations for this current season include a makeup collection with KIKO Milano, a body care collection with Dove, teapots with Williams Sonoma, and even a collection of dog leashes and harnesses with Maxbone. With a constant rollout of such collaborations, Netflix aims to keep fans invested and enable diverse streams of revenue. The brands themselves are able to profit off Bridgerton's success and fanbase.
Wuthering Heights adopted a similar brand partnership strategy to Bridgerton. Notable product launches to support the release of the film include Hanky Panky lingerie, Dear Annabelle stationery, TokyoMilk perfume, and Last Crumb cookies. This kind of marketing strategy has been extremely successful for both, which involved primarily female audiences.
The growing popularity of historical dramas may signal a new opportunity for Hollywood. Period pieces have been shown to involve loyal female fanbases. Two Jane Austen adaptations are already in production: Netflix’s Pride and Prejudice with Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet, and Sense and Sensibility with Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor Dashwood. As the box office continues to recover from the pandemic and rise of streaming, period pieces may be a good path forward.