Netflix's The Sandman series has spent a staggering four weeks in the number one spot on the streaming service, but it has finally been dethroned. The Sandman's popularity is unsurprising, as it was the highly-anticipated adaptation of the Neil Gaiman comic series of the same name. While all good things must come to an end, the series that took the number one spot from The Sandman is rather surprising, as it is an original property that came out over a week ago.

An adaptation of The Sandman comic series has been in the works since the 1990s, and although it has changed forms many times, the first season of the show was finally released on Netflix on August 5, 2022. The series follows the titular Sandman, a.k.a. Morpheus, the personification of dreams, as he escapes captivity and attempts to restore his realm. The show was met with critical acclaim due to its faithfulness to the source material, performances, story, and more. The Sandman is one of the biggest and most recognizable properties that has had a Netflix release recently, which is why it quickly claimed Netflix's number one spot. Although it remained there for four consecutive weeks (and while The Sandman season 2 still isn't confirmed), another Netflix original finally took over after nearly a month of The Sandman's reign.

Related: The Sandman Season 2 News & Updates: What You Need To Know

Echoes is a Netflix series starring Michelle Monaghan as twin sisters who swap lives just before one of them disappears, causing a plethora of problems for both. Echoes' popularity is rather surprising, as it was released on August 19, 2022, but it just now became Netflix's number one show. Unlike The Sandman, Echoes is an original property that has gained popularity on its merit alone. Echoes' path to number one is an underdog story of sorts, as its originality and early release make it surprising that it just now dethroned The Sandman from Netflix's top spot.

What Is Netflix's Echoes & Why Is It Taking Over?

Michelle Monaghan as Leni and Gina in Netflix's Echoes

So, what is Echoes, and why has it become so popular? Well, the show is a psychological thriller with elements of mystery and drama, and although the series' critical reception hasn't been great, the fanbase for Echoes has been growing rapidly. The show has mostly spread due to word of mouth, with actors like American Horror Story's Matt Bomer bringing some great star power to the series. Netflix's marketing push for Echoes wasn't huge, but the show has quickly garnered a dedicated fanbase that has spread the show across various social media platforms. While it wasn't met with initial success when it came out on the August 19, word of mouth has done wonders for Echoes, making it Netflix's current number one show.

Whereas The Sandman had a huge marketing budget, a recognizable IP, and major talent behind it, Echoes' rise to fame has been mostly through word of mouth. This makes Echoes' dethroning of The Sandman even more impressive, as many Netflix originals become buried if they don't garner popularity within the first week of release. While The Sandman was the number one series for four weeks straight, Echoes is the new king of Netflix.