Since 2011 or so, there have been a handful of mega-popular TV shows that have bridged the gap between traditional appointment viewing and original content created for binge-watching. Breaking Bad, Homeland, Mad Men, and The Walking Dead are a few TV shows that instantly leap to mind as series that had to adapt to the changing tides of the TV landscape and adjust to industry-wide trends. However, one addictive legal dramedy has emerged from its nine-season run more popular than ever.
Created by Aaron Korsh for the USA Network, Suits is a wildly entertaining show that follows the magnetic Manhattan lawyer Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) and his legal associate, Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams), as they take on high-profile cases and try to conceal Mike’s college dropout status. Celebrating its 15th anniversary on June 23, 2026, Suits has left a lasting legacy and also found a major Netflix resurgence in recent years.
‘Suits’ Sustained a Legacy By Improving Quality to Combat Waning Viewership
Thanks to the ever-amusing chemistry between Macht and Adams, the story of Harvey Specter and Mike Ross taking on legal cases while hiding Mike’s unqualified status instantly captured viewers’ adoration when Suits premiered in June 2011. The humorous and thrilling legal drama dominated the TV ratings, with Season 1 averaging 4.28 million viewers per episode (via TV by the Numbers). With a 78% Rotten Tomatoes score, Suits attracted a strong fanbase from the beginning. However, each passing season saw a ratings dip, falling to less than 1 million viewers per episode in its ninth and final season.
Contrary to what usually happens, the critical reviews improved as viewership waned. One of the ways the show sustained its legacy was by offsetting low viewership with compelling storylines and subplots. For instance, Suits Seasons 4, 5, 6, and 8 all boast 100% Rotten Tomatoes scores, which undoubtedly kept the show afloat as the audience continued to decrease. By the time Season 9 had run its course, Suits had built enough popularity and goodwill to inspire three international remakes and two spin-off series.
In 2018, Korean and Japanese remakes of Suits premiered, followed by an Egyptian remake in 2022. The fact that it was translated into different languages speaks to the power of the compelling premise and the universal appeal of Ross and Specter’s personal and professional bond. The 2017 Suits spin-off, Pearson, lasted for one season before being canceled by the USA Network. Similarly, the much-buzzed-about Suits L.A. premiered in October 2023, but was also canceled after just one season on NBC. Fortunately, Suits was added to Netflix in June 2023, where the series has become an even more popular mainstay.
‘Suits’ Has Enjoyed a Massive Netflix Resurgence Since 2023
Although Suits lost traditional TV viewers as the show navigated the streaming era, it adapted over time to compete with the most binge-worthy TV shows around. When it was added to Netflix in June 2023, it skyrocketed to the top of the charts, amassing over 57 billion minutes viewed on the platform to become one of the most popular streaming hits on any platform (via Yahoo).
Thanks to Netflix promoting the show and the halt in TV production stemming from the 2023 writers’ strike, Suits hit a sweet spot that helped expose it to a whole new generation of fans and reached a wider demographic. Beyond the promotional push and lack of new TV competition, Suits soared on Netflix thanks to the charismatic ensemble cast, including Gina Torres, Rick Hoffman, Meghan Markle, Dule Hill, Sarah Rafferty, and Katherine Heigl.
For an original legal dramedy that was created before the streaming era really took off, Suits navigated the evolving TV landscape and built a highly binge-worthy format that, 15 years later, is more popular than ever.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
