Shaping Canadian Pursuits: 14 Netflix Shows Reshaping Canadians' Leisure Activities and Preoccupations
In the past few years, Netflix has been a source of inspiration for Canadians looking to try out new skills and hobbies. Here's a look at some of the shows that sparked interest in various activities:
Mountaineering and Rock Climbing
The 2022 documentary "14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible" ignited a passion for mountaineering among Canadians, as searches for "mountaineering sport", "Rocky Mountains", and "crampons" surged.
Sports Reintroduction
In 2022, the Netflix series "Physical: 100" reintroduced Canadians to mixed martial arts, wrestling, and bodybuilding, resulting in a surge in searches for each of these sports. The Korean reality competition show "Physical: 100" also saw a rise in searches for "mixed martial arts", "wrestling", "competitive bodybuilding", and "Korean - spoken language".
Chess
The Netflix series "The Queen's Gambit" was the most influential show for Canadians in 2020, leading to a surge in searches related to chess, such as "how to castle in chess", "chess moves cheat sheet", and "lego chess set". Surprisingly, the show did not lead to searches for "glassblowing workshops" or "glassblowing classes".
Glassblowing as Art
Contrary to "The Queen's Gambit", the Netflix series "Blown Away" led Canadians to explore glassblowing as a form of art rather than a sport.
Cheerleading
The "Cheer" docuseries inspired Canadians to participate in cheerleading, with searches for "summer camp", "cheer jumping", "cheerleading gyms", and "cheerleading movies" increasing significantly. However, the show did not lead Canadians to search for "glassblowing workshops" or "glassblowing classes".
Tennis
In 2022, the Netflix series "Break Point" led to record-breaking tennis-related searches, including "tennis skirts and dress" and "tennis balls". Interestingly, the 2020 series "Cheer" led Canadians to search for "glassblowing workshops" and "glassblowing classes" instead.
Methamphetamine and Chemistry
The Netflix series "Breaking Bad" inspired Canadians to search for "methamphetamine", "chemistry experiments", and "chemistry lab equipment". It's important to note that such activities are illegal and dangerous.
Documentaries and Lifestyle Changes
The documentary "The Game Changers" led to a rise in searches for "vegan diet", "plant-based protein", and "vegan recipes". The documentary "Tinder Swindler" led to a surge in searches for "Tinder app download", "Tinder gold promo code", and "best pickup lines for Tinder".
Formula 1 and Driving Simulators
In 2019, "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" led to an increase in searches for "driving simulators" near Canadians.
Fantasy and Combat
The Netflix series "The Witcher" led to an increase in searches for "sword fighting", "medieval weapons", and "dragon slaying".
Despite numerous Netflix shows influencing Canadians to explore new skills and hobbies, there is no specific list of the 14 most influential Netflix originals that inspired Canadians to start new skills or hobbies according to Google Trends search volumes. The available results mention top Netflix shows in 2025 and recommendations but do not provide data on how these shows influenced Canadians to start new skills or hobbies based on Google Trends.
[1][3] Google Trends search volumes for Canadian user behavior linked to Netflix originals.
- Despite the influence of various Netflix shows on Canadians, there doesn't seem to be a definitive list of the 14 most impactful ones that sparked interest in new skills or hobbies according to Google Trends.
- The blog-worthy Netflix productions like "Breaking Bad", "The Witcher", and "The Queen's Gambit", among others, have contributed to the rise of diverse activities such as chemistry experiments, sword fighting, and chess, respectively, among Canadians.
