The Year in Search 2025 reveals humanity’s collective curiosity, concerns, and cultural obsessions. From devastating natural disasters to record-breaking entertainment phenomena, Google’s search data captures the moments that defined our year. This comprehensive guide explores every major category that dominated global searches.
Overview: What Defined 2025 Searches
Google’s Year in Search 2025 reflects a world navigating technological disruption, political transitions, natural catastrophes, and unprecedented entertainment milestones. The data reveals search patterns across trending topics, news events, people, entertainment, sports, lifestyle, and emerging technologies.
Key themes emerged across categories: the rise of AI-powered platforms like Bluesky and Character AI in trending searches, catastrophic events like the LA fires dominating news, Korean entertainment continuing global cultural dominance, and streaming platforms shattering viewership records as traditional media boundaries dissolved.
Trending Searches 2025
Top Global Searches
The year’s most searched terms reveal humanity’s diverse interests:
| Rank | Search Term | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bluesky | Technology/Social |
| 2 | Indian cricketers | Sports |
| 3 | Character AI | Technology |
| 4 | Club World Cup | Sports |
| 5 | India vs Australia | Sports |
Bluesky emerged as 2025’s breakout social platform, attracting users seeking alternatives to established networks. The decentralized platform’s growth accelerated throughout the year as users explored new digital communities.
Character AI represented the continued fascination with artificial intelligence, as users engaged with AI-powered conversational experiences. The platform’s popularity signals growing mainstream adoption of generative AI technologies.
Cricket dominated global sports searches, with Indian cricketers and the India vs Australia rivalry generating massive interest during marquee series. The Club World Cup also drove significant search volume as football’s newest tournament format captured global attention.
Trending News Searches
News events that captured global attention:
| Rank | News Event | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China-US Economic Relations | Geopolitical |
| 2 | LA Fires | Natural Disaster |
| 3 | US Government Shutdown | Political |
| 4 | New Pope Chosen | Religious/Cultural |
| 5 | Various Fire Events | Natural Disaster |
The LA Fires became one of 2025’s defining tragedies, devastating communities and generating sustained search interest as people sought information about evacuations, damage assessments, and recovery efforts. Fire-related searches appeared multiple times in trending data, reflecting climate-related concerns.
China-US economic relations continued generating significant search interest amid ongoing trade tensions and geopolitical positioning. The US Government Shutdown drove searches during political standoffs, while the selection of a new Pope generated global religious and cultural interest.
Most Searched People 2025
Trending People
| Rank | Person | Primary Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikki | Various contexts |
| 2 | Kendrick Lamar | Music/Culture |
| 3 | Jimmy Kimmel | Entertainment |
| 4 | Tyler | Various contexts |
| 5 | Multiple celebrities | Entertainment |
Kendrick Lamar dominated music searches in 2025, with his cultural impact extending far beyond streaming numbers. His work generated conversations about artistry, social commentary, and hip-hop’s evolving landscape.
Notable Passings 2025
The year saw searches spike around significant deaths:
- Gene Hackman – Legendary actor’s passing generated retrospective searches
- Hulk Hogan – Wrestling icon’s health generated significant search interest
- Martha Stewart – Lifestyle mogul’s legacy generated sustained searches
- Various cultural figures – Multiple passings drove memorial and legacy searches
Most Searched Politicians 2025
Political searches in 2025 reflected global transitions, elections, and policy debates. From US political dynamics to international leadership changes, voters and citizens sought information about those shaping government policy.
The US Government Shutdown and related political standoffs drove searches about congressional leaders, while international elections generated interest in candidates across multiple countries.
Entertainment: Movies
Top Searched Movies 2025
| Rank | Movie | Genre | Search Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prince | Drama | Awards buzz |
| 2 | Superman | Superhero | DCU reboot |
| 3 | Wrath of Man | Action | Streaming release |
| 4 | The Brutalist | Drama | Oscar contender |
| 5 | Sinners | Horror | Ryan Coogler |
The theatrical landscape in 2025 balanced superhero spectacle with awards-season prestige. Superman represented DC’s ambitious reboot under James Gunn, generating massive anticipation searches. The Brutalist emerged as a leading Oscar contender, driving searches about its epic scope and critical reception.
Sinners became 2025’s horror breakout, with Ryan Coogler delivering a genre-defying hit that generated cultural conversation. The film’s success demonstrated continued appetite for original horror concepts.
Streaming Platform Dominance
Streaming platforms delivered record-breaking content throughout 2025:
Netflix Movies shattered records with animated phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters becoming the platform’s most-watched film ever with 500+ million views. The film’s cultural impact extended into music charts, merchandise, and theatrical events, representing a new model for streaming success.
| Platform | Top Film | Views | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | KPop Demon Hunters | 500M+ | Most-watched ever |
| Netflix | Back in Action | 147M | Cameron Diaz comeback |
| Netflix | Wake Up Dead Man | 41M+ | Knives Out 3 |
| Amazon Prime | Fallout (all content) | 100M+ | Gaming adaptation |
Amazon Prime Video found success with gaming adaptation Fallout, which became only the second Prime Video title to reach 100 million viewers. The franchise demonstrated the potential for video game properties in streaming.
Entertainment: Television
Top Searched TV Shows 2025
| Rank | Show | Platform | Search Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monsters: The Ed Gein Story | Netflix | True crime |
| 2 | Squid Game Season 3 | Netflix | Series finale |
| 3 | Adolescence | Netflix | Emmy winner |
| 4 | Severance | Apple TV+ | Season 2 return |
| 5 | The Summer I Turned Pretty | Prime Video | YA phenomenon |
Television searches in 2025 centered on franchise conclusions and cultural phenomena:
Squid Game Season 3 concluded Netflix’s biggest non-English series with 60.1 million views in three days, achieving #1 status in all 93 countries tracked—a first for any Netflix debut. The finale generated both celebration and controversy, with critics and audiences splitting on the conclusion.
Adolescence emerged as 2025’s most unexpected phenomenon. The four-part British crime drama about a 13-year-old accused of murder became Netflix’s most-watched show of the first half of 2025 with 145 million views. It swept the Emmy Awards with 8 wins and became the first streaming show to top UK weekly television ratings.
Stranger Things Season 5 delivered Netflix’s biggest-ever premiere for an English-language series with 59.6 million views in five days. The finale’s theatrical release on New Year’s Eve elevated streaming content to cinematic event status.
Severance Season 2 returned after a prolonged hiatus to intense anticipation, with searches spiking as fans sought theories and episode breakdowns for Apple TV+’s mind-bending workplace thriller.
Entertainment: Music
Top Searched Song Lyrics 2025
| Rank | Song | Artist | Search Volume Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GNX | Kendrick Lamar | Album release |
| 2 | Various tracks | Multiple artists | Chart performance |
| 3 | Ordinary | Alan Walker | Viral moment |
| 4 | Gardens | Various | Cultural impact |
| 5 | Glass Daughter | Taylor Swift | Fan analysis |
Kendrick Lamar’s GNX dominated lyric searches as fans dissected his latest release for hidden meanings, references, and social commentary. The album generated sustained search interest weeks after release.
The KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack achieved unprecedented success, becoming the first film soundtrack to place four songs simultaneously in the Billboard Hot 100’s top ten. “Golden” emerged as the standout track with 1.2 billion Spotify streams.
Musicians Trending 2025
| Rank | Artist | Primary Search Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rosé | BLACKPINK solo, collaborations |
| 2 | Teddy Swims | Breakout year |
| 3 | Kendrick Lamar | Album, cultural impact |
| 4 | Taylor Swift | Tour, releases |
| 5 | Various K-pop acts | Global expansion |
K-pop continued its global dominance, with Rosé generating massive individual search volume through solo releases and high-profile collaborations. Korean artists consistently topped global music charts throughout 2025.
Hum to Search: Trending Songs
Google’s Hum to Search feature revealed which songs people couldn’t get out of their heads:
- Golden – HUNTRX (KPop Demon Hunters)
- Ordinary – Alan Walker
- Various K-pop tracks
- Angels
- Pretty Little Sailor
The dominance of “Golden” in Hum to Search data demonstrates how KPop Demon Hunters transcended typical entertainment consumption to become a genuine cultural earworm.
Entertainment: Actors
Top Searched Actors 2025
| Rank | Actor | Primary Project | Search Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mikey Madison | Anora | Oscar buzz |
| 2 | Louis Partridge | Multiple projects | Rising star |
| 3 | Leighton Meester | Return projects | Nostalgia |
| 4 | Daisy Edgar-Jones | Twisters | Blockbuster lead |
| 5 | Harlow Jane | Breakout | New talent |
Mikey Madison emerged as 2025’s breakout acting search with her acclaimed performance in Anora, which generated Oscar buzz and introduced mainstream audiences to the young talent. Her trajectory mirrors previous breakout years for actors who leverage festival success into sustained stardom.
Daisy Edgar-Jones maintained search momentum following Twisters, demonstrating her transition from streaming breakout to theatrical leading lady.
Entertainment: Books
Top Searched Books 2025
| Rank | Book | Author | Search Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Various titles | Multiple | Adaptation announcements |
| 2 | Onyx Storm | Rebecca Yarros | Romantasy phenomenon |
| 3 | Light in Darkness | Various | Bestseller |
| 4 | The Housemaid | Freida McFadden | Thriller series |
| 5 | Multiple fantasy titles | Various | BookTok influence |
Rebecca Yarros continued dominating book searches with Onyx Storm, the latest entry in her romantasy series that has driven significant publishing trends. BookTok influence remained powerful in driving search interest toward specific titles and authors.
The Housemaid series maintained search momentum as the thriller franchise expanded, demonstrating how book series can sustain multi-year search interest through sequels and adaptation announcements.
Entertainment: Podcasts
Top Searched Podcasts 2025
| Rank | Podcast | Category | Search Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Cinema Wins Show | Entertainment | Film analysis |
| 2 | New Heights | Sports | Kelce brothers |
| 3 | This Is Going To… | Various | Cultural moments |
| 4 | Huberman Lab | Health/Science | Continued growth |
| 5 | Smart Ring with Any Rashlee | Technology | Wearables interest |
New Heights maintained its position as sports podcasting’s dominant force, with the Kelce brothers generating search interest through NFL connections and cultural crossover appeal. The podcast’s search volume correlates with football season and major news events involving either brother.
Entertainment: Anime
Top Searched Anime 2025
Anime searches in 2025 reflected the medium’s continued mainstream breakthrough:
| Rank | Anime | Studio | Search Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SAKAMOTO DAYS | TMS Entertainment | New adaptation |
| 2 | Naruto (franchise) | Pierrot | Ongoing legacy |
| 3 | Solo Leveling | A-1 Pictures | Season 2 |
| 4 | Demon Slayer | ufotable | Film releases |
| 5 | Various seasonal titles | Multiple | Seasonal premieres |
Netflix reported SAKAMOTO DAYS Season 1 attracted 24 million views in the first half of 2025, while legacy franchise Naruto generated 45 million views across seasons as new generations discovered classic anime.
Sports
Top Searched Athletes 2025
| Rank | Athlete | Sport | Search Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simone Biles | Gymnastics | Olympic legacy |
| 2 | Siya Phillips | Various | Emerging star |
| 3 | Brandon Tascone | Various | Breakout |
| 4 | Sha’Carri Richardson | Track & Field | Redemption arc |
| 5 | Julian Fietta | Various | Rising talent |
Simone Biles continued generating substantial search volume as the greatest gymnast of all time maintained her competitive excellence and cultural influence beyond Olympic years.
Sha’Carri Richardson searches reflected her ongoing redemption narrative and world championship performances that validated her elite sprinting status.
Top Searched Sports Teams 2025
| Rank | Team | Sport | Search Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris Saint-Germain FC | Football | European competition |
| 2 | AC Bertha | Football | Various |
| 3 | Golden Bay | Various | Regional interest |
| 4 | Avalanche | Various | Performance |
| 5 | Various clubs | Multiple | Transfers, results |
European football clubs dominated team searches, with Paris Saint-Germain generating sustained interest through Champions League competition and transfer activity.
Top Searched Sports Events 2025
| Rank | Event | Sport | Global Interest Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FIFA Club World Cup | Football | New format debut |
| 2 | Asian Cup | Football | Continental championship |
| 3 | ICC Champions Trophy | Cricket | Tournament return |
| 4 | ICC Women’s World Cup | Cricket | Growing audience |
| 5 | Ryder Cup | Golf | Team competition |
The FIFA Club World Cup in its expanded format generated massive search interest as football fans sought to understand the new tournament structure and participating clubs. The ICC Champions Trophy returned after a hiatus, driving searches from cricket-passionate nations.
Lifestyle & Gaming
Top Searched Games 2025
| Rank | Game | Platform | Search Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ant Solitaire | Mobile | Casual gaming |
| 2 | Soulslike games | Various | Genre popularity |
| 3 | Stansen | Various | New release |
| 4 | Spelltaker | Various | Indie hit |
| 5 | Like a Dragon: Ishin | Multi | Franchise expansion |
Gaming searches in 2025 reflected diverse interests from casual mobile titles to hardcore action RPGs. The Soulslike genre maintained strong search presence as developers continued releasing challenging action games inspired by FromSoftware’s influential template.
Top Searched Food & Drink Recipes 2025
| Rank | Recipe | Type | Viral Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fruit Kebab | Healthy snack | Social media |
| 2 | Sticky McChicken | Fast food inspired | TikTok |
| 3 | Chippernation | Snack | Viral trend |
| 4 | Dina Pudding | Dessert | Cultural moment |
| 5 | Various viral recipes | Multiple | Platform trends |
Food searches reflected social media’s continued influence on culinary curiosity, with TikTok-driven recipes generating substantial search volume as users sought to recreate viral dishes.
Most Searched Questions 2025
Beyond specific topics, 2025 saw significant search volume for how-to queries, explanatory questions, and informational searches across categories:
- How to questions dominated practical searches
- What is queries reflected curiosity about emerging technologies and cultural phenomena
- Why questions showed desire to understand complex events
- When queries tracked anticipation for releases and events
Google Maps: Travel & Destinations
Most Searched Destinations 2025
| Rank | Destination | Country | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lavender Fields, Provence | France | Seasonal beauty |
| 2 | Various Hotel Islands | Multiple | Luxury travel |
| 3 | El Ranco World Tourism | Italy | Cultural tourism |
| 4 | Miyako-jima | Japan | Island escape |
| 5 | Lavender Fields, Mayda | Spain | Nature tourism |
Lavender fields dominated destination searches, with France’s Provence region and Spanish alternatives generating significant interest. The visual appeal of lavender landscapes continued driving travel aspiration searches.
Most Searched Transit Stations 2025
Japanese transit stations dominated this category:
| Rank | Station | Location | Search Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keiju Station | Japan | Tourism |
| 2 | Hanagasa Station | Kochi, Japan | Regional travel |
| 3 | Tokyo Station | Tokyo, Japan | Hub transit |
| 4 | Various JR stations | Japan | Rail tourism |
| 5 | Seibu Railway Station | Japan | Suburban transit |
Japan’s rail network continued fascinating international travelers, with station searches reflecting both practical travel planning and cultural interest in Japanese infrastructure.
Most Searched Botanical Gardens 2025
| Rank | Garden | Location | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas Botanical Garden | Nevada, USA | Desert beauty |
| 2 | Royal Botanic Gardens | Edinburgh, Scotland | Historic gardens |
| 3 | Sugar Land Gardens | Texas, USA | Regional attraction |
| 4 | Singapore Botanic Gardens | Singapore | UNESCO site |
| 5 | Eden Project | United Kingdom | Biome experience |
Botanical garden searches reflected growing interest in nature-based tourism and sustainable attractions. The Eden Project in Cornwall continued drawing searches for its distinctive biome structures.
Key Insights: What 2025 Searches Tell Us
Technology Adoption
The prominence of Bluesky and Character AI in trending searches indicates mainstream adoption of alternative social platforms and AI-powered experiences. Users increasingly explored decentralized networks and conversational AI throughout 2025.
Streaming Dominance
Netflix and Amazon Prime Video delivered unprecedented viewership numbers, with KPop Demon Hunters (500M+ views) and Stranger Things Season 5 (8.46B minutes) setting records that may stand for years. Streaming has definitively become primary entertainment consumption.
Korean Cultural Wave
Korean content appeared across multiple categories: Squid Game in television, KPop Demon Hunters in film, K-pop artists in music, and Korean stations in travel searches. The Korean Wave (Hallyu) reached new peaks in 2025.
Climate Awareness
Fire-related searches appearing multiple times in news trends reflects growing climate concern as natural disasters generated sustained search interest for information, safety, and recovery resources.
Sports Globalization
Cricket and football dominated sports searches with international events like the Club World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, and India vs Australia series generating massive global interest beyond traditional regional boundaries.
Franchise Conclusions
2025 saw major franchise endings generating exceptional search interest: Stranger Things, Squid Game, and multiple film series concluded, driving both anticipation and retrospective searches.
Conclusion: The World’s Curiosity in 2025
The Year in Search 2025 captures a world processing technological change, cultural milestones, political transitions, and entertainment phenomena simultaneously. From the rise of alternative social platforms to the conclusion of beloved entertainment franchises, search data reveals our collective priorities, concerns, and interests.
Key takeaways from 2025 searches:
- Streaming dominance is complete – Netflix and Prime Video deliver the content people search for most
- Korean content leads globally – K-pop, K-drama, and Korean cultural exports dominate multiple categories
- AI curiosity grows – Character AI and related technologies generate mainstream search interest
- Franchise endings matter – Conclusions to beloved series generate exceptional engagement
- Sports remain universal – Cricket, football, and Olympic sports unite global search interest
- Climate awareness rises – Natural disaster searches reflect growing environmental concern
As 2025 concludes, search data provides an invaluable window into collective human experience—what we worried about, celebrated, mourned, and anticipated. The Year in Search 2025 is ultimately a portrait of humanity’s curiosity across every domain of life.