Wikipedia:Top 25 Report/July 16 to 22, 2017

Most Popular Wikipedia Articles of the Week (July 16 to 22, 2017) edit

Last week's reportNext week's report

Prepared with commentary by A lad insane

A tragedy, a couple more deaths on top of that, politics, movies, sports, some TV and a touch of Reddit (not in order of ranking)

Topping the list we have a tragedy, the suicide of Chester Bennington (#1) of Linkin Park (#2). Next, the deaths of Martin Landau (#17) and John Heard (#22), followed by quite a lot of political appearances, beginning with the parole of O. J. Simpson (#3), and extending through the appointment of Anthony Scaramucci (#12) as White House Director of Communications and the diagnosis of John McCain (#19) suffering from a glioblastoma. Lots of movies, such as Dunkirk (#7), Spider-Man: Homecoming (#15) and War for the Planet of the Apes (#16), and sports, mainly wrestling with some tennis thrown in. A Google Doodle honoring the birthday of Marshall McLuhan (#10) appears. TV makes its appearance by way of Game of Thrones (#6) and the selection of Jodie Whittaker (#8) as the Thirteenth Doctor, and finally, Reddit, with an entry on an octopus (#20).

For the week of July 16 to 22, 2017, the 25 most popular articles on Wikipedia, as determined from the WP:5000 report were:

Rank Article Class Views Image Notes
1 Chester Bennington   5,524,961
 
The lead singer for Linkin Park, who tragically died in a suicide-by-hanging on what would have been the birthday of Chris Cornell, July 20, leaving behind six children and bandmembers Mike Shinoda, Joe Hahn, Brad Delson, Dave Farrell, and Rob Bourdon.
2 Linkin Park   2,303,797
 
See above.
3 O. J. Simpson   1,756,515
 
It was recently announced that O. J. Simpson, the world's most famous football-player-turned-murder-suspect-turned-robber, will be paroled later this year, and the world has now been indoctrinated with enough "The Juice Is Loose" headlines (or something to that effect) to last many, many lifetimes. I honestly don't think this should have happened, but it did happen, and I'm a minor, so I don't really think I can affect this one much...
4 Chris Cornell   1,575,561
 
Chester Bennington (see above) was found dead on what would have been the birthday of Soundgarden's frontman (whose funeral he attended back in May), in the same manner of death. Quite a tragic occurrence.
5 Roger Federer   1,548,163
 
Up 2 from last week. Has been in the news due to Wimbledon.
6 Game of Thrones (season 7)   1,525,074
 
Up 3 from last week. The first episode of this season aired on Sunday.
7 Dunkirk (2017 film)   1,288,349
 
The Christopher Nolan film was released on Friday to much critical acclaim. Haven't seen it, not planning to, but it sounds decent.
8 Jodie Whittaker   1,073,016
 
Selected as the Thirteenth Doctor, and the first female to play the role, on Sunday. Wow. A female finally has a part in a science fiction TV show larger than "hailing frequencies open". Rejoice.
9 Game of Thrones   1,049,676
 
Up 11 from last week, see #6.
10 Marshall McLuhan   963,165
 
The media theorist lands in this report due to a Google Doodle honoring what would have been his 106th birthday.
11 Battle of Dunkirk   927,733
 
See #7.
12 Anthony Scaramucci   778,313
 
Has been appointed as the White House Director of Communications, the direct cause of the resignation of Sean Spicer. However, he has not performed the fandango on national television yet, much as we Queen fans can hope.
13 Deaths in 2017   741,561
 
Up over 75,000 views and 1 spot on the list, likely due to #1. We have lost too many good people these last two years, so I completely understand the jump in page views. There's still a few people left, I guess... I may be a bit cynical... but really, I think given the circumstances anyone would be.
14 Jason Jordan   722,580
 
Another wrestling-related entry, who seems to have been caught up in some Darth Vader-related antics by Kurt Angle. Honestly I could care less, but it is wrestling season.
15 Spider-Man: Homecoming   709,247
 
Down 13 spots from last week. Seems to be receiving positive reviews, and seems to be doing well.
16 War for the Planet of the Apes   705,166
 
Down 8 spots from last week. Starring Andy Serkis (pictured) as Caesar, War opened on July 14 to an estimated $22.1 million opening day gross in the U.S.
17 Martin Landau   701,571
 
An actor that actually died before this report began generating, but the news wasn't released until the day after, Sunday. Famous for Mission: Impossible and Space: 1999.
18 Ram Nath Kovind   659,744
 
Was elected president of India on the 17th, and assumed office this Tuesday, after the auto-report was generated.
19 John McCain   650,561
 
The senior U.S. senator from Arizona, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma recently, an aggressive form of brain cancer, after surgery to remove a blood clot delaying votes in the Senate. Just another probable victim of the onslaught of deaths of 2016-7. *sigh*
20 Cephalopod intelligence   570,041
 
Propelled here by Reddit, a "Today I Learned" thread relating to an octopus shooting a jet of water at a light, causing a power outage in the aquarium, because it was bothering him. Fascinating.
21 List of Game of Thrones episodes   535,462
 
See #6.
22 John Heard (actor)   527,830 The father of the protagonist in Home Alone, who died recently at the age of 71. Also famous for roles in several films which include (copypasted from article) Chilly Scenes of Winter, Heart Beat, Cutter's Way, Cat People, C.H.U.D., After Hours, Big, Beaches, Awakenings, Rambling Rose, The Pelican Brief, My Fellow Americans, Snake Eyes, and Animal Factory.
23 Mike Shinoda   525,513
 
See #1. The lead vocalist and co-founder of Linkin Park.
24 Planet of the Apes   497,020
 
Down 7 spots from last week. See #16.
25 Conor McGregor   494,134
 
Down 22 spots from last week. Scheduled to go against Floyd Mayweather Jr. on August 26.

Exclusions edit

  • This list excludes the Wikipedia main page, non-article pages (such as redlinks), and anomalous entries (such as DDoS attacks or likely automated views). Since mobile view data became available to the Report in October 2014, we exclude articles that have almost no mobile views (5–6% or less) or almost all mobile views (94–95% or more) because they are very likely to be automated views based on our experience and research of the issue. Please feel free to discuss any removal on the talk page if you wish.