Netflix has announced Squid Game as having its most successful series launch, surpassing Bridgerton in its first 28 days on the platform.Squid Game, which was released Sept. 17, has been viewed in 111 million households. Bridgerton previously held the title of most successful series launch with 82 million households tuning in. Squid Game was also the first title on the platform to be viewed over 100 million times in the first 28 days.
When Squid Game premiered on Sept. 17, it quickly landed eighth on Netflix's Top 10 in the U.S. list. It hit the top spot on Sept. 21, making it the first Korean drama to hit #1. The show and its stars have also seen massive success on social media, with actor and model Jung Ho-Yeon hitting 19.8 million Instagram followers, making her the most followed Korean actress on the platform. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos even predicted that Squid Game would become the platform's biggest show ever.
Squid Game's massive success has not come without criticism. Notably, fans who are fluent in both Korean and English have explained that Squid Game's subtitles are often misleading or inaccurate. The show's use of a real phone number has also led to thousands of phone calls to a Korean man who owns the phone number in real life.
Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk recently discussed what makes Squid Game so popular. He emphasized the use of children's games, which elicit nostalgia from the audience and are easy to understand and follow in the context of the show. He also credited the show's "entertaining" and "fun" aspects and touched on the themes of class inequality in the show. "These days we are, in fact, living in a deeply unfair and economically challenging world... Currently, I would say that more than 90 percent of people across the world will be able to somehow connect and empathize with the plight of the characters that are portrayed in the series."
Squid Game has not yet been renewed for Season 2, but with Season 1's massive success, fans are hopeful to see more of the show. "I don't have well-developed plans for Squid Game 2," Dong-hyuk said in September. "It is quite tiring just thinking about it. But if I were to do it, I would certainly not do it alone. I'd consider using a writers' room and would want multiple experienced directors."
Source: Twitter