Wednesday popularity continues as the horror comedy series once again tops the Netflix charts five weeks after its initial release.
A report from Forbes confirmed that Wednesday, based on The Addams Family's Wednesday Addams, took the #1 spot on Netflix's top-performing shows of the year list. The series boasts over 1.3 billion viewing hours total since its release, not only making it one of the most-watched shows on the streaming service in 2022, but placing it second all-time among U.S. shows behind Stranger Things Season 4 at 1.88 billion viewing hours.
Wednesday's Massive Success Streak
Wednesday achieved the feat despite a slew of new shows unveiled on Netflix since its Nov. 23 premiere. Some of those shows include The Witcher: Blood Origin, Harry & Meghan, Emily and Paris and The Recruit. Though there's no confirmation of a Season 2 release date for Wednesday, details are expected to be revealed early in the New Year as producers have been scouting writers for the upcoming season.
News of Wednesday regaining Netflix's top spot during the holidays comes on the heels of fans and industry critics alike praising the work of lead actor Jenna Ortega and her portrayal of Wednesday Addams. The 20-year-old Ortega previously starred as young Jane in Jane the Virgin, Harley Diaz in Stuck in the Middle and Tara Carpenter in the Scream slasher franchise. Additionally, Ortega received a Golden Globe nomination for her work on Wednesday.
Though Wednesday has come under fire for its characterization of Black characters and other controversies, the show received various plaudits for casting Latin characters in significant roles, including Ortega and her father in the series, Luis Guzmán (Gomez Addams). The cast also features Catherine Zeta-Jones (Morticia Addams), Gwendoline Christie (Larissa Weems), Christina Ricci (Marilyn Thornhill) and Joy Sunday (Bianca Barclay).
Wednesday co-creators Miles Millar and Alfred Gough admitted the show took inspiration from Fight Club for Season 1, though they denied it's a homage to Percy Jackson & The Olympians or the Harry Potter franchise. Millar and Gough have also teased potential story arcs going forward should it receive a renewal, including expanding on the relationship between Wednesday and Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers). Building on Wednesday's success, Netflix executives also expressed hope to establish an Addams Family Universe with other potential spinoffs coming to flesh out the shared world.
Fans can watch all eight Season 1 episodes of Wednesday via Netflix.
Source: Forbes