Squid Game Is On Track to Become Netflix's Biggest Show
The hit South Korean import could possibly overtake Bridgerton as Netflix's most popular series.
Squid Game is on track to become Netflix's biggest TV show ever — if the early viewership figures hold.
According to Deadline, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos estimated that Squid Game could top the streaming service's charts, judging by the numbers, though he didn't specify which particular metric he was monitoring to gauge its popularity. He simply told CNET and others that there's "a very good chance it's going to be our biggest show ever."
"There's a show on Netflix right now that is the No. 1 in the world, like everywhere in the world. It's called Squid Game. Squid Game will definitely be our biggest non-English language show in the world, for sure," Sarandos affirmed to those in attendance at Vox Media's Code Conference in Beverly Hills, California earlier this week.
Sarandos shared viewership data highlighting two different metrics that Netflix is using to track the popularity of its series and films. One metric tracks the number of users that watched at least two minutes of a show or film within the first 28 days of release while the other metric measures the total hours spent watching a show or film within the first 28 days.
The data shared at the event spotlighted the Regency-era debutante drama Bridgerton as Netflix's most-watched series ever, with 82 million subscribers tuning in to watch at least two minutes of the show in its first 28 days on the service, and a whopping 625 million total hours viewed within its first four weeks of release on the service.
As a relatively new title, Squid Game had only been available on the service for approximately 11 days when Sarandos remarked on its popularity. The show officially hit the streamer on September 17, which means there's still a number of calendar days for views to rack up before the dystopian thriller potentially finds a place on these charts.
Squid Game's popularity seems to be stretching across different mediums, as in recent days fan-made games based on the deadly challenges found in the show have started to crop up all over Roblox. In fact, several Squid Game remakes have made their way onto the platform's most popular lists, with many more showing up after a quick search of the buzzworthy title.
Squid Game is a nine-episode South Korean survival drama where hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation and gather on a remote island to compete in a series of deadly children's games for the chance to win a big cash prize and escape poverty — with deadly high stakes. The full first season is available to watch now on Netflix.
If you're looking for something to watch after Squid Game, take a look at everything new that's coming to Netflix in October, including everything from legendary sitcom Seinfeld to the zombie-less Army of the Dead prequel Army of Thieves to a brand-new season of Locke and Key and an all-new anime set in the magical world of David Ayer's Bright.
Adele Ankers is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.
