Since its debut in 2021, Squid Game has become a global phenomenon, shattering numerous Netflix records. Within its first week, the South Korean thriller racked up an unprecedented 571.76 million viewing hours, setting the record for the most viewed non-English show on Netflix in a single week.
Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the show also had Netflix’s most successful series launch, with 142 million subscriber households tuning in during its first month. It quickly climbed to No.1 in 97 countries, surpassing Bridgerton as the platform’s most popular TV show at the time.
Squid Game follows Seong Gi-hun, a desperate father who, along with 455 other contestants, enters deadly children’s games for a life-changing cash prize. The series’ brutal storyline captivated audiences worldwide.
The show also made awards history when lead actor Lee Jung-jae became the first performer to win an Emmy for a non-English-language role, taking home Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2022. Squid Game also became the first non-English-language series to be nominated for Outstanding Drama Series at the Primetime Emmys.
Season 2, released in 2024, continued its dominance, becoming the most viewed show globally that week with 68 million views and topping charts in 92 countries.
With the final season promising an intense conclusion, Squid Game may be poised to set even more records.
