Consistency has been the name of the game for Netflix when it comes to Squid Game, the South Korean dystopian survival thriller series that became an instant hit upon release in 2021. The show broke records for the streamer when it made its debut on the platform, and after the release of the third and final season, Squid Game continues to be a record-breaking game-changer.
Per Variety, the debut of the third and final season of Squid Game set a new record for Netflix after it premiered last Friday. During its first three days on the platform, the series pulled in 60.1 million views, making it a new record for Netflix. The third season of the popular Korean drama is now the ninth most-watched non-English TV series on the platform’s list of most popular shows. The second season of Squid Game premiered to 68 million views over its first four days following its debut on a Thursday (versus the Friday launch of Season 3), which in itself was the most views any series had launched to during its premiere week on the platform. The previous record was 50.1 million views for Wednesday back in 2022.
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Created, written, and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, Squid Game is centered around a secret contest where 456 players dealing with dire financial straits risk it all to play a series of children’s games with a deadly twist to win a $39.86 million prize. Following the debut of its first season, the show received numerous accolades, including becoming the first non-English series and the first Korean series to be nominated for the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. It also earned 14 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including Best Drama, making it the first non-English series to do so.
Why Is the Season 3 Debut of ‘Squid Game’ Impressive?
Making the third season launch of Squid Game even more impressive is that it had one day less to break this record, given that Season 2 had an extra full day to achieve its 68 million views goal. If four days of data were being counted for Season 3, it’s possible that it would have matched or exceeded the premiere launch of the second season. With a full week of data tabulated, it will be interesting to see if Season 3 will outpace Season 2 in other ways. Following its first full week of availability, Season 2 landed at No. 7 on Netflix’s most popular non-English TV shows of all time.
Squid Game Season 3 currently holds a 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a consensus that reads: “The games reach a grim crescendo in this climactic third season, repeating familiar beats with a ruthlessness that drives creator Hwang Dong-hyuk’s themes home.” The second and third seasons were filmed back-to-back, with Season 3 focusing on Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) and other players fighting for survival as the games become even more deadly. The VIPS are welcomed into the mix by In-ho (Lee Byung-hun) while his brother Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) is unaware of a traitor in their midst as he searches for the island.
Season 3 of Squid Game is now streaming on Netflix.
2.5
/5
Release Date
2021 – 2024
Network
Netflix
Showrunner
Hwang Dong-hyuk
Directors
Hwang Dong-hyuk
Writers
Hwang Dong-hyuk
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Lee Jung-jae
Seong Gi-hun / ‘No. 456’
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Jeon Young-soo
Game Guide
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