Netflix's highly anticipated series ‘Squid Game’ Season 2 (hereafter ‘Squid Game 2’) has ranked first in viewership in 93 countries for three consecutive days.
Released on the 26th, ‘Squid Game 2’ achieved the number one spot in Netflix's global TV show category on the 29th, just four days after its release, and has been at the top since the 27th.
‘Squid Game 2’ ranked first in 92 countries excluding New Zealand on the 27th, and on the 28th, it also reached number one in New Zealand, demonstrating its dominance in all countries where Netflix is available.
This is a faster achievement compared to Season 1. While Season 1, released in 2021, reached number one eight days after its release, Season 2 achieved this in just three days.
Netflix also reported that ‘Squid Game 2’ ranked first in the global top 10 chart as of the 28th. It noted that themes exploring human nature such as ‘desire,’ ‘survival,’ and ‘morality’ have resonated with audiences, and that the global interest in ‘Squid Game 2’ has established it as a cultural phenomenon beyond mere entertainment.
‘Squid Game 2’ follows the story of ‘Gi-hun’ (played by Lee Jung-jae), the winner of the previous game, as he re-enters the game to face off against the ‘Frontman.’ The cast includes Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Wi Ha-jun, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-wook, Park Sung-hoon, and Choi Seung-hyun (TOP).
As expected from a global sensation, the response to the series after its release has been intense. Due to high expectations, there have been quite a few harsh critiques from foreign media, and the reactions from domestic media and viewers have been sharply divided. Nevertheless, it continues to break records at a phenomenon level, drawing even more attention to its final performance. The ‘staying power’ will likely be the key factor.
