It's no secret that Squid Game is now the most popular Netflix show of all time, but the new numbers reveal just how popular Hwang Dong-hyuk's survival drama has become over the course of its first four weeks of release.
In recent data released as part of the streamer's revised audience metrics, Netflix claims that Squid Game was watched 1.600 billion hours in total in its first month. Yes, you read that correctly: 1.600 billion.
For context, that means audiences spent more than 182.000 years watching the show in its first four weeks alone - Bridgerton, Netflix's second-most popular title, got less than half of this total.
We have received a lot of feedback on our metrics over the years. So we got back to the drawing board and today we are excited to launch https://t.co/a9X2usRUun, a new website with global and national weekly listings. of the most popular titles on Netflix ranked by viewing hours pic.twitter.com/JMrvzmRv8s November 16, 2021
Read more
The updated numbers were announced in conjunction with the broadcaster's new website, top10Netflix.com, which makes weekly viewership data for its movies and TV shows available to the public.
Unsurprisingly, Netflix's desire to be more transparent with its audience figures is the result of the astronomical success of Squid Game. Going forward, the company will remove the two-minute-per-view metric used in recent years to record the total number of hours viewed in the first 28 days of a given title launch, hence the reveal of 1 billion. Squid hours. Play.
"We believe engagement as measured by hours watched is a slightly better indicator of the overall success of our titles and member satisfaction," Netflix bosses said in a recent letter to shareholders. “It's also consistent with how third-party services measure TV viewing and assign appropriate credit to replay. "
Obviously, the switch to total watch hours metrics is a huge feast for the eyes when shows like Squid Game perform as well as they do, but it will be interesting to see if Netflix keeps up its new commitment to the game. Transparency if your other programs don't. meet expectations.
Will there be a Squid Game season 2?
As for whether we can expect a second season of Squid Game in the future, recent developments suggest that creator Hwang Dong-hyuk is moving forward with the idea.
In recent interviews, Hwang has shown increasing confidence in the potential narratives of a Squid Game season 2, going so far as to say that he actually has "a very high-level picture" of a potential follow-up story (via The Guardian).
The creator also told The Associated Press in November that there will "actually be a second season" of Squid Game, so while Netflix has yet to weigh in on official confirmation, we're pretty sure Squid Game season 2 It is on the way.
You will find a more detailed breakdown of our thoughts on a possible second season in our full breakdown of the ending of Squid Game, but those who are concerned that Netflix will not renovate the most popular property in its history should rest easy: Squid Game will return. 1,6 billion hours insured.