Squid Game is a brutal show about social inequalities — and it's Netflix's next major hit
CBC
Netflix's next big television hit is here. Squid Game is brutal, it's violent and it's taking the world by storm.
The South Korean dystopian horror follows hundreds of debt-ridden citizens as they are forced to participate in a competition of childhood games — and be killed if they lose. The winner wins a massive amount of cash.
A representative from Netflix did not provide CBC News with a specific number of viewers that have tuned into Squid Game since its Sep. 17 premiere; the streaming giant is selective about which viewership statistics it shares with the public.
But Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos recently announced that Squid Game is on a trajectory to becoming the company's biggest series ever, potentially surpassing current hits, such as Season 1 of Bridgerton (82 million viewers) and Season 1 of Lupin and The Witcher (76 million viewers).
Netflix Inc. shares closed 1.9 per cent higher in New York on Thursday to a record price of $610.27 US.
The show is a far-fetched spectacle, but its international popularity is no fluke. Squid Game's social commentary on class inequality, a common horror trope since the genre's beginnings, is resonating deeply with audiences around the world, particularly as interest in South Korean pop culture surges.
"I knew that Squid Game was going to be a death game, but I didn't realize actually that it would have so much depth to it. It's a very colourful and well-crafted show," said Hanh Nguyen, a Los Angeles-based senior editor of culture for digital outlet Salon.com.
