Squid Game beats Bridgerton to become Netflix’s biggest launch ever

In terms of popularity, Netflix Originals are very much in a league of their own. When Bridgerton hit the service during Christmas last year, it was a resounding success, becoming Netflix’s biggest ever series launch. But its place in the number one spot was short-lived. Korean survival drama Squid Game recently knocked it off its perch with a crazy successful launch — the show was watched by 111 million users in its first 28 days!

Squid Game follows a large group of cash-strapped contestants who are tricked into entering a competition to win an enormous sum of money. What they don’t know is that they’ll be participating in some classic children’s games, and if they don’t win, they die. The last contestant standing wins all.

Bridgerton was watched by only 82 million users in its first 28 days compared to Squid Game‘s 111 million. However, these statistics can be slightly misleading, as they account for users who watched as little as two minutes of an episode.

That said, nothing can take away from its popularity. It seems everyone is talking about Squid Game. What makes it even more impressive was how big it got simply from word of mouth. I don’t recall seeing advertising for the show on the side of a bus. Take a look at this short celebratory video Netflix released, thanking everyone for tuning in:

Given the enormous success, Netflix will want another season. However, series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk hasn’t settled on making a second season just yet. “[Y]ou’re right, the pressure on me is huge now, with such a big audience waiting for a season two,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “Because of all that pressure, I haven’t decided yet whether or not I should do another season.”

"But if you look at it in a positive way, because so many people loved season 1 and are expecting good things for season 2, there are people everywhere in the world offering their opinions about where the show should go. I could actually pull ideas from fans all around the world to create the next season. I think that’s what I’m wrestling with right now — that I shouldn’t just view it as a huge amount of pressure, but think of all of this love and support I’m receiving as a big box of inspiration that I can leverage for season 2."

Do you have any good ideas? Make them known; who knows who’s listening?

People are now seeing Squid Game references everywhere! 

With Squid Game on everyone’s mind, people think they are seeing it out in the real world now. Take this rather ominous road sign in Slough, England, which features a triangle, a square, and a circle. This sign does not direct people to participate in Squid Game, which the police felt the need to point out on Twitter:

If you do feel the need to bring Squid Game into the real world, consider buying some merchandise instead. Cause there’s going to be a lot of it. Walmart’s new Netflix store will soon drop a range of toys inspired by the Korean show. You can now purchase your very own green Squid Game jumpsuit!

Squid Game is currently streaming on Netflix.

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