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‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Sets Netflix’s Biggest TV Debut With 68 Million Views

Squid Game season 2 has cemented its status as a global phenomenon, breaking records and dominating Netflix’s charts during its debut week. With 68 million views in its first four days, Squid Game season 2 surpassed the debut record set by Wednesday season 1 in 2022, which had 50.1 million views. The Korean series, created and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, topped Netflix’s non-English TV list and ranked No. 1 in 92 countries during the week of 23 to 29 December.

‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Sets Netflix’s Biggest TV Debut With 68 Million Views

The show’s explosive return builds on the success of its first season, which remains Netflix’s most-watched series of all time. Squid Game season 2 accumulated a staggering 487.6 million viewing hours, translating to its record-breaking 68 million views. This achievement puts it in seventh place on Netflix’s all-time top 10 list for non-English language series, just behind Lupin: Part 2 with 68.4 million views. Given its trajectory, Season 2 is expected to climb further in the rankings.

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Season 1 of Squid Game also enjoyed a resurgence, garnering 8.1 million views during the same week, placing third on the non-English language series list. Fans revisited the series as they prepared to dive back into the dark, high-stakes world of the games. The series’ second season picks up two years after the events of the first, following Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) as he re-enters the deadly competition to confront its masterminds, including the enigmatic Front Man (Lee Byung-hun).

‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Sets Netflix’s Biggest TV Debut With 68 Million Views

Netflix’s lineup during the holiday week saw Squid Game season 2 as its most-watched title globally, while other offerings also performed well. The Taron Egerton-led film Carry-On ranked as the second-most-watched title with 34.9 million views, and Tyler Perry’s The Six Triple Eight followed with 23.3 million views. NFL Christmas Day games also made waves, with Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers drawing 14.4 million and 14.3 million views, respectively, setting records as the most-streamed NFL matchups in U.S. history.

Holiday-themed content also captured attention, with That Christmas ranking No. 3 on the English films list with 11.9 million views, while romance and thrillers like Virgin River season 6 and The Madness continued to draw significant audiences. Internationally, shows like Norway’s La Palma (12.2 million views) and Korea’s When the Phone Rings (4.4 million views) also made strong showings.

With plans for a third and final season already announced, Netflix’s Squid Game promises to continue delivering its blend of suspense, drama, and social commentary.