Netflix Reports Record Viewership in 2025: The Impact of Korean Content

On July 18, 2025, Netflix released its highly anticipated "2025 Global Viewing Status Report." This report showcases the staggering success of Korean content on the platform, particularly the acclaimed series "Squid Game."

Record-Breaking Viewing Hours

In the first half of 2025, total viewing time on Netflix soared to approximately 95 billion hours. This surge underscores the platform’s global reach and the growing popularity of its diverse content offerings.

The Rise of "Squid Game"

Season 2 and Season 3 Success

"Squid Game" continues to dominate Netflix, with Season 2 and Season 3 ranking as the 2nd and 3rd most popular series, respectively. Season 2, which premiered in December 2024, attracted an impressive 117 million views. Following closely, Season 3 was released on June 27, 2025, and garnered 72 million views within just four days, achieving first place in viewership across 93 countries right after its release.

Total Views and Global Ranking

Overall, all seasons of "Squid Game" have accumulated a staggering 231 million views. Even Season 1, released back in 2021, managed to capture 4 million views, ranking 18th in popularity for the first half of 2025.

Other Popular Series

While "Squid Game" leads the pack, other series also made significant impacts. The British series "The Boy’s Time" became the most viewed globally with 45 million views. Additionally, Korean series such as "Poksak Sogassuda," set in Jeju, ranked 25th with 35 million views, and "Severe Trauma Center" followed closely at 26th with 34 million views. Notably, "Weak Hero Class 1" and "Weak Hero Class 2" ranked 42nd and 51st, respectively, with 22 million and 20 million views.

The K-Pop Phenomenon

In the realm of animated films, the K-pop themed release "K-Pop Demon Hunters," which premiered on June 20, 2025, achieved 36.7 million views. This success highlights the growing influence of K-pop and Korean culture in global entertainment.

Conclusion

The 2025 Global Viewing Status Report by Netflix underscores the significant impact of Korean content on the platform’s non-English performance. The overwhelming success of "Squid Game" and other Korean series and films indicates a competitive edge in the streaming market, marking a new era for global viewership trends.

This article has been written by Kpopmap AI writer and while we have made efforts to ensure the accuracy of the article, there may be errors or inaccuracies.