Netflix CEO Says 'Nothing In The Data' Could Have Predicted One Of The Streamer's Biggest Shows
Data drives everything these days - but, according to Netflix's CEO, one show proved that you can't base creative decisions on numbers alone.
Squid Game, a Korean thriller, exemplified that exceptional television requires a willingness to take risks. Despite Netflix's data indicating that the show would not garner the global following it achieved, it became one of the most popular non-English titles on the platform upon its release in September 2021. The series chronicled Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), a chauffeur with a gambling addiction who joins a lethal competition to repay debts.
In under four weeks, the debut season attracted 111 million viewers, catapulting Jung-jae to new heights and earning him the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. The overwhelming response to the series proved that taking bold creative decisions based on data is a misguided approach. While Netflix has expressed concerns over declining retention rates, Squid Game was an exception, with Season 3 garnering 60.1 million viewers in the first three days of its release, setting a new record for the streaming giant.
The show's success led Netflix to contemplate a follow-up series, but this idea was eventually abandoned. Although a Cate Blanchett cameo in the finale led to speculation about a potential spin-off, this theory was later disproven. However, Squid Game's impact endures through Netflix's reality show, Squid Game: The Challenge, which has been renewed for a third season.
The reality series adapts the original show's ruthless competition, with 456 contestants competing in perilous children's games in pursuit of a million-dollar prize.
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