Netflix’s 2-Part Thriller Series Is Officially Among Streaming’s Biggest Hits in History
A global breakthrough
Squid Game drew worldwide attention as a South Korean dystopian thriller, an outcome that could not have been reliably predicted through algorithms or marketing plans. Its creator and showrunner, Hwang Dong-hyuk, stayed committed to making the series on his own terms.
The show arrived at the end of 2021, as audiences were emerging from the COVID-19 period but still watching in habits formed during lockdowns. With fewer new English-language productions available during shutdowns, viewers had become more willing to try international programming.
A story grounded in inequality
The series explores the distance between the wealthy and the poor, while questioning entertainment that exploits people. Its survival-game premise uses familiar dystopian ideas, but the setting feels close to contemporary life rather than a distant future.
In an era of gig work and debt, the prospect of people risking everything for a fortune does not feel impossible. Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, is compelling in part because he wants to support his family but faces economic hardship.
An original with lasting impact
Squid Game was not adapted from previously existing material. Its clear storytelling helps viewers recognize the implications of its dystopian conventions, while its contemporary setting gives those ideas immediate force.
The show’s popularity required more than initial curiosity about international television, the article argues: its themes and characters also had to connect with viewers. Hwang’s unwavering approach helped give the series the singular identity that made it a global hit.
Key points
- Squid Game became a global Netflix hit despite having no established franchise audience.
- International shows drew more viewers as English-language production slowed during COVID-19 shutdowns.
- The series links a survival-game premise to contemporary debt and economic inequality.
- Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk maintained his vision, while Lee Jung-jae played lead character Seong Gi-hun.