Squid Game

Squid Game is the most-watched Netflix series ever, amassing 1.65 billion viewing hours in its first 28 days—30% more than the runner-up in Netflix history. With a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score, this Korean allegory follows 456 debt-ridden contestants who risk death in children's games for a massive cash prize. Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk spent 10 years developing the concept, and its global impact is undeniable: it topped charts in 94 countries and generated $900 million in value for Netflix. The show's brutal critique of capitalism, symbolized by the green tracksuits and masked guards, resonates universally. Its cultural footprint surpasses #2 Beef, whose eight Emmys are impressive but pale next to Squid Game's record-breaking viewership.