Squid Game Season 2 Weekly Viewership Plummets Compared to Season 1

Squid Game
season 2 has encountered a significant decline in its viewership compared to its predecessor. The series, crafted by Hwang Dong-hyuk and premiering in 2021, captured global audiences by depicting contestants competing in lethal children’s games in hopes of securing a life-altering cash reward. Following the narrative of Lee Jung-jae’s Gi-hun, season 2 launched last month to favorable reviews and a strong start in terms of viewership.

Recent insights from IndieWire highlight a staggering 55% drop in viewership between the first full week and the second week of season 2’s availability. Specifically, the show attracted 58.2 million views from December 30 to January 5, plummeting to 26.3 million views during January 6 to 13. In comparison, the largest drop for season 1 was 43%, occurring between its fifth and sixth weeks, demonstrating a significant variance in audience retention.

For clarity, Netflix classifies a “view”by dividing total hours of a season viewed in a specific timeframe by the season’s overall runtime—all rounded to the nearest 100,000.

Implications of Season 2’s Viewership Decline

Analyzing the Week-to-Week Decline

The Front Man watching Gi-hun in Squid Game season 2

Despite these concerning figures, it’s important to note that season 2 has still achieved remarkable success, indicating potential for a successful season 3. It amassed 68 million views within its first four days, slightly lower than season 1’s 68.7 million views in its third week. Currently, Squid Game season 2 has totaled 152.5 million views, making it the third-most-viewed series on Netflix to date. Season 1 retains the top spot with 265.2 million views, while Wednesday season 1 ranks second at 252.1 million views.

However, this recent decline signals that season 2 might fall short against the records set by both season 1 and Wednesday within its initial 91-day viewing period. Contributing factors may include competing events like the NFL Wildcard Weekend and NCAA semifinal playoffs. Additionally, the nature of season 2 released to an existing fanbase, contrasting with season 1, which gradually built its audience.

Our Analysis of Season 2’s Viewership Drop

Concerns for Season 3 Viewership

Actor Gong Yoo as The Salesman in Squid Game season 2.

The steep decline in viewership for season 2 is not entirely unexpected; replicating the momentum generated by season 1 was always going to be challenging. With the season 2 finale ending on a dramatic cliffhanger, season 3 may experience similar front-loading effects regarding its initial viewership, potentially resulting in an even steeper week-to-week drop when it premieres in July 2025.

Despite the decline in viewership statistics, Squid Game season 2 remains a significant triumph, with audiences clearly engaged and invested in Gi-hun’s journey as he reenters the perilous games, setting the stage for an anticipated conclusion in the upcoming season.

Source: IndieWire

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