Netflix's Fastest-Hooking Binge Shows: From 'Adolescence' to 'The Queen's Gambit'
A list evaluating viewer engagement in the opening moments of 10 Netflix original series encompasses various genres and countries. Among the highlighted shows are "Adolescence," which Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne co-created and secured eight Emmy Awards; "Beef," crafted by Lee Sung Jin and featuring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, the latter of whom received an acting Emmy; "Squid Game," directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, set to conclude in 2025; "Money Heist," known as "La Casa de Papel"; "Alice in Borderland," also ending in 2025; "You," wrapping up in 2025; "Baby Reindeer," starring Richard Gadd; "Wednesday," from Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, boasting over 250 million views; "Ozark," which finished in 2022; and "The Queen's Gambit," which won 11 Emmy Awards.
Key facts
- The list ranks 10 complete Netflix original series by how fast their opening minutes hook viewers
- Adolescence was filmed in a single continuous shot per episode and won eight Emmy Awards plus four Golden Globes
- Ali Wong became the first woman of Asian descent to win a lead acting Emmy for Beef
- Squid Game concluded its story after three seasons with the final season released in 2025
- Money Heist originally aired in Spain as La Casa de Papel before Netflix acquired global rights
- Wednesday season one drew more than 250 million views and earned Jenna Ortega an Emmy nomination
- Ozark ran four seasons and concluded in 2022
- The Queen's Gambit won 11 Emmy Awards including outstanding limited series
Entities
Artists
- Stephen Graham
- Jack Thorne
- Philip Barantini
- Owen Cooper
- Ashley Walters
- Erin Doherty
- Lee Sung Jin
- Steven Yeun
- Ali Wong
- Oscar Isaac
- Carey Mulligan
- Charles Melton
- Cailee Spaeny
- Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Lee Jung-jae
- Lee Byung-hun
- Álex Pina
- Álvaro Morte
- Úrsula Corberó
- Haro Aso
- Shinsuke Sato
- Kento Yamazaki
- Tao Tsuchiya
- Greg Berlanti
- Sera Gamble
- Caroline Kepnes
- Penn Badgley
- Madeline Brewer
- Richard Gadd
- Jessica Gunning
- Alfred Gough
- Miles Millar
- Tim Burton
- Jenna Ortega
- Steve Buscemi
- Billie Piper
- Catherine Zeta-Jones
- Luis Guzman
- Bill Dubuque
- Mark Williams
- Jason Bateman
- Laura Linney
- Julia Garner
- Walter Tevis
- Scott Frank
- Anya Taylor-Joy
- Bill Camp
Institutions
- Netflix
- A24
Locations
- Spain
- Tokyo
- Japan
- London
- England
- United Kingdom
- Chicago
- Missouri
- Lake of the Ozarks
- Kentucky
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Korea
- South Korea
Sources
- Quartz —