Tim Burton's series Wednesday, based on a new interpretation of the Addams Family, has exceeded 1 billion watch hours, putting it in the top three most-streamed shows on Netflix.
The series, starring Jenna Ortega, has amassed 1.02 billion watch hours in its first three weeks of release, eclipsing the Harry & Meghan docuseries released this week and knocking Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story out of third place.
Squid Game remains the all-time favourite, with a staggering 1.65 billion hours of viewing time in its first 28 days, followed by Stranger Things 4 at 1.35 billion hours-viewed.
Wednesday has also received two Golden Globe nominations — best television series, musical or comedy as well as best actress in a television series, musical or comedy for Ortega — and remains in number one spot for a third week on the streaming provider.
Based on the original Addams Family series by Charles Addams, it follows the supernatural story of Wednesday Addams attending Nevermore Academy as a relentless teen detective, hunting down a monster while coming to terms with her emerging psychic abilities.
It features Hollywood heavyweights including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Gwendoline Christie and Christina Ricci (the original Wednesday Addams from the 90s film franchise).
Zeta-Jones portrays a somewhat understated Morticia and Luis Guzman is doting husband and father, Gomez.
Wednesday knocks Dahmer out of top three
The all-time most-streamed series remains Korean dystopian drama Squid Game, released in 2021, followed by season four of Stranger Things.
Prior to Wednesday's launch, the series based on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was in third spot with 856,220,000 hours-viewed in its first 28 days.
Rank |
Show |
Hours viewed in first 28 days |
|---|---|---|
1 |
Stranger Things 4 |
1,352,090,000 |
2 |
Wednesday |
1,022,190,000 |
3 |
Dahmer: Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story |
856,220,000 |
4 |
Bridgerton: S2 |
656,260,000 |
5 |
Bridgerton: S1 |
625,490,000 |
6 |
Stranger Things 3 |
582,100,000 |
7 |
Lucifer: S5 |
569,480,000 |
8 |
The Witcher: S1 |
541,010,000 |
9 |
Inventing Anna |
511,920,000 |
10 |
13 Reasons Why: S2 |
496,120,000 |
What makes Wednesday so appealing?
The eight-part series combines a mystery with the right amount of nostalgia for the Addams family, with an appropriate amount of references to social media and wild array of outlandish fashion to satiate even the most stereotypical Gen Z.
A combination of Tim Burton and Addams Family darkness is brightened through Wednesday's friend and struggling werewolf Enid Sinclair, played by Emma Meyers, Fred Armisen's flamboyant Uncle Fester and the simultaneously dark yet colourful score by Danny Elfman.
Its dramatic use of colour — or lack thereof for Wednesday who is "allergic to colour" — from scenery to wardrobe and make-up has captured the attention of social media with recreations of Wednesday's dance, lip-colour and looks exploding across platforms.
The inclusion of the original Wednesday, Ricci adds to nostalgia for older viewers, paying homage to the original Addams Family films.
Ortega as Wednesday becomes likeable throughout the series through her unwillingness to conform, her determination to stay true to herself and seek justice while adorned in monochromatic apparel that is sure to return goth-chic to the mainstream.
Phrases like, "I find social media to be a soul-sucking void of meaningless affirmation," give her a endearing cynicism with her disregard for social norms.
The now-iconic dance sequence to the Cramps' 1981 cover of Goo Goo Muck will likely lie in the hall of fame of dance routines alongside Napoleon Dynamite, Pulp Fiction or Dirty Dancing.
Over the series, something of an affection is developed for this loner, who is determined to crack the case, no matter the outcome or what anyone thinks of her.
It has all the ingredients of a thoroughly enjoyable series, drama, mystery, darkness, humour along with some outlandish outfits and looks.
The result is a Harry Potter-esque, Burton fantasy that captivates young and old, drama lovers and wannabe-detectives and misfits, with enough comedy, high fashion and just the right amount of sass, it proves to be an all-ages crowd-pleaser.
Can we expect a season 2?
No season 2 is confirmed as yet, however given the roaring success of season 1, it would be a fair expectation that Ortega will don the black pigtails once more.
Few shows have enjoyed the level of success afforded to Wednesday, however any that have, have quickly been confirmed for a subsequent season.
