South Korean horror 'Hellbound' beats 'Squid Game' as Netflix's most popular show

Violent fantasy series tops streaming ratings in more than 80 countries within 24 hours of its debut

Entertainment Desk November 23, 2021

The world is yet coming to terms with the horrors and madness of the much-talked-about Korean drama Squid Game when another South Korean series on Netflix has become an overnight global phenomenon.

Violent and terrifying, Hellbound toppled Squid Game with its fantastical effects as the most-watched TV show on the streaming platform, reported The Guardian. South Korean entertainment industry is rapidly dominating showbiz in many genres with its strong writing, concepts and production.

As of November 20, the latest Korean drama had the highest streaming ratings in more than 80 countries within 24 hours of the show’s debut. According to FlixPatrol, Hellbound is currently the world’s most-watched television series.

Hellbound centres around the graphically gruesome actions of a team of demons, who hunt down sinners, who have been previously visited by a celestial being. The said creatures have also informed the victim of their date and time of death. The giant hairy creatures also incinerate their victims and send them to hell, prompting an outbreak of public hysteria and religious zealotry.

Using common fantasy and childhood icons such as demons and celestials, the show gathers popularity with its familiar subjects. It then hosts a bloodbath in mysterious ways to follow. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, the pilot of the series was also premiered at the 2021 Toronto international film festival in September.

Earlier, Squid Game also announced that a second season is on its way due to public demand. The show was in the top ten spots of the streaming platform for over a month after its premiere. So far, it generated an estimated $900m in profit for Netflix.

It is safe to say that Hellbound will keep everyone occupied until Hwang Dong-hyuk drops another season of the dark and twisted show. Looks like we are all in for yet another engaging creature feature this year.