‘Squid Game’ S3 Breaks Netflix Record Despite Mixed Reviews

Netflix’s “Squid Game” has broken a new record with its third and final season, despite receiving mixed reactions from viewers.

The Korean survival drama drew 60.1 million views over its first three days following its debut last Friday, according to Netflix’s weekly Top 10 list according to Variety. This marks a new record for the streamer within its three-day measurement window, placing Season 3 as Netflix’s ninth most-watched non-English TV show of all time.

Season 2, by comparison, recorded 68 million views in its first four days of availability after its December 26, 2024, release. The difference in data measurement (four days for Season 2 vs. three days for Season 3) partially accounts for the higher number for the previous season.

Despite the strong opening numbers, fan reception for Season 3 has been notably colder than previous installments. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave Season 3 an 89% “fresh” rating based on 28 reviews, while fans rated it only 45% “rotten” from over 100 verified user ratings according to Fox Business. In contrast, Season 1 scored 95% from critics and 83% from audiences, while Season 2 earned 83% from critics and 63% from audiences.

Season 3 continues the story of Gi-hun (Jung-jae Lee) as he returns to the deadly competition to confront the Front Man (Byung-hun Lee) and seek an end to the brutal games. Critics praised its thematic consistency and intense narrative, with TIME Magazine’s Judy Berman calling it “the most unsparing season yet, an indictment of societies where money trumps humanity.” However, some reviewers were less favorable, with The Hollywood Reporter’s Angie Han describing it as a disappointing conclusion that “confirms we, like Gi-hun, should’ve left that cursed island behind for good.”

All six episodes of “Squid Game” Season 3 are now available on Netflix.