Squid Game season 2 beats Wednesday to have Netflix's biggest ever premiere week

Squid Game season 2
(Image credit: Netflix)

Squid Game season 2 is off to a massive start on Netflix, already becoming one of its most popular shows of all time – and breaking a record for the streamer's biggest-ever premiere week.

The second season of the hit drama show was released on December 26, 2024, with seven episodes available to stream. A third and final season is due later this year.

According to Netflix, season 2 scored 68 million views in its first week, making it the most-watched premiere week ever. That means it steals the crown from Wednesday, which netted 50.1 million views in its first week.

Squid Game season 2 has also already become the seventh most popular TV show not in the English language on Netflix, too. Of course, season 1 is the streamer's most popular show ever.

Season 2 sees Lee Jung-jae's Gi-hun return to the deadly arena once more, this time in the hopes of bringing the games to an end. Our own Squid Game season 2 review gave the show the full five stars, with our verdict reading: "Just as shocking and unrelenting as its first season, Squid Game makes a triumphant return to secure its place as one of the best shows on television right now."

There's no release date for Squid Game season 3 just yet, but the Squid Game season 2 post-credits scene has teased a terrifying twist on a classic game for the final set of episodes.

Squid Game season 2 is streaming now. You can fill out your watchlist with our guides to the best Netflix shows and best Netflix movies.

Molly Edwards
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm a Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English.