‘Bridgerton’ breaks Netflix audience records to become greatest streamer series of all time – Deadline

Netflix’s powerful algorithms fell short of the global pop culture phenomenon that Bridgerton became. The Regency-era romance, already renewed for a second season, not only topped Netflix’s original audience projections, but it blew them out of the water.

The final numbers have arrived and season 1 of Bridgerton has been watched by a record 82 million households worldwide (partially or fully.) That’s a whopping 19 million more households than the four-week projection that Netflix released 10 days after the start of the Shondaland series (63 million), at the time the fifth-largest streamer launch in history.

Bridgerton, whose massive wave of popularity shows no signs of abating, is now Netflix’s greatest series ever. He pushed down to the previous No. 2 record holder, fantastic success The witcher (76 million in its first 28 days).

It is an amazing achievement, which Bridgerton celebrated with a fan thank you video (you can watch it below). Nonetheless, we need to put the costumed drama’s audience record into perspective.

Bridgerton, as well as other recent Netflix stars Lupine (70M) and The queen’s gambit (62M) have all posted massive numbers in an ever-expanding Netflix universe, a process that has been accelerated by the pandemic. Bridgerton was watched by 82 million Netflix subscribers in Q4 2020, a record 200 million, or 41%.

The witcher scored 76 million households when Netflix’s subscriber base was 167 million a year ago. It is 46%. same Strange thingsThe third season of July 2019 (64 million) is comparable if one takes into account the fact that Netflix was then in 158 million households; the season was seen by 40.5% of them in the first 28 days.

Bridgerton, created by Shonaland veteran Chris Van Dusen based on the novels of Julia Quinn, ranked # 1 in 83 countries including US, UK, Brazil, France, India and Africa South, and is in the top 10 in all countries except Japan.

The series’ timing likely played a role in its escape success. He arrived amid the latest deadly wave of Covid with people in many countries exhausted after months in quarantine.

“I think the show really provides an incredible escape for audiences at a time when this is exactly what they need,” Van Dusen said last week when the show’s Season 2 renewal was announced. “Bridgerton is this lavish, vibrant and sizzling love story of Regency; it is about romance, love and joy; I think all of these things are really universal themes that people respond to.

Season 1, based on the first book in Quinn’s series, The duke and I, centered on the complicated romance between Bridgerton’s eldest daughter, Daphne, played by Phoebe Dynevor, and Duke of Hastings Simon Bassett, played by Regé-Jean Page.

Season 2, which kicks off in Spring in the UK, will chronicle the search for a suitable marriage for Bridgerton’s older brother Anthony, played by Jonathan Bailey, as recounted in Julia Quinn’s second book. Bridgerton series, The viscount who loved me.

Netflix Bridgerton redefined period drama and romance genres, shattering race conventions while making Page and Dynevor global stars. The duo who could return in season 2, Van Dusen said last week.

The series also stars Nicola Coughlan (“Penelope Featherington”), Claudia Jessie (“Eloise Bridgerton”), Ruby Barker (“Marina Thompson”), Adjoa Andoh (“Lady Danbury”), Golda Rosheuvel (“Queen Charlotte”) , Luke Thompson (“Benedict Bridgerton”), Luke Newton (“Colin Bridgerton”), Ruby Stokes (“Francesca Bridgerton”), Will Tilston (“Gregory Bridgerton”), Florence Hunt (“Hyacinth Bridgerton”), Ruth Gemmell (” Lady Violet Bridgerton “), Bessie Carter (” Prudence Featherington “), Harriet Cains (” Philipa Featherington “), Polly Walker (” Lady Portia Featherington “), Ben Miller (” Lord Featherington “), Kathryn Drysdale (“Madame Genevieve Delacroix ”), Sabrina Bartlett (“Siena Rosso”), Martins Imhangbe (“Will Mondrich”) and Lorraine Ashbourne (“Mrs. Varley”).

Van Dusen’s management produces with Shondaland’s Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers.

Thank you for making Bridgerton our greatest series ever. pic.twitter.com/Euac58hs61

– Netflix (@netflix) January 27, 2021