‘The Great Flood’ Sets Netflix Record for Friday International Debut

The Korean disaster film ‘The Great Flood’ achieved the highest opening weekend views for any international title released on a Friday in Netflix history. It accumulated 27.9 million views in its first three days on the platform. This performance significantly outperformed previous Korean films debuting on the same weekday. The movie centers on apocalyptic flooding in Seoul, blending survival elements with dramatic human conflicts.

Directed by Kim Byung-woo, ‘The Great Flood’ stars Kim Da-mi and Park Hae-soo in lead roles. It depicts residents trapped in a high-rise apartment during catastrophic floods triggered by extreme weather. Production involved extensive practical effects for water sequences and CGI for urban destruction. The narrative explores themes of class division and resilience amid crisis.

Netflix released the film globally on a Friday, allowing extended weekend viewing. This scheduling contributed to its record-breaking debut metrics. The platform tracks views by dividing total hours watched by runtime. ‘The Great Flood’ eclipsed prior benchmarks set by other non-English features in similar slots.

The achievement highlights growing demand for Korean content on Netflix following successes like ‘Squid Game’ and ‘All of Us Are Dead.’ Korean productions consistently rank in global top 10 lists. This debut adds to a series of strong performers from the region in 2025. Netflix has increased investments in Korean originals and acquisitions.

Audience reactions on social platforms praised the film’s intense visuals and emotional stakes. Some viewers noted pacing issues in conceptual elements. The movie maintains a focus on disaster spectacle with character-driven subplots. It avoids direct ties to real events while drawing from climate concerns.

This record underscores Netflix’s strategy of varied release days for international titles. Friday drops target weekend binge potential. ‘The Great Flood’ joins other 2025 hits demonstrating the platform’s global reach. Korean cinema continues expanding influence through streaming distribution.

The film’s success positions it among top non-English performers. Netflix data reports emphasize debut strength as a key indicator. This milestone reflects sustained subscriber interest in diverse storytelling formats.