What makes this achievement remarkable is the show’s modest size. Adolescence is only four episodes long and doesn’t feature any big names in the cast. Yet, the show has managed to reach a huge audience thanks to strong word-of-mouth advertising. The show tells the story of a 13-year-old boy — played by newcomer Owen Cooper — who is accused of murdering a classmate. The story touches on current issues such as online misogyny and the dangers of the so-called manosphere, which likely contributed to its wide reach.
Despite this success, Wednesday remains the undisputed number 1 among English-language Netflix series, with an impressive total of 252 million views within its premiere period. However, there is much anticipation for Stranger Things 5, which Netflix recently announced will be released in November. The series will be released in three parts, which should result in a strong start in terms of ratings and possibly a recapture of the second place.
Still, that doesn’t change the fact that Adolescence has delivered a unique feat. The series proves that a relatively small production, if well-made and thematically relevant, can grow into a worldwide success and can compete with the biggest Netflix franchises.
