Squid Game (2021)
Only one can win.
Hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children's games. Inside, a tempting prize awaits — with deadly high stakes.
| Type | TV series |
|---|---|
| First aired | 17 September 2021 |
| Status | Ended, last episode 27 June 2025 |
| Genre | Action & Adventure, Mystery, Drama |
| Created by | Hwang Dong-hyuk |
| Starring | Lee Jung-jae, Yim Si-wan and Wi Ha-jun |
| Seasons | 3 seasons, 22 episodes |
| Episode length | about 56 min |
| Time to watch it all | about 21 hours |
| Rated | TV-MA |
| Scores | Tomatometer score 93 · TMDB users 7.9/10 |
Where to watch Squid Game
Squid Game is streaming on Netflix ($17.99 a month) in the US. At ten hours a week, all of the series takes about 1 month of Netflix, or $17.99 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 30 September 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
What kind of watch this is
Squid Game is a 2021 series that wraps survival horror in nursery rhymes. Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, it pits desperate people against each other in deadly playground games. The stakes are literal, and the prize is life-altering. It runs 21 hours across 3 seasons, a commitment that matches the tension. You will not breeze through it. It is for anyone who enjoys watching adults play hopscotch with their lives on the line.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes logs a 93% Tomatometer score. That is a number that usually requires a disclaimer, but here it stands alone. There is little dissent in the data provided, which is a rarity for a show this loud. It is a clean sweep on paper, though the violence might make some viewers want to lower the volume.
How it did with audiences
Netflix made Squid Game the first Korean drama to top its global weekly charts. It hit number one in 94 countries, from the United States to the United Kingdom. The numbers climbed fast. Over 111 million member households tuned in after 17 days. By day 28, that figure passed 142 million. It became the service’s most-watched series at launch. When Netflix switched to tracking hours in late 2021, the series stayed on top with 1.65 billion hours watched in its first month. Bridgerton managed 625 million. On TMDB, users rate it 7.9.
What came next for the cast
Lee Byung-hun traded Hollywood blockbusters for a steady stream of Korean originals. Lee Jung-jae moved from fantasy epics to a Star Wars spinoff. Wi Ha-jun stepped out of horror toward creature features. The credits cannot say the game caused that shift. They can say what followed.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Squid Game.
Sources
- Squid Game on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q106582931 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Squid Game” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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