Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit seems to have taken the TV world by storm. Since its debut, the limited series has received critical acclaim and has created a significant amount of buzz over social media. With so much hype surrounding it, it was easy to think that the show would hit a few milestones. Now, Netflix has confirmed just that, as the streamer announced that it's setting records.
In a statement, Netflix reports that The Queen’s Gambit was viewed by 62 million households within its first 28 days on the streaming service. With this, it’s now the most-watched limited series on Netflix ever. The series has also proven to have an extensive reach internationally, as it’s been in the Top 10 in 92 countries, including Australia, France and Hong Kong. Not only that, but it’s hit the number one spot in 63 countries.
Peter Friedlander, Netflix’s VP of Original Series, shared some thoughts in the same statement. He expressed his excitement about the show’s reception but also credited its success to the talents of the cast and crew.
Aside from viewership, the show has also affected the public in other ways. Netflix states that Walter Tevis’ The Queen’s Gambit – the novel on which the series is based – is now on The New York Times bestseller list decades after its original release in 1983.
The series also seems to have sparked greater public interest in the game of chess. The streamer reports that Google search queries for chess have doubled and that searches for “how to play chess” are experiencing a nine-year peak. In addition, inquiries about chess sets on eBay have increased by 250%, while Goliath Games has seen chess sales increase by over 170%. Chess.com has even seen its number of new players increase five fold, and the International Chess Federation reports that the buzz surrounding the limited series has led to greater interest in next year’s World Championship.
Needless to say, people around the world have more than connected with The Queen’s Gambit. Set in the 1950s and ‘60s, Scott Frank and Allan Scott’s 7-episode limited series tells the fictional story of Beth Harmon, a chess prodigy who seeks to become the world’s greatest player. Along the way, she must also confront personal demons, as she struggles with emotional problems and alcohol and drug addiction. But in the midst of her circumstances, she still manages to break down barriers for women in the world of competitive chess.
It’s not often that any kind of TV show has this kind of impact, and it’s nice that so many people are not only enjoying the story of Beth Harmon and gaining an appreciation for the game of chess. It’ll be interesting to see how the show continues to perform in the near future and whether or not it can break any additional records.
You can stream The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix now.
