Netflix’s New Update Is Great News After Record-Setting Thriller With Over 1.65 Billion Viewing Hours

A recent update from Netflix shows that the streamer will be able to continue the success it enjoyed with Squid Game, and the news couldn’t be more exciting. Squid Game quickly became one of the biggest Netflix shows of all time, and the streaming service is looking to replicate its success story. While Squid Game season 2 will almost certainly continue the first season’s trend, having a new show rival its accomplishments could never be a bad thing.

There were several reasons for Squid Game‘s widespread success, but one stood above the rest. Squid Game was a truly original show, and it became one of the best Korean dramas on Netflix, but it was also accessible. Through Netflix’s integrated subtitles and dubbed dialogue in a wide variety of languages, viewers who were unfamiliar with foreign-language programming were able to enjoy Squid Game. Netflix’s new strategy seems to be looking towards the root of Squid Game‘s success to replicate it.

Netflix Is Set To Spend More On International Projects Than US-Based Movies & Shows

According to Variety, Netflix has plans to spend more money on internationally developed shows and movies than it will on projects made in the United States. A new projected spending forecast for the streamer says that Netflix will spend $7.9 billion of its $15.4 billion budget on international projects through 2028. The relatively low cost of producing content outside the U.S. certainly factored into the decision, but Netflix’s spending plans are still proof that it is placing more faith in its foreign-language offerings than ever before, and for good reason.

Several Of Netflix’s Biggest Hits In Recent Years Have Come From International Programming

Netflix’s spending strategy seems to be a smart move, as much of its most successful original content came from international sources. The best example is Squid Game, but other shows like Money Heist and movies like All Quiet on the Western Front and Darlings have also achieved widespread popularity and acclaim. Netflix’s development of international projects have helped make it the biggest streaming service in the world, and the new plans to further invest in film industries outside the U.S. will continue that trend. Now that many viewers are more comfortable with foreign-language programming thanks to Squid Game, Netflix can maintain its place at the top.

Netflix’s Increased Spending On International Shows & Movies Is A Great Sign For The Future

The new spending strategy could help Netflix find its next Squid Game: a project so popular that it becomes an international sensation. One of the reasons Squid Game became as popular as it did was because it was so unique to many viewers, and new international programming could use the same strategy again. Many viewers may not be familiar with shows or movies from some parts of the world, so Netflix’s spending could help bring a new, truly original, project to their screens. Creators from other parts of the world bring their own unique styles and stories to the table, and their future projects are extremely exciting.

Part of Netflix’s spending strategy is also to tap into markets it has yet to achieve wide success in, such as sub-Saharan Africa and India. Those regions are responsible for some of the most exciting content on Netflix, and investing in them further will only allow them to create more quality programming. The influx of money to Africa and India’s industries will also bring more creators to the forefront and allow them to tell stories that never could have been made before. More diverse voices in media are always a good thing, and Netflix’s spending will expand the realm of possibilities for creators outside of Hollywood.

While Netflix’s projected future budget is exciting for its focus on international projects, it is also a sign of a disturbing trend in the streaming industry. Netflix’s spending budget for original programming is down from recent years, and the streamer seems to be focusing on international production as a means of cutting costs. That trend could be bad news for the business as a whole, but Netflix still seems poised for future success. The next Squid Game is out there, and Netflix’s spending improves its chances of finding it soon.