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The film in question is the Anaconda reboot. For the week of March 23rd – 29th, it was the top movie on Netflix in the United States. What’s arguably even more impressive is the fact that Anaconda also ranks third on the streamer’s global chart. During the past week, the movie racked up 7.9 million views and was watched for a total of 13 million hours. Since Anaconda did not place on the top 10 chart in any other country, it means the high view count is primarily from its success in America.
Why Anaconda Is a Huge Hit On Netflix In the United States
When Anaconda was added to Netflix’s library in late March, early metrics indicated it was poised to be a massive hit for the streamer. These new figures, which come straight from Netflix, add additional context and paint the film’s streaming success in a new light. Since Anaconda recently arrived on Netflix, it was always expected that it would do well; new arrivals are frequently subject to a boost as subscribers check out the fresh titles. What could be somewhat surprising is how much Anaconda crushed the competition in America specifically. Nearly 8 million views mainly from one country is an incredibly strong showing; the No. 2 movie on Netflix in the U.S. last week was The Bad Guys 2, which scored 4.3 million views worldwide.
A closer look at Anaconda helps explain why it was such a draw in the U.S. and nowhere else. The film is a meta comedy commenting on the prevalence of reboots and remakes in Hollywood. While that angle made for a fun movie (Anaconda is one of the best installments of the Anaconda franchise despite mixed reviews), it likely hurt the film’s prospects overseas. Comedies can be tricky sells overseas because humor has a tendency to be culturally specific. What’s funny to one audience will go over the heads of another. If Anaconda was more of a straightforward creature feature and didn’t have the comedic elements, it might have fared better worldwide.
