In 2025, Netflix had both runaway hits and heavily criticized content. What mattered was this: whether a show succeeded or was slammed by viewers, the numbers were still strong. Even productions that were hit early by public backlash due to cast controversies ended up generating explosive buzz once released. That was the story of Netflix in 2025.

Netflix kicked off the year with Single’s Inferno 4, a franchise with guaranteed buzz. As expected, its topic-making power was massive. Soon after, the year’s first series, The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, captured viewers’ attention, suggesting a smooth and successful year ahead.

But it wasn’t all calm sailing. Several variety shows drew sharp criticism, while highly anticipated dramas were met with disappointing reviews. Many titles failed to generate meaningful buzz at all. Still, regardless of the ups and downs, viewers kept coming back to Netflix. Disney+, as well as domestic OTT platforms like Coupang Play, TVING, and Wavve, failed to seriously challenge its dominance.

Netflix continued to create “syndromes” in 2025. The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, starring Ju Ji-hoon, targeted the Lunar New Year holiday and quickly captivated audiences. For Netflix, which had ended 2024 facing criticism over Squid Game 2, the series became a reliable hit. Meanwhile, When Life Gives You Tangerines, starring IU and Park Bo-gum, made an unusual choice to release in parts and the strategy paid off, keeping viewers hooked for four consecutive weeks.

Variety shows also performed strongly. Single’s Inferno 4 once again proved its appeal, driven by the presence of model Lee Si-an, a former idol trainee, and Yuk Jun-seo from The Iron Squad. Better Late than Single, which featured lifelong singles from the general public, took a different path from conventional dating shows and delivered a refreshing sense of fun.

KPop Demon Hunters became a global phenomenon. While not a Korean original production, it was widely regarded as “K-content” due to its focus on K-culture. The series captivated both domestic and international audiences, setting record after record. Its OST “Golden” earned nominations in three categories Best Motion Picture – Animated, Best Original Song – Motion Picture, and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, and was also shortlisted for Best Original Song at the 98th Academy Awards. Notably, KPop Demon Hunters became the first Netflix title to surpass 300 million cumulative views.

Not everything was worth celebrating. The Devil’s Plan: Death Room, season two of The Devil’s Plan, became embroiled in controversy mid-broadcast, including allegations of bullying, disrespect, and even a “conceded victory.” After the finale, producer Jung Jong-yeon and winner Jung Hyun-gyu publicly apologized, creating an unusual post-show scene.

One of the most anticipated series of the second half of the year, Kim Eun-sook’s Genie, Make a Wish, faced disappointment immediately upon release. Critics pointed to juvenile dialogue and a low hit rate for humor. Yet despite the negative reviews, its performance was undeniable: it ranked No.1 domestically and reached No.5 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 (Non-English Series) within just three days of release.

Culinary Class Wars Season 2 was hit by controversy surrounding Baek Jong-won. Just ahead of filming, multiple issues related to his business activities surfaced. Production went ahead as scheduled, but viewer criticism began even before the premiere. After release, negative perceptions of Baek Jong-won persisted, yet as a proven hit series, it continued to generate strong buzz.

Released in summer, Squid Game 3 also wrapped up amid harsh criticism. While season two, released at the end of the previous year, had already faced a lukewarm response, season three was met with even stronger backlash. Viewers criticized character development and the ending, among other issues. Still, the Squid Game franchise once again topped global rankings, securing impressive numbers despite the negative reception.

Whether praised or criticized, viewers’ fingers kept clicking on Netflix. As a result, rival OTT platforms were left with unresolved challenges in 2025. Coupang Play managed to maintain some presence with variety shows like SNL, Office Workers, and Just Makeup. Wavve relied on Bloody Game 3, while TVING managed modest results with dramas such as Study Group and Dear X.

Disney+ released multiple original series, including Low Life starring Ryu Seung-ryong, Yang Se-jong, and Lim Soo-jung; Tempest featuring Jun Ji-hyun and Kang Dong-won; and The Manipulated with Ji Chang-wook and D.O.. Despite the star power, the results were underwhelming. Weak narrative logic held these projects back, making it particularly painful that even the highly anticipated pairing of Jun Ji-hyun and Kang Dong-won failed to deliver a standout outcome.

In 2025, Netflix once again proved that controversy, criticism, or acclaim hardly mattered—its dominance remained unshaken.

Sources: Daum