Netflix unveiled its global top 10 list a couple of days ago and two Indian titles continue to hold their position on these lists for weeks now. Firstly, there’s the regal rom-com drama ‘The Royals’ which has been in the global top 10 non-English shows list for 3 weeks now; and secondly we have political thriller ‘The Diplomat’ that has managed to be in Netflix’s global top 10 non-English movies list for 2 weeks.
While many will agree with ‘The Diplomat’ achieving this feat, seeing ‘The Royals’ do it despite strong criticism reveals intriguing dynamics in audience preferences. Let’s dig a little deeper.
‘The Royals’ starring Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter made it to the list for a third time with 2.2 million views and spot no. 6. The show had amassed 5.5 million views in its second week, up from 3 million at debut. Ain’t these numbers looking great! But the story wasn’t the same on the reviews front where the critics slammed the show for shallow writing and overreliance on aesthetics over narrative depth.
But looks like viewers seeking escapist romance don’t mind these reviews and love the lavish production and star-studded cast of ‘The Royals’. Netflix understands this well otherwise what would lead to such impressive metrics and a season two renewal by Netflix.
On the other hand we have John Abraham led and Shivam Nair directorial ‘The Diplomat’ making it to the charts for 2 weeks now. In its debut week the film got 5.2 million views followed by 2.4 million views last week. The film maintained #4 position on the list in both weeks.
‘The Diplomat’s case is quite different from ‘The Royals’ because the former got the recognition it deserved on digital premiere which it could not during its theatrical release. Based on the real-life story of Uzma Ahmed, the film’s intense narrative and Abraham’s shift from action-hero roles have drawn viewers on Netflix. Its streaming success suggests that Netflix’s global platform can revive films that faltered in theaters, offering a second life to stories with compelling premises.
Seeing ‘The Royals’ and ‘The Diplomat’ topping charts on Netflix highlights not only how global streamers can amplify regional content across the world but also reflects how viewer preferences are inclined towards accessible, emotionally engaging content over critical acclaim. Moreover, a lot has to do with unviersal themes, like romantic tropes in ‘The Royals’ and real world intrigue in ‘The Diplomat’, that does the job of attracting viewers well, specially when algorithmic recommendations drive visibility these days on streaming platforms.