Netflix's New R-Rated Dark Fantasy Is Officially Dominating Streaming With Debut At 4.9M Views
Netflix's new dark fantasy is blessed as a streaming hit.
Netflix is one of the leaders in streaming, and a key factor is the vast international movie and television content accessible to subscribers around the world. In fact, the streamer earned a reputation for its rich Korean content, including the worldwide sensation Squid Game, which ranks as one of the most-viewed series. Since then, K-dramas have gained popularity, and others like Disney+ are joining the competition.
One of Netflix's most intense K-dramas is the ghost series, The East Palace, which has a TV-MA rating. Following its premiere on July 17, it's now making a major impact on the streaming charts. During the week of July 13 to July 19, The East Palace debuted at #2 on the Top 10 Non-English shows behind another Korean series, Agent Kim Reactivated: Limited Series. In fact, with the English and non-English charts combined, the dark fantasy show ranked as the #4 overall series during the same period.
In just the first two days, The East Palace measured 4.9 million views globally and even outperformed the new Will Ferrell sports series, The Hawk, which premiered one day earlier. Little House on the Prairie season 1 and I Will Find You took the top two spots on the television charts. Meanwhile, Korean shows dominate the streaming charts, including The Apartment Job (#5), Teach You a Lesson (#6), Spooky in Love (#8),
The horror fantasy follows three individuals who try to uncover a 30-year-old royal curse during the Joseon dynasty. The East Palace reviews are very positive, with critics praising the fantastical world-building and engaging storytelling through the lens of Korean folklore and deep themes of greed, secrets, and sins.
Nam Joo-hyuk and Roh Yoon-seo's chemistry is also a highlight as they portray the ghost-slayer Gu-cheon and the spirit-hearing court Saeng-han, while Cho Seung-woo unravels a morally complex king. With many calling it a must-watch Korean supernatural drama, The East Palace currently holds a perfect 100% critics' rating and a 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The series was written by Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won, who also penned The Guest and Bulgasal: Immortal Souls, while Choi Jung-kyu directed the episodes.
Netflix's new fantasy hit will likely remain a miniseries since K-dramas typically last for one season. Nevertheless, the streamer still has plenty of Korean content scheduled to release, including Our Sticky Love on August 7, 2026. Last year, it was reported that South Korean content ranked #2 on Netflix's global viewership, just trailing behind the United States. According to Deadline, the streamer announced a four-year, $2.5 billion commitment to making K-content in 2023.
All eight episodes of The East Palace are streaming on Netflix.