Squid Game season 3 premieres on June 27: Here's how much the previous seasons earned
Squid Game season 3: The wait is finally over! Netflix's hit Korean drama Squid Game is returning with its third and final season on June 27, 2025. Fans across the globe are eager to see how this intense survival game will conclude. Will Player 456 finally end the deadly game once and for all?
Let's take a look at what's in store for Squid Game Season 3 and how much the previous seasons earned, making it one of the most profitable shows in Netflix's history.
Squid Game Season 3: Release Date, Plot and Streaming Details
Squid Game Season 3 premieres on Friday, June 27, and Netflix will release all six episodes at once. As usual, it will follow Netflix's global release pattern—12 a.m. PT and 3 a.m. ET. Viewers can binge-watch the final chapter right from day one.
This season continues the story of Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) as he deals with the trauma of losing his best friend. The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), whose identity was revealed in the last season, is now working behind the scenes to suppress a rising rebellion and bring back control to the twisted game.
Squid Game's Global Popularity: A Record-Breaking Journey
When Squid Game first aired in 2021, no one predicted how quickly it would become a global sensation. It was the first Korean show to top Netflix's global streaming charts, dominating in 94 countries, including the UK and the US.
Within the first 17 days, the series had over 111 million viewers, and after 28 days, that number soared to over 142 million Netflix households. This crushed previous records, including Bridgerton's 82 million in the same time frame.
Squid Game Earnings from Past Seasons
The financial success of Squid Game is nothing short of extraordinary. According to Bloomberg, by October 2021, Netflix estimated the show had generated nearly $900 million, while the production cost was only $21.4 million—a stunning return on investment.
Season 1 alone brought a return nearly 40 times the initial cost. Korean research group K Entertech Hub estimated that the first season generated approximately 1 trillion won from a 25 billion won investment.
For Season 2, the production budget increased to nearly 100 billion won, approximately $73 million. Despite the higher costs, it was projected to achieve at least a 10-fold return. According to AInvest, Squid Game Season 2 earned about $891 million in the first three weeks after release—an impressive figure, though Netflix clarified that it does not calculate revenues per individual show due to its subscription model.
Netflix Responds to Revenue Claims
While various estimates have been made regarding Squid Game earnings, Netflix has stated that these numbers are speculative. A Netflix spokesperson said that the platform's revenue doesn't depend on individual show performance, as it operates on a subscription-based model.
'This approach may apply to cinema or pay-per-view models, but not to a streaming service,' they added. Despite that, the huge subscriber growth following Squid Game's success proved its undeniable value to Netflix.
Why Did Squid Game Become So Popular?
Squid Game's creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, originally wrote the script in 2009 but struggled to find funding due to its violent and unconventional plot. In 2019, Netflix took the chance as part of its push into international content, and the risk paid off.
Hwang believes the show's popularity lies in its simplicity and strong emotional appeal. 'The irony of adults risking their lives to play children's games' struck a chord with audiences. The diverse characters, representing lower and middle-class struggles, created a deep emotional connection for viewers around the world.
Squid Game: Still Netflix's Biggest Hit
After Netflix updated how it measures viewership (total hours watched), Squid Game still held the crown. With 1.65 billion hours watched in the first 28 days, it far surpassed other major titles like Bridgerton (625 million hours) and Stranger Things 4.
As of July 2022, Squid Game remained the most-watched Netflix series ever, showing the power of well-made international content.
All Eyes on Squid Game Season 3
With Squid Game Season 3 just around the corner, fans are excited to see how this gripping saga concludes. The series has already changed how the world views Korean dramas and proved that non-English content can dominate global streaming platforms.
From the staggering Squid Game earnings to its emotional storytelling, the show has left a massive mark on pop culture. Whether or not Season 3 lives up to expectations, one thing is clear—Squid Game is already a legendary part of Netflix's history.
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