Latest news with #SquidGameSeason2
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Netflix confirms ‘Squid Game' season finale date
Picking up where Season 2 left off, the final season trailer teases even more high-stakes games and emotional confrontations. Netflix has revealed the release date for the highly anticipated final season premiere of Squid Game. Squid Game centres on a secret contest where 456 players, all of whom are in deep financial hardship, risk their lives to play a series of deadly children's games for the chance to win millions in cash prizes. The final season of the South Korean global hit series will return on 27 June 2025. NOW READ: The real-life violence that inspired 'Squid Game' 'Squid Game' teases more high-stakes games Netflix has also dropped the final season trailer, giving fans a sneak peek of what to expect this season. Picking up right where Season 2 left off, the trailer teases more high-stakes games, emotional confrontations, and the return of some fan-favourite characters. Since its debut in 2021, Squid Game has become a worldwide hit, winning awards and breaking streaming records. In February this year, the show lost one of its cast members, veteran actress Lee Joo-sil. She passed away at the age of 80 after collapsing at her home in Uijeongbu, South Korea, and going into cardiac arrest. According to Korea JoongAng Daily, she had been diagnosed with stomach cancer just three months before her death. Lee was also a breast cancer survivor, having been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in her fifties. Her passing came only a few weeks after the premiere of Squid Game Season 2. In the second season of the hit Netflix series, she played Park Mal-soon — the mother of Wi Ha-joon's detective character and stepmother to Lee Byung-hun's Front Man. NOW READ: Q&A with Tirelo and Mpumelelo Mseleku: Parenthood, engagement rumours and 'Izingane Zes'thembu' S3
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Squid Game Season 3 Trailer Highlights Final Games in Netflix Show
Netflix has officially released the first Season 3 trailer, highlighting the final season of the Netflix series and some of the games found within it. The trailer highlights Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) as he returns to the games following the shocking ending of Season 2. With The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) back in control of the games, Gi-hun must persist with trying to end the games. Squid Game Season 3 is set to premiere on June 27, 2025, on Netflix. Check out the Squid Game Season 3 trailer below (watch other trailers): 'The third and final season of Squid Game follows Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) after losing his best friend in the game and being driven to utter despair by The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who was hiding his true identity to infiltrate the game,' reads the official synopsis for Squid Game Season 3. 'Gi-hun persists with his goal to put an end to the game, while the Front Man continues onto his next move and the surviving players' choices will lead to graver consequences with each round. The world eagerly awaits to see the grand finale written and directed by Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who has vowed to bring the epic story to its deserved closure. Can we hope for humanity in the cruelest of realities?' The cast of Squid Game includes Gong Yoo, Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, Jo Yu-ri, and Won Ji-an. Hwang Dong-hyuk serves as the writer, director, and executive producer for the new season of the series. He said of Squid Game Season 2 when speaking to Tudum in 2022, 'There's definitely a lot of pressure on how to make [Season 2] even better. I know that a lot of the different fans and audiences have enjoyed the series very much, but, really, we're focusing on how to make it even more joyful to the global audience.' The first season of Squid Game was released in September 2021. It quickly became one of Netflix's most-watched series of all time and then went on to win a number of different awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Lee Jung-jae), Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Hwang Dong-hyuk), and more. The post Squid Game Season 3 Trailer Highlights Final Games in Netflix Show appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Report: Korean titles make up 17pc of top Netflix non-English content, second-highest globally
KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 — South Korean content has become the second-most watched on Netflix worldwide, according to a new report released by Ampere Analysis. The London-based research company said Korean content accounted for between 8 and 9 per cent of total viewing hours on the platform. Only US productions ranked higher, making up 56 to 59 per cent of global viewing hours, Yonhap reported. Squid Game Season 2, Love Next Door and Culinary Class Wars were the most-watched Korean titles, while older hits like Queen of Tears, Squid Game Season 1 and Crash Landing on You remained popular with international audiences. Ampere attributed the strong performance to Netflix's continued investment in Korean productions and strategic licensing deals. 'More than half of Korean titles in Netflix's top 100 were Netflix originals,' the firm said, adding that most of the remaining titles were licensed, primarily from CJ ENM. Of the 500 most popular non-English titles on Netflix, 85 — or 17 per cent — were Korean. The report said Netflix's planned investment of US$2.5 billion (RM11 billion) in Korean content by 2028 is expected to maintain the current momentum. Recent performance data supports this projection. For the week ending Sunday, six Korean series were listed in Netflix's top 10 non-English shows. These included Karma at No. 2, When Life Gives You Tangerines at No. 3, Kian's Bizarre B&B at No. 6, Weak Hero: Class 1 at No. 7, Friendly Rivalry at No. 9 and Resident Playbook at No. 10.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Netflix vs. Disney: Which Streaming Giant is a Stronger Stock Pick?
In the fierce battleground of streaming entertainment, Netflix NFLX and Disney DIS stand as towering titans, each wielding unique strengths in their quest for subscriber dominance. Netflix, the original streaming pioneer, boasts massive global subscribers, impressive original content production capabilities, and a proven track record of innovation. Disney+, though a later entrant, leverages Disney's unparalleled content library and powerful franchises spanning from Marvel to Star Wars to both companies jockey for position in an increasingly competitive landscape, investors face a compelling question: Which streaming giant offers the superior investment opportunity? Let's delve deep and closely compare the fundamentals of the two stocks to determine which one is a better investment now. Netflix has firmly established itself as the undisputed streaming market leader, demonstrating remarkable growth momentum in fourth-quarter 2024 with 18.91 million paid net additions — the largest quarterly gain in company history. This surge propelled its total subscriber base to 301.63 million, highlighting Netflix's continued appeal and expansion capabilities even in a maturing company's financial performance underscores this strength, with fourth-quarter revenue increasing 16% year over year and operating income surging 52%. For full-year 2024, Netflix achieved significant milestones, including 16% revenue growth, 27% operating margin (six percentage points higher than 2023), and operating income exceeding $10 billion for the first time in its history. The company's strong cash position, with free cash flow of approximately $7 billion in 2024, provides substantial flexibility for content investments and shareholder content strategy continues to deliver hits across multiple formats. Major successes include Squid Game Season 2, which is on track to become one of its most-watched original series, along with its expansion into live programming with events like the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight, which became the most-streamed sporting event ever. Looking ahead, the return of flagship series like Wednesday and Stranger Things in 2025 positions Netflix for continued engagement these impressive fundamentals, challenges remain. While the company's advertising revenues are poised to double in 2025 and operating margins continue improving to a targeted 29%, much of this growth appears priced in. Currency headwinds, intensifying premium competition, and uncertain subscriber retention following recent price increases suggest waiting for a more attractive entry point. The return of flagship shows and live sports initiatives creates long-term value, but patience may reward investors seeking better risk-reward 2025, Netflix forecasts revenues of $43.5-$44.5 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 revenues is pegged at $44.42 billion, indicating 13.89% year-over-year growth. With the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings indicating a downward revision of 0.3% over the past 30 days to $24.51 per share, the market appears to be cautious about Netflix's growth trajectory. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Find the latest earnings estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar. Disney offers investors a compelling diversified entertainment powerhouse featuring multiple complementary business segments. While its streaming service Disney+ reached 178 million subscribers when combined with Hulu, the company's strength extends far beyond digital platforms to include theatrical releases, theme parks, linear television, and theatrical business demonstrated remarkable strength in 2024, becoming the first studio post-pandemic to surpass $5 billion worldwide box office, fueled by hits like Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine and Moana 2. This box office success creates valuable content that eventually flows to Disney+, demonstrating the company's effective content monetization across multiple windows. Looking ahead, Disney has an impressive slate of theatrical releases, including Captain America: Brave New World, Pixar's Elio and new installments in the Fantastic Four and Avatar company's streaming strategy is evolving impressively, with Disney+ adding an ESPN tile providing bundle subscribers access to ESPN+ sports content. This integration represents a significant differentiator from Netflix, as live sports remain a powerful audience draw. Additionally, Disney+ is enhancing its platform with features like Streams, including a newly announced 24/7 Simpsons channel, that mimic the traditional TV experience many viewers still theme park business continues to demonstrate resilience and growth potential, with plans for significant expansions, including Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration. This diversified revenue model provides Disney with multiple growth levers and potential upside that pure-play streaming companies lack, while helping fund content creation across its Zacks Consensus Estimate projects fiscal 2025 revenues of $94.63 billion, indicating 3.58% year-over-year growth, with earnings expected to increase 10.26% to $5.48 per share. These projections have remained unchanged over the past 30 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research When comparing these e-commerce giants through a valuation lens, Disney emerges with several advantages. Disney's forward P/S ratio of 1.57X is significantly more attractive than Amazon's 8.68X. This indicates that Disney offers better relative value for investors seeking exposure in the streaming space, especially considering its diverse business model and valuable intellectual property. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a price performance perspective, Netflix has been the clear winner recently. Its stock has surged 50.8% over the past year, dramatically outperforming Disney and the broader market. Looking longer-term, Netflix's five-year return of 112.1% and 10-year return of 1,040.6% demonstrate its remarkable ability to deliver shareholder value. However, this exceptional performance may limit further upside compared to Disney's potential for multiple expansion. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research While Netflix currently enjoys stronger operating margins at 27% versus Disney's streaming segment still working toward profitability, Disney's comprehensive entertainment ecosystem offers unique advantages for long-term value creation that aren't fully reflected in its current share price. While Netflix demonstrates impressive operational execution with record subscriber growth and profitability, Disney presents the more compelling investment case due to its significantly more attractive valuation, diverse revenue streams, and untapped potential in its streaming business. DIS' unmatched content franchises, strategic sports integration, theme park expansion, and theatrical dominance provide multiple avenues for growth beyond streaming. With a forward P/S ratio just one-fifth of Netflix's, Disney offers substantially better upside potential as it continues to refine its streaming strategy while leveraging its broader entertainment ecosystem. For investors seeking long-term value in the streaming wars, Disney represents the stronger opportunity. DIS and NFLX carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Walt Disney Company (DIS) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
Korea Herald
05-03-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
Innocean explores marketing collaboration with Netflix leadership
Innocean, a marketing agency affiliated with Hyundai Motor Group, announced Wednesday that it held a meeting with Netflix's advertising leadership team, including Advertising President Amy Reinhard, to explore potential marketing collaborations. During the meeting, Innocean showcased its creative expertise, spanning campaign planning, production, and dominant outdoor advertising media in key commercial districts, as well as its extensive global network. The collaboration is expected to generate significant marketing synergies, leveraging Innocean's branding campaigns and integrated marketing communications strategies for major global clients alongside Netflix's premium streaming services and engaging ad environments. Since last year, Innocean and Netflix have actively collaborated on various online and offline marketing initiatives, including Kia's first domestic single-title sponsorship deal with Squid Game Season 2 in Korea. 'With growing global interest in K-content, including Squid Game Season 2, Single's Inferno Season 4, and The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, Netflix's ad-supported subscription plans have seen a substantial increase in demand,' an Innocean official said. 'Netflix is evolving into a key media platform for branding campaigns, offering an immersive ad experience that seamlessly integrates with user engagement.' Innocean CEO Lee Yong-woo added, 'We will continue expanding our partnership with Netflix by driving successful collaborations that create meaningful shifts in the global advertising market.'
