Netflix’s Squid Game (pictured) saw its demand increase exponentially at the turn of the new year.

The Korean-language thriller was 163.7 times more in demand than the average TV series in Canada during the week of Dec. 30 to Jan. 5, according to Parrot Analytics. Squid Game, which follows cash-strapped contestants as they risk their lives in deadly versions of children’s games for money, had its second season release on Dec. 26, 2024.

According to Parrot Analytics, the Canadian demand average reached by Squid Game is the highest since HBO’s Game of Thrones in 2019, when the eighth and final season was released.

Another Netflix show, Arcane, hit the No. 2 spot on the digital originals chart with a demand average of 38. The animated series, based on the League of Legends video game, has sustained high demand following the release of the last three episodes of its second season on Nov. 23, 2024.

In No. 3 is Paramount+’s Landman with a demand average of 34.7. The drama, which explores the Texan oil industry, has seen its demand increase from last week as it neared the end of its first season run.

Debuting at No. 10 spot is Disney+’s Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. The spin-off series premiered Dec. 2, 2024 and will stream its first season finale on Jan. 14.

For the overall TV originals chart, Saturday Night Live holds the No. 2 spot behind Squid Game with a demand average of 50.1. At No. 3 is the National Football League (NFL), which completed the last week of its regular season on Jan. 5, with a demand average of 40.6.

Top 10 Digital Originals: Canada

1. Squid Game (오징어 게임) (Netflix): 163.7
2. Arcane (Netflix): 38
3. Landman (Paramount+): 34.7
4. Hazbin Hotel (Prime Video): 31
5. Stranger Things (Netflix): 25.8
6. Secret Level (Prime Video): 25.6
7. Virgin River (Netflix): 24.5
8. Shrinking (Apple TV+): 24.2
9. Letterkenny (Crave): 24.1
10. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (Disney+): 23.7

Top 10 Overall Originals: Canada

1. Squid Game (오징어 게임): 163.7
2. Saturday Night Live: 50.1
3. National Football League (NFL): 40.6
4. Arcane: 38
5. Landman: 34.7
6. WWE Monday Night Raw: 34.3
7. Sesame Street: 33.7
8. Paw Patrol: 33.4
9. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: 32.3
10. The Voice (U.S.): 31.4

Parrot Analytics calculates its Top 10 lists using Demand Expressions, which are shown by using a metric that demonstrates how much more in-demand the top series are than the average TV show (linear, pay TV, SVOD and AVOD) in Canada. For example, a difference of 1x represents the market average and 10x means a series is 10 times more in demand than the average TV show in this market.

Photo by No Ju-han/Netflix