# Squid Game (season 1)

> Netflix reported 142 million households sampled the Korean survival drama at launch.

- Owner: Netflix (distributor); Siren Pictures (producer); Hwang Dong-hyuk (creator)
- Kind: Series
- Sector: Entertainment
- Seed date: 2021-09-17
- Observed peak date: Week of Oct 7, 2021
- Date basis: Observed peak within the documented measurement window; not an all-time maximum. Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.
- Spread Score: 69 (Viral), v1.2
- Mechanics: Challenge, Sound or audio meme, Brand pile-on, Platform jump, Press loop

## Summary

Netflix released Squid Game in September 2021. TikTok users replayed its games while brands adapted its imagery. Candy and costume demand followed. Wikipedia attention peaked in early October; YouTube recreations and Emmy wins extended the season's afterlife.

## Timeline

- 2021-08-11 — Netflix (Open web) — Netflix announced the release date and unveiled a teaser poster and pre-teaser trailer.
- 2021-09-05 — Netflix Korea (Retail) — Netflix Korea opened a promotional replica set at Seoul's Itaewon Station.
- 2021-09-17 — Netflix / Siren Pictures (Open web) — Netflix released the series worldwide.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/squid-game

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “Squid Game (season 1).” Case HIS-01177. Spread Score v1.2: 69/100. Updated 2026-10-22. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-01177