As Squid Game garners 111 million views, here's how other brands - and Netflix - have been indulging in moment marketing with the show.
Netflix's latest Korean survival thriller show - Squid Game, has taken the internet by storm. The show was released on 17 September 2021 and has garnered 111 million views worldwide - making it Netflix's biggest series launch.
Squid Game has officially reached 111 million fans — making it our biggest series launch ever! pic.twitter.com/SW3FJ42Qsn
— Netflix (@netflix) October 12, 2021
The show features debt-ridden individuals playing for survival and a hefty prize money. The viewership numbers for this show are only seconded by Netflix's period Drama Bridgerton - which reached 82 million households upon its debut, according to The Guardian. The platform's third most-watched series debut is French-language Lupin.
The success of Squid Game is testament to South Korea’s influence on global popular culture. The Hallyu wave has reached fans worldwide thanks to global phenomena like the K-Pop bands BTS and BlackPink and the Oscar winning movie Parasite.
Closer home in India, brands have been making memes and references to the show, to engage with their viewers and be a part of the conversation. Here's how different brands took on Squid Games to make moment marketing communications.
Tinder India tweeted that they wanted someone to hype them up as much as the series was being hyped on social media. Netflix India themselves volunteered to do it, even though there's no prize money involved.
Want someone to hype me up as much as y'all hyping Squid Game 👀
— Tinder India (@Tinder_India) September 30, 2021
Green light 👀
— Tinder India (@Tinder_India) September 30, 2021
One of the games played in the show is called Red Light Green Light. The players have to move forward when a giant doll calls out the phrase 'Green Light' and they need to freeze when it says 'Red Light'. This game was referenced by brands like Dunzo and Swiggy too when it came to moment marketing.
green chutney means move, red chutney means stop! Will you play? pic.twitter.com/nmG4fquWE5
— Swiggy (@swiggy_in) October 5, 2021
What’s more difficult?
— Swiggy (@swiggy_in) October 4, 2021
This #Navratri, don't get eliminated from the good books of your mom. Onwards and Upvas. 🪅#navratri #happynavratri #navratri2021 #upvas #squidgame #squidgamememes #redlightgreenlight pic.twitter.com/1tghSaaMFt
— Dunzo (@DunzoIt) October 7, 2021
Netflix India has also been actively promoting Squid Game with behind the scenes pictures of the cast and crew as well as tweets that make multiple pop-culture references to the show.
456 + 067 + 218
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One happy selfie 🥺 pic.twitter.com/GAnnXUliLS— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) October 12, 2021
What happens to the team that loses the Eliminator? Asking because we're still terrified of the word "eliminated" after Squid Game 😢
— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) October 11, 2021
Starting a true Trying to
crime series fall asleep after pic.twitter.com/50GzUhV0Rc— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) October 11, 2021
POV: You just asked your sibling for a bite of their food. pic.twitter.com/ehiub9p1Hg
— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) October 10, 2021
Squid Game challenge ideas:
- Counting cooker whistles.
- Dipping biscuits in chai without breaking them.
- Flipping a dosa without tearing it.
- Not saying “Oh ho” when someone sings Dil luteya.— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) October 7, 2021
Congratulations! You have completed 3 out of 5 rounds 🎉 pic.twitter.com/zQn6htjcHX
— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) October 6, 2021
😥😥😥 pic.twitter.com/PVxDFPI08S
— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) October 4, 2021
Being asked to play the Squid Game is still a lot less scary than being asked, “Aapke phone mein games hai kya” 😳
— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) October 4, 2021
Are all these cars moving at the green light and stopping at the red light because they're following the rules or ARE THEY SECRETLY PRACTISING FOR SQUID GAME?!!😱
— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) October 1, 2021
Netflix even compared Squid Game to other titles in its library like Money Heist.
There’s something about shows with red jumpsuits 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ePs2dixSe1
— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) September 30, 2021
Think we downloaded the wrong Squid Game 🤔 pic.twitter.com/QbJfhE5rvp
— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) September 29, 2021
“Corporate wants you to find the difference between these pictures.”
Us: They’re the same picture. pic.twitter.com/RPGwR5mp22— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) October 8, 2021