As Netflix says – You’ve seen the latest, now see the greatest! Are subtitles the new sexy? While the English shows are still out here being cute, non-English Netflix content is doing good, and we are all here licking the plate. With masked mania swirling in Korea and criminal masterplanned frenzy in Spain, adding to the louder madness of streaming, Netflix’s non-English offerings have slapped harder than ever since inception.
From highly lethal survival games to poetic vengeance, five such shows are trending, not only because of their popularity but also because they have become global events in themselves. Here is the most-watched list with heavy-duty ammunition to convert casual watchers into hardcore stans:Â
1. Squid Game: Season 1 – 26.52 Crore views (265.2 million)
What to expect:
An ordinary, broke civilian, playing a children’s game…with a twist: lose and die. From a rather desperate view, it delved into the dark side-witnessing class, capitalism, and the cost of survival.
Why people loved it:
Playground nostalgia has never turned into horror; we just couldn’t keep our eyes away. Visually speaking, A+ Aesthetics. Social critique? Uncomfortably real. All the pacing, the suspense, a gut-punching twist; it was the conversation on water coolers across countries and cultures. It’s not just a show; it’s a global wake-up call wrapped inside a thriller. And yes, I loved it. From the candy game to the final stare-down, Squid Game gave us popular culture, protest, and panic, all together.Â
2. Money Heist: Part 4 – 10.60 Crore views (106 million)
What to expect:
This is where the red jumpsuit revolution goes into meltdown. The crew is deep inside the Bank of Spain, trust is crumbling, and The Professor faces a chessboard of betrayal, grief, and fire.
Why people loved it:
Because it’s not just about the heist anymore…it’s about why they’re doing it. Part 4 raised the emotional stakes like never before. Deaths hit harder; alliances got shakier; the political symbolism got bolder. The storytelling dances between chaos and control, and Bella Ciao became more than a song; it became a movement. And let’s not lie – The music? Goosebumps. Every. Single. Time.
3. Lupin: Part 1 – 9.95 Crore views. (99.5 million)
What to expect:
A modern-day gentleman thief using old-school finesse to outwit elites and avenge his father. It’s a master class in style, subtlety, and the art of distraction, set against some of Paris’s most iconic backdrops.
Why people loved it:
Omar Sy delivered elegance, edge, and empathy all in one role. Lupin is more than a heist- it’s a cultural correction. It reclaims history, plays with race and class narratives, and still manages to be hella entertaining. Also, the smart twists and classy mind games? Chef’s kiss. It’s high art wrapped in crime drama clothing.Â
4. La Palma: Limited Series – 7.03 Crore views (70.3 million)
What to expect:
A small town faces nature’s fury as a volcanic eruption upends lives. It’s emotional, grounded, and unfolds with raw intimacy…spotlighting how ordinary people endure the extraordinary.
Why people loved it:
Because it’s real, literally. Inspired by the actual eruption in Spain, it taps into a global feeling of loss, resilience, and environmental crisis. It’s cinematic in its portrayal of chaos but deeply human at its core. People watched it for the drama; they stayed for the heart. It doesn’t scream; it moans. And that vulnerability stands out in a world of glorification.Â
5. Who Killed Sara?: Season 1 – 5.84 Crore views (58.4 million)
What to expect:
A man fresh out of jail sets out to solve his sister’s murder and along the way, uncovers a twisted family, decades worth of secrets, and a whole lotta revenge. Mystery, scandals, and obsession rolled into one.
Why people loved it:
Because it knows how to hook you. Each episode ends like a slap. You must know what’s next. It is unapologetically dramatic, unpredictable, and nails the guilty pleasure zone like a professional. Add to this the weight that is given by some darker themes of class, trauma, and generational mess, which are wrapped in an unsuspected heft for a soapy thriller. In simple terms, it is what would result when a telenovela hit the gym and got ripped.
Conclusion:
If you thought the best shows only spoke English, then Netflix said, “Plot twist, baby!” These global bangers bring thrills, fashion, and chaos in every damn language. Watching them feels like a ticket to a VIP masquerade…extreme drama, and you’re not leaving till the end. Like a roulette table in Las Vegas – these may be in different tongues, but the stakes? Always high.
Written By MANSI SINGH