Netflix’s much anticipated Avatar: The Last Airbender quickly became the most-watched programme on the streaming service. However, its crown has been seized by a compelling Scandi thriller.
The live-action adaptation of the legendary cartoon series racked up 21.2million views between 19 and 25 February, equating to over 153million hours of viewing time. Its title of being Netflix’s most-watched series did not last long, soon overtaken by the Swedish thriller The Abyss.
Directed by Richard Holm, The Abyss managed to accumulate 22.3million views in the same timeframe as Avatar. The thriller follows the story of Frigga – played by Tuva Novotny – who works as a security manager in a mining operation and must balance her job with her family life.
The story becomes all the more compelling when her city begins collapsing into the mines beneath them, leaving Frigga fighting both for her family and her own life, too. The Abyss is based on the true story of Kiruna, a Swedish city that is home to the world’s largest iron ore mine.
Since mining has been occurring in the city for hundreds of years, the ground has become weak and unstable. Hence, the threat of Kiruna falling into the mines beneath them is very real. In fact, at the beginning of the new millennium, the city decided to move itself, brick by brick, three kilometres to the East.
The show’s popularity was likely bolstered by the controversial nature of Avatar: The Last Airbender, with many fans slating the programme as a butchering of the original cartoon.
Third in the week’s Netflix rankings is the Tyler Perry film Mea Culpa, which has been panned by critics and viewers alike. Despite its bombing, the film managed to gain 16 million views on the streaming platform.
