Squid Game, Witcher lead Netflix to 222 million subscriptions

By Phil Nickinson Published January 20, 2022

Netflix today reported its earnings for the fourth quarter of 2022, and the streaming giant said it ended the year with 221.84 million paid subscribers worldwide. That’s up 8.28 million from the third quarter, and 8.9 percent year over year.

Leading the way, the company said, was the return of original content like Season 2 of The Witcher, with 484 million hours viewed in the first 28 days, and You, with 468 million hours viewed. Squid Game, which premiered at the tail end of the third quarter, is now the biggest TV season on Netflix with a whopping 1.65 billion hours in the first four weeks. And Spanish import La Casa de Papel (which is known as Money Heist in the United States), entered its final season and is now at more than 6.7 billion hours viewed.

Lilly Collins and Samuel Arnold in Emily in Paris on Netflix. — Lilly Collins and Samuel Arnold in Emily in Paris on Netflix. Netflix

More on Netflix

Recommended Videos

And that’s just the traditional series side of things. On the movie front, the fourth quarter saw the premiere of Red Notice, with 364 million hours viewed in the first 28 days.

“Even in a world of uncertainty and increasing competition, we’re optimistic about our long-term growth prospects as streaming supplants linear entertainment around the world,” Netflix wrote in its letter to shareholders. “We’re continually improving Netflix so that we can please our members, grow our share of leisure time and lead in this transition.”

Netflix is anticipating a slowdown in paid additions in the first quarter of 2022, mostly because more content is landing in March versus January, with Season 2 of Bridgerton and The Adam Project leading the way. Netflix also noted that acquisition growth hasn’t returned to pre-COVID levels. “We think this may be due to several factors,” Netflix wrote, “including the ongoing COVID overhang and macroeconomic hardship in several parts of the world like [Latin America].”

On the financial side of things, Netflix finished the quarter with $6.02 billion cash on hand, and another $2 billion in other assets.

Section Editor, Audio/Video

Phil spent the 2000s making newspapers with the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, the 2010s with Android Central and then the…

Topics

Entertainment

3 underrated Netflix movies you should watch this weekend (February 28-March 2)

Suzume holding a chair in front of a door in the movie.

Sometimes, the best movies aren't the ones trending on your Netflix homepage — they’re the hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Big-budget blockbusters and buzzy originals from the streamer may be the natural first option, but some movie nights call for lesser-known flicks that can pleasantly surprise and captivate any cinephile.
Several great movies are streaming on Netflix that have flown under the radar. Whether you're in the mood for a whimsical anime offering, a cyberpunk story, or a chilling found-footage film, there's something on Netflix's catalog for you. So why not skip the usual picks and dive into something different this weekend? With so many hidden gems on the streamer, you're bound to find a new favorite you'll be recommending to your friends come Monday.
We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Suzume (2022)

Suzume is a great anime movie worth streaming from director Makoto Shinkai. It follows the titular 17-year-old protagonist (voiced by Nanoka Hara) as she stumbles upon a mysterious door that stands alone in an abandoned house. She discovers that the door is a gateway to another realm, unwittingly setting off a chain of supernatural events in the process. As the door begins unleashing calamities across Japan, Suzume joins forces with a young stranger, Sōta (Hokuto Matsumura), a "Closer" tasked with sealing these portals. But when Sōta is transformed into a three-legged chair — yes, a literal wooden chair — their journey takes a surreal turn.
Despite its stunning animation and unique storytelling, Suzume remains criminally underrated compared to its predecessors from Shinkai, Your Name and Weathering with You. Perhaps it's because the 2022 film leans more into Japan's historical wounds — referencing the 2011 earthquake and tsunami — making it feel deeply personal for domestic audiences but less immediate for international viewers. Suzume also subverts expectations with its romantic storyline that defies traditional tropes. Those who appreciate its appeal understand that its moving narrative reflects trauma, growth, and all the messiness that comes with it.
Suzume is streaming on Netflix.
Upgrade (2018)

Entertainment

5 movies leaving Netflix in February 2025 you have to watch now

Mark Wahlberg pulling Will Ferrell's tie in a scene from The Other Guys

Rom-coms aren't the only movies on Netflix in February. Action and thrillers are currently dominating the top 10. To Catch a Killer, Aftermath, Don't Let Go, and Rambo: Last Blood are all in the top eight. If you like romance, Notting Hill, La Dolce Vita, and Miss Congeniality are ready to go.
Movies will be heading out the door with the month winding down. Unfortunately, many of these movies will land on other streaming services you do not have. With the little time you have left in February, carve out some time to watch one or all of these five movies leaving Netflix. Our picks include a Nolan thriller, an underrated comedy, and a Cruise sci-fi adventure.
We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Sea of Love (1989)

Al Pacino has a knack for playing a hardened detective. New York City homicide detective Frank Keller (Al Pacino) spends most of his days glued to a bottle of booze to get over his depression. Frank's latest case is to investigate a murder where a man was left in a room with a want ad by his side and the song Sea of Love playing in the background.
As more victims die with the same clues left behind, Frank begins placing ads in the paper to lure the killer into a meeting. Frank gets a hit from Helen Cruger (Ellen Barkin), and the two begin a passionate relationship. The romance turns complicated when Frank considers Helen a suspect. Is Frank willing to look past the evidence in the name of love?

Entertainment

3 underrated Netflix shows you should watch this weekend (February 21-23)

Noah Centineo in The Recruit.

Netflix is proud of its ability to offer subscribers something new to watch at basically all times. Every weekend we get a new series, reality show, or movie. Sometimes, you get all three.
If you've struggled to actually navigate all of the stuff available on the streaming platform, you're not alone. That's why we've pulled together this list of three shows that are worth your time this weekend and should keep you hooked no matter what you're interested in.
We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
The Recruit (2022-)
The Recruit | Official Trailer | Netflix
Noah Centineo has made his entire career working for Netflix, and The Recruit allows him to flex his unique charm. The series follows a CIA lawyer who gets drawn into the action after one of the agency's assets threatens to reveal herself unless the CIA helps her clear her name.
While plenty of spy dramas can be rather serious, dour affairs, The Recruit is lighter on its feet than many of those shows and easier to watch. While the show definitely has its moments of real gravitas, The Recruit won't make you feel like you're doing homework.
You can watch The Recruit on Netflix.
The Madness (2024)
The Madness | Official Trailer | Netflix
Colman Domingo should have been a star for decades. But like they say, better late than never. The Madness follows Domingo as Muncie Daniels, a media pundit who is forced to prove his own innocence after he stumbles upon a murder in the Poconos.
Crucially, though, The Madness is also about Daniels's crisis of conscience as he realizes that he no longer believes in anything. The series is riveting from front to back and includes all the plot developments and production values required for a limited series with a hooky premise and real ideas.
You can watch The Madness on Netflix.
Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019)
Orange Is The New Black - Season 1 - Official Trailer [HD]
Calling Orange Is the New Black underrated when it first aired would have seemed silly. The show was one of Netflix's first original series, earning plenty of awards and critical recognition at the time. In the years since, the show and its many groundbreaking elements have been far more forgotten than they should have been.
Telling the story of a public relations executive who is sentenced to serve time in a minimum security prison for her association with a drug dealer, the show was a remarkably bracing, often hysterical series about the realities of life in prison and the prison system more generally. The first few seasons are brilliant, and while it does fall off to some extent, it remained excellent throughout its run.
You can watch Orange Is the New Black on Netflix.