Netflix had a packed week with big releases. The final season of Outer Banks dropped. Robert De Niro returned to the streaming service with a new thriller called The Whisper Man. But neither of these could compete with what actually won the week.
A 27-minute video game preview became the most-watched thing on Netflix.
Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look pulled in 31.1 million views between its August 27 debut and August 30. That number put it ahead of every movie and TV show on the platform for that week.
GTA VI Extended Look Topped Charts in 87 Countries
The GTA VI preview did not just win in the United States. It reached the number one spot on Netflix’s English-language film list in 87 out of 93 countries that the streaming service tracks globally. It also ranked in the top 10 in 87 countries.
Netflix classified the gameplay footage as an “English-language film” for its weekly rankings. The video took the top spot on the platform’s global English movies list for the week of August 24 to August 30.
GTA VI Extended Look Beat Robert De Niro and Outer Banks
The numbers show just how much the GTA VI footage dominated.
The Whisper Man, which stars Robert De Niro and Adam Scott, finished in second place with 23.2 million views. The Spanish thriller Facing El Chapo came in third.
On the TV side, the documentary Death of the Pastor’s Wife took the top spot with 19 million views. Outer Banks Season 5, which many expected to perform well, ended up in third place on the TV chart with 7.4 million views.
A video game preview outperformed a Robert De Niro movie and the final season of a popular Netflix series.
Netflix Had the Video for Only Six Hours
The partnership between Netflix and Rockstar Games was unusual. Netflix secured an exclusive window to show the GTA VI footage first. But that window only lasted six hours.
The preview debuted on Netflix on August 27 at 3 p.m. ET. After six hours, Rockstar uploaded the same video to its official YouTube channel.
Despite the short exclusivity period, the video still pulled in 31.1 million views on Netflix.
The video has since gained more than 17 million views on Rockstar’s YouTube channel. IGN’s upload of the same footage added another 5.6 million views.
Netflix and YouTube Count Views Differently
The 31.1 million views on Netflix and the 17 million views on YouTube cannot be compared directly. The two platforms use different methods to count views.
Netflix defines a view as the total hours watched for a title divided by its runtime. If one household watches a program twice, it is counted only once. YouTube counts a view as soon as a video starts playing, even if someone watches only a few seconds.
This means the Netflix number likely represents a more accurate count of complete or near-complete viewings.
The 27-Minute Video Showed Gameplay From PlayStation 5
The extended look gave fans their first real look at the game in action. The footage was captured entirely from in-game footage on the PlayStation 5 version.
The video runs nearly 27 minutes and shows the game’s open world, combat changes, and side activities. It features protagonists Jason and Lucia in both cinematic scenes and gameplay. Lucia is the series’ first non-optional female protagonist.
The game is set in the fictional state of Leonida, which is based on Florida. The story follows a criminal couple who find themselves caught up in a conspiracy after a bank heist goes wrong.
Netflix Called the Partnership a First-of-Its-Kind
Netflix’s partnership with Rockstar Games marked the first time the streaming service featured marketing for an upcoming video game.
Brandon Riegg, Netflix’s Vice President of Nonfiction Series, spoke about the collaboration.
“Grand Theft Auto reveals have become cultural moments in their own right. The anticipation and fandom around Grand Theft Auto VI is unprecedented, and we’re honored that Rockstar Games has partnered with us to debut the next part of the Grand Theft Auto story with Netflix members first.”
He added:
“It’s a reflection of what we hope Netflix is becoming: a place where the most ambitious storytelling, from any medium, can find the biggest possible audience.”
The Game Releases November 19
Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled to release on November 19, 2026. It will be available for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The previous game in the series, Grand Theft Auto V, has sold more than 230 million copies since its release in 2013. The new game is expected to be one of the most lucrative entertainment products of all time.
The first trailer for GTA VI, released in 2023, has accumulated 293 million views on YouTube and broke several viewership records.
The extended look is the longest official glimpse fans have gotten of the game so far. It follows two trailers released over the past three years.
Related:
Leaks Preceded the Premiere
The lead-up to the premiere was not without problems. More than a dozen clips from the game leaked online in the days before the official preview.
Take-Two Interactive Software, the company behind the franchise, took legal action. The company filed subpoenas targeting Discord, Microsoft, X, and Google to identify the source of the leaks.
Rockstar described the leaks as painful for the team.
Also Read: GTA 6 Fans Join Viral Content Creator’s NPC Mockery and Ask Why He Is So Angry
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