Netflix’s The Night Agent Posted Massive Numbers For Its Opening Weekend
The Night Agent's inaugural season is now Netflix's sixth most watched season of television.
Netflix has long been a juggernaut in the television industry, producing a number of hits since its transition into a creator of content. Joining series Squid Game, Stranger Things, and recent hit Wednesday starring Jenna Ortega, Netflix’s The Night Agent has quickly become one of the platform’s most popular series. According to a recent article from ComicBook.com, the series is now the sixth most watched television season in the streamer’s history.
Recent data from Nielsen reveals that Netflix’s The Night Agent was streamed for more than 2.6 billion minutes. The stats are even more impressive given that Netflix’s The Night Agent was only measured for four days of streaming numbers out of a possible full week.
For context, Netflix’s Shadow & Bone was the next most-watched title in the span of time reported on and delivered less than half that. These numbers make it apparent that Netflix’s The Night Agent is quickly becoming one of the platform’s most popular series after premiering on March 23, 2023. After just four days, it had become the third-most-viewed debut on Netflix.
Netflix’s The Night Agent was developed by Shawn Ryan, known for creating dramas like The Shield and S.W.A.T. Netflix’s The Night Agent stars Gabriel Basso alongside Luciane Buchanan, Fola Evans-Akingbola, Sarah Desjardins, Eve Harlow, and Phoenix Raei.
Continuing in the trend of television and film series being adapted from books, Netflix’s The Night Agent is a thriller series based on the Matthew Quirk book of the same name. The series follows Peter Sutherland (played by Gabriel Basso), an FBI agent operating out of the White House in DC. Despite his desk job as a Night Action telephone operator, Agent Sutherland soon stumbles upon a growing conspiracy that could lead to the unraveling of the United States government at the highest levels.
Netflix’s The Night Agent has received mostly positive reviews, although nothing stellar. The series has a 77 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.6 out of 10 on IMDb. While both ratings are strong and reflect an overall positive position on the series, neither indicates the record numbers that the series has been able to garner.
Although the topic of government conspiracies is one that has been explored many times in film and television, Netflix’s The Night Agent seems to have struck a chord. This has been especially impressive given that the series does not feature any well-known stars, and is not part of any existing franchise or longstanding fan base. Still, fans have been streaming at record numbers, and the series was even picked up in record speed for a second season less than a week after its debut.
One thing that could be working in the favor of Netflix’s The Night Agent is its fast-paced, character-driven narrative that plays up the drama and suspense of an FBI conspiracy. Much like the Kiefer Sutherland-led drama 24, it could be the perfect dose of adrenaline without requiring too much deep thought or reflection. With season two on its way, fans of the thriller genre will definitely want to check out The Night Agent and see what the hype is about.
