Netflix is often secretive about its streaming numbers, but the live-action adaptation of “One Piece” has broken that trend by topping charts in 2023. According to Giant Freakin Robot, “One Piece” garnered just under 72 million views in the latter half of 2023, surpassing series like “Lupin,” “Sex Education,” and “The Witcher” Season 3.
Impressive Rankings
Despite tracking starting from July 1, and “One Piece” only premiering on August 31, the series achieved massive viewership figures, outpacing competitors with a two-month head start. The next closest series, “Who Is Erin Carter?” managed over 50 million views during this period.
A Successful Adaptation
The success of “One Piece” isn’t surprising given its significant fanbase and Netflix’s successful adaptation, which has an 85 percent certified fresh critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. The original anime’s extensive run of over 1,000 episodes presented a high entry barrier for new fans, which the live-action series helped lower.
Challenges and Success
While many live-action adaptations of beloved anime franchises have failed—like “Dragon Ball Z,” “Death Note,” “Ghost in the Shell,” and “Cowboy Bebop”—Netflix’s “One Piece” defied expectations, bringing the animated series’ antics and story arcs to life.
Future Prospects
With 71.6 million views in less than six months, the “One Piece” live-action series shows potential for growth. This success may result in a bigger budget and more studio backing for the second season, which is expected to begin production in summer 2024, potentially premiering as early as 2025.
Fans eagerly await updates as the series continues to rack up millions of views.