Netflix recently released the first quarter results for business and the number of online streams. The streaming giant reported massive profit and unprecedented streaming numbers amid lockdown as people are binge-watching tv series on the online streaming platform while staying at their home. The report revealed humongous numbers for one of the most popular series on Netflix — Money Heist.
As per the report, Money Heist ( La casa de papel, which means ‘The House of Paper’ in Spanish) Spanish heist crime drama television series created by Álex Pina, will become the most popular show on Netflix in 2020. Money Heist is already the most popular non-english on Netflix. But, the lastest data reveals that season four of La Cas De Papel that was launched on April 3, 2020, will amass over 65 million household streams within the first four weeks of its launch. These humongous numbers are even better than the Tiger King’s 64 million streams in the first four weeks of release.
Did you know that Money Heist or Las Casa De Papel was a flop show? Yes, it’s hard to believe, but it was a flop show when it was launched back in 2017. Here goes the story!
Originally the series was released on the Spanish network Antena 3. The series initially intended as a limited series to be told in two parts. It had its original run of 15 episodes. The show aired from 2 May 2017 through 23 November 2017. The series was received well by the fans; however, the series didn’t pick up the pace, and viewers eventually lost interest in the series.
Of course, this was not the end. The series caught the attention of Netflix, who later bought the streaming rights in late 2017. It re-cut the series into 22 shorter episodes and released them worldwide, beginning with the first part on 20 December 2017, followed by the second part on 6 April 2018. In April 2018, Netflix renewed the series with a significantly increased budget for 16 new episodes total. Part 3, with eight episodes, was released on 19 July 2019. Part 4, also with eight episodes, was released on 3 April 2020.
Here comes the turnaround. After Netflix published Money Heist, the show took off and appealed to the audiences worldwide. People really liked the criminal-minded intellectual character of The Professor and how meticulously he thinks of every move in the heist. Season 3 of Money Heist bagged over 44 million household streams while season 4 of La Casa De Papel is projected to garner over 65 million streams.
The show also made an Italian protest folk song Bella ciao (meaning “Goodbye beautiful” in Italian) famous as the song plays several times in between different episodes on Money Heist. Fans across the globe have actually loved the song, which can be validated by their response on social media.
Apart from appealing to fans and critics for its sophisticated plot, interpersonal dramas, direction, and for trying to innovate Spanish television, the show has also bagged several awards, including best drama series at the 46th International Emmy Awards.
