‘The Queen’s Gambit’ Crowned Netflix’s Biggest Scripted Limited Series

The Queen’s Gambit is making history on Netflix. The Anya Taylor-Joy drama, which first debuted on the streaming service in October, was announced today as Netflix’s biggest scripted limited series to date, with 62 million households streaming the series in its first 28 days. The Queen’s Gambit also cemented its status in the Netflix Top 10 globally and is currently ranked at No. 1 in over 60 countries.

“Three years ago when Scott Frank (Godless) first approached us about adapting ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ – Walter Tevis’ 1983 book about a young chess prodigy – we felt it was a compelling tale,” Peter Friedlander, VP, Original Series, Netflix shared in a press release today. “Beth is an underdog who faces addiction, loss and abandonment. Her success – against the odds – speaks to the importance of perseverance, family, and finding, and staying true to, yourself. However, I don’t think any of us could have predicted that The Queen’s Gambit – and the extraordinary Anya Taylor-Joy – would become the global phenomena they are today, or our biggest limited scripted series ever.”

While The Queen’s Gambit has made its mark on Netflix, its influence is extending beyond just stats on the streamer. Friedlander also noted that 37 years after it first debuted, Tevis’ “The Queen’s Gambit” novel is now on The New York Times bestseller list, while Google searches for chess have doubled, searches for ‘how to play chess’ have increased, and there’s a noticeable spike in chess set interest on both eBay and Goliath Games.

“It’s a true testament to Scott’s skill as a writer and filmmaker that he was able to bring the drama and detail of the many chess matches to life on camera – generating rave reviews and a rare 100% on Rotten Tomatoes,”  Friedlander added. “Scott also had tremendous help from the series’ talented crafts team.

“Costume designer Gabriele Binder’s exquisite use of checkerboard patterns in Beth’s wardrobe, composer Carlos Rafael Rivera’s suspenseful score, editor Michelle Tesoro’s gripping montages, production designer Uli Hanisch’s vibrant choices that pop off the screen in every scene, and cinematographer Steven Meizler, whose work transformed every match into heart-pounding drama.”

The Queen’s Gambit tells the story of Beth (Taylor-Hoy), a chess prodigy grappling with addiction issues who rises to the top of the game, defeating even the most skilled opponents. The series also stars Bill Camp, Moses Ingram, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, and more.

Stream The Queen's Gambit on Netflix