The Addams Family spinoff Wednesday has made a powerful return to Netflix, proving Jenna Ortega’s deadpan charm is still a massive draw. Season 2 notched 50 million views in its first week, securing the No. 1 spot on Netflix’s global Top 10 chart. That total puts it just a fraction below the debut of season 1 in November 2022, which had 50.1 million views — though Netflix was then tracking hours watched instead of “views.” Season 1 recorded 341.2 million hours viewed when all eight episodes dropped at once.
The numbers in context
For season 2, Netflix split the release into two parts, with the second batch of episodes arriving September 3. This staggered approach all but guarantees another surge in viewership, as latecomers catch up and returning fans binge Part 2 the moment it lands. Even with a two‑phase rollout, the week‑one tally is competitive with Netflix’s biggest launches. While Wednesday season 2 trails Squid Game season 2’s massive 68 million first‑week views, it outpaced Squid Game season 3’s 46.3 million earlier this summer and set a new high‑water mark for an English‑language Netflix series by reaching No. 1 in 91 countries.
Season 1 also returned to the charts this week at No. 2 with an additional 8.6 million views, marking its 22nd week in the Top 10. Over its first 91 days, season 1 amassed 252.1 million views, maintaining its spot as Netflix’s most popular English‑language series to date. That kind of long‑tail performance suggests Season 2 will keep drawing fresh viewers throughout its split release.
What season 2 delivers
In the latest chapter, Ortega’s Wednesday Addams is embroiled in another macabre mystery at Nevermore Academy. She’s investigating a rash of killings attributed to a murder of crows while dodging a stalker with lethal intentions. The ensemble remains a key draw, with Moosa Mostafa, Georgie Farmer, Joy Sunday, and Oliver Watson among the returning Nevermore standouts. Tim Burton returned to direct two episodes, while series creators Miles Millar and Alfred Gough continue to steer the story’s blend of sardonic humor, gothic romance, and teen‑detective pulp.
Rather than a full‑season dump, the two‑part structure subtly shifts how the show lands. Part 1 tees up the mystery, fuels social chatter, and buys time for speculation; Part 2’s September 3 drop is positioned to capitalize on that momentum and convert curiosity into another wave of views. For a franchise built on cliffhangers and viral reaction GIFs, the format fits the playbook.
Reception so far
The second season of “Wednesday” brings back the beloved characters for a new mystery at Nevermore Academy.
Critical response has been mixed‑to‑positive, with near‑universal praise for Ortega’s performance and Burton’s unmistakable visual flourishes. At the same time, the three‑year gap between seasons and the split release have frustrated some fans, and one critic dinged the central whodunit as “rudimentary and mundane.” The disconnect between critical nitpicks and audience appetite isn’t new for Wednesday — and the early numbers indicate viewers are more than willing to return to Nevermore for another round of deadpan sleuthing.
What to watch next
With Part 2 on deck in early September, Wednesday season 2 is well positioned to match — and possibly surpass — the record‑setting performance of season 1. The series has already demonstrated staying power, pulling its first season back into the Top 10 while the new episodes surge. If the back half delivers sharper reveals and a satisfying resolution, don’t be surprised if Wednesday strengthens its claim as Netflix’s defining English‑language hit of the era.
