Argentina’s ‘El Eternauta’ tops Netflix global chart for non-English series

El Eternauta, the hit Argentine science fiction production set in an apocalyptic Buenos Aires, is the most-watched non-English-language series on Netflix worldwide, the streaming platform said on Tuesday.

Based on the legendary 1950s graphic novel of the same name, the series marks one week in the catalogue on Wednesday.

Since its release, “the story of Juan Salvo has gone global, entering Netflix’s weekly global Top 10 at number one among non-English-language series,” the platform said in a statement, adding that it has racked up “10.8 million views worldwide.”

The series also “made it into the weekly Top 10 series rankings in 87 countries, including Brazil, France, India, the United States, Italy, Mexico, Germany and Spain,” the press release added.

Split into six hour-long episodes, El Eternauta adapts the epic comic book story about a group of ordinary people who band together to confront an alien invasion.

“While the apocalyptic genre is well established now, this was one of the first stories to introduce it and helped set its rules,” said series creator and director Bruno Stagnaro, referring to the comic written by Héctor Oesterheld and illustrated by Francisco Solano López.

The director said the series, with a distinctly Argentine stamp, explores a universal theme: the human being who steps forward “to face the darkness.”

Stagnaro also expressed pride in the show’s technical production at a time when Argentina’s audiovisual industry is facing crisis due to massive budget cuts by President Javier Milei's government.

“As an artistic community, we can take on any challenge that comes our way,” said the director.

– TIMES/AFP