Three Kenyan films secure top spots on Netflix's most-watched list
Netflix, the world's leading video-on-demand streaming service, has released its viewership data for the first half of 2023 titled "What We Watched: A Netflix Engagement Report”, providing a glimpse into the global popularity of Kenyan cinema.
Three Kenyan films have not only secured spots on the streaming giant's Top 10 but have also captured the attention of audiences worldwide, local media Nation reported.
Topping the list of three is "Disconnect: The Wedding Planner" by acclaimed filmmaker David 'Tosh' Gitonga, released in January 2023. This film, a follow-up to the 2018 hit "Disconnect," has claimed the title of the most popular Kenyan film with 74 million viewed hours globally. This becomes the first-ever Kenyan title to be featured and widely available on Netflix around the world.
The report reveals that "Disconnect," the first Kenyan film that introduced Kenya to the Netflix market, secured the fourth position with 300,000 hours viewed while "40 Sticks," Kenya's 2020 Oscar submission, claimed the fifth spot with 200,000 viewed hours.
Securing the second position is "Married to Work," released in February 2023, with an impressive 1.2 million viewed hours.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Spain’s migration minister faces protests during Ceuta visit
Germany-funded series "Country Queen", which is the streaming platform's first-ever Kenyan series, captured the hearts of viewers, claiming the third spot with one million viewed hours.
While the success of Kenyan films on the global stage is evident, the report also sheds light on the dominance of South African and Nigerian content in the African market. South Africa leads with the most-watched titles with eight titles in the top 10, while Nigeria takes the remaining two spots.
Kenyan cinema's triumph on Netflix's Top 10 list signals a promising future for the nation's filmmakers. This proud moment for Kenya signals that Kenyan filmmakers are on the rise, telling tales that transcend Kenyan borders.
