Boy Swallows Universe ranks #5 globally, #2 in Australia on Netflix

Netflix’s Australian drama Boy Swallows Universe has proven to be a hit with audiences, securing its position as the fifth most-watched show on Netflix worldwide and the second most-watched in Australia.

The limited drama series, jointly produced by Brouhaha Entertainment, Chapter One Pictures, and Anonymous Content, has attracted 3.6 million views since its release on 11 January.

Adapted from the novel by Australian author Trent Dalton, Boy Swallows Universe, now joins the ranks of other successful Australian productions that have recently made their mark in the Netflix Top 10, such as Love Is In The Air at #2 globally and Surviving Summer Season 2 at #7.

Other Australian hits featured in the Top 10 include Fisk, Run Rabbit Run, Wellmania, True Spirit, The Stranger, and Heartbreak High.

While Netflix’s investments in Australia drama and scripted content continue to garner audiences, the same cannot be said for the free-to-air networks where there is want for local drama content.

Mediaweek this week revealed only one local drama series ranked among the Top 50 programs by ratings, and that the most-watched shows were predominantly sports and reality TV. The trend points to the limited presence of local content on free-to-air, despite the established Australian content quotas.

Boy Swallows Universe, however, described as a “one-of-a-kind Australian period piece” by Luke Buckmaster of Guardian Australia, has made its mark on the Weekly Top 10 list in 47 countries, securing the eighth position in the UK and the 10th in the US.

Viewers worldwide have also expressed their enthusiasm for the series, describing it as “beautiful, brilliant, and uplifting,” a “10/10 Netflix show,” and deeming it “compulsory viewing.”

Critic Richard Ferguson of The Australian has also lent his praise to the production, stating, “it is simply gorgeous.”

Directed by Bharat Nalluri, Jocelyn Moorhouse, and Kim Mordaunt, written by John Collee, and produced by Troy Lum and Andrew Mason, Boy Swallows Universe is a coming-of-age tale of a young boy navigating the challenges of 1980s Brisbane suburbs, confronting the harsh realities of life and looming threats to his family.

The production is supported by the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy, and boasts an ensemble cast, including Travis Fimmel, Simon Baker, Bryan Brown, Sophie Wilde, Phoebe Tonkin, and Anthony LaPaglia, among others.

The cast and crew also featured in Netflix’s new YouTube featurette and blog, where they delve into the behind-the-scenes details of bringing Dalton’s cherished story to life.