Netflix’s latest romance thriller, When The Phone Rings, has taken the platform by storm, securing the #2 spot in the Top 10 Non-English series. The show amassed over 4.4 million views, sparking widespread acclaim among fans worldwide.
When The Phone Rings made a significant impact just two weeks after its release on November 22, 2024. According to FlixPatrol, a platform that tracks streaming trends, the series has climbed to #2 on Netflix’s Global TV (Non-English) category.
Fans have flooded social media with praise for the show. One fan commented,
"DESERVED 🫶🏻"
More fans celebrated the show's success.
"LETS GOOOO #WhenThePhoneRings CONQUERING NETFLIX!!" another fan posts on X.
"this many views and there are only 2 episodes per week, they are the moment," writes and X user.
"As it definitely should 👏👏❤ ," says this netizen.
"Great to see these getting more popular here," comments this viewer on X.
Many have attributed its 4.4 million views and #2 ranking to its gripping plot, stellar performances, and high production quality.
"Completely well deserved. With the cast, the writing, the suspense, everything on point. It's already been 6 episodes, and I can’t get enough of it. Episode 7 needs to come asap," reads a remark from a viewer on X.
"Those are the views in just one week, and the series has had just 2 new eps aired last week and none the week before...all other series have all eps aired together, and even so, the series is 2 most watched non English last week... #whenthephonerings is huge success in Netflix," says this individual on X.
Some fans also believe When The Phone Rings deserves even greater recognition, expressing that it should have more views and claim the #1 spot on the charts.
"Just 4.4? We have a long way to go beat no1 😭😭😭 Yall should watch on Netflix and not illegal site !!" says this fan.
"Well this the consequences of the so many spoilers given who read the novel, some of tweets by 👑😭 fandom asking to watch on illegal site,lastly the comparison & deja vu edits & edits of baek hong couple with 👑😭 couple caused this." shares this viewer on X.
When the Phone Rings: Global success and storyline propel it to the top
When the Phone Rings also claimed the #1 spot in 33 countries, including Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Brazil, as per FlixPatrol. The show has maintained its top position in several regions since November 26.
The series has entered the Top 10 in 49 countries according to Netflix, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, El Salvador, and Venezuela.
When The Phone Rings also ranks highly in the top 10 list: India, Oman, the Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. It has also made the list in Greece, Portugal, Romania, Türkiye, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Mauritius, and Nigeria in Europe and Africa.
The drama also topped Good Data Corporation’s FUNdex list in the drama category for Week 4 of November. Lead actors Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin ranked as the most talked-about TV drama actors that week, taking first and second positions, respectively.
Nielsen Korea reported a strong start for the series, with a 5.5% viewership rating for its premiere episode. This surged past 6% by the third episode, showcasing steady growth.
The drama’s success has also revived interest in its source material, a Kakao Page web novel of the same name. Viewership for the web novel increased fivefold, while revenue rose by 14.6 times. The novel climbed to #1 on Kakao Page's daily rankings, creating a "double-hit" success for both the drama and its origin.
When The Phone Rings (Korean: 지금 거신 전화는) is a South Korean drama that premiered on MBC TV on November 22, 2024 airing Fridays and Saturdays at 9:50 pm KST. Based on the web novel The Number You Have Dialed by Geon Eomul Nyeo, the drama consists of 12 episodes.
The show is written by Kim Ji-woon and co-directed by Park Sang-woo and Wi Deuk-gyu. The drama stars Yoo Yeon-seok, Chae Soo-bin, Heo Nam-joon, and Jang Gyu-ri. The series delves into a strained marriage of a show-window couple.
Baek Sa-eon (Yoo Yeon-seok), Korea’s youngest presidential spokesman, war correspondent, hostage negotiator, marries Hong Hee-joo (Chae Soo-bin), a mute sign language interpreter and the daughter of a newspaper mogul. Although their marriage is one of convenience, marked by an emotionally distant husband and a wife yearning for affection, their lives take a dramatic turn when Hee-joo is kidnapped.
The last released episodes, 5 and 6, mark a turning point in When The Phone Rings. Sa-eon vows to open his heart to Hee-joo, and they share their first kiss. Episode 6 ends on a cliffhanger, with Hee-joo surviving a fall and Sa-eon desperately searching for her, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the next episodes.
Episodes 7 and 8 of When The Phone Rings are set to air on December 20 and 21. They will be available to stream on Netflix shortly after their broadcast.