While they might be most known for American shows likeWednesdayandStranger Things,Netflixhas been making a more dedicated foray into non-English-language media in recent years. In 2025, this is most directly manifesting itself by way of the platform’s emphasis on K-drama and other Korean-language content. It has already had success with series likeWhen Life Gives You Tangerinesand themovieRevelations. Later this year, Netflix will likely have another major K-drama hit withSquid Gameseason 3.
But even outside Korean-language content, Netflix’s library of non-English-language movies is expanding and doing well. Last year’sUnder Paris, for instance, became the no. 2 most-watched non-English-language Netflix movie of all time, with 102.3 million views. The no. 1 movie on this list isTroll, which came out in 2022 and amassed 103 million views. BothUnder ParisandTrollare getting sequels, demonstrating the success of international content on the platform. Now,a bilingual Netflix movie is taking over the charts.
Exterritorial Is Storming Onto Netflix Charts
It Was Released On April 30
Exterritorialhas made an extremely strong Netflix debut.Released to the platform on April 30, the mystery thriller tells the story of a woman whose son goes missing on the grounds of the U.S. consulate, sending her on a covert journey to find him, and unlocking secrets to government conspiracies along the way. Both German and English are spoken in the film, which stars German actor Jeanne Goursaud and a supporting cast of Dougray Scott, Lera Abova, Kayode Akinyemi, and Lara Babalola. The movie was written and directed by Christian Zübert.
PerFlixPatrol,Exterritorialhas now made waves on the chart. Just one day after its release,Exterritorialhas taken the no. 1 slot on Netflix’s top 10 movies chart in the United States. In order to achieve this, it beat out the new Tom Hardy filmHavoc, which has now dropped to no. 2. Before today,Havochad been the platform’s no. 1 movie for five days straight.
What This Means For Netflix
Non-English-Language Content Continues To Succeed
ExterritorialandHavocdo have something in common in that they both fall into the tradition of a one-person action army film. Popularized by theJohn Wickmoviesin the modern era, these films tend to do well with audiences. But the fact that a bilingual movie beat out a film starring an A-lister as big as Hardy, however,demonstrates the vast potential of non-English-language movies on Netflix. It will be interesting to see how this trend continues asTroll 2and other non-English or bilingual Netflix movies release this year.
Exterritorial
Cast
Exterritorial follows former Special Forces soldier Sara as she searches for her missing son at the US consulate in Frankfurt.
