While Netflix‘s English-language content is still its biggest sell, the streamer has been increasingly expanding into international content. This is in response to the success of movies like Under Paris, a French-language shark survival movie that was a huge hit upon its release in 2024. The thriller already has a sequel, and seems to be a leading part of the effort by Netflix to not only make, but promote, more of their non-English-language content. This year’s Exteritorrial, which is partially in German, also did incredibly well on the platform.
The primary way in which Netflix is expanding beyond American-made films is through Korean content. Including both movies and TV shows, the streamer announced a plan earlier this year that involved the development and release of over two dozen Korean-language works. These programs have done well on Netflix and will likely push the platform to create more of such content in the coming years. Even beyond Korean content, Netflix has been doing well in its international works, and one of the most successful ones is getting a sequel.
Netflix’s 2022 Movie Troll Became The Streamer’s Most-Viewed Non-English Film Ever
The Film Is Norwegian
Netflix’s monster film Troll came out three years ago. Primarily in Norwegian, the film tells a story about the fallout of a mountain-dwelling troll awakening after a thousand years in captivity. This beast is shown to destroy everything in its path and encroaches on Norway’s capital, Oslo. The film is directed by Roar Uthaug and features Ine Marie Wilmann, Kim Falck, Gard B. Eidsvold, Anneke von der Lippe, and Fridtjov Såheim. Troll was released on Netflix on December 1, 2022.
This movie became a huge hit following its release. Despite not being as publicized as some of its American content, Troll became the streamer’s most-viewed non-English-language film of all time. To this date, the film still holds that тιтle, boasting 103 million views. This surpᴀsses even that of Under Paris, which was a sensation upon its release last year. Other non-English language тιтles on this all-time chart include Society of the Snow, Nowhere, The Platform, and Exteritorrial.
Troll also got fairly strong reviews upon its release. The film has a 90% Tomatometer among the 29 critical reviews collected on Rotten Tomatoes. Interestingly, the audience rating is significantly lower, with only a 50% overall Popcornmeter. While this latter score is somewhat surprising given the film’s record-breaking status, its high viewership rate makes up for this.
Troll 2 Is Coming Out This Fall: What’s Known About It
A Teaser Trailer Has Been Released
Following the success of the 2022 film, Netflix confirmed the development of Troll 2 in late 2024. Filming began in Norway that same year. The movie is expected for release in late 2025, so it will come out sometime this fall. Uthaug returns to direct for this fantasy sequel, which will once again star Wilmann and Falck in the lead roles. Mads Sjøgård Pettersen also returns for the sequel, which adds additional cast members Ágota Dunai and Sara Khorami.
Netflix has released the first clip from Troll 2, which gives a better look at the plot for the fantasy sequel. Despite the humans winning in the first film, a new troll has awakened in Norway for the second movie. The clip revealed that the Armed Forces created a new Sunna helicopter, which was specially equipped for troll hunting, which would employ powerful UV lights to burn trolls to death. As such, the Troll 2 team will go into the second film even better able to manage the supernatural threats.
Will Troll 2 Be Another Record-Breaking Release For Netflix?
It Could Be As Big Of A Hit
As Troll 2 heads for release this fall, it will be interesting to see whether this film can do as well on the streamer as its predecessors. While it has been in more recent years that Netflix has focused more heavily on its non-English-language тιтles, there is some precedent for such sequels being released. This includes the release of The Platform 2. While it did chart during the time of its release, the film has ultimately not made it onto the all-time charts. As Troll 2 releases this fall, it could be the first non-English-language sequel movie to break Netflix records.