Dutch film iHostage has been streamed 58 million times on Netflix

The Dutch film iHostage has been viewed 58 million times since its release on Netflix on April 18 of this year, the company announced on Thursday in its semiannual Engagement Report. The report outlines Netflix viewing figures from the past six months.

In its first two weeks after release, iHostage, starring Soufiane Moussouli and Loes Haverkort, ranked in the top 10 most-watched films in 93 countries, according to Netflix. Directed by Bobby Boermans, the film is based on the 2022 hostage situation at the Apple Store on Leidseplein in Amsterdam.

“I never dared to dream that 58 million people around the world would watch this film,” Boermans said in response. “It proves that a gripping local story can transcend borders. The film’s success opens doors and gives me and the entire team a huge boost to bring Dutch-language productions to an even wider international audience.”

The movie is concerning an incident on February 22, 2022. A Bulgarian man staying in Amsterdam had gone to the Apple Store to buy new earbuds when a young man entered the store carrying explosives and firearms. The attacker took the Bulgarian customer hostage and demanded €200 million in cryptocurrency, claiming he would blow up the building. He wore what appeared to be a bomb vest and threatened to detonate it. Other customers inside the store either hid or managed to escape without the hostage-taker noticing.

Despite the impressive figures, iHostage wasn’t the most-viewed non-English-language title, with Exterritorial (Germany) reaching 88 million views, Counterattack (Mexico) hitting 71 million, and Ad Vitam (France) drawing 70 million.