In a significant milestone for the Nigerian film industry, the Play Network’s production, “Blood Vessel,” has secured the top spot as Netflix’s most-watched non-English title worldwide. The film, which debuted on Dec. 8, 2023, has rapidly gained traction, earning over 8.8 million hours of viewing time and attracting 4.4 million views in the week of Dec. 11-17, 2023.
“Blood Vessel” now leads Netflix’s weekly global ranking for non-English titles, marking a noteworthy achievement for the Play Network and the Nigerian film community. The film’s success is not confined to global metrics alone; it has also achieved Top 10 status in 22 countries, including Argentina, Bahamas, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Honduras, Jamaica, Kenya, Morocco, Martinique, Nicaragua, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, Reunion, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Nigeria.
The two-week tenure of “Blood Vessel” on the streaming platform underscores its sustained popularity. The film joins the ranks of other successful Nigerian productions this year, such as Kunle Afolayan’s “Ijogbon,” Editi Effiong’s “Black Book,” and Femi Adebayo’s “Jagun Jagun,” each having topped various charts during their respective releases.
Penned by Musa Jeffery David, “Blood Vessel” follows the story of six youths portrayed by Jide Kene Achufusi, Adaobi Lilian Dibor, David Ezekiel, Levi Chikere, Obinna Okenwa, and Slyvester Ekanem. The narrative unfolds as they navigate a life-threatening situation, escaping military pursuit only to face a perilous struggle for survival on a ship.
Directed by Moses Inwang, the film boasts a cast including Alex Budin, Bimbo Manuel, Ebele Okaro, John Dumelo, Pere Egbi, Francis Duru, Rene Mena, Oyibo Rebel, Haillies Sumney, Katerina Ataman, and Alexa Iniye. The collective efforts of the cast and crew contribute to the film’s global appeal, transcending language barriers and resonating with audiences worldwide.
As “Blood Vessel” continues to make waves on the global stage, its success underscores the growing recognition of Nigerian cinema in the international arena.