The Argentine series starring Ricardo Darín became an international phenomenon in just five days
The series, based on the iconic comic created by Héctor Germán Oesterheld, presented a story of survival and resistance in a Buenos Aires ravaged by a deadly snowfall. Juan Salvo —played by Darín— leads a group of friends in a desperate battle against an extraterrestrial invasion. The plot unfolds over six episodes and was filmed entirely in Buenos Aires, between May and December 2023.
More than 35 real locations and over 25 sets built with Virtual Production technology were used, providing remarkable visual realism. It was the first time the comic was adapted to a streaming platform, with a carefully staged production and a solid cast.
Although Darín confirmed that there are plans to continue with a second season, Netflix hasn't yet officially announced its production. Everything will depend on the sustained performance of the series on the platform.
Along with the success of the new adaptation, interest in the 1969 version of the comic resurfaced, illustrated by Alberto Breccia and scripted by Oesterheld himself. That reinterpretation was published in the Gente magazine with a more political and experimental tone, but it was interrupted after only 17 issues due to criticism from the conservative public.
Since then, this edition has been considered a cult work and, for many, a "cursed" version of El Eternauta. Now, with the series' frenzy, a restored edition of that controversial version will also see the light.
Will it be vindicated or remain under the shadow of the myth?
Less than a week after its premiere on Netflix, El Eternauta positioned itself as one of the most-watched series on the planet. Directed by Bruno Stagnaro and starring Ricardo Darín, the Argentine production topped the ranking in 27 countries, including Germany, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Türkiye, India, Saudi Arabia, and, of course, Argentina.
According to data from the specialized site Flix Patrol, it also reached the second spot among the most-played series globally. The impact was immediate: the premiere occurred in more than 200 countries, with dubbing in more than 12 languages and subtitles in more than 30, which facilitated its access to a global audience.
The critical reception was also notable. On Rotten Tomatoes it debuted with an impressive 93%, while on IMDb it received a rating of 7.2 out of 10. Forbes defined the series as "the most ambitious Argentine science fiction production," and The New York Times praised Stagnaro's work, highlighting his role as director and co-writer.
Variety, meanwhile, focused on the local impact: it highlighted how the series caused hundreds of jobs in the Argentine audiovisual industry, revitalizing the sector with high-level national production.
In Japan, the famous video game developer Hideo Kojima helped to viralize the series after sharing a tweet in which he mentioned having watched three episodes. This detail sparked the curiosity of the Asian public, showing the cultural reach of the story.
The translation of Hideo Kojima's post on X after finishing watching the entire series.
