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ARGENTINA

The millions from the successful Argentine series 'El Eternauta' and its impact on the economy

The Netflix blockbuster confirms the national export potential when it comes to the private sector economy

Since its global premiere last April 30, El Eternauta, an adaptation of the famous comic by Héctor Germán Oesterheld, became a true international phenomenon. The series, entirely produced by the private sector, reached the  number one spot in Netflix's global weekly Top 10 for non-English speaking series in just one week, with 10.8 million views worldwide. It also entered the weekly Top 10 in 87 countries, including strategic markets such as the United States, France, India, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, and Italy.

This cultural event is not only an artistic achievement: it represents an  unprecedented economic and productive milestone  for the  Argentine audiovisual industry. According to a report by Empiria Consultores, in collaboration with Netflix, the production of the first season caused an  impact of over 41,000 million pesos (approximately 41 billion pesos) on the national economy, by directly and indirectly energizing multiple sectors linked to the value chain.

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The numbers of the successful national miniseries | La Derecha Diario

The study, prepared in April 2025 based on an input-output model, identified multiplier effects  in areas such as transportation, hospitality, logistics, catering, set design, technical services, and construction, in addition to the direct impact on audiovisual production.

But the numbers don't stop there. The project mobilized  2,900 workers, including actors, extras, and technicians, over  148 shooting days, with more than 50 physical locations and 35 virtual sets. Additionally, more than 500 masks were specially designed for the series. In terms of technology, innovative processes such as photogrammetry and 3D scanning were applied, allowing entire sectors of the  city of Buenos Aires  to be digitally recreated with unprecedented detail.

A man with an intense expression next to the INCAA logo, National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts.
The Eternauta, a national success without a cent from INCAA | La Derecha Diario

These investments in technical infrastructure not only raised the quality standards of the series but also left permanent installed capacities, enabling new local and international productions with more efficient costs and greater creative autonomy. In a country seeking to reconfigure its productive matrix toward high value-added intangible goods, El Eternauta stands as an exemplary case of the new paradigm:  talent, intellectual property, and economic freedom as key factors for generating employment, exports, and global prestige.

No less important is the symbolic value. Directed by  Bruno Stagnaro and starring Ricardo Darín, with a script by  Stagnaro and Ariel Staltari and production by K&S Films, the series revives a cult work —originally published in 1957— that, beyond its political readings, challenges a present marked by collective challenges through fiction. The participation of  Martín Oesterheld, the original author's grandson, as a creative consultant, adds legitimacy to a project of very high narrative and technical quality.

In this context, the official confirmation of a second season not only promises the continuity of this artistic and commercial success but also projects greater investment attraction, generation of qualified employment, and international positioning  for the country. The government of  Javier Milei, whose libertarian approach has favored creative freedom and clear rules for private investment, can consider this phenomenon as a tangible demonstration of the dynamism that emerges when the State stops obstructing.

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