While there will always be those movies like Field of Dreams or Rudy-which tell a story about one of the handful of sports you see on any given day when you flip on ESPN-sometimes it’s the story that tells the behind-the-scenes of the behind-the-scenes, like Moneyball, or inside an entirely massive world of its own, like The Queen's Gambit, that makes for the most engrossing story.

In short: when it comes to sports drama, the people don’t always need balls and pucks. (Of Netflix’s most watched original TV shows of all time, The Queen’s Gambit ranks #5, just behind Tiger King.) The series also held the number one spot on Netflix’s site in 63 countries-meaning it wasn’t just a sensation in the English-speaking world. The streaming network boasted 62 million member views, making The Queen’s Gambit the most watched scripted limited series in Netflix’s history. Queen’s Gambit is now one of the most popular shows to ever hit Netflix.

With a story that's mostly fiction (based on the book of the same name by Walter Tevis) but somewhat based in reality, a stunning lead turn from an incredibly talented performer in Anya Taylor-Joy, and visually breathtaking direction throughout from Scott Frank, The Queen's Gambit proves that the best sports art isn't always about the first sports that come to mind.Īnd that proof was in the viewership pudding. High-level chess tournaments, and the personal and professional drama that surrounds a contender's rise to the top might not sound like the most thrilling premise for a TV show, but Netflix's The Queen's Gambit manages to run with it, bringing those themes and more together to make one of the very best things on television in 2020. Still, there's precedent for a 'limited series' turning into a traditional 'series.'.Netflix specifically calls the show a 'limited series,' which usually means there are only plans for one season.The Queen's Gambit, a 7-part limited series, has become a surprise hit for Netflix.

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