By Jeffrey Rapaport
| Published
In 2024, the international film Society of the Snow charted a historic in streaming and on the award circuit. Directed by the renowned Spanish filmmaker J.A. Bayona and released on January 4th, the film, which was responsible for significant international acclaim, rapidly ascended to become one of Netflix’s most impactful non-English hits in that year.
A Tragic Story Retold
Society of the Snow recounts the tragic, infamous, and inspiring story of a 1972 Uruguayan Air Force flight that crashed in the Andes Mountains carrying 45 people, including a rugby team and their families.
Stranded at extremely high altitudes and with little supplies to fortify themselves against the harsh weather, the survivors endured an unimaginably harrowing 72-day ordeal. Because rescue seemed impossible, the stranded passengers faced starvation and an agonizing decision: whether or not to eat the plane’s deceased passengers to survive.
A Courageous Journey
Following numerous hardships and failed rescue attempts, two courageous survivors embarked on a perilous journey across the mountains. Their incredible bravery and resilience led to the ultimate survival of all 16 strange passengers.
It all makes for a shocking, incredible story, and an extraordinarily popular film: Society of the Snow.
Audiences Responded To Society Of Snow In A Big Way
It debuted on the streaming giant as the second-largest premiere for a non-English-language film (in terms of hours watched). Moreover, in 11 days, the movie garnered a staggering 51 million views; it is number ten on Netflix’s list of biggest non-English language films.
This feat is notable because Society of the Snow contended for 91-day viewing figures with all other titles, including the multi-award-winning German film All Quiet on the Western Front.
Critics Love Society Of Snow
The film’s success surpasses mere viewership numbers. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews, notching a commendable and uncommon 90% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Thanks to its harrowing narrative, singular direction, and attending Oscar buzz, the film resonated globally and landed in Netflix’s Top 10 in 93 countries. Those included France, Germany, the UK, Brazil, Mexico, and the U.S.
