Netflix’s East of Eden reaches 6.5 million views in opening week

Netflix’s new limited series adaptation of John Steinbeck’s ‘East of Eden’ has become a major streaming success, amassing 6.5 million views in its first four days and ranking as the top show in 22 countries. The seven-part historical drama, written by Zoe Kazan and starring Florence Pugh, has also triggered a ‘Netflix effect’ on literature, with Penguin Classics reporting a 200% increase in sales of the original novel.

While the series has received critical acclaim for Pugh’s performance and its scenic production in New Zealand, it has also sparked significant viewer debate. The adaptation places a much heavier emphasis on the character of Cathy Ames, played by Pugh, providing her with more psychological depth and backstory than the original text. Some viewers have criticized this shift, arguing that it softens her role as a pure antagonist, while others praise the modernization of the character.

The production, which uses the landscapes of New Zealand’s South Island to stand in for California’s Salinas Valley, explores the multigenerational Trask family through themes of jealousy and destiny.