Netflix's all-time biggest Japanese series has returned after three years of silence. Season 2 racked up over 200 million viewing hours and hit the Top 10 in more than 90 countries, and Season 3 claimed the No. 1 spot worldwide in its second week. Here's what stars Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya told The Hollywood Reporter about why this show resonates across the globe, and what it means for Japanese content on the world stage.

What Is "Alice in Borderland"? Death Games Meet Human Drama

"Alice in Borderland" is a Netflix Original series based on the manga of the same name by Haro Aso. The protagonist, Ryohei Arisu (nicknamed "Alice"), suddenly finds himself in an eerily deserted version of Tokyo, forced to participate in lethal games to survive. Each game's difficulty and type is determined by playing card suits: Hearts test psychological endurance, Spades demand physical strength, Diamonds challenge intellect, and Clubs require teamwork.

Since Season 1 debuted in December 2020, the series has captivated global audiences with its cinematic production values and stories that strip human nature bare under life-or-death pressure. Season 2, which dropped in December 2022, amassed over 200 million viewing hours within four weeks, establishing itself as Netflix's most-watched Japanese title of all time.

Season 3: A Fully Original Chapter Beyond the Manga

Season 3, released on September 25, 2025 across more than 190 countries, marked a pivotal turning point for the franchise. With the original manga's 18 volumes fully adapted through Season 2, this chapter is an original story not found in the source, written by Yasuko Kuramitsu and director Shinsuke Sato. Sato has said he began building it while still making Season 2, working from two fragments the manga never resolved: Usagi's own story, and the question of what the Joker actually is. Shooting began at the end of 2023.

The plot picks up four years after Season 2's ending. Arisu and Usagi are married and living a quiet life, until a mysterious scholar named Ryuji (played by Kento Kaku), obsessed with the afterlife, manipulates Usagi back into Borderland. Worse still, Usagi is pregnant. Arisu plunges back into the deadly world to save his family, confronting the never-before-seen "Joker" stage.

Condensed into six episodes, Season 3 introduces new games including "Omikuji" (Fortune Drawing), "Zombie Hunt," "Runaway Train," and "Future Sugoroku," as characters confront the very meaning of life and death.

No. 1 Worldwide: What the Numbers Show

Season 3 debuted at No. 2 on Netflix's global non-English TV chart in its first week (September 22-28, 2025), then climbed to No. 1 the following week, overtaking the previous leader, Spain's "Billionaires' Bunker."

According to Netflix's official data, during the week of September 29 to October 5, 2025, Season 3 logged 46.3 million hours viewed. That same week, Season 1 ranked No. 8 with 13.3 million hours and Season 2 No. 9 with 12.7 million, putting all three seasons on the same chart at once.

Over five weeks, Season 3 accumulated more than 142 million viewing hours, short of the 228.9 million Season 2 drew in six weeks. Netflix's H2 2025 engagement report credited it with 25 million views, ahead of the 21 million for the Japanese live-action series "Last Samurai Standing" over the same period.

Yamazaki and Tsuchiya Speak: Inside the Minds of Global Stars

The Hollywood Reporter secured an exclusive sit-down interview with leads Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya ahead of the Tokyo launch event. The event itself underscored the show's cultural significance, guests included fans, journalists, influencers, and even AEW pro wrestling superstar Kenny Omega, who revealed that "Alice in Borderland" was his favorite show.

On the Show's Global Success

Yamazaki shared that the team had always aimed to create something for a worldwide audience, even from Season 1. He expressed genuine joy that global fans have embraced the series so passionately through all three seasons.

Tsuchiya offered a thoughtful analysis of why the show transcends borders. She noted that the themes in Borderland, survival, perseverance, fighting to protect others, mirror realities in any society, school, or workplace. This universality, she believes, is what connects audiences regardless of nationality. She was particularly struck by how the Japanese concept of putting others before yourself resonated deeply with international viewers, sometimes even surprising or shocking them.

Coping with Dark Themes

The series tackles weighty subjects including suicide, depression, trauma, and death. Yamazaki acknowledged the emotional toll of inhabiting such dark spaces but said the ability to move global audiences made the struggle worthwhile.

Tsuchiya revealed that prolonged immersion in emotionally heavy material affected her physical health. Her solution? Lots of laughter on set. She made a point of constantly chatting with Yamazaki and the crew, transforming what could have been a grueling experience into one filled with warmth and camaraderie.

On a Possible Continuation (at the time of the interview)

Yamazaki declared himself a fan of the show and expressed clear interest in returning if the franchise continued. Tsuchiya went further, pitching a specific concept: since Usagi is pregnant in Season 3, she'd love to see a future story where their child returns to the normal world. The narrative could evolve into a family-centred drama, an idea she called "really interesting." As the update below explains, no continuation was made.

Alice in Borderland vs. Squid Game: The Ultimate Death Game Showdown

Any discussion of "Alice in Borderland" inevitably invites comparison with Netflix's other mega-hit, "Squid Game." Both series center on survival games with lethal consequences, but their approaches differ significantly.

"Squid Game" uses its games as commentary on social inequality and capitalist cruelty, while "Alice in Borderland" explores philosophical questions about life and death, and the bonds between people.

What about the reviews? As of September 2026, Rotten Tomatoes gives the series overall a critics' score of 78% for "Alice in Borderland" and 86% for "Squid Game," with audience scores of 79% and 67%. Audiences favor Alice. Compare the third seasons, though, and the audience scores are 56% and 51%: both shows lost much of their audience goodwill in their final chapters. Ending a death-game saga proved hard in Japan and Korea alike.

Mixed Reviews: The Double-Edged Sword of Going Original

Season 3's critics' score settled at 63% on Rotten Tomatoes. Japanese audiences were also divided.

Praise focused on the portrayal of Arisu and Usagi's growth as a married couple, standout performances from new cast members (particularly Kento Kaku as Ryuji), and the season's deeper exploration of what it means to be alive.

Criticism centered on the loss of the thrill of watching Arisu outwit deadly games through sheer brainpower, game structures that leaned too heavily on team and tournament formats, Ryuji's unclear motivations, and uneven pacing (especially the length of Episode 5). Compared with the manga's intricate payoff of its foreshadowing, the original storyline's writing drew notable complaints.

Yet the fact that opinion split this sharply is itself evidence people were watching.

Netflix's Japan Content Strategy: The Path Alice in Borderland Built

"Alice in Borderland" is Netflix's most-watched Japanese live-action original series and has served as the flagship of its Japanese lineup.

In H2 2025, Japan delivered strong performers including "Last Samurai Standing" (21 million views) and "Alice in Borderland" Season 3 (25 million views). Anime accounted for over 4% of all Netflix viewing, with titles like "DAN DA DAN" Season 2 (17 million views), "My Melody & Kuromi" Season 1 (13 million views), and "SAKAMOTO DAYS" Season 1 (12 million views) reaching global audiences.

Japanese content, both anime and live-action, has become indispensable to Netflix's global lineup.

Season 3's finale introduced an American waitress named "Alice," leaving room for the story to travel overseas.

Update: Season 3 Was the Last

Netflix's engagement report for the second half of 2025, published on January 20, 2026, referred to the show's "third and final season." There has been no formal announcement about a Season 4, but Netflix's own wording effectively settled that there will be none. Arisu's story closed five years after Season 1 arrived in December 2020.

Season 3's 25 million views were the most for any Japanese live-action title in that period, yet they did not lead to a continuation. The American "Alice" story, at least for now, will not be told.

In Japan, the series has been received as a work that uses the death game genre to ask what it means to be alive. How are survival dramas like this seen in your country?

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