From backlash to breakout: Genie, Make a Wish pulls 4 million viewers on Netflix in less than a week

When Genie, Make a Wish arrived on Netflix on October 3, 2025, it was already carrying the weight of controversy. Yet, it managed to break through the negative buzz and become one of the platform’s most talked-about new shows. In its first week, the drama reached about 4 million global views, a strong number considering the competitive K-drama landscape.

What makes this even more striking is the mood online before the premiere. Social feeds were flooded with eye rolls, snarky memes and long threads dissecting every cultural misstep before anyone had seen a full episode. Viewers went in ready to hate-watch. Somehow that collective side-eye turned into curiosity, and curiosity turned into millions of clicks.

The spark: “Iblis” and cultural appropriation

Criticism started even before the first episode was released. Some Muslim viewers pointed out that using the name “Iblis”, a figure of enormous significance in Islam and often identified with evil or rebellion, as a romantic lead was seen as cultural insensitivity.

The conversation spread quickly on social platforms like X and TikTok, with accusations that the show was romanticizing a figure central to religious doctrine. Critics argued that by taking creative liberties, the writers were disrespecting the symbolic importance of the name.

Promotional materials added more fuel to the fire. Early posters and teasers were called out for looking cheap with stereotypical and evoking a generic Arabian fantasy aesthetic, which intensified the cultural appropriation debate. When asked about it, actress Suzy said she was sure there was a reason behind every creative choice. Korean media outlets noted that she acknowledged how the poster sparked conversation, perhaps even intentionally.

What’s fascinating is how the posters became their own micro-drama. Some fans mocked them with edits and parody art, while others defended the exoticized design as pure fantasy escapism. The controversy blurred the line between outrage and free marketing. The louder the argument got, the more screenshots of the show’s genie character flooded timelines.

Criticism doubled: before and after release

It was not just the religious theme that faced resistance. Some viewers complained about the performances of the leads, the uneven tone of the script, and the way the series blended concepts like jinn, genie, and Iblis into a single character. Others dropped the show early, saying the story felt unstable and inconsistent.

At the same time, there were defenders who praised the series as bold fantasy fiction, arguing that it was purely imaginative and that the backlash was overshadowing its creative intent.

There is an almost ironic cycle at play here. Early viewers who quit in frustration still posted clips and rants that boosted visibility, while defenders framed it as misunderstood art and dared others to watch before judging. Both sides kept feeding the conversation, ensuring Genie, Make a Wish never left trending lists.

Breaking the anti-hype barrier

Despite the controversy, the outcome turned unexpectedly positive. Genie, Make a Wish converted the online backlash into visibility. Many people curious to see how the story would handle the criticism fueled Netflix’s algorithm and helped the drama climb the charts.

Its full-season release strategy also worked in its favor, giving intrigued viewers the chance to binge and discuss right away. Soon after launch, the series appeared among Netflix’s global Top 10 and proved that early negativity did not stop it from finding a wide audience.

It almost feels like Netflix played a quiet but calculated hand. Dropping the whole season at once let the curious watch fast and form their own takes before anger could fully harden into boycott. The binge model became a pressure valve, letting the storm burn out while numbers soared.

The “backlash hype” effect on Genie, Make a Wish

This case reflects a recurring phenomenon in modern pop culture. Intense criticism can become an unintended marketing tool, attracting viewers who might not have tuned in otherwise. But it also shows the risk that comes with creative decisions touching cultural or religious elements, especially for productions aiming at a global audience.

The success of Genie, Make a Wish proves that a series can face loud protests and still surge in viewership. What remains to be seen is how it will shape its long-term cultural footprint and whether its daring approach will be remembered as bold creativity or careless controversy.

There is something deliciously contradictory about this outcome. The show built its own myth not just on magic and wishes but on the unpredictable chaos of online culture. People tuned in to be angry, to be amused, to join the fight, and somehow that collective storm granted Netflix its wish for a hit.