A Japanese-Korean remake of a 2010 comedy film that made $14 million at the box office has become a global Netflix hit within a week of release. Netflix has had plenty of success in their international productions, especially in the way of both action and rom-com K-dramas. While most tell original stories, one remake is currently popular on the platform.
On October 16, 2025, all eight episodes of Romantics Anonymous were released. The Japanese-Korean co-production is a remake of the 2010 French-Belgian film of the same name. The TV remake follows chocolate shop director Sosuke Fujiwara and chocolatier Hana Lee bonding with one another. However, Sosuke is uncomfortable being touched while Hana can’t look people in the eye.
Now, Netflix reports that Romantics Anonymous is the Number 6 TV show in their Top 10 non-English language series for the week of October 13 to October 19. Within just a few days of arriving on the platform, the remake garnered 13.5 million hours viewed from 2.1 million viewers. The new show is also Number 1 in Japan.
Shun Oguri with his arm around Han Hyo Joo in Romantics Anonymous
The 2010 Romantics Anonymous was a hit rom-com movie on its own, garnering $14.7 million at the box office against a $7.2 million budget. The original French-Belgian movie holds an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and won Best Foreign Film in Coproduction at the 2nd Magritte Awards. It also received a stage musical production from the UK in 2017.
Responses to 2025’s Romantics Anonymous have been similar. The TV series holds an 8.1 out of 10 on IMDb. While the show doesn’t have enough critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes to determine a score, all three that exist as of writing are positive. They praise the series for feeling fresh despite being a remake thanks to its wholesome storyline.
This positivity is reflected in its global Netflix performance, alongside those of individual countries. Alongside its Number 1 status in Japan, the series is in the Top 10 in 13 countries around the world, including South Korea. It’s a testament to how well the show has managed to perform in such a short amount of time, while also getting audience praise.
With the show already making waves on the platform, it seems like Romantics Anonymous is the next big Korean and Japanese drama hit for Netflix. The platform’s push for international stories aids in the overarching success, especially given the show has grown so popular overseas. Perhaps its performance will continue to improve in the weeks to come.
Release Date
2025 – 2025-00-00
Network
Netflix
Directors
Sho Tsukikawa
Writers
Kim Ji-hyun
AloJapan.com