On Aug. 27, Netflix shared a 27-minute extended look at the gameplay for one of the most anticipated video game releases of the last 10 years — "Grand Theft Auto VI
." The fervor surrounding this game, which is set to be released on Nov. 19, quickly turned into views as it topped the English language film list with 31.1 million views "and hit No. 1 in 87 of the 93 countries tracked globally," according to a press release from the streamer."'Grand Theft Auto' reveals have become cultural moments in their own right," Brandon Riegg, vice president of nonfiction series, told Tudum, Netflix's editorial arm. "The anticipation and fandom around 'Grand Theft Auto VI' is unprecedented, and we’re honored that Rockstar Games has partnered with us to debut
the next part of the 'Grand Theft Auto' story with Netflix members first. It’s a reflection of what we hope Netflix is becoming: a place where the most ambitious storytelling, from any medium, can find the biggest possible audience.”
In the footage, players follow the story of Jason and Lucia, a couple living in the fictional Vice City, who are picking up drugs, and their mission is thwarted by the police, who begin to raid the place. According to the official game description, the two have always known that the "deck is stacked against them." It continues, "But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida – forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive."
This extended look comes on the heels of a series of leaks that spread across the internet in the lead-up to the game's official release. Rockstar Games, the developer of the "Grand Theft Auto" franchise, addressed the "heartbreaking" leaks in a social media post and apologized for the multiple delays. "It has taken longer than we wanted to get it ready, but as with everything we do, we know we need to exceed your expectations," the statement reads. "And we are determined to deliver at the level you expect and deserve."
— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) August 26, 2026
Fans last got a new Grant Theft Auto game 13 years ago. When that game, "GTA V," was released, it generated over $800 million in revenue in its first day, and since then, the New York Times reports, it has sold over 230 million copies.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How did a 'Grand Theft Auto' video become Netflix's top movie last week?
