CJ ENM’s top-performing dramas, including Queen of Tears and Lovely Runner, dominate NME’s 2024 K-Drama list, showcasing global success and leading the renaissance of K-content
Recently, CJ ENM dramas dominated the top three spots on NME’s “The 10 Best K-Dramas of 2024,” a prestigious list from the leading British pop culture outlet. Four dramas were included in the top 10, with three from its TV channel tvN and one original drama from its streaming platform TVING.
NME highlighted tvN’s sensational hit “Lovely Runner” and the much-discussed “Marry My Husband”, pointing to the strong dominance of romance in K-dramas in 2024.
“Queen of Tears” (written by Park Ji-eun, directed by Jang Young-woo and Kim Hee-won, produced by Studio Dragon, Culture Depot, Showrunners), which achieved a peak viewership rating of 31% and became the most popular drama of all time on tvN, was named the No.1 K-drama of 2024 by NME. Available worldwide on Netflix, “Queen of Tears” garnered 29.2 million cumulative views and 682.6 million hours of streaming in the first half of the year, setting record-breaking numbers for a K-drama on Netflix in 2024. NME attributed the drama’s widespread appeal and global popularity to its ability to attract a broad audience, noting, “The reach of Queen of Tears was so far and wide that even stars like A$AP Rocky and Rihanna were spotted enjoying the show.”
“Lovely Runner” (written by Lee Si-eun, directed by Yoon Jong-ho and Kim Tae-yup, produced by CJ ENM Studios and Bon Factory), which became a global sensation, was selected as the second-best K-drama of 2024 by NME. The outlet stated that the series “balanced out the clichés.” Lovely Runner” topped the rankings on the global streaming platform Rakuten Viki in 109 countries, including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Brazil and Mexico, for six consecutive weeks. Additionally, Time Magazine previously recognized “Lovely Runner” as the best K-drama of the year.
“Marry My Husband” (written by Shin Yoo-dam, directed by Park Won-guk and Han Jin-sun, planned by Studio Dragon, and produced by DK E&M) was ranked No. 3 on NME’s list. The series achieved significant success globally, ranking No. 1 on Amazon Prime Video’s global daily TV show charts. It performed exceptionally well outside of Asia, a traditional stronghold for K-dramas, securing the No. 2 spot in the U.S. and France, No. 1 in Canada and No. 3 in the U.K. Even after the series ended, it set a record by staying in the global TV show weekly Top 10 rankings for 27 consecutive weeks.
TVING’s original series “Pyramid Game” (directed by Park So-yeon, written by Choi Soo-yi, created by Lee Jae-gyu, produced by Film Monster and CJ ENM Studios, aired on TVING) ranked 6th on NME’s list. Earlier in the year, NME had stated that “Pyramid Game” is a “worthwhile thriller that keeps you at the edge of your seat.” The series was the only Korean production invited to “Series Mania,” a prestigious international festival dedicated to television series held in France in March. It also received critical acclaim for its unique and captivating world-building, stellar performances from emerging actors, and skilled directing.
Thanks to these hit shows, CJ ENM achieved its first-ever top ranking in the half-year primetime ratings since tvN’s inception. tvN dramas also dominated topical rankings in the first half of 2024, according to the K-content competitiveness analysis agency Good Data Corporation FUNdex. An analysis of 26 popular weekly shows across all K-dramas, including those on streaming platforms, revealed that tvN dramas ranked first a total of 21 times, with a topical ranking of over 80%. Industry experts say CJ ENM has ushered in a renaissance of TV dramas in the era of media platform diversification. The company was also recognized for successfully expanding the value of its content library, including distribution through broadcast channels and global streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Japan’s U-Next, which has drawn widespread recognition.
In a recent Good Data Corporation FUNdex report, tvN was consistently ranked No.1 in broadcasting rankings for weekly relevance in the drama sector from the first week of January to the third week of November, except for week seven. During week four, when both “Queen of Tears” and “Lovely Runner” were airing, tvN achieved a record-breaking topical ranking of 82%.
