Has Netflix Made Significant Profit From ‘One Piece’ Live-Action?

Netflix’s adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s iconic anime, ‘One Piece,’ made its debut on August 31, 2023, leaving fans eagerly anticipating more. With an eight-hour series that has already garnered significant attention, the question arises: will there be a second season?

The live-action adaptation follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates, led by Luffy (played by Iñaki Godoy), as they journey across the vast ocean in search of the coveted treasure known as ‘One Piece,’ which promises to make Luffy the Pirate King.

While the first season ends on a hopeful note for the crew, they have yet to find the ‘One Piece,’ leaving room for further episodes.

The Price Tag of ‘One Piece Episodes

Each episode of ‘One Piece’ is rumored to come with a hefty production cost, estimated at around $18 million USD per episode. Considering that a second season would likely consist of eight episodes, this could potentially require a minimum budget of $150 million.

Hence, the decision to greenlight a second season will largely depend on the initial success of the first season.

Impressive Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes

‘One Piece’ Season 1 has been gaining significant traction, generating discussions on various platforms, including X (formerly known as Twitter). It has also been the subject of conversations on Reddit.

Within hours of its Netflix release, ‘One Piece’ achieved an impressive 94% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on over 2,500 ratings. However, the true test will come when Netflix reveals the viewership statistics for the debut weekend of ‘One Piece.’

For context, one of Netflix’s recent hits, ‘Wednesday,’ amassed a staggering 341.23 million hours of viewership during its first week in November 2022. This roughly translates to approximately 43 million views (hours viewed divided by total runtime), which is how Netflix now reports audience data.

Even if ‘One Piece’ falls short of ‘Wednesday’s’ numbers, it still has the potential to be considered a success. For comparison, ‘Stranger Things 4 Volume 1’ garnered approximately 286 million hours of viewership in its premiere week, below ‘Wednesday’ but still a significant figure.

What to Expect in ‘One Piece Season 2

Season 1 of ‘One Piece’ covers the plot of a remarkable 61 episodes, indicating that the live-action adaptation has merely scratched the surface of the extensive narrative.

Throughout the animated series, Luffy’s crew expanded to include several members, suggesting the possibility of introducing new characters in the second season.

Adapting anime into live-action has posed challenges in the past, with some adaptations falling short due to character portrayals and storyline changes. Netflix, however, invested seven years in the adaptation of ‘One Piece,’ collaborating closely with creator Eiichiro Oda and enlisting directors with a profound appreciation for Japanese comics.

While a second season is yet to be officially confirmed, the positive reception indicates a strong demand for more adventures with the Straw Hat Crew.

The success of ‘One Piece’ in terms of profitability and the greenlighting of a second season remains uncertain but highly anticipated. As fans continue to explore the live-action adaptation’s world, only time will reveal whether ‘One Piece’ has made a significant profit for Netflix and whether it will continue its voyage on our screens.

Also Read: 5 Anime Shows That Need To Start Series Like One Piece