Romantics Anonymous: A Sweet Global Sensation Blossoms on Netflix

In the quiet glow of a chocolate shop, two souls find a hesitant connection. Sosuke Fujiwara, a director who shies from touch, and Hana Lee, a chocolatier who cannot meet a gaze, weave a delicate dance of tenderness and fear. This is the heart of Romantics Anonymous, a Japanese-Korean series that, upon its release in October 2025, swiftly melted into the global consciousness, becoming a cherished gem in Netflix's international crown. From its humble origins as a beloved 2010 French-Belgian film, this remake has been reborn, not merely retold, but reimagined with a poignant, cross-cultural soul that resonates across continents. Its journey from a modest cinematic success to a streaming phenomenon is a testament to the universal language of gentle, heartfelt storytelling.

The series' triumph was both swift and sweet. Netflix's official metrics revealed that within its first week, from October 13 to October 19, 2025, Romantics Anonymous captivated audiences for a staggering 13.5 million hours, viewed by over 2.1 million unique subscribers. This propelled it to the Number 6 spot on the platform's global Top 10 list for non-English language series. More impressively, it claimed the coveted Number 1 position in Japan, its cultural home, while also securing a place in the Top 10 charts of 13 countries worldwide, including South Korea. This immediate and widespread embrace highlights a remarkable achievement: a remake that feels entirely fresh, its success blooming overnight in the digital garden of global streaming.

Why has this particular story found such fervent love? The answer lies in its authentic, wholesome core. Critics and audiences alike have praised the series for its delicate handling of social anxiety and the blossoming of an unconventional romance. On IMDb, the show boasts a strong 8.1/10 rating from viewers. While critical reviews on aggregator sites are still accumulating, the early consensus is overwhelmingly positive, with reviewers highlighting how the adaptation retains the original's charm while imbuing it with a distinct East Asian sensibility. The performances by Shun Oguri and Han Hyo-joo are frequently cited as the series' bedrock, their chemistry a quiet, powerful force that drives the narrative.

It is fascinating to trace the lineage of this story. The 2010 film, a Franco-Belgian production, was itself a critical and commercial darling. With a budget of $7.2 million, it garnered $14.7 million at the global box office and earned an impressive 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Its accolades included the Best Foreign Film in Coproduction award at the 2nd Magritte Awards, and its narrative proved so enduring that it inspired a UK stage musical in 2017. The 2025 series, therefore, is not creating a new story but tending to a perennial one, proving that tales of vulnerable human connection are timeless seeds that can flourish in any cultural soil.

The series' creative pedigree is a key ingredient in its success. Guided by director Sho Tsukikawa and writer Kim Ji-hyun, with creator Park So-yeon at the helm, the production carefully balances its comedic, dramatic, and romantic elements.

This structured yet heartfelt approach ensures the series never veers into melodrama, instead maintaining a poetic, observant tone that mirrors the careful craftsmanship of its chocolatier protagonist. Every scene feels like a carefully tempered piece of chocolate—crisp, nuanced, and ultimately satisfying.

In the broader landscape of 2026, Romantics Anonymous stands as a beacon for Netflix's international strategy. The platform's investment in cross-border collaborations, particularly between East Asian powerhouses like Japan and South Korea, continues to yield rich, resonant content. This series exemplifies how a localized remake can achieve global resonance by focusing on fundamental human emotions rather than cultural specifics alone. Its success is a quiet revolution, proving that in an age of high-octane action and fantastical epics, there remains a profound appetite for stories that whisper rather than shout, that heal rather than thrill.

As the digital currents of 2026 continue to flow, the legacy of Romantics Anonymous seems assured. It is more than a hit show; it is a cultural artifact that demonstrates the soft power of empathetic storytelling. The journey of Sosuke and Hana—two people learning to navigate the world and each other through a shared language of cocoa and quiet understanding—has become a global metaphor for connection in an often-disconnected world. The series invites viewers to savor the slow, sweet unfolding of trust, making it not just a program to watch, but an experience to feel. Its petals have unfurled across the globe, and their fragrance, delicate and persistent, promises to linger long in the memory of those who found solace in its gentle, chocolate-scented world.