Netflix Viewers Are Obsessed With This 'John Wick' Style Anime

Netflix is fully committed to its new anime initiative, and its latest hit, the John Wick-esque Sakamoto Days, has viewers obsessed. Sakamoto Days, based on the manga of the same name by Yuto Suzuki, is the streamer's latest original anime series. The first episode premiered on January 11, with new episodes releasing weekly at 9 a.m. ET on Saturdays (two episodes are available at the time of writing). The series has been hailed as the big Shōnen hit of the Winter 2025 season, so much so that even casual anime viewers are getting into it.

Sakamoto Days has broken into Netflix's top 10 most popular shows of the week. Following the release of Episode 2, the show currently sits in third place on the streamer's top 10 ranking. The second season of XO, Kitty holds the top spot, with Squid Game Season 2 still holding out strong in second place. Incredibly, Sakamoto Days has overtaken Netflix's new and incredibly brutal Western, American Primeval, which sits in fourth. It's also not the only anime currently in the top 10. Season 2 of Castlevania: Nocturne respectably holds eighth place.

Sakamoto Days features a similar plot to John Wick. After spending years as a notorious hitman, Taro Sakamoto falls in love and retires from killing. But, after a run-in with the mob, he is forced out of retirement when a 1 billion yen bounty is placed on his head, causing assassins from across the world to track him down. However, Sakamoto Days makes one major divergence from John Wick. Unlike Mr. Wick (played by Keanu Reeves), who has killed a total of 439 people on screen, Taro Sakamoto promised his wife he wouldn't kill anymore. As a result, he has to resort to non-lethal force to take out the assassins, leading to some hilarious and incredibly choreographed action scenes. The official description reads:

"Taro Sakamoto, a former hitman, chooses to retire for the sake of love; but when his past catches up, he must fight to protect his beloved family."

Not Just 'Sakamoto Days,' Netflix Is Embracing Anime

Sakamoto Days isn't the only new anime series Netflix is releasing this winter season. The second season of The Apothecary Diaries, the hit seinen romance series, is currently underway. Meanwhile, the second cour of the sport-based high school romance, Blue Box, is also entrancing viewers with its incredibly moving plot. In late 2024, Netflix also co-distributed the year's biggest series, Dandadan, with Crunchyroll. Netflix is going all-in with anime, while also adapting several beloved titles into live-action, including One Piece.