Netflix’s East of Eden has continued to gain viewers since its October 1 premiere, becoming one of the streaming platform’s best-performing limited series in audience growth. According to Deadline, the adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel accumulated 28.9 million views during its first four weeks.
The article reports the series initially debuted with 6.5 million views before reaching 4.4-fold increase in cumulative viewership by its fourth week. Only Netflix’s Adolescence recorded a higher four-week growth multiple of 4.7 among eleven limited series that remained in the English-language Top 10 for four consecutive weeks since 2025.
Other titles included in the comparison were His & Hers, Lord of the Flies, Vladimir, and Death by Lightning. Yet despite topping Netflix’s English-language charts during its debut week, East of Eden initially recorded the lowest No. 1 opening since late March.
The series has maintained its popularity, reaching the Top 10 in 86 countries. During its fourth week, it ranked sixth with an additional 3.6 million views. The show’s success has also increased interest in Steinbeck’s original novel.
Penguin Classics reported that book sales rose nearly 200% across all formats, prompting the publisher to return the book to press 25 times this year. The novel also reached No. 1 on Amazon’s Best Sellers list, while first-time audiobook listens on Spotify increased by 156%.
Series creator Zoe Kazan (Ruby Sparks, The Big Sick) told Deadline that she wanted to introduce the novel to audiences who might otherwise overlook classic literature. Kazan explained that many readers consider classic novels outdated or uninteresting, despite their lasting appeal. She hoped the adaptation would make Steinbeck’s story more accessible while offering audiences a different interpretation of its characters.
Netflix executive Jinny Howe credited Kazan’s approach to the adaptation, particularly her decision to place Cathy Ames at the center of the story. Howe also praised Hoon Lee (Warrior, Banshee) for his performance as Lee, the family’s moral compass.
Following East of Eden, Kazan is working alongside co-showrunner Jeb Stuart on another Netflix literary adaptation, Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove. Netflix is also preparing additional adaptations of classic novels, including Pride and Prejudice, scheduled for December, and The Age of Innocence, expected next year.