Netflix Thriller Directed by Hans Steinbichler Reaches Global Top 10 in 88 Countries

A new German thriller on Netflix has entered the platform’s global top 10 film list in 88 countries within its first week of release. The 119-minute film, titled ‘Delicious,’ directed by Hans Steinbichler, has drawn comparisons to David Fincher’s work for its precise visual style and cold, unsettling atmosphere.

The film premiered on Netflix on March 7, 2025. It stars Valerie Pachner, Fahri Yardim, and Carla Díaz in a story about a wealthy German family whose new housekeeper begins to dismantle their carefully managed lives during a summer in Provence.

Netflix’s own published data shows the film ranked as the second most-watched non-English language film globally for the week of March 3 to March 9, 2025. It accumulated 8.4 million views in its first three days, totaling 16.6 million hours watched.

The film’s visual language has been a central point of discussion among critics and audiences. Multiple reviews have noted its clean framing, deliberate pacing, and use of negative space. The protagonist’s quiet, calculating behavior echoes the psychological precision found in films like ‘Gone Girl’ and ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.’

Production and Creative Team

Hans Steinbichler directed the film from a screenplay by Marcus Seibert. The film was produced by Jan Krüger and René Zeuner for Neuesuper, a Munich-based production company. Netflix co-produced the project with the German broadcaster ZDF.

The cinematography was handled by Markus Förderer, whose previous credits include ‘The Colony’ and ‘Red Notice.’ The score was composed by Nils Frahm, a German musician known for blending classical piano with electronic textures. This combination of a strong visual and sound team has been cited by several reviewers as a reason for the film’s polished, Fincher-like feel.

Steinbichler has directed several acclaimed German dramas, including ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ and ‘A Life for Football.’ ‘Delicious’ marks his first project for Netflix.

Plot and Critical Response

The film is not a remake or adaptation of any existing title. It follows a young woman named Teodora, played by Pachner, who takes a job as a housekeeper for a wealthy family on vacation. As she embeds herself into the household, the family’s secrets and conflicts rise to the surface.

The cast also includes Juliane Köhler, Nils Nelleßen, and Miveck Packa. The film is rated R for language, some sexual content, and brief violence.

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes lists the film with a 61 percent approval rating from critics as of March 12, 2025. The audience score is slightly higher at 68 percent. Many reviews praise Pachner’s restrained performance and the film’s slow-burn tension, while some critics note that the plot offers few surprises for fans of the psychological thriller genre.

Global Viewing Data

Netflix publishes weekly engagement reports that track the total number of views and hours viewed for its top titles. A view is defined as total hours viewed divided by runtime. For ‘Delicious,’ the runtime is 1 hour and 59 minutes.

In the first full week of release from March 3 to March 9, the film placed second on the non-English film chart. It was behind the Spanish thriller ‘Undercover’ and ahead of the Polish crime drama ‘Justice.’ The film appeared in the top 10 in markets including Germany, France, Brazil, India, Italy, Mexico, and South Korea.

Since its premiere, the film has remained in the global non-English top 10 for three consecutive weeks. The latest data available from Netflix, covering the week of March 10 to March 16, shows the film holding the fifth position with an additional 3.2 million views.

Next Steps

Netflix has not announced a sequel or any related projects. Steinbichler has not shared plans for a follow-up film. The cast and creative team have given no interviews indicating a continuation of the story.

For now, the film continues to hold a strong position in Netflix’s international rankings. As of March 17, 2025, ‘Delicious’ has accumulated over 18 million views globally since its release.