Netflix’s First Live Geeked Week Event Set the Stage for Bigger In-Person Business: It Was a Test to ‘See How Big We Could Go’

As a film enthusiast with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that Netflix’s Geeked Week is nothing short of a marvelous spectacle. It’s not every day you witness such an extravaganza that brings together the best of YA, sci-fi, fantasy, and everything in between.


Netflix showcased Geeked Week, an annual five-day event previously held online, as a way to announce updates on its upcoming young adult, science fiction, and fantasy TV series, video games, and films. This is the latest step in Netflix’s growth within the live events industry, following over 50 experiences in 25 cities across the globe.

As a passionate fan, I can confidently say that the Geeked Week event at Atlanta’s Dairies on September 19th was nothing short of triumphant! With over 1,000 enthusiastic attendees, we witnessed an incredible 40 title announcements and first looks that generated a staggering 640 million impressions across various platforms. The event brought together 19 celebrated personalities like Joe Manganiello and Zack Snyder, the director of “Twilight of the Gods,” and left many fans with permanent reminders of our shared love – Netflix’s intellectual properties etched into their skin as tattoos! As the Vice President of U.S. and Canada series marketing at Netflix, Shelly Gillyard would undoubtedly agree that we celebrated a major victory that day.

As a movie enthusiast, I shared an exciting moment with fans in person last time, which served as a challenge to gauge our potential reach. We selected a venue in Atlanta that boasted a fantastic outdoor area and a theater, and I’m thrilled to say we managed to pack the house! Over 1,000 moviegoers joined us. Looking back on that week, it wasn’t just about the impressive 639 million impressions from the live show; it was about the interactions, the dialogue, and the activities we shared with our audience that truly made it a success.

Geeked Week, which launched in 2021 and is similar to Netflix’s Tudum fan event but geared more towards niche titles, initially took place over five days as a pre-recorded event without an audience due to the pandemic. Highlights from this event included announcements about various popular shows such as “Bridgerton.

2023 saw Netflix maintaining the same format while introducing a new structure for its genre announcements. They started dividing these announcements into days dedicated to series, films, animation, and games. Previously, this annual event spanned over three virtual showcases, an exclusive “Rebel Moon” Day, and some temporary “Geeked Ink” locations offering tattoos during the online event.

This year, Netflix opted to arrange a live event in Atlanta on the last day (Sept. 19) of the convention that was held from Sept. 16-19. The event welcomed over 1,000 participants and featured an exclusive screening of Snyder’s “Twilight of the Gods.” Additionally, the Geeked Ink tattoo parlor was present, and Geeked Trivia took place at the Atlanta Dairies venue.

Although it’s not as large as the initial in-person event for Tudum hosted by Netflix last year in Brazil, which welcomed 11,000 attendees, this new event is a significant addition to the streaming service’s strategy of engaging fans with live experiences throughout the year. This includes the upcoming “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” stage play (set to hit Broadway in 2025), as well as “Bridgerton” balls and the forthcoming Netflix House, a permanent entertainment venue.

They’ll be analyzing and reflecting on the initial Geeked Week event, learning from it and planning for potential changes or collaborations in 2025, possibly merging it with Tudum, is what Gillyard and her team will be working on next.

I’m thrilled to share that we’ll be returning next year, and we’re already brainstorming ideas for it. Our ‘Geeked’ titles hold immense significance for our community, leading us to contemplate if there are possibilities to merge these events. We’re still in the early stages of discussion, but rest assured, we’ll always find creative ways to honor this genre and our ‘Geeked’ fanbase.

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2024-10-01 01:16