The November 2022 Netflix series starring Jenna Ortega as teenage Wednesday Addams at supernatural boarding school that became phenomenon through viral dance, goth aesthetic revival, and breaking Netflix English-language viewership records.
The Show
Tim Burton’s Addams Family:
Premise: Wednesday Addams at Nevermore Academy (outcasts school) Director: Tim Burton (Episodes 1-4) Star: Jenna Ortega (21, playing 16) Tone: Goth murder mystery teen drama
Format: Monster-of-the-week + overarching mystery.
The Wednesday Dance
Viral TikTok phenomenon:
Episode 4 Rave’N Dance:
- Wednesday dances solo to “Goo Goo Muck” (The Cramps)
- Choreography: Jenna Ortega created herself
- Inspired by Siouxsie Sioux, archival dance footage
- Zero facial expression, pure deadpan
Virality:
- 57+ million TikTok recreations
- Celebrities, politicians, athletes
- Dance challenges dominated November-December 2022
The scene: Cultural moment exceeding show.
Jenna Ortega Stardom
Scream Queen to A-list:
- Disney Channel kid (Stuck in the Middle)
- Scream (2022), X (2022) horror cred
- Wednesday: Global superstar status
- 40+ million Instagram followers gained
The trajectory: Instant leading lady status.
Goth Revival
Aesthetic cultural moment:
- Black clothing sales spiked
- Hot Topic renaissance
- Nu-metal, emo fashion return
- Gen Z discovering goth
Wednesday made dark aesthetics cool again (for Gen Z).
Thing Performance
Breakout co-star:
- Victor Dorobantu (magician) performed Thing
- Disembodied hand acting
- Emotional range from hand
- VFX-enhanced performance
Thing stole scenes—legitimate character, not prop.
Christina Ricci Cameo
Meta casting perfection:
- Ricci played Wednesday in 1991/1993 Addams Family films
- Wednesday: Plays dorm mother Marilyn Thornhill
- Passing torch moment
- Full-circle nostalgia
The casting: Chef’s kiss fan service.
Luis Guzmán as Gomez
Controversial choice:
- Replacing Raul Julia’s iconic Gomez
- Body type, ethnicity different
- Initial backlash
- Performance won over skeptics
The debate: Representation vs. iconography.
Netflix Viewership Record
Streaming dominance:
Numbers:
- 341.2 million hours watched (first week)
- Most-watched English-language Netflix series debut
- Surpassed Stranger Things 4
-
7 billion total hours (first 28 days)
The success: Unexpected for Tim Burton-directed teen show.
Season 2 Announcement
Renewal (January 2023):
- Greenlit weeks after premiere
- 2024-2025 release window
- Jenna Ortega producer role
- Anticipation sky-high
The pressure: Can it recapture magic?
Legacy
Wednesday demonstrated TikTok’s power to amplify TV moments, goth aesthetic’s Gen Z appeal, and how nostalgic IP could succeed through fresh perspective and perfect casting.
Sources:
- Netflix viewership data (November 2022)
- TikTok trend analysis (November-December 2022)
- Variety: “How Wednesday Became Netflix’s Biggest Hit” (2022)
- The Hollywood Reporter: “Jenna Ortega’s Rise” (2022)