Queen of Chess, the new Netflix documentary chronicling the rise of GM Judit Polgar, has cracked the Top 10 list of the most-popular movies on Netflix worldwide.
Latest data from Flixpatrol, a site that tracks streaming performance across dozens of countries, shows that the documentary climbed to number seven globally on February 10, placing it among the most-watched films on the platform just four days after its release on February 6.
The documentary is now charting across dozens of countries worldwide, according to Flixpatrol. It’s gained a top-five placement across 18 countries, including Canada, Belgium, Slovakia, and Israel. Unsurprisingly, it has resonated particularly well since its debut in Hungary, Judit’s home nation, where it has maintained the number-one spot for four consecutive days.
Here are the highlights:
- #1: Hungary
- #2: Czech Republic, Israel, Slovakia, Slovenia
- #3: Croatia, Luxembourg
- #4: Canada, Iceland, Poland, Serbia, Switzerland
- #5: Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Malta, Portugal
The film is also top 10 in additional markets, such as Spain (7th), Austria (8th), Denmark (8th), Netherlands (8th), Norway (8th), and Ukraine (7th).
Polgar herself told Chess.com that she has been deeply moved by the documentary’s reception since its premiere, having spent an intense week in the United States promoting the film alongside director Rory Kennedy ahead of its debut at Sundance on January 27.
“I had a very tight and amazing time in the United States promoting the documentary together with director Rory Kennedy, before its premiere,” Polgar said in an email to Chess.com shortly after arriving in Germany, where she will do commentary for the upcoming FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship. “It was so well received. I will never forget that moment that after the Sundance premiere 1200 people [gave a] standing ovation when I went up on stage.”
I will never forget that moment that after the Sundance premiere 1200 people [gave a] standing ovation when I went up on stage.
—Judit Polgar
Netflix released the documentary on February 6, bringing one of the chess world’s most remarkable stories to its more than 300 million subscribers worldwide. Directed by Emmy-winner Kennedy, the film traces Polgar’s rise from prodigy to top grandmaster, as she broke long-standing gender barriers by becoming the only woman ever to reach the world top 10.
“This is not just a story about chess. It’s a story about defying odds, dismantling assumptions, and proving that brilliance can come from the most unlikely places. As Judit says in the film— ‘Never give up. And always fight until the very end,'” Kennedy said.
This is not just a story about chess. It’s a story about defying odds, dismantling assumptions, and proving that brilliance can come from the most unlikely places.
—Rory Kennedy, director of “Queen of Chess”
Global interest in the extraordinary story has been significant since its release, and early critical reception has been largely positive. Review site Rotten Tomatoes currently lists Queen of Chess with an 80% approval rating based on 10 reviews, including coverage from The Guardian, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and many others.
Polgar says responses have continued to pour in from around the world.
“Since February 6, I have been getting messages (a lot), which put a smile on my face many times,” she told Chess.com. “Absolutely new emotions that chess colleagues and non-chess players alike reach out and appreciate my story. I love that chess, ‘my game,’ is on screen, and keeps people curious.”
I love that chess, ‘my game,’ is on screen, and keeps people curious.
—Judit Polgar
Polgar admits the scale of the documentary’s success exceeded expectations. “We knew and felt that a powerful film had been made, and we sincerely hoped that it would find its way to chess audiences as well as audiences unfamiliar with the game,” she said. “But the results so far, the viewing figures, are still astonishing.”
Since the release of the documentary #QueenOfChess on @netflix , I have received thousands of kind and touching messages and comments from all over the world.🌎 Thank you, I am sooo grateful!❤🙏 I would like to share some of the messages with you in the language in which I… pic.twitter.com/iDq46Ry350
— Judit Polgar (@GMJuditPolgar) February 9, 2026
The rapid rise of Queen of Chess shows yet again the growing mainstream appetite in chess. The documentary’s success comes more than five years after Netflix’s hit The Queen’s Gambit dominated global charts and reached number one worldwide, becoming one of the most popular limited series in the platform’s history—and sparking a worldwide chess boom.
And Queen of Chess may be only the beginning of another major year for chess on screen.
In 2024, Netflix announced a highly anticipated installment of the Untold documentary series focused on the 2022 scandal between GMs Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann. Originally scheduled for premiere in 2025, Netflix is yet to announce a new date.
Hollywood is also involved. Major production company A24 is developing a feature film titled Checkmate, which will dramatize the same Carlsen vs. Niemann scandal. The project has drawn major attention with Oscar winner Emma Stone producing and filmmaker Nathan Fielder attached to direct. A release date is yet to be announced.
