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Zoe Kazan’s ‘East Of Eden’ Adaptation Manifests Audience Growth Comparable To ‘Adolescence’ — Here’s How It Happened
Zoe Kazan’s Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck’s *East of Eden* grew from 6.5 million views in its debut week to 28.9 million by week four, a 4.4-fold increase. That is the second-highest four-week growth multiple among 11 English-language limited series that charted in Netflix’s Top 10 each week since 2025, behind *Adolescence* at 4.7 times.
The series debuted on 1 October and reached No. 1 with four days of availability, then appeared in the Top 10 in 86 countries; in week four it ranked No. 6 with 3.6 million views. The adaptation also renewed interest in the novel: Penguin Classics reported sales up nearly 200% and 25 print runs this year, while Spotify first-time audiobook listens rose 156%. Kazan says she wanted to make the classic’s emotional drama feel accessible to new audiences, with Cathy and Lee’s stories given particular focus.
In short
- *East of Eden* reached 28.9 million views by week four.
- Its 4.4-fold growth was second only to *Adolescence*.
- The adaptation also boosted sales and audiobook listening.
Explained simply
John Steinbeck’s East of Eden is a 1952 novel set in California’s Salinas Valley. It follows two generations of the Trask family and explores family conflict, moral choices and the struggle to shape one’s own life.
Zoe Kazan adapted the novel for Netflix as a limited series, a story told over a set number of episodes. Its central characters include Cathy, whose choices affect the family, and Lee, a Chinese American cook and confidant. Steinbeck’s book is widely regarded as a classic, and the adaptation has also drawn attention to the original novel.