‘Rez Ball’ enjoys strong debut on Netflix viewing charts

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From producer LeBron James and the co-creator of Reservation Dogs, comes the story of the Chuska Warriors – a high school basketball team rich in Native Amer…

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‘Rez Ball’ enjoys strong debut on Netflix viewing charts

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Indianz.Com

Rez Ball is coming in strong following its debut on the Netflix streaming service late last month.

Following its release on September 27, the Native-written and Native-directed film landed at Number 6 on the Netflix Global Top 10 chart. According to the streaming service, the fictional story about a high school basketball team on the Navajo Nation racked up 3.9 million views around the world between September 30 and October 6.

At one point during its first few days of release, Rez Ball was even among the top five viewed films in the United States. However, it did not make the Top 10 chart in the U.S. following its debut.

On October 1, 2024, “Rez Ball” was ranked number three among most viewed films on Netflix in the United States. Screenshot by Indianz.Com

According to Netflix, “Rez Ball” enjoyed 3.9 million views around the world during its first full week of release, counted from September 30 through October 6, 2024. Screenshot by Indianz.Com

But Rez Ball did land in the Top 10 in a total of 14 countries — almost all of them in Latin America. According to Netflix, the film performed well among viewers in places like Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela.

According to Netflix, “Rez Ball” was among the Top 10 films in 14 countries between September 30 through October 6, 2024. Screenshot by Indianz.Com

According to Netflix, “Rez Ball” enjoyed 3.9 million views around the world between September 30 and October 6, 2024. Screenshot by Indianz.Com

Rez Ball was directed by Sydney Freeland, a Navajo citizen who also co-wrote the film. Shooting took place on the Navajo Nation and in New Mexico, according to the New Mexico Film Office.

“Kids across the Navajo Nation just like me grew up shooting hoops on sandy ground dreaming of future glory on their high school courts,” Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said as he welcomed Freeland home to the reservation a day before the debut of Rez Ball on Netflix. “From isolated sheep camps where a log holds up a hoop to state basketball championships in Phoenix and Albuquerque surrounded by a sea of brown faces, basketball is how passion is defined by generations of Navajo boys, girls and their parents watching them bring home trophies year after year.”

“Now Sydney has captured all of that feeling in her wonderful film,” said Nygren, who designated September 27 as “Rez Ball Day” on the Navajo Nation.

Join me, Director Sydney Freeland, the actors of Rez Ball, and the Netflix crew for the Navajo Nation screening of the film in Window Rock, Arizona. I also will sign a proclamation declaring Friday, September 27th, 2024, as “REZ BALL Day” across the Nation.
Posted by Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren on Thursday, September 26, 2024

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren: Screening of ‘Rez Ball’

Freeland co-wrote Rez Ball with Sterlin Harjo, who is from the Muscogee Nation and the Seminole Nation. Harjo, who is well known for the Reservation Dogs series that ran for three season on FX, was recently named a recipient of the prestigious “Genius Grant” from the MacArthur Foundation.

Welcome home to Netflix film Rez Ball, director Sydney Freeland It’s been 19 months since Emmy-nominated film and TV…
Posted by Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren on Sunday, September 22, 2024