A major new Netflix period drama based on what many consider the "best book of its time" has dropped on the streaming platform - and viewers are already hailing it a "masterpiece". One Hundred Years of Solitude, adapted from Gabriel García Márquez's iconic 1967 novel, arrived on the platform this week with the first eight episodes now available worldwide. The Colombian-made series will run for 16 episodes in total, with a second batch due in 2025.

Instead of attempting a condensed feature film, Netflix has gone all-in on a sprawling, big-budget production filmed entirely in Colombia, with Márquez's family insisting it be shot in Spanish with a Colombian cast. The fictional town of Macondo was constructed from scratch by more than 1,000 workers, with four versions built to show different eras of the story. The show charts the rise and downfall of the Buendía family over multiple generations, blending romance, political turmoil and surreal magical realism - elements that made the novel world-famous.

The sprawling saga follows cousins José Arcadio Buendía and Úrsula Iguarán, who marry against their family's wishes before fleeing their hometown.

Over time, characters return from the dead, time appears to blur, and the Buendías' fate becomes increasingly intertwined with their own dark history.

Director Laura Mora described the project as a huge responsibility, telling Netflix: "As a filmmaker, as a Colombian, it has been an honour and an enormous challenge to work on a project of the complexity and responsibility of One Hundred Years of Solitude to construct images that contain something of the beauty, poetry and depth of a work that has impacted the entire world."

Netflix reported the production generated more than $50 million for Colombia's economy, with a cast largely made up of newcomers selected from an open call that saw more than 10,000 applicants.

Critical reaction has been strong, with Rotten Tomatoes showing an 83% approval rating and critics praising the visuals and ambition.

The Independent called the series "pretty much perfect" and "nothing short of miraculous", while Collider branded it "a masterpiece in its own right".

Fans have also flooded social media with praise, with one viewer writing: "This is a masterpiece. The adaptation we've been waiting for."

Another posted: "Stunning. They actually did the book justice," while a third added: "Beautiful, weird, emotional... everything I hoped for."

Some viewers have admitted the pacing feels "slow" in places, but even those critics say the visuals and atmosphere are extraordinary.

The launch has also been one of Netflix's biggest Spanish-speaking rollouts of the year, with premieres held in Madrid, Mexico City and Havana. Early viewing figures suggest the series is already attracting a huge global audience beyond Latin America.

Netflix has already confirmed a second season, with filming underway, sparking hopes the adaptation will finally deliver the full, decades-spanning story fans have dreamed of seeing onscreen.