Most Popular Wikipedia Articles of the Week (March 24 to 30, 2024)
editPrepared with commentary by Igordebraga, Rahcmander, and Bucket of sulfuric acid.
Along with the escapism of cricket, movies and shows, March's last full report has an oddly high number of people committing crimes.
Rank Article Class Views Image Notes/about 1 Indian Premier League 4,610,878 In case you never noticed, cricket is the favorite sport of a nation of billions, and thus the national championship is heavily attended and valuable (estimated at US$10.9 billion!), so big Wikipedia views should come as no surprise. 2 Francis Scott Key Bridge (Baltimore) 2,218,745 In 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star Spangled Banner" about Fort McHenry, built in 1798 and still standing today. In 1977, a bridge was built in Baltimore bearing his name. The bridge will not enjoy the same longevity as the fort, however, as it was destroyed after being struck by a container ship. (see #8) 3 2024 Indian Premier League 2,156,687 The latest edition of #1, with ten teams from all over India and a qualifying stage lasting until mid-May. 4 3 Body Problem (TV series) 1,828,994 Netflix released this science fiction series where Rosalind Chao plays an astrophysicist making discoveries that will change mankind's fate. 5 The Three-Body Problem (novel) 1,431,574 6 Sean Combs 1,365,599 Controversy isn't new for the rapper once known as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, and Diddy, and the newest ones this week revolved around Homeland Security raiding his properties for an investigation, and former associate Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones suing Combs accusing him of sexual assault, paying to keep sex workers, and having a drug mule. 7 Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire 1,126,911 Three years ago, Godzilla vs. Kong had a surprisingly strong showing in theaters in spite of the goddamned pandemic and a simultaneous HBO Max release. Now the most famous giant monsters are back, Godzilla fighting whatever kaiju decides to go on rampage on land, and King Kong exploring an underground world and discovering he's not the only living giant ape, and in fact of them is willing to destroy the surface world. And of course, there's a human plot that was highlighted by reviewers as the weakest part of the movie, albeit audiences just wanting to see massive creatures punching each other (including a climax in a partially frozen Rio de Janeiro!) will get what they want, to the point the movie is expected to earn over $190 million worldwide in its opening weekend. 8 Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse 1,082,978 During the night of March 26, a container ship struck the piers of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, causing it to collapse entirely and leading to dozens of deaths and injuries. The incident gained massive traction across news outlets and social media, with some expressing their condolences to the families of the victims, and others throwing out conspiracy theories on who was to blame for the situation. 9 Dan Schneider 1,022,915 Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV aired on Investigation Discovery and the former HBO Max, now just Max (except in Europe), detailing how some nasty things happened behind the scenes of Nickelodeon's 1990s and early 2000s sitcoms, giving a particular shine on the hostile work environment created by producer Dan Schneider, who in the wake of the MeToo movement got fired from the channel in 2018 as stories of his sexual misconduct and gender discrimination were made public. 10 Deaths in 2024 974,325 Don't get too tired for love
Don't let it end
Don't say goodnight to love
It may never be the same again11 Road House (2024 film) 939,210 This remake of the 1989 movie of the same name starring Jake Gyllenhaal released on March 21, receiving mixed reviews from critics. 12 Brian Peck 902,194 Along with #9, another deviant highlighted on Quiet on Set, an actor and dialogue coach who was arrested in 2003 for sexually assaulting a child actor (#14), receiving several letters of support during the trial - some of whom came to regret it later. 13 Nicole Shanahan 795,865 This attorney, who previously backed and donated money to the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 2024 presidential campaign has been named as RFK Jr.'s running mate. She has questioned the safety and efficacy of vaccines, but also claimed she is not an anti-vaxxer. 14 Drake Bell 755,919 One half of Drake & Josh had a whole episode of Quiet on the Set for his own struggles, specially regarding #12's sexual abuse. 15 Good Friday 727,790 The ever-moving holiday about the execution of a religious leader, who upon being put on the cross said “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” 16 Louis Gossett Jr. 718,566 Louis Gossett Jr. died at 87, leaving behind an extensive body of work of nearly seven decades, along the way winning the Academy Award for An Officer and a Gentleman and an Emmy for Roots, and now having some posthumous roles to be released, including voicing a bear in IF. 17 Cowboy Carter 684,229 Beyoncé Knowles-Carter went country for Cowboy Carter, meant as a reinvention of Americana (even if track two is the cover of a Liverpudlian...) and featuring stalwarts of the genre like Dolly Parton, Linda Martell and Willie Nelson. Reviews were glowing, streaming records were broken, and lots of people are seeking Cowboy clothes to wear. 18 Dune: Part Two 649,926 A sci-fi epic that is the biggest hit of the year so far, with $631 million worldwide. Sequel Dune Messiah has been stated to be in the works, but with no set dates yet. 19 Amanda Bynes 642,813 Among the actors who spend Quiet on Set recalling the bad conditions #9 created is the star of All That and The Amanda Show, who retired from acting in 2010 as she struggled with mental problems and body image issues, and has since suffered many arrrests and psychiatric internations. In an attempt to leave it all behind, Bynes is currently trying to get her manicurist license. 20 Shōgun (2024 miniseries) 640,989 New episodes of this miniseries set in 17th-century Japan continue to be released on FX and Hulu, with the tenth and final one set for April 23. 21 Crocus City Hall attack 627,531 On March 22, four gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall during a concert and opened fire on the crowd, killing 144 and injuring 551. The Islamic State claimed responsibility shortly after. Vladimir Putin declared a day of national mourning while also making baseless accusations against Ukraine. 22 Mukhtar Ansari 610,320 An Indian gangster turned politician (managing to be continuously re-elected to the Legislative Assembly in spite of some arrests) who died at 60 of a heart attack. 23 Aadujeevitham (film) 602,286 From Mollywood comes a real life story of a Malayali who moved to Saudi Arabia and was then forced to work in slavery as a goatherd, leading the movie to have the international title The Goat Life. 24 Ruby Franke 563,656 A former YouTuber who had success chronicling her family life in Utah on the channel 8 Passengers, before accusations that she was severely mistreating her six children led to a popularity decline and ultimately an arrest, with the trial eventually sentencing Franke to at least four years in jail for aggravated child abuse. And if everything isn't disturbing enough, Franke's ex claimed her current business partner was possessed by spirits! 25 Joe Lieberman 499,230 Right above Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is an addition to the afterlife, a former US Senator from Connecticut who was almost vice president under Al Gore in 2000 and died at the age of 82.