‘The Penguin’ Opens to 5.3 Million Viewers Across Platforms in First Four Days

As a lifelong cinephile who’s seen more movies than I care to count, “The Penguin” is nothing short of a chilly triumph. Having followed Colin Farrell’s career since his early days, it’s truly heartening to see him shine once again in this gritty, compelling role. The series opener drew a staggering viewership that outdid even the much-anticipated returns of “Succession” and “The White Lotus,” making it clear that Gothamites can’t get enough of this dark tale.


“The Penguin” is an ice cold hit.

According to HBO, the spinoff series featuring Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti has garnered approximately 5.3 million U.S. viewers since its launch on September 19, if you count both initial broadcasts on TV and streaming viewership. This surpasses the viewer count for the first episode of “Succession” during its final season (4.9 million) and the premiere of the second season of “The White Lotus” (4.1 million). However, it is slightly behind the debut of “True Detective: Night Country,” which attracted 5.7 million viewers.

Furthermore, the program has secured the largest 4-day viewership for a fresh series on Max across all global regions since “The Last of Us” in January 2023.

In the show, Farrell returns as the character he played in “The Batman,” namely the Gotham City gangster named Oswald “Oz” Cobb. The story unfolds following the occurrences from “The Batman,” with Oz aiming to assume power over the criminal realm of Gotham, now that his previous boss, Carmine Falcone, has died, leaving a power void.

The program has received considerable praise from critics as well. At this moment, “The Penguin” boasts a 94% positive review rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In her critique for EbMaster, Aramide Tinubu stated, “This show offers a skillful dissection of criminality, presenting a twisted, unsettling, and incredibly captivating portrayal.

In addition to Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, Carmen Ejogo, and Michael Zegen, the series ensemble features Mark Strong as Falcone in flashback scenes. Previously, John Turturro portrayed this character in “The Batman.

In “The Penguin” series, Lauren LeFranc assumes the roles of writer, executive producer, and showrunner. Matt Reeves, director of “The Batman,” is an executive producer via 6th & Idaho, while Dylan Clark does so through Dylan Clark Productions. Additionally, Farrell serves as an executive producer, in addition to his acting role. Craig Zobel is both executive producing and directing the first three episodes. Daniel Pipski from 6th & Idahi also holds the title of executive producer, and Bill Carraro does too. Lastly, Rafi Crohn acts as co-executive producer.

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2024-09-24 01:46