Netflix’s supposed “next big hit” has seemingly packed little punch as it set a disastrous record for the platform.
Ripley is a reimagined version of the 90s smash novel and film The Talented Mr Ripley. Starring Jude Law and Matt Damon, the film catapulted to the top of the box office charts, as the thrilling psychopathic film left a lasting impression on viewers.
The film has also been pointed out as a direct influence for the recent hit film Saltburn, starring Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi. Since then, Netflix has seized the opportunity and developed a TV series adaptation of the 90s classic, starring Irish hunk Andrew Scott.
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The TV series is now a fully black-and-white series that explores Ripley’s life and follows his journey as he tries to live his double life as Dickie Greenleaf, the son of a wealthy clan. However, despite pulling in viewers in the 1990s, in 2024 the ratings for the show tell a different story.
(Image: Philippe Antonello)
Those who have watched the show on Netflix have been bowled over by the programme, giving the show a total rating of 82%. Many of the reviews have branded the show a “masterpiece”, with special praise for actor Andrew who plays the titular character.
But despite the show leaving some viewers “speechless” with its cinematography and storytelling, for others the reception has been more lukewarm. This was compounded in the lack of ratings success, as it barely made a dent in the number of streams the show has had for its opening weekend.
Actually, Ripley has set the rather dismal record of having the worst opening for a limited series on Netflix when it was released on April 4. Thursdays are typically seen as a popular day for streaming as many shows are launched in time for the weekend.
(Image: Courtesy of Netflix)
According to figures obtained by Whats On Netflix, the show managed to rake in a meagre 2.3million Complete Viewings Equivalent. The measure looks at the accounts’ viewing figures in hours in comparison to the duration of a programme, allowing for an estimated look at how many people watched the entirety of the show.
With Ripley being an eight-episode miniseries, with episodes lasting just one hour, the show was set to be ratings dynamite for Netflix. However, many have pointed out that black-and-white productions are well-known to turn viewers off from the show.
When compared to other Netflix releases at the time, Ripley barely even made waves when it was released. However, another Netflix project – One Day – raked in over double the number of viewers as the miniseries.
(Image: Lorenzo Sisti/NETFLIX)
But although the show has not been a ratings success for the platform, the programme has amassed a dedicated fanbase who have praised all aspects of the production. Special praise has been given by viewers to the costume designs and the overall style of the series.
Ripley is currently available to stream on Netflix.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
