‘The Day of the Jackal’ Is Now Peacock’s Most-Watched New Original Drama Series Ever

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Peacock’s The Day of the Jackal, starring Eddie Redmayne, has hit it big. This political thriller has earned the title as Peacock’s most-watched original drama series within 75 days of its debut, as reported by NBCUniversal. Not only that, but the show has also achieved global success, setting a new record for Sky as the biggest series launch to date.

It’s not clear how many people have watched it in total, but sources suggest that the show has gained significant popularity. The initial episode managed to attract 4.6 million viewers on Sky during its first month.

Although “The Day of the Jackal” wasn’t included in Nielsen’s overall list of streaming originals, it entered as one of the top 10 streaming dramas in the U.S. when it was released on November 14. The series reappeared in the rankings during the week of its finale on December 12, indicating a sustained interest from viewers.

In contrast to numerous streaming shows that wane following their initial success, “The Day of the Jackal” seems to be gaining more and more fans. This consistent growth may have contributed to Peacock and Sky quickly deciding to commission another season soon after the end of Season 1.

Based on Frederick Forsyth’s original novel and brought to life by Ronan Bennett, this series revolves around a masterful assassin, portrayed by Redmayne. Tasked with an important assignment, this skilled professional is determined to carry out one last kill, which he believes will enable him to escape the dangerous realm of contracted murders.

Yet, his assignment unexpectedly becomes perilous as British spy Bianca Pullman, played by Lashana Lynch, begins to pursue him. This triggers an exhilarating game of hide-and-seek throughout Europe, teeming with suspense, duplicity, and devastation.

The talented cast includes Ursula Corbero, Charles Dance, Richard Dormer, Chukwudi Iwuji, Lia Williams, Khalid Abdalla, Eleanor Matsuura, Jonjo O’Neill, and Sule Rimi, who form a powerful acting troupe.

The show has been met with widespread acclaim from viewers and reviewers, maintaining an impressive 85% critics’ rating and 75% audience approval on Rotten Tomatoes. On IMDb, it boasts a score of 8.2 out of 10, indicating that positive word-of-mouth has sustained its popularity even after its initial release.

Despite fierce rivalry with highly-anticipated sequels such as Squid Game Season 2 over the festive period, the series has successfully built a loyal fanbase and Peacock plans to keep hold of this successful show for some time yet.

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2025-02-12 16:14