Despite receiving a plethora of online backlash, The Acolyte has been a success for the Star Wars universe. According to third-party data, the Disney+ series has performed well in terms of viewership numbers.
Analytics firm Reelgood, which monitors viewing trends across US streaming platforms, provided Screen Rant with an analysis of The Acolyte during its first 14 days on Disney+. Per the publication, the results indicate that the series is “the second most successful in terms of streaming and engagement, outperforming the average top 100 TV show by a factor of six.”Obi-Wan Kenobi holds first place as it outperformed the average top 100 TV show by a factor of eight.
The data provides a realistic look at the success of The Acolyte which fell victim to review bombing following its debut episode on June 4. Five installments into its run on the streamer, the series’ Rotten Tomatoes critics score is still holding strong at 83% while the audience rating is at a dismal 14%. As a result, the show officially holds the record of being the Star Wars title with the lowest audience rating ever on Rotten Tomatoes.
Female-led Star Wars Projects Always Receive Backlash
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy was expecting a certain level of backlash when The Acolyte was released, as there had already been attacks on the show and its creator Leslye Headland ahead of its premiere. She attributed the behavior to the predominantly male Star Wars fan base that tends to react more negatively to projects created by women or those that focus on female characters.
“Operating within these giant franchises now, with social media and the level of expectation – it’s terrifying,” Kennedy explained, referring to the negativity. “I think Leslye has struggled a little bit with it. I think a lot of the women who step into Star Wars struggle with this a bit more. Because of the fan base being so male-dominated, they sometimes get attacked in ways that can be quite personal.”
With just a few episodes to go before The Acolyte concludes its first season, those who enjoy the show have wondered if a second season was in the works. Headland recently addressed the possibility of a second outing, but said she would only consider if there is more story to tell. “It feels like everyone’s really expecting to get a second season, and I don’t feel that’s a good idea,” the showrunner explained. “I think you should put everything you can into the first season and give the audience a nice resolution that feels satisfying, but enough nods to mysteries that you would want to see a second season.”
The Acolyte is streaming on Disney+, with new episodes available weekly.