Summary
Viewing figures reveal thatStar Wars’ latest streaming show,The Acolyte,is Disney+’s biggest streaming release of 2024. Set 100 years before the events ofStar Wars: The Phantom Menace, fan reactions to thelatestStar Warsshowhave been notably mixed despite it receiving largely favorable reviews from critics. Continuing to reflect the heavily divided nature of the present-day fandom,The Acolytehas recently experienced review bombing on sites such as Rotten Tomatoes andMetacritic.
Despite this backlash, however, Disney has revealed (viaVariety) official viewership data indicatingThe Acolytehas attracted 4.8 million views in its first day of availability, making it Disney+’s biggest 2024 series debut. By comparison, Marvel’s hit animated series revivalX-Men ’97took five days to reach 4 million streaming views on its own release. With six episodes remaining,The Acolytewill continue to keep airing weekly until July 16.
How Does The Acolyte’s Performance Compare To Other Disney+ TV Shows?
The Acolyte’s Numbers May Point To A Return To Form For The Star Wars Franchise
Not only doesThe Acolyte’sviewership numbers for its recent two-episode premiere bode well for the show, but it also marks a potential return to form for the franchise, which has recently experienced significant drops in streaming viewership. By comparison,Ahsokais reported as having achieved 14 million views over its first five daysof streaming availability, equating to an average of 2.8 million viewers per day. Moreover, this also places the new show firmly on track to matchObi-Wan Kenobi’s record-breaking debut that is said to have attracted 11.18 million viewers over the course of three days.
WhetherThe Acolytewill be able to sustain the momentumof its strong opening numbers for its entire season remains to be seen, but the show’s debut number would appear to fly in the face of claims the widerStar Warsfranchise is in serious decline under Disney’s stewardship. Moreover, attempts to sabotageThe Acolyte’s premierevia efforts to review bomb the show may have even worked in its favor by prompting viewers to tune in and decide on the series’ merits for themselves.
It is too premature to begin heraldingStar Wars’triumphant return to form, and the real test will lie in whetherThe Acolytecan retain the numbers it attracted for its first two episodes. With the show marking the franchise’s first real attempt at delivering stories set in previously unseen eras in theStar Warsgalaxy, its own success will likely serve as an important litmus test forJames Mangold’sDawn of the Jedimovie. Meanwhile, however,The Acolyteis seemingly off to a strong start despite the efforts of some of the less enthusiastic portions of the fandom.
The Acolyte
Cast
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
