Mon Sep 23 22:28:29 UTC 2024: ## “The Penguin” Soars to Success, Breaking Viewership Records for HBO Max
**New York, NY -** HBO’s highly anticipated spinoff series, “The Penguin,” starring Colin Farrell, has taken flight, breaking viewership records and receiving critical acclaim.
The series, which premiered on September 19th, drew a massive 5.3 million U.S. viewers across all platforms, surpassing the season premieres of both “Succession” and “The White Lotus.” This impressive number puts it just behind the premiere of “True Detective: Night Country,” making it one of the most successful HBO Max series launches in recent memory.
“The Penguin” also boasts the largest 4-day audience for a new series globally on Max since “The Last of Us” in January 2023, solidifying its place as a major hit.
The show picks up where “The Batman” left off, following Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot’s (Farrell) rise to power in Gotham City’s underworld. With Carmine Falcone gone, Oz seeks to take control, promising viewers a thrilling and dark exploration of Gotham’s criminal underbelly.
Critical reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with “The Penguin” currently holding a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Variety critic Aramide Tinubu praised the series as “a masterful examination of criminality, twisted, disturbing, and deeply enthralling.”
The cast includes Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, Carmen Ejogo, and Michael Zegen, alongside Mark Strong, who reprises his role as Falcone in flashbacks. The series is written, executive produced, and showrun by Lauren LeFranc, with “The Batman” director Matt Reeves serving as executive producer.
“The Penguin” is proving to be a major success for HBO Max, exceeding expectations in both viewership and critical acclaim. The series is sure to keep audiences captivated as Oz’s power play unfolds.
First Piper 