Summary

  • The Acolyte is Disney+'s biggest 2024 series debut with 4.8 million views on its first day, hinting at a potential Star Wars franchise resurgence.
  • Despite mixed fan reactions and review bombing, The Acolyte's strong premiere numbers challenge claims of Star Wars' decline under Disney.
  • The show's success will be key for future Star Wars projects, with the next test being whether it can maintain its initial viewership momentum.

Viewing figures reveal that Star Wars’ latest streaming show, latest Star Wars show have been notably mixed despite it receiving largely favorable reviews from critics. Continuing to reflect the heavily divided nature of the present-day fandom, The Acolyte has recently experienced review bombing on sites such as Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic.

Despite this backlash, however, Disney has revealed (via Variety) official viewership data indicating The Acolyte has 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 revival X-Men ’97 took five days to reach 4 million streaming views on its own release. With six episodes remaining, The Acolyte will 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 does The Acolyte’s viewership 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, Ahsoka is reported as having achieved 14 million views over its first five days of streaming availability, equating to an average of 2.8 million viewers per day. Moreover, this also places the new show firmly on track to match Obi-Wan Kenobi’s record-breaking debut that is said to have attracted 11.18 million viewers over the course of three days.

Whether The Acolyte will be able to sustain the momentum of 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 wider Star Wars franchise is in serious decline under Disney’s stewardship. Moreover, attempts to sabotage The Acolyte’s premiere via 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 heralding Star Wars’ triumphant return to form, and the real test will lie in whether The Acolyte can 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 the Star Wars galaxy, its own success will likely serve as an important litmus test for James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi movie. Meanwhile, however, The Acolyte is seemingly off to a strong start despite the efforts of some of the less enthusiastic portions of the fandom.

The Acolyte releases new episodes Tuesdays on Disney+.

Source: Variety

The Acolyte Poster Showing Jedi Order, Mae, and a Sith Lord Holding Lightsabers

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The Acolyte
Sci-Fi
Fantasy
7/10
130
6.3/10
Release Date
2024 - 2024-00-00
Showrunner
Leslye Headland
Directors
Leslye Headland, Alex Garcia Lopez

Cast

See All

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

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.

Writers
Leslye Headland, Charmaine De Grate, Kor Adana
Franchise(s)
Star Wars
Seasons
1
Streaming Service(s)
Dis