Nicole Kidman’s Netflix mystery series The Perfect Couple has dominated the platform’s global TV chart, despite getting mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. Adapted from author Elie Hilderbrand’s 2018 novel of the same name, the miniseries focuses on a wedding in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where a body washing ashore leaves the attendees as prime suspects for murder. The cast of The Perfect Couple is led by Kidman, alongside other recognizable names like Liev Schreiber, Donna Lynne Champlin, Michael Beach, and Dakota Fanning.

Now, Netflix reports that The Perfect Couple was their Number 1 most-watched show in their Top 10 global TV series for the week of September 2 to September 8, 2024. From its release date on September 5, the show racked up 103.5 hours viewed across 20.3 million viewers total. This outpaces the Number 2 show, Worst Ex Ever, by over double its 7.2 million viewers, proving the Kidman-led mystery series to be another big hit for the platform this year. This is despite its 59% critics score and 59% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling mixed reviews from both parties.

What The Perfect Couple’s Netflix Success Means For The Miniseries

The Show Overcame Its Middling Reviews

Kidman’s new show isn’t the first mystery miniseries with poor review scores to become a Netflix success in 2024. That honor goes to Fool Me Once, a British mystery thriller whose 69% critics score and 44% audience score didn’t stop it from becoming the Number 8 most-watched Netflix original series of all time. While The Perfect Couple reviews are critical of a thin storyline with tonal inconsistencies, it seems the draw of its mysterious plot overshadows any negative thoughts on the show.

The series’ popularity is likely aided by praise for its cast, with Kidman, Schriber, and Fanning in particular delivering stellar, memorable performances as their characters. While both audiences and critics are divisive on The Perfect Couple for not being as original as it could be, the show still delivers on its promise of a murder mystery with plenty of twists and turns throughout the story. Although the show has plenty of ways it can be critiqued, its performance on Netflix indicates these aren’t dealbreakers for the majority of viewers looking for a murder mystery to binge.

Our Take On The Perfect Couple’s Netflix Success

The Show’s Popularity Isn’t Too Surprising

Given how Fool Me Once established an appeal for mystery miniseries on Netflix, it’s not too surprising another one with plenty of recognizable stars ended up becoming the top show during its debut week. While it’s still unclear if The Perfect Couple will continue a streak of success like its predecessor earlier this year, we wouldn’t be surprised if it managed to perform exceptionally well in weeks to come. Even with its middling reviews, it seems like the mystery series is going to be a major hit for the platform moving forward.

The Perfect Couple was developed by Jenna Lamia, who is also a writer and star on Resident Alien , portraying Judy Cooper.