As the year comes to a close and everyone takes some time off to spend with family and friends for the holidays, we’re going to see some really interesting movies and shows start charting on the many (many) streamers available. 2010’s Clash of the Titans is charting on Max, if you can believe it, and on the same platform, 1000-lb Sisters is the second most-streamed series. I just know there are a bunch of college students home from break subjecting their families to whatever show they’d been binging between (or during, let’s be honest) classes.
Over on Hulu, Cuckoo is charting, and that’s pretty incredible to see nestled between The Polar Express and Christmas with the Kranks. On Prime Video, Sicario: Day of the Soldado is sitting pretty at Number Nine, right between Almost Christmas and White Christmas. What fun. While the streamers are getting more and more challenging to navigate, I want to direct you to a Netflix chart-topper that quietly ranks among the best of the year: The Madness.
Per Netflix: Wrong place. Wrong time. Wrong man. When Muncie Daniels finds a body in the Pennsylvania wilderness, life as he knows it takes a deeply chilling turn.
Stephen Belber’s The Madness is currently the most-watched thriller series on Netflix. The show stars Oscar-nominee Colman Domingo and was released on Netflix in late November 2024. Quietly, the show has risen to the top of the charts, bolstered by strong performances and word-of-mouth.
Critically, The Madness is one of the best-reviewed shows of the year, with critics pointing out a fantastic central mystery and, of course, Domingo’s awards-worthy performance. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, The Madness sits at a Certified Fresh 75%. The consensus reads, “Colman Domingo’s commanding performance smooths over The Madness‘ occasional descent into political didacticism, making for a mystery worth investigating.”
Online, the reception has been less kind. It’s not uncommon to see a schism between critic and audience reviews, though with The Madness, the response does seem to be more polarizing than most.
Check out some choice social media reactions below:
#TheMadness on Netflix was truly terrible. What a waste of time. Plot made zero sense, had so many holes, and don’t even get me started on the main character.
— Ø (@okkHyfa) December 13, 2024
When I saw the title “the madness” I was like tf type of title is that but as I watch each episode this shit truly is THE MADNESS! every episode got me like….. #TheMadness pic.twitter.com/aqpM9H8sHR
— Jake from State Farm knows I exist (@SeniTelly) December 13, 2024
#TheMadness has such a good concept but the execution has been fumbled badly. It’s not entertaining enough to be a thriller and the dramatic sections aren’t good enough for it to be a top quality drama.
— Jay the blerd ???? (@j3ff_ps) December 17, 2024
The Madness on Netflix was weird. Main character’s mouth is always open. His face is all over tv and billboards with a cash reward and he thinks a Yankees fitted and sunglasses gonna not have people notice, and the son’s eyeballs are distracting
— Q (@Kwenten75) December 15, 2024
The madness started off good but the acting is terrible..
— monique ? (@Mo_ashleigh) December 17, 2024
The Madness started off strong but then tried to tick too many boxes and do too many things and sort of dissolved into I dunno what and fell flat.
— Twinkie Clark’s Aruba smock (@NOW_Leader) December 19, 2024
What do you think? Have you had a chance to check out all eight episodes of The Madness? What did you think? Let me know if it’s worth going mad for or not over on Twitter @Chadiscollins.
Categorized:News
