Summary

The Benedict Cumberbatch psychological thrillerErichas become a streaming hit. The Netflix show, which is set in New York City in the 1980s, was created by Abi Morgan and follows a puppeteer named Victor (Benedict Cumberbatch) whose son goes missing, leading him on a disturbing journey to attempt to solve the disappearance using the titular seven-foot-tall monster puppet. TheEriccastalso includesTransparent’s Gaby Hoffmann,Ozark’s McKinley Belcher III,Vida’s Roberta Colindrez,Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’s Dan Fogler,The Wire’s Clarke Peters, andThe Office’s David Denman.

Netflixhas now calculated the global Top 10 list of their most-watched English-language TV shows for the week of May 27 through June 2.Erichas landed on the chart at No. 3thanks to 6.8 million viewers accumulating a total of 36.5 million viewing hours in the four days during that week when the show was available on the platform after its May 30 premiere. The only shows that beat it were the new docuseriesDancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cultand the third week ofBridgertonseason 3, which continues to top the chart.

Split images of Benedict Cumberbatch as Vincent Anderson in Netflix’s Eric

Why Is Eric Such A Success On Netflix?

The Unusual New Thriller Show Has Struck A Chord

One reason for the show’s immediate success could be theEricreviews, which have been generally strong, earning the show a solidly Fresh 71% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

It’s not unusual for a new Netflix show to land on the Top 10 chart during its debut week. However, by landing at No. 3, the show has proven that it has struck a chord with audiences, as it could have come in considerably lower, like one of the week’s other debut series,Geek Girl, which premiered at No. 7 with 18.9 million viewing hours. One reason for the show’s immediate success could be theEricreviews, which have been generally strong, earning the show a solidly Fresh71% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Article image

Eric Ending Explained: What Happens To Edgar Anderson In The Netflix Series

The ending of Netflix’s Eric is bittersweet, with one missing child going home and another getting justice — though they both uphold a similar theme.

Another driving force behind the show’s success could be Cumberbatch himself. The star, who is perhaps best known forplaying Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has made a habit of starring in projects that are either critical successes, commercial hits, or both. By covering the gamut throughout his career, he has amassed a wide fandom that may have made him an important draw for the new thriller. Below, see a breakdown of the critical and commercial success of Cumberbatch’s most recent projects:

95%

91%

67%

$6.2 million

88%

$1.4 million

73%

$955.8 million

93%

$1.92 billion

69%

94%

75%

$7.5 million

85%

$26 million

In the 2020s alone, Cumberbatch has earned 13 Fresh scores out of 13 titles, with his projects accumulating more than a dozen Oscar nominations. One of them,Spider-Man: No Way Home, even became the seventh highest-grossing movie of all time worldwide. Given its star’s pedigree, Netflix’sEricbecoming a success isn’t entirely a surprise. It remains to be seen if it can climb higher up the chart, but that seems entirely possible in the face of its success in just a portion of its first week.

Click here to watch Eric on Netflix

Eric

Cast

A gripping psychological drama set in the turbulent 1980s New York City, following Vincent, a talented puppeteer whose life is shattered by the mysterious disappearance of his son, Edgar. As Vincent spirals into a world of despair and obsession, he channels his anguish into his puppet, Eric. Eric becomes more than a mere creation, serving as a conduit for Vincent’s pain and a guide through the shadows of his troubled mind. As Vincent delves deeper into the city’s underbelly in search of his son, the line between reality and delusion blurs, uncovering dark secrets and testing his grip on sanity