Hulu has truly become the home of some must-watch content over the past several years. Through ongoing shows like The Great and Love, Victor and limited series like Little Fires Everywhere and Mrs. America, the streamer has amassed a pretty diverse swath of clientele. One of the most recent additions to its programming catalogue is Nine Perfect Strangers, a limited series with a star-studded cast that’s headed by Nicole Kidman. And it would now appear that the show has broken a record that previously belonged to The Handmaid’s Tale.
Nine Perfect Strangers may present viewers with a complex mystery, but it’s already clear to see that audiences were eager to see what it had to offer. The series, which premiered on August 18, became Hulu’s most-watched original ever for a comedy, drama, limited series or unscripted show. According to Deadline, this title was previously held by the Season 4 finale of The Handmaid’s Tale.
Unfortunately, like most streamers, Hulu chose not to release any specific numbers on the recent milestone. But as the trade explains, the streaming platform counts individual viewers when it comes to its varied release strategies. So in the case of Nine Perfect Strangers, which dropped three episodes on premiere day, a single viewers was counted once regardless of how many episodes they actually tuned in for.
The Handmaid’s Tale has been a critical darling since debuting on Hulu back in 2017. Most would probably even go as far as to say that the Elisabeth Moss-led dystopian drama has become the streamer’s signature series. With that in mind, Nine Perfect Strangers’ recent accomplishment is all the more impressive.
Nine Perfect Strangers was created and co-developed by David E. Kelley, whose most recent work includes notable shows like HBO’s Big Little Lies and ABC’s Big Sky. Based on the 2018 novel of the same name, the series centers on nine strangers, who participate in a 10-day retreat at a health and wellness center that’s run by an enigmatic woman named Masha. While at the resort, the guests gradually learn secrets about themselves and find that there’s far more to the beautiful location and its owner than meets the eye.
As mentioned, the series features an ensemble cast headed by Emmy winner Nicole Kidman, who plays the role of Masha. Joining her are Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Samara Weaving, Luke Evans, Regina Hall, Bobby Canavale and many more.
The Hulu series has received mostly positive reviews thus far, and the cast seemed to have enjoyed the experience. For instance, Bobby Canavale was more than excited to team back with Thunder Force co-star Melissa McCarthy. Nine Perfect Strangers is set to run for eight episodes, with the finale airing at the end of September. We’ll see how well viewership holds as the mystery continues to unfold.
Nine Perfect Strangers’ fourth episode, “Brave New World,” drops Wednesday August 25, on Hulu.
