Peacock’s latest thriller, The Day of the Jackal, has made a major impact, officially becoming the streamer’s most-watched new original drama series. Within its first 75 days, the show outperformed all other original dramas on Peacock in the same time period, cementing its status as a breakout hit.
The Day of the Jackal debuted on November 14, 2024 and quickly gained traction, ranking as a Top 10 streaming original drama in the U.S. (according to Nielsen) during its premiere week. It returned to the Top 10 again for the week of its finale on December 12. The success of The Day of the Jackal extended far beyond the U.S., as it became the biggest new series launch in Sky’s history and has been sold to nearly 200 territories worldwide.
The show’s impact has gone beyond viewership numbers, garnering widespread critical acclaim and earning a Certified Fresh status on Rotten Tomatoes. Its strong reception led to a swift renewal for a second season, and it has already received notable award nominations, including Best Drama Series, Best Actor in a Drama Series (Eddie Redmayne) at the Critics Choice Awards, Best Television Series, Drama; Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series (Eddie Redmayne) at the Golden Globe Awards, and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (Eddie Redmayne), Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Beyond the U.S., The Day of the Jackal has dominated streaming charts worldwide:
Africa – #1 new non-local scripted series on M-Net since the start of 2024.
Asia – #1 series on Max in multiple markets, including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.
Australia – #1 new series launch on Binge in 2024, and the top NBCUniversal series ever on the platform.
Canada – #1 series on Showcase during its season run.
Middle East – One of the Top 5 series on OSN+ in January 2025.
New Zealand – The top NBCUniversal title ever on TVNZ+ in launch-month streams.
The Day of the Jackal follows the gripping story of an elite assassin, played by Eddie Redmayne, who becomes the target of a relentless British intelligence officer, portrayed by Lashana Lynch. Their deadly game of cat-and-mouse unfolds across Europe in a thrilling 10-episode drama. The cast also includes Úrsula Corberó, Charles Dance, Richard Dormer, Chukwudi Iwuji, and many more.
The series, produced by Carnival Films (a division of Universal International Studios), features an impressive lineup of executive producers, including Gareth Neame, Nigel Marchant, Ronan Bennett, Brian Kirk, and Sam Hoyle. Redmayne himself also serves as an executive producer.
With its gripping storyline, award-worthy performances, and global reach, The Day of the Jackal has firmly established itself as a must-watch series. Fans can stream the first season now on Peacock and look forward to more high-stakes action in the upcoming second season.
