Peacock doesn’t have quite the powerhouse streaming reputation of rivals Netflix, HBO Max, or Apple TV, but the platform has still delivered some big hits in its lifetime. Rian Johnson‘s Poker Face brought the Knives Out director’s penchant for mysteries to the small screen, while critics and audiences regarded Twisted Metal among the best modern video game adaptations with its darkly comedic spin on the classic PlayStation vehicular combat games. At the time of release, though, Seth MacFarlane‘s Ted launched as its biggest original scripted series, most recently being surpassed by The ‘Burbs, which launched to a staggering total of nearly one billion minutes viewed in its first full week on the platform. Now, however, there’s a new NBCUniversal streaming king, or queen, rather, and it’s Jennifer Garner.
Garner leads Peacock‘s latest megahit, The Five-Star Weekend, which has blown the competition out of the water in its first season. Based on the 2023 book by Elin Hilderbrand, the drama miniseries launched on July 9 and, less than one month later, stands as the platform’s #1 scripted series of all time in terms of reach, with 2.1 billion minutes watched. Preliminary Nielsen data also had it among the Top 5 most-streamed originals across any platform within its first two weeks of availability. As the cherry on top, the series appears to have powered the novel back into the New York Times bestsellers list, where it currently ranks among the Top 10. With the wind at their sails, Hollis Shaw (Garner) and her friends are now coming back for another exciting getaway.
Despite being a miniseries based on a book with no sequel, Peacock has renewed The Five-Star Weekend for Season 2. Creator Bekah Brunstetter will be back for the next chapter, as will Garner and, likely, the starry ensemble around her. Season 1 prominently featured D’Arcy Carden, Gemma Chan, Regina Hall, Chloë Sevigny, Harlow Jane, and Timothy Olyphant, with a supporting cast that also featured some big names like Judy Greer and Rob Huebel. Behind the camera was also a notable name in All Her Fault director Minkie Spiro. Lisa Katz, the president of scripted content at NBC and Peacock, hailed the series’ accomplishments in an official statement and touted its ability to connect with such a wide audience as a summer comfort watch.
“Audiences have completely embraced this wholly relatable story of friendship, and what it means to reconnect with the people in your life who truly make a difference. A huge thank you to our amazing cast, writers, directors, producers and to our magical crew who all worked tirelessly to bring Elin’s enormously popular book to the screen, and to the audiences who enjoyed watching this summer escape as much as we enjoyed making it.”
What Is ‘The Five-Star Weekend’ About?
In The Five-Star Weekend, viewers are introduced to Hollis, a famous cook and best-selling author whose warmth and delectable recipes hide the fact that she’s overtaken by grief. Her husband is killed in a tragic car accident, shattering her idyllic life and leaving her alone to pick up the pieces. Worse, it exposes all the cracks that had long since been forming, from her strained marriage to her messy relationship with her daughter and the overwhelming pressure to feel validated by her audience. To ground herself again and overcome the tragedy, Hollis organizes a, well, “Five-Star Weekend,” featuring three friends from different stages of her life and a surprise guest to shake up the dynamic. What follows is a cozy, emotional, luxurious, and fun weekend on the coast in which the five friends push each other, bring out long-buried secrets, and ultimately grow from the experience.
Collider‘s Jessica Toomer was among those singing the show’s praises in her 8/10 review, hailing the “unfairly talented cast” led by Garner and the real feeling that elevates it above simple comfort food. The question of what comes next remains, but Brunstetter is excited to even have the chance to revisit Hollis and her friends once again. “It’s such a joy and privilege to create a world that people want to keep living in,” the creator added in an official statement. “I’m so thrilled by the chance to give fans of the show more time with the stars, and dig even further into these incredible characters. Knowing how deeply committed they are to this trip, I can’t wait to take them on their next adventure.” Garner expressed that the feeling of curiosity is mutual among the cast, saying in her own statement:
“Regina, Chloe, Gemma, D’Arcy and I have had the best time talking to people about Five Star Weekend. We’re so happy you love it as much as we loved making it for you. If you’re curious about what’s going to happen next, imagine how we feel! We’re grateful to Elin, Bekah, our producers, directors, and Peacock for hosting the ultimate girls’ weekend that will be season two.”
The Five-Star Weekend is now streaming on Peacock.
via Collider