The most shocking film of the year – based on an almost unbelievable true story – has soared right up the Netflix charts to claim the number-one spot in the UK.
A period mystery drama crossed with a foul-mouthed, sometimes farcical, comedy, Wicked Little Letters hit the peak of the Netflix top 10 films chart on Wednesday, with fans calling it ‘perfect’.
This rise to prominence comes just days after the movie, which stars Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley, was released on the streaming platform on Friday, July 26, following its cinema release in February.
Wicked Little Letters officially made it to number three in the top 10 films chart for movies watched on UK Netflix accounts between July 22 and July 28 – for which it was only available on three of those dates.
It was pipped by the popular rom-com Find Me Falling on its second week of release, where it raked in another 16,100,000 views globally, and children’s movie Lyle, Lyle Crocodile. But by Wednesday, just over five full days since its release, it was showing as the most popular film to watch in the UK, ahead of Minions: The Rise of Gru and its previous competition.
Wicked Little Letters’ Success
Wicked Little Letters boasts a solid 80% critics’ score on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes and has proven even more of a hit with fans, earning a whopping 92% audience score. Reviews praised the film’s “universally terrific performances” and dubbed it “gripping” and “wicked fun.”
In the movie, Colman and Buckley star as two neighbours at loggerheads in a quaint Sussex beachside village in the 1920s. The cast also includes Dame Eileen Atkins, Timothy Spall, Joanna Scanlan, and Lolly Adefope. The film tells the real-life story of spinster Edith Swan (Colman) and the spirited Rose Gooding (Buckley), who fell out after anonymous poison-pen letters started circulating Littlehampton.
Despite its Downton Abbey-esque veneer, Wicked Little Letters pulls absolutely no punches with its language. The film is drenched in vulgar, foul-mouthed exploits as it tells the story of this brilliantly British squabble. Its F-bomb rating is truly jaw-dropping for a period drama at 71, alongside a whole litany of other swearing and sharp insults.
Viewer Reactions
Fans have taken to social media to share their enthusiasm for the film. One viewer, @scribblediscard on X (formerly Twitter), said: “Love all these actors, love all these characters, what a brilliant film.” Angelo Surmelis added: “The entire cast of Wicked Little Letters is cinematic perfection,” while @ChesterCheerio enthused: “Wicked Little Letters is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time. Genuinely laughed my ass off the entire time.”
