‘Best of the best’ Netflix mini-series with ‘eye-popping’ episode Stephen King loves binged for 40 million hours
It's based on a real-life story, too
Featured Image Credit: Showtime
Topics: Stephen King, Netflix, True crime
Ellie Kemp
Topics: Stephen King, Netflix, True crime
Stephen King is a huge fan of a Netflix mini-series he hailed 'best of the best.'
The acclaimed author is famed for his mind-bending original stories - many of which have been adapted into unforgettable TV series and movies.
And the 'King of Horror' appreciates others' genius when he sees it ,including a show on Netflix which has one scene King described as 'eye-popping.' So if you're looking for your next binge-watch, then get adding this one to your to-be-watching list immediately.
The seven-episode crime drama first premiered on Showtime in 2018, but it took six years for it to join Netflix.
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Directed by Ben Stiller and created by Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin, the series is based on the real-life 2015 escape from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York.
On June 6 2015, two convicted murderers - Richard Matt and David Sweat - broke out of the maximum-security prison by cutting through cell walls and utility areas using tools smuggled in by prison staff.
The escape triggered a massive 22-day manhunt across multiple states - and it wasn't exactly a success for the duo...
In the TV series Patricia Arquette plays Joyce 'Tilly' Mitchell, a married prison worker who becomes romantically and dangerously entangled with both inmates and helps facilitate their escape. Benicio del Toro plays Richard Matt while Paul Dano is David Sweat.
The series in question is called Escape at Dannemora.
Between when it joined Netflix in October 2024 and January 2025, it was viewed for a whopping 40.4 million hours.
Stephen King posted to X, formerly Twitter, praising the show, writing: "ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA is TV at its best. But the best of the best? The 9-minute+ opening of Episode 5 appears to be one continuous, eye-popping shot.
"Ben Stiller directs; Jessica Lee Gage is the DP who brings it off with seemingly effortless panache."
Fans over on Rotten Tomatoes appeared to be in agreement, rating the show a solid 92 percent.
"Great show!! Acting was top notch. Wish I would have watched it sooner," one person said, as a second wrote: "Excellent in every regard. Intriguing story, well written, and perfect acting."
A third said: " The acting, direction, cinematography are spot on," adding: "Ben Stiller, the director, created a gem here."
Critics rated at 89 percent, as their consensus read: "Escape at Dannemora's slow pace demands patience, but those willing to wait will be rewarded with a chilling mystery that provides the perfect showcase for its talented cast -- especially so for the incredible Patricia Arquette."
Escape at Dannemora is streaming now on Netflix in the US.