The Netflix adaptation of Lady Chatterley’s Lover has garnered subscribers…a little bit of work.
The film is based on the classic DH Lawrence novel of the same name and has drawn comparisons to the likes of 50 Shades of Gray and 365 Days. But the main difference is that while Lady Chatterley’s exploits may veer to the scandalous side, the defamation appears to be underpinned by strong characters and well-thought-out filmmaking.
Not only were the critics impressed, but the viewers are also absolutely smitten with Mrs. Chatterley. The movie made it to Netflix’s most watched list. It is currently ranked only at No. 3 behind Bullet Train Troll and Brad Pitt. It could be set to rise higher in the coming days.
What is the matter with Lady Chatterley’s lover?
Based on the classic D.H. Lawrence novel, Lady Chatterley’s Lover follows the eponymous character, a woman born into wealth and privilege, as she begins an affair with the lower-class gamekeeper who maintains her property. Over the course of this passionate affair, she discovers a whole new level of intimacy and decides to break the traditions of the day in order to find true happiness with her new lover.
The original novel was highly controversial upon its release in the 1920s for its disregard for societal conventions and for its graphic sexual content. In fact, it was later banned for obscenity in both the United States and the United Kingdom among other countries including Canada, India, and Australia. This only led to more interest and when it was eventually published decades later without editing, it became an instant bestseller.
This Netflix adaptation is far from the first time the novel has been made into a movie, and it has also formed the basis for several TV shows and inspired several stage productions as well. In this final retelling of the story, Emma Corinne plays Lady Chatterley, and Jack O’Connell plays Oliver Mellor (aka her lover).
What do the critics think of Lady Chatterley’s Mistress?
As noted, while its mature content has drawn some comparison to other smutty films like 50 Shades, Lady Chatterley’s Lover broke with tradition and was surprisingly well received by critics. The movie currently has a score of 88% on the review aggregate site Rotten tomatoes (Opens in a new tab)which is enough to get the “Newly Approved” seal.
Peter Bradshaw of guardian (Opens in a new tab) He notes that “Mrs. Chatterley still has the power to move”, while Entertainment Weekly (Opens in a new tab)Leah Greenblatt was similarly enthusiastic, writing: “An unabashed love story, enriched with beautiful costumes—when they wear them—and a rich, racy atmosphere.” Kevin Maher of times (Opens in a new tab) He was also a fan, calling the film “extremely nuanced and moving”.
Not all critics, though, were taken with Mrs. Chatterley. Tomiwa Owolade from New country state (Opens in a new tab) He said, “This adaptation of Lady Chatterley’s Lover isn’t terrible. It’s too polished for that. But there’s nothing at stake.” They also questioned the necessity else Shortly after the BBC picked up the TV show in 2015 (which found its way to Netflix in select territories).
In a nice turn of events, critics and viewers seem to mostly agree on this one. Lady Chatterley’s Lover managed a respectable 82% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, although it’s a less impressive 6.8 on IMDb (Opens in a new tab) It is suggested that some viewers are not completely fond of the film.
The movie is also taking a social media storm. The so-called “movie Tik-Tok” community is having a field day with the smutty stuff, like Twitter. It’s Jack O’Connell that’s grabbing attention with many viewers reaching out to Netflix to thank streaming for choosing it. Although Emma Korren has also garnered a lot of fans for her portrayal of the titular Mrs. Chatterley.
Lady Chatterley’s Lover – Stream or Skip?
Fans of Netflix period dramas like Bridgerton and The Empress will definitely want to stream Lady Chatterley’s Lover as soon as possible. But the themes of the narrative are a bit broader and timeless so that the film can appeal to a wider audience. We should also mention that readers of the original novel will likely be happy with this adaptation, even if some plot points are modified slightly.
Potential viewers should be warned that Lady Chatterley’s Lover contains graphic sexual content and a lot of adult themes. It’s definitely not for younger viewers, and it probably wouldn’t be an appropriate choice for a family movie night. We also advise not to watch with your parents, otherwise you’d better prepare for a couple of very uncomfortable hours.
All in all, there are plenty of reasons to give Lady Chatterley’s Lover a chance. Its source material has held up for decades for a very good reason. And director Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre seems to have done a great job with this latest adaptation. It wasn’t necessarily the strongest year for original movies on Netflix, but the player seems to be closing out the year with a bang.
