Napoleon has finally had its grand debut on Apple TV+, and not only has it become a trending topic just a week before the 2024 Oscars, but it has also become the most-watched movie on the platform globally and in the US.
The drama was directed by the iconic Ridley Scott, while David Scarpa took charge of writing the screenplay. Thanks to all their efforts in portraying Bonaparte’s origins intimately, the project has received three Oscar nominations.
Joaquin Phoenix brought the conqueror to life, accompanied by notable figures such as Vanessa Kirby in the role of his beloved Josephine, Tahar Rahim as Paul Barras and Rupert Everett as the Duke of Wellington.
Napoleon is the most-watched movie on Apple TV+
Ridley Scott’s Napoleon arrived on Apple TV+ just a day ago, and as expected, the historical drama has become the most-watched movie globally and in the United States, according to Flix Patrol.
The metrics-specialized site reported that the film not only managed to become the No. 1 in record time but has also dethroned multiple well-known titles on the service, such as Killers of the Flower Moon.
This time, the project provides an intimate perspective on the origins of Napoleon Bonaparte and his swift and relentless rise to the throne, focusing on his captivating and unstable relationship with his wife and true love, Josephine.
Despite Joaquin Phoenix being the protagonist of the narrative, he was not the only star to participate in the acclaimed historical drama. Those who accompanied him on the journey included Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, Rupert Everett, Mark Bonnar, Paul Rhys and Ben Miles, among others.
What was the director’s basis for Napoleon?
Napoleon has been the center of multiple controversies since its worldwide release, and director Ridley Scott has had to clarify on several occasions the sources he relied on to bring the story to life, as many claimed that certain events did not unfold that way.
During an interview with Forbes, the director, also known for Gladiator, confessed that he did not read any books about the conqueror’s origins but drew inspiration from works that portrayed his journey. He said:
“Well, the most important thing you have to get as a storyteller is what you’re going to get on paper. I looked at all the paintings of Napoleon Bonaparte because they are a time capsule of history, so accurate that they tell it all“.
The painting by Jean Louis David, titled Le Sacre de Napoleon, inspired the coronation scene in the movie, and, as with this particular work, it happened multiple times. “This is not painting; you walk into this work”, he concluded.