The Most Watched Lifetime Movies of All Time
Some armchair critics give lifetime distinctive movement footage a nasty rep, claiming they’re trashy and melodramatic, whereas totally different titles have landed Emmy nominations and demanding reward.
One issue’s for sure: they get us tuning in.
Since lifetime began producing distinctive movement footage in 1990 with Recollections of a Murder, a complete lot of flicks have been produced by the channel, from true crime ripped from the headlines to weepies which will get you reaching for the tissues, to film star biopics.
Listed under are a variety of probably the most watched lifetime movement footage ever.
Practically Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story (7.1 million)
Lifetime’s most-watched distinctive movie obtained right here in 1995, with this adaptation of the biography Practically Golden: Jessica Savitch and the Selling of Television Data.
Sela Ward performs the NBC info anchor inside the movie, which coated her rise through the ranks, drug use off show display screen and her tragic demise by drowning in 1983.
The telecast nonetheless hasn’t been topped over 25 years on.
The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Story (6.6 million)
Based on the e-book Life Is Not a Fairy Story, American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino carried out herself on this 2006 Lifetime hit.
6.6 million people tuned in to have a look at the biopic, which charted Fantasia’s factors with shallowness, sexual abuse, teen being pregnant and her faith.
Viola Davis, Loretta Devine and Kadeem Hardison have been moreover inside the solid.
Steel Magnolias (6.5 million)
This remake of the 1989 film of the equivalent title attribute an all-Black American solid, along with Queen Latifah, Jill Scott, Phylicia Rashād, Alfre Woodard and Condola Rashād.
The film, which began life as a Robert Harling play in 1987, centres on the bond a bunch of girls share in a small-town southern group, and the way in which they handle the demise of one amongst their very personal.
Along with being the third most watched Lifetime distinctive movie, Steel Magnolias was a necessary hit.
Flowers In The Attic (6.1 million)
Lifetime produced the second adaptation of V. C. Andrews’ 1979 novel of the equivalent title that has scarred quite a few youthful readers.
Ellen Burstyn performs the callous Olivia, who sends her grandchildren to remain inside the attic when their mother (Heather Graham) returns to her estranged family following the demise of her husband.
Mad Males’s Kiernan Shipka and Teen Wolf’s Mason Dye star as siblings Cathy and Chris on this harrowing drama, which obtained mixed opinions.
Anna Nicole (6.1 million)
In 2013, Agnes Bruckner carried out the legendary model Anna Nicole Smith on this Lifetime biopic.
The film charted Smith’s life from small-town dancer to Playboy centrefold to partner of a billionaire (J Howard Marshall), up until her demise in 2007.
Whitney (4.5 million)
Angela Bassett directed this 2015 Whitney Houston biopic, which was an enormous scores smash for Lifetime.
Yaya DaCosta carried out Houston inside the movie, which explored her turbulent marriage to Bobby Brown and was set inside the 5 years between 1989 and 1994 when The Bodyguard shot Houston to worldwide fame.
Whereas DaCosta’s effectivity was praised, the film was not with out controversy as Houston’s family condemned its launch.
The late singer’s sister Pat Houston talked about that the film was made “with out the family’s blessing and no matter her mother’s request to not do this movie”, and wrote on her website online: “Whenever you watch this movie, watch it understanding that Lifetime is notorious for making harmful biopics of deceased celebrities and brace your self for the worst.”
Lizzie Borden Took An Ax (4.4 million)
Christina Ricci carried out Lizzie Borden, the youthful American lady tried and acquitted of the murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1892, on this campy, self-aware made for TV distinctive movie.
Upon its 2014 premiere, it was the number-one telecast amongst all key demographics, and was so modern that it was given its private spin-off sequence known as The Lizzie Borden Chronicles.
Clea DuVall and Billy Campbell have been moreover part of the cast.
The Gabby Douglas Story (3.8 million)
After worthwhile gold on the 2012 Olympics and being part of the legendary US gymnastics workforce on the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, it’s no shock Gabby Douglas’s life was turned a Lifetime movie in 2014.
Imani Hakim carried out Douglas inside the movie, charting her road to Olympic gold, and Gabby Dougls herself carried out the gymnastic stunts.
Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Coronary coronary heart (3.5 million)
Lex Scott Davis carried out legendary R&B star Toni Braxton on this 2016 biopic, which delivered into Braxton being discovered by producers L.A. Reid and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, her public divorce, her son’s autism and her private battle with Lupus.
The film was based totally on Braxton’s private biography Unbreak My Coronary coronary heart, and whereas it obtained mixed opinions, it was Lifetime’s highest rated biopic since Whitney.
Liz & Dick (3.5 million)
Moreover bringing in 3.5 million viewers was the 2012 Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton biopic Liz & Dick, which had gained rather a lot consideration for the casting of Lindsay Lohan as Taylor.
Lohan dyed her crimson hair darkish to portray the show display screen legend reverse Grant Bowler, and whereas the scores have been respectable, they’ve been thought-about disappointing due to the media consideration it acquired all through filming.
Sadly the movie was critically panned, although the costumes and recreations of Taylor’s jewellery have been praised.
Petals On The Wind (3.4 million)
Ellen Burstyn and Heather Graham returned for this 2014 sequel to Flowers In The Attic, which didn’t pretty attain the equivalent scores because the distinctive nonetheless did pretty darn properly.
Set 10 years on from the events of Flowers In The Attic, the surviving Dollanganger youngsters Cathy, Chris and Carrie attempt to maneuver on with their lives, nonetheless Cathy (Rose McIver) decides to take revenge on her mother.
Come what may, the content material materials of the movie – involving incest, suicide and murder – is far more harrowing than the first, and its success led to an extra two sequels, If There Be Thorns and Seeds of Yesterday.
Aaliyah: The Princess Of R&B (3.2 million)
One different biopic that generated controversy, Lifetime went on with the manufacturing of this 2014 biopic of Aaliyah no matter disapproval from the late star’s family.
Zendaya was initially solid as Aaliyah nonetheless was later modified by Alexandra Shipp, and the movie charted her rise to fame, up until she departed on a flight to the Bahamas to film a music video – the plane crash she died in.
As Aaliyah’s family owned the masters to her songs, Lifetime weren’t permitted to utilize her music and wanted to file cowl variations.
The film obtained largely opposed opinions from every critics and viewers, with followers accusing the movie of being miscast.
Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret (3.1 million)
Lifetime are always the first to an actual crime story, and in 2013, they produced a film adaptation of the murder of Travis Alexander and the next conviction of Jodi Arias.
Following the prosecution’s timeline of events, Dirty Little Secret actually started filming when the trial was nonetheless ongoing, and wrapped after Arias (carried out by Tania Raymonde) was found accountable.
The film was met with mixed to optimistic opinions.
The Clark Sisters: First Girls of Gospel (2.7 million)
One of many essential present movement footage on the guidelines, The Clark Sisters premiered in April 2020 and follows the formation of gospel group The Clark Sisters, the daughters and pupils of gospel singer and non secular Christian Mattie Moss Clark, who grew to change into the highest-selling gospel group in music historic previous.
Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Loretha Jones and Holly Carter have been all govt producers on the first authorised biopic regarding the group, and it grew to change into Lifetime’s most watched distinctive movie in 4 years.
The soundtrack was moreover profitable, reaching amount seven on the Billboard Excessive Gospel Albums chart.
Wendy Williams: The Movie (2.6 million)
Ciera Payton performs Wendy Williams on this biopic of the chat current star’s life, which premiered in January 2021.
The movie adopted Williams’ rise through the ranks in radio and television, along with her struggles with cocaine abuse and the demise of her marriage to Kevin Hunter.
Williams was an govt producer on the mission, and coached Payton on her mannerisms earlier to filming.
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