Summary
- Hazbin Hotel breaks streaming record on Prime Video, becoming the most-watched new animated title globally.
- The show follows Charlie’s goal of rehabilitating demons in Hell and opens up a hotel to save them from Heaven’s wrath.
- Early reviews praise the show’s fascinating characters, catchy music, and stunning animation, with a focus on the timeless theme of redemption and rehabilitation.
Following its January 19 debut, A24’s long-awaited Hazbin Hotel has set a new streaming record for Prime Video. The animated musical series, created by Vivienne Medrano (also known as VivziePop), was introduced to audiences in 2019 through a pilot on YouTube (now boasting over 90 million views). Years later, loyal fans and new audiences can finally enjoy an entire season of the show – and numbers are showing that they are. According to Prime Video, Hazbin Hotel had the highest global viewership for a new animated title on the streamer.
Hazbin Hotel centers on Charlie (Erika Henningsen), the princess of Hell, as she pursues her seemingly impossible goal of rehabilitating demons to peacefully reduce overpopulation in her kingdom. After a yearly extermination imposed by angels, she opens a hotel in the hopes that patrons will be “checking out” into Heaven. While most of Hell mocks her goal, her devoted partner Vaggie (Stephanie Beatriz), and their first test subject, adult film-star Angel Dust (Blake Roman), stick by her side. When a powerful entity known as the “Radio Demon” (Amir Talai) reaches out to assist Charlie in her endeavors, her crazy dream is given a chance to become reality.
The show has been well-received (it currently holds an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes), with critics commending a fascinating cast of characters and the story’s heart. Alongside Charlie, Vaggie, Angel, and Radio Demon Alastor, the series introduces us to Hotel bartender Husk (Keith David), maid Niffty (Kimiko Glenn), Victorian-era demon Sir Pentious (Alex Brightman) and Charlie’s father, Lucifer Morningstar (Jeremy Jordan), among many others.
Related Hazbin Hotel Review: A Devilishly Delightful Animated Musical Series Charlie Morningstar (Erika Henningsen), Lucifer’s daughter, opens a hotel in Hell to save the damned from Heaven’s further wrath.
High Praise for Hazbin Hotel’s Inhabitants
Amazon Studios
According to early reviews, the show’s appeal is largely due to its fascinating characters. Pop Culture Planet’s review gives high marks for the “incredible cast, catchy music & stunning animation” and says the animated series gives us “flawed but redeemable characters to connect with.”
The idea of redemption is something that Talai (who voices Radio demon Alastor) discussed during an exclusive interview with MovieWeb.
“I thought the concept was so interesting,” he said of the series. “First of all, a show that takes place in Hell is great because everyone is inherently flawed, right? So, nobody’s going to be perfect. And the idea of redemption and rehabilitation is timeless, and a lot of people grapple with it, both in a funny and serious way, right? Like the idea of, who is redeemable? Is everyone redeemable? What is the value of an apology or of doing the work? Do you know what I mean? I think it’s a really cool thing to explore in a wacky, f***ed up animated show, you know?”
Our review calls the dark comedy a “devilishly delightful animated musical series” that can “best be described as a raunchy Broadway show with heart behind the vulgarity.”
The first six episodes of Hazbin Hotel are now available to stream on Prime Video. The two concluding episodes will be available to stream on February 2. A second season of Hazbin Hotel has been confirmed for months, but no release date has been announced. You can see one of our interviews with some of the cast of Hazbin Hotel below, or check out all of our Hazbin Hotel coverage here.
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