Viewership
Whip Media's viewership tracking app, TV Time, which tracks data from over 25 million users worldwide, reported that Futurama ranked among the top five most-streamed original series in the U.S. from the week ending August 4 to the week ending September 8. [7] Whip Media subsequently revealed that Futurama remained in the top ten most-streamed original series in the U.S. from the week ending September 22 to the week ending October 6. [8] [9]
Nielsen Media Research, which records streaming viewership on some U.S. television screens, calculated that Futurama was viewed for 320 million minutes from July 29 to August 4, ranking as the seventh most-streamed original series. [10] [11] The following week, August 5–11, it recorded 348 million minutes, placing eighth among original series. [12] [13] From August 12–18, the series garnered 346 million minutes, ranking seventh again. [14] [15] It recorded 369 million minutes of watch time from August 19–25, placing ninth. [16] [17] Between August 26 and September 1, Futurama was streamed for 360 million minutes, placing seventh among original series. [18] [19] From September 2–8, it garnered 356 million minutes, ranking ninth. [20] [21] Futurama was viewed for 322 million minutes from September 9–15, ranking as the tenth most-streamed original series. [22] [23] Nielsen Media Research later announced that Futurama was the sixth most-streamed original series of 2024, with a total of 11.75 billion minutes of watch time. [24] [25] [26]
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 60% of 10 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.40/10. [27]
Cheryl Eddy of Gizmodo asserted that the new season successfully delivers what fans expect, citing classic 31st-century antics and clever cultural commentary, including takes on NFTs, chatbots, and fast fashion. Eddy found that the season retains the show's signature humor and features a strong voice cast, including John DiMaggio and Billy West. They added that while no new ground is broken, the episodes offer the familiar mix of weird humor, puns, and oddball references that define Futurama. [28] Robert Brian Taylor of Collider noted that the season premiere of Futurama aptly describes itself as "Your TV Friend," saying it reflects its enduring charm and reliability across its four revivals. Taylor stated that despite a decade-long hiatus and publicized contract negotiations, the series has returned in a more subdued manner but remains a standout blend of science fiction and comedy. They concluded that while Futurama may not be as strong as in its original Fox years, it continues to age well. [29]
Andrew Webster of The Verge stated that the new season struggles with its focus on NFTs, particularly in the debut episode, which fails to provide meaningful jokes or insightful commentary. Webster found that the show's attempt to blend contemporary issues with its sci-fi setting was uneven, with later episodes faring slightly better but still missing the show's original charm. Webster noted that the season's emphasis on topical humor often overshadows the humor and warmth that made the show special, suggesting that the series would have benefited from leaving current trends behind. [30] A. A. Dowd of IGN said that Futurama's new season, despite its unexpected continuation, is not operating at its best. Dowd found the first six episodes to be uneven, featuring more forgettable content than significant humor, though there is a notable late parody of the Fyre Festival. Dowd speculated that the series might reserve its strongest material for later in the season. [31]
