Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s latest Netflix venture, “Heart of Invictus,” has underperformed significantly, marking a new challenge for the couple’s foray into Hollywood production. Despite their high-profile status and prior successful ventures, the documentary series, which centers around the Invictus Games, has failed to capture audience interest, garnering only 300,000 views according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry in 2014, is an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women. The series aimed to highlight the inspiring stories of these athletes, showcasing their resilience and determination. However, despite the noble premise and potential for compelling storytelling, “Heart of Invictus” struggled to make an impact on Netflix’s vast audience.
This underwhelming reception is a significant setback for Harry and Meghan, who have been working to establish themselves in the entertainment industry since stepping back from royal duties and moving to the United States in 2020. Their production company, Archewell, has been involved in several projects, but “Heart of Invictus” appears to be one of their first major missteps.
The Hollywood Reporter’s list of the least-watched high-profile Netflix shows of 2023 places “Heart of Invictus” at the bottom. This is particularly stark when compared to other low-performing shows like the cancelled “Big Mouth” spin-off “Human Resources,” which still managed to attract 2.5 million views. Other notable flops included the documentary “Working: What We Do All Day” with one million views, and Tina Fey’s animated show “Mulligan” along with the golf special “The Netflix Cup,” each drawing 700,000 views.
In stark contrast, “Leave the World Behind,” a film produced by Barack Obama and featuring stars such as Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, and Mahershala Ali, topped the list with a staggering 121 million views. This juxtaposition highlights the competitive nature of the streaming market and underscores the challenge for new producers like Harry and Meghan in capturing and retaining audience interest.
The disappointing performance of “Heart of Invictus” serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of the entertainment industry, where even projects with the best of intentions and star power can falter. As Harry and Meghan continue their Hollywood journey, they will need to reassess and possibly re-strategize their approach to content creation and audience engagement.