Michael B. Jordan’s New Prime Video Series Debuts To Rare Rotten Tomatoes Score

Michael B. Jordan‘s new Prime Video show debuts with strength on Rotten Tomatoes.

The deal between Jordan, the Oscar-winning star of Sinners and Creed, goes back to February 2021. That was when Outlier Society, Jordan’s production banner, signed a first-look film pact with Amazon Studios and an overall television deal. That partnership paved the way for Without Remorse, a Tom Clancy adaptation that saw the Black Panther actor collaborating with Taylor Sheridan.

Since then, Outlier Society has lined up a number of high-profile adaptations. The upcoming TV take on the Fourth Wing novels is likely the most high-profile production, with key castings recently announced. Outlier Society and Amazon’s Prime Video streaming platform are also debuting The Greatest, an eight-episode look at the life of Muhammad Ali, on November 4th.

The Greatest has debuted to a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The score is based on only six reviews so far, so it is subject to change as more assessments are added in the coming days and weeks. The Average of Rated Reviews, viewable by clicking the Tomatometer, currently sits at 8.10 out of 10, indicating a strongly positive reception early on.

The Greatest is created and executive produced by Ben Watkins, most recently the showrunner of Prime Video’s Cross, and is notably a rare extended scripted look at the life of Ali. Lonnie Ali, the legendary boxer’s widow, is among a team of executive producers that includes Jordan via Outlier Society, Authentic Studios, Roc Nation, Shawn Carter, Polygram Entertainment, and Grace: A Storytelling Company.

The biopic drama features a cast of characters crucial to Ali’s journey and historically relevant. All American: Homecoming alum Jaalen Best leads as the titular boxer, while Power star Omari Hardwick and The Hateful Eight actor Dana Gourrier play his parents, Cassius “Cash” Clay Sr. and Odessa “Bird” Clay, respectively. Colin in Black & White actor Kai Parham appears as Rudy Clay, Ali’s brother, with Snowfall‘s Amin Joseph appearing as rival Sonny Liston. Veteran actor Giovanni Ribisi rounds out the ensemble as Angelo Dundee, and Barbershop‘s Michael Ealy recurs as Malcolm X.

AEW and WWE legend Chris Jericho also recurs, appearing as Gorgeous George, in the Prime Video Original which TheWrap‘s Zaki Hasan argues is one of the year’s best new shows. That sentiment is echoed in similar terms elsewhere, with Sydney Morning Herald‘s Craig Mathieson arguing that the show deserves to be renewed.

Still, there are some drawbacks. Some reviews note that The Greatest doesn’t deviate from the biopic formula and that it doesn’t offer a new perspective on the sports icon. But on the whole, it does sound like, if a viewer is open to the established biopic ebbs and flows, then there is plenty to be found in this latest streaming offering.

It is a good inclusion for Jordan’s production banner in any case. Especially since Will Smith’s Ali is such a well-remembered movie. The next stop between Outlier Society and Amazon is The Thomas Crown Affair, which is directed and led by Jordan. It will be released on March 5, 2027.

All eight episodes of The Greatest release on Prime Video on November 4.