The new television series Amadeus has made a notable debut, achieving a strong 82% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. This five-part historical drama, which premiered on December 21, 2025, is an adaptation of Peter Shaffer’s famous play about composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. While critics have given it generally positive reviews, the audience and critical response reveals a more complex picture, with many viewers comparing it directly to the beloved 1984 Oscar-winning film.
The series Amadeus launched on Sky Atlantic in the UK. The show followed a unique release schedule, with a new episode airing daily from December 21 to December 25, 2025. All five episodes are now available for streaming. In Australia, the series is available on the streaming service Binge.
The series presents a fictional account of the intense rivalry between two musical giants. It begins in 1781, with a 25-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart arriving in Vienna seeking fame and fortune. The story is largely told through the confessional memories of the aging court composer Antonio Salieri, who is haunted by Mozart’s genius.
Will Sharpe, known for his role in The White Lotus, takes on the lead role of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Paul Bettany stars as his rival, the devout and envious composer Antonio Salieri. Gabrielle Creevy plays Constanze Mozart, Mozart’s wife, who is portrayed as a smart and protective figure deeply involved in her husband’s life and career. The supporting cast includes Rory Kinnear as Emperor Joseph II and Jonathan Aris as Mozart’s father, Leopold Mozart.
The series holds an 82% rating on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. This score is based on 11 published critic reviews, with nine rated “Fresh” and two “Rotten”. It is important to note that this score represents only the initial wave of critical opinion and may change as more reviews are published.
Reviews from major publications show a split in opinion. A review from Empire praised the series, calling it a “funny, sumptuous, intelligent take on the play” that finds its own voice separate from the famous film. It highlighted Paul Bettany’s performance as a standout, portraying a villain who is also sympathetically trapped by his own insecurities.
Bettanyโs is the stand-out performance, a scheming villain whoโs also somewhat sympathetically trapped by his own self-loathing.
In contrast, The Guardian was highly critical, awarding the series only two stars. Its review described the show as a “pale, petty version of the movie” and found the new adaptation to be “flat, airless and banal”. It argued that the series lowered the story’s high moral and spiritual stakes, reducing a profound tale of envy and genius into something less powerful.
While the critical response is measured, many viewers have expressed great enthusiasm for the series on social media and in online forums. Comments from audiences have hailed the show as “superb,” “amazing,” and a “masterpiece”.
One viewer described the series as “sublime,” writing:
“This is an absolute jewel of a seriesโฆ The acting across the board is first rate – with some award winning performances on showโฆ Everything from direction to cinematography is perfection.”
Another praised the production values, stating, “In terms of scenery, costumes, and overall production values, there’s very little to fault.”
However, the audience response is not universally positive. Some reactions, particularly on forums like IMDb, have been sharply critical of the casting choices and creative direction. These comments often compare the series unfavorably to Miloลก Forman’s 1984 film, which won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
A key point of discussion is how this series differentiates its portrayal of the central characters from previous adaptations. The series uses its longer format to explore the characters in more depth. It spends more time on Mozart’s personal life and his complex relationship with his demanding father, Leopold, adding another layer to his character beyond his public genius.
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Paul Bettany’s Salieri is shown as a man tortured by his own mediocrity and his belief that God has chosen an unworthy vessel for divine musical talent. Will Sharpe’s Mozart is portrayed in a “lower key” than Tom Hulce’s more exuberant performance in the 1984 film, which some reviewers felt was a necessary adjustment for a longer series format. Gabrielle Creevy’s Constanze is frequently mentioned as a highlight, with her character given more agency and presence in the narrative.
The series was adapted for television by writer Joe Barton, whose previous work includes Giri/Haji and The Lazarus Project. The directors are Julian Farino and Alice Seabright. The production is a collaboration between Two Cities Television and Sky Studios. Filming took place in Budapest, Hungary, between May and September 2024.
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