Prime Video Prequel Series That’s Dividing Critics & Audiences Becomes A Global Streaming Sensation

Despite the divide between critics and audiences, this prequel is taking over Prime Video.

Prime Video has become home to and expanded many television franchises, with The Boys, Reacher, and Bosch being some of the most prominent. Along with the flagship shows, there have been the spinoffs The Boys Presents: Diabolical, Gen V, Bosch: Legacy, and Ballard. Later this year, Neagley is coming out, and it will be followed by Vought Rising in 2027.

Now, it’s Prime Video’s Legally Blonde prequel Elle that is dominating streaming charts. The series, which is set during Elle Woods’ high school years, debuted with a 46% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, and has now risen slightly to 53%. The audience reception has been much more favorable, as the show has a “Fresh” 74% Popcornmeter score.

On Prime Video, Elle is in first place on the global streaming charts. It has the top spot in 33 individual countries as well, including Canada, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, Spain, and the United States. The other shows in the worldwide top 10 are Off Campus, Every Year After, Spider-Noir, See You at Work Tomorrow!, Clarkson’s Farm, The Boys, Pa’Quererte, Yo soy Betty la fea, and The Summer I Turned Pretty.

The divide between critics and audiences has not interfered with the prequel’s streaming success, nor has it gotten in the way of Elle season 2. Not only was it renewed ahead of season 1, but cast member Jacob Moskovitz shared with ScreenRant that season 2 has already finished filming. This demonstrates the high level of confidence that Prime Video had in the series, even before it became their number one show in the world.

While she no longer plays the character, Reese Witherspoon was involved in Elle as an executive producer. Lexi Minetree portrays the titular character in the television series, while June Diane Raphael and Tom Everett Scott play parents Eva and Wyatt Woods. The family’s life changes when they move to Seattle, which Elle must adapt to after living in Bel-Air, California.

With a rating of seven out of 10 stars, ScreenRant‘s Elle review by Liz Hersey is more favorable than many others. She praises Minetree’s performance, as it “has more than enough charisma to carry Elle, and it’s through her performance that it becomes clear the series is far more than a lazy capitalization on popular IP.”

A common issue being raised in many reviews is that the series does not work with the canon, both in terms of what was established in the movies, and with Elle’s arc being too similar to the lessons her character will not learn for several more years in the timeline. Based on the streaming dominance and the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, this seems to be more of an issue among critics, though, and is not a deal-breaker deterring Prime Video subscribers from watching.

Elle was created by Laura Kittrell, who serves as the showrunner alongside Caroline Dries. In addition to Minetree, Raphael, Scott, and Moskovitz, the cast features Chandler Kinney, Gabrielle Policano, Amy Pietz, Zac Looker, Matt Oberg, Jessica Belkin, David Burtka, Lisa Yamada, Logan Shroyer, Chloe Wepper, Kayla Maisonet, Brad Harder, and James Van Der Beek.

Elle season 1 is now streaming on Prime Video.

Release Date

July 1, 2026

Network

Prime Video

Directors

Jason Moore

Cast

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  June Diane Raphael

  Eva Woods

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  Tom Everett Scott

  Wyatt Woods

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