Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Limited Series – Death by Lightning

Play trailer 2:11 Poster for Limited Series – Death by Lightning Nov 2025 History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
90% Tomatometer 68 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Presenting the story of James Garfield, who rose from obscurity to become America's 20th President and Charles Guiteau, the man who assassinated him.
Watch on Netflix Stream Now

Where to Watch

Death by Lightning — Limited Series

Death by Lightning — Limited Series

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Handsomely mounted and electrified by Matthew Macfadyen's masterclass in slimy desperation, Death by Lightning concisely dramatizes a fork in history while wistfully hinting at what could've been.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Judy Berman TIME Magazine Dec 3
Creator Mike Makowsky shapes the source material, Candice Millard’s nonfiction book Destiny of the Republic, into a collection of quintessentially American archetypes. Go to Full Review
Peter Travers The Travers Take Nov 21
3.5/4
The artful acting mischief of Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen makes the Presidential assassination that America forgot into one of the most memorable shows of the TV season Go to Full Review
Deborah Ross The Spectator Nov 20
Heaven knows what liberties the series has taken with the historical facts but it’s hugely entertaining. Go to Full Review
Catherine Springer CathsFilmForum.com Feb 21
There are moments of true absurdity—feel free to laugh out loud—and there are moments that will make your stomach truly hurt. But, in its totality, these four episodes are a glimpse of this nation’s past that epitomize who we are, in every way. Go to Full Review
Ernesto Diezmartinez Letras Libres Jan 8
2.5/4
"Death by Lightning recovers the story of the twentieth US president and his assassin, both forgotten over time". [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Neely Swanson Beverly Hills Courier Dec 20
Death by Lightning, at a mere four episodes, was a jumbled mess because the writer didn’t know how to frame his narrative in a meaningful and cogent manner. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Thady O @ThadyOB 10h Probably one of the most overlooked mini-series this year - but epically executed with a phenomenal cast - a truly improvised work. See more Victoria B @ViciRoss 2d It's incredibly efficient in its storytelling and characterization. I wouldn't have minded it being longer, but nothing felt unfinished. See more William E. @RT51124718 Apr 19 A tremendously well-done series from start to finish. Very accurate by Hollywood standards. The acting was superb. See more Per S @RT83737705 Mar 26 Generally underrated, well made and rather realistic miniseries about the short and commonly forgotten US presidency of James Garfield in 1881, and his murderer. All over well acting performances, though some characters are perhaps a bit over the top. However, Betty Gilpin is absolutely remarkable portraying Lucretia Garfield, the president's wife. See more Maverick C @MaverickCinema Feb 15 Michael Shannon is brilliant. Matthew Macfadyen is brilliant. I was admittedly unaware of this history, and was hooked by the story. The pacing went off the rails at points, but the acting and story picks up the slack, I definitely recommend it. See more Andrew D @RT24350933 Jan 31 Really well done. The sets and costumes were fabulous. See more Read all reviews
Death by Lightning — Limited Series

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Nov 6, 2025 The Man From Ohio At the 1880 Republican National Convention, the lives of Ohio Congressman James Garfield and newly released convict Charles Guiteau are forever altered. Details Episode 2 Aired Nov 6, 2025 Party Faithful In the runup to Election Day, Garfield welcomes the nation to his front porch; Guiteau struggles to ingratiate himself with Party leadership. Details Episode 3 Aired Nov 6, 2025 Casus Belli Treachery from within the White House complicates Garfield's attempts to appoint a Cabinet; Guiteau tries everything to secure a Presidential audience. Details Episode 4 Aired Nov 6, 2025 Destiny of the Republic Conkling goes on the offensive as Garfield challenges the New York political machine; isolated and desperate, Guiteau weighs a history-making decision. Details
Gentleman Jack 92% 93% Gentleman Jack Watchlist TRAILER for Gentleman Jack Rome 86% 96% Rome Watchlist Pachinko 97% 93% Pachinko Watchlist TRAILER for Pachinko Franklin 71% 58% Franklin Watchlist TRAILER for Franklin Strange Angel 71% 69% Strange Angel Watchlist TRAILER for Strange Angel Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Season Info

Director
Matt Ross, Matt Ross
Creator
Mike Makowsky
Executive Producer
David Benioff, Bernadette Caulfield, D.B. Weiss, Matt Ross
Network
Netflix
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Nov 6, 2025