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5 clusters · 23 sources · 22 days · First seen · Last updated

Ricky Gervais' Netflix 'Alley Cats' draws mixed reviews

Overview

Following the 7 August 2026 launch of Ricky Gervais’ adult-animation comedy *Alley Cats* on Netflix, the six-episode series has faced sharply divided critical reception. While the *Wall Street Journal* called the show “ferally funny” and *Variety* described it as “bittersweet,” other outlets such as *The Telegraph*, *Metro*, and *The Guardian* were highly critical. Critics labeled the series “abysmal,” “lazy, crude and boring,” and even compared it to the 2019 film *Cats*.

Gervais has responded to the backlash on social media, suggesting that viewers should be able to handle the content as adults and noting that “it’s just a cartoon about cats.” He further dismissed the negative press by sharing a graphic titled “25 years of Ricky Gervais being finished… critical headlines predicting his decline,” highlighting a long history of negative headlines throughout his career. He has expressed confidence in the project, citing “word of mouth” as a powerful marketing tool.

Despite a low Rotten Tomatoes critic score (fluctuating between 17% and 20%), the series has achieved commercial success, reaching the number one spot on Netflix’s most-watched charts. The show has received public support from comedy legend John Cleese, who described the animation as “quite wonderful,” as well as actor James Dreyfus. The voice ensemble includes Gervais, Kerry Godliman, Diane Morgan, and David Earl. No official decision regarding a second season has been made, as Netflix is expected to evaluate viewership data.

Entities

Netflix · Ricky Gervais · Alley Cats · Gus (cat character) · Gus (cat)

Timeline

  1. about 1 month ago

    [CULTURE] 2 sources
    Ricky Gervais defends Netflix series Alley Cats amid critical backlash

    Ricky Gervais has laughed off scathing critical reviews of his new Netflix animated series, ‘Alley Cats’, noting the show's popularity and his long history of facing media backlash.

  2. about 1 month ago

    [CULTURE] 4 sources
    Ricky Gervais’ ‘Alley Cats’ hits Netflix top charts despite critical backlash

    Ricky Gervais’ new Netflix animated series ‘Alley Cats’ has reached number one in viewership despite receiving harsh reviews from critics. Comedy legend John Cleese has defended the show.

  3. about 2 months ago

    [CULTURE] 12 sources
    Ricky Gervais' Netflix animated series 'Alley Cats' draws mixed reviews

    Netflix's new adult animated series 'Alley Cats' (Aug 7 2026) stars Ricky Gervais as cat Gus. Critics are split, with many UK papers panning it while some US outlets note occasional humor.

  4. about 2 months ago

    [CULTURE] 3 sources
    Ricky Gervais' Netflix Adult Animation 'Alley Cats' Debuts August 7

    Netflix's adult animated series 'Alley Cats' by Ricky Gervais premieres Aug 7; a teaser highlighted its humor while a Guardian review called it lazy and outdated.

  5. about 2 months ago

    [CULTURE] 2 sources
    Ricky Gervais pushes Netflix animated series Alley Cats with new teaser and plans to keep it running forever

    Ricky Gervais released a teaser for Netflix’s animated comedy *Alley Cats* and said he intends to make the show run forever, with the series debuting August 7.

Sources

archynetys.com · bristolpost.co.uk · chortle.co.uk · cinepop.com.br · comicbasics.com · craveonline.com · digitalspy.com · highonfilms.com · huffingtonpost.co.uk · ilprimatonazionale.it · inasianspaces.com · larazon.es · memesita.com · metro.co.uk · observatoriodocinema.bol.uol.com.br · pojedztam.pl · qmde.de · que.es · tainan.gov.tw · teamdogs.co.uk · thatericalper.com · uk.news.yahoo.com · world-today-news.com

This summary has been updated 7 times: see revision history