Big Little Lies: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 42 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 313 Ratings

See All

8.3

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.3	Your Score
8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 313 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Big Little Lies

Now Playing: Big Little Lies

Season Details & Credits

HBO | Season Premiere Date: February 19, 2017

Starring: Adam Scott, Jeffrey Nordling, Reese Witherspoon

Summary: The David E. Kelley adaptation of Liane Moriarity's novel of the same name about how seemingly perfect lives of three mothers of seven-years-old children--Celeste (Nicole Kidman), Madeline (Reese Witherspoon) and Jane (Shailene Woodley)--end with someone committing murder.

Genre(s): Comedy, Drama

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E7. You Get What You Need
Air Date: April 2, 2017
tbd
S1:E6. Burning Love
Air Date: March 26, 2017
tbd
S1:E5. Once Bitten
Air Date: March 19, 2017

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Jeff Korbelik

Feb 21, 2017

Big Little Lies is a slow burn. The joy is watching Witherspoon, Kidman and Woodley really working Kelley’s scripts, especially Witherspoon, who just commands the small screen with her abilities. Read full review

IndieWire Ben Travers

Feb 6, 2017

The lessons learned from Big Little Lies won’t be as easily shaken. They lie not in discovering the truth, but in searching for it. And this is one damn addictive search. Read full review

Jeff Jensen

Feb 11, 2017

Just when you worry the show is a pageant of ugly cliches about female rivalry, it gives you a poignant, nuanced scene to deepen the whole. ... Big Little Lies invests you in mysteries and the renewal and re-liberation of its women. Hopefully it can transcend to big little truths, too. [17 Feb 2017, p.50] Read full review

Matt Zoller Seitz

Feb 14, 2017

There are times when you get so wrapped up in the private despair and public pettiness of Madeline, Renata, Celeste, Jane & Co. that when the series reminds itself to tend to its crime-puzzle elements, it suddenly seems less special. Big Little Lies is still a must-see because of its extraordinary actors, all of whom bring either new shadings to the sorts of characters they’ve played brilliantly before or show new sides of their talent. Read full review

Uncle Barky Ed Bark

Feb 16, 2017

Big Little Lies isn’t stitched tightly enough to be a truly great miniseries. Read full review

Mark Dawidziak

Feb 17, 2017

If not a triumphant return to form, Big Little Lies is the best new Kelley series in quite a while. It contains all of his considerable strengths (sharp and clever dialogue) and some his weaknesses (precious and labored moments). It is nothing less than fun, if never much more than that. But that's more than enough to keep you engaged and keep you watching. Read full review

Tim Goodman

Feb 7, 2017

The series might have worked better if it let the strong cast make the most of the troubled writing--good actors can elevate tired scripts and, in reverse, tamp down overly dramatic ones. But that Greek chorus of witnesses that props up the construction of the series undermines their work. Read full review

SEE ALL 42 REVIEWS

User Score

Write a Review

8.3

User Reviews

JorgeLestre

Feb 20, 2017

'Big Little Lies' knows how to create mystery and keep us hooked on such interesting characters. The ladies steal the show and dominate with grace, behaving like the camera is their passerelle. This is one of those examples of how to provoke the audience revealing just the necessary amount'Big Little Lies' knows how to create mystery and keep us hooked on such interesting characters. The ladies steal the show and dominate with grace, behaving like the camera is their passerelle. This is one of those examples of how to provoke the audience revealing just the necessary amount of information and make us wanting for more.… Expand

11 of 16 users found this helpful115

LeonardoAmato

Jan 12, 2018

A masterpiece, starting from the performances given by Whiterspoon, Kidman, Woodley and the rest of the cast, to the wonderfully-written script. Being one of the best tv series of the decade, "Big Little Lies" shows how fight, strength and WOMEN, together, can change everything.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

jonnybgoode

Apr 3, 2017

I look forward to seeing this show every week. Really surprised this show did not get better reviews. Laura Dern, Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman all put forth great performances. Not a fan of David Kelly, but here the writing is very well thought-out. A great mystery wrapped aroundI look forward to seeing this show every week. Really surprised this show did not get better reviews. Laura Dern, Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman all put forth great performances. Not a fan of David Kelly, but here the writing is very well thought-out. A great mystery wrapped around a fluid story line and good performances.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

geewah

Jan 30, 2021

Not a bad adaption of the best selling book. It is addictive pulp, but the only problem I found was I just couldn't find myself liking any of the main characters.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

j1train

Mar 23, 2017

Gets better and better each episode after an underwhelming pilot. There are issues, like the 3-second cutaways to snarky witnesses that add very little to most episodes. But mostly, it's a showcase for some brilliant acting, particularly from Nicole Kidman.

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

thedaywalker

Mar 28, 2017

It's a pretty decent show, but it's really addictive, with great performances all round that make it look like a small movie, i can find some annoyances in some characters, but the great writing and very good mystery will keep you hooked

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

urbanmagic

Feb 19, 2017

David Kelley has written some terrific scripts in the past, but this is really weak. Every moment feels clinched and recycled. And the direction is abominable. With a cast full of remarkable actors, almost every moment feels self conscious and artificial. My condolences to the cast and theDavid Kelley has written some terrific scripts in the past, but this is really weak. Every moment feels clinched and recycled. And the direction is abominable. With a cast full of remarkable actors, almost every moment feels self conscious and artificial. My condolences to the cast and the capable cinematographer.… Expand

9 of 22 users found this helpful913

SEE ALL 39 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

78

Series Overview
Season 2

82
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: June 9, 2019
Season 1

75
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: February 19, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E7. You Get What You Need
  Air Date: April 2, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E6. Burning Love
  Air Date: March 26, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E5. Once Bitten
  Air Date: March 19, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E4. Push Comes to Shove
  Air Date: March 12, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E3. Living the Dream
  Air Date: March 5, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E2. Serious Mothering
  Air Date: February 26, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E1. Somebody's Dead
  Air Date: February 19, 2017