• Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: May 6, 2019
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 402 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 22 out of 402
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User Reviews

  1. May 22, 2019
    10
    Боль и страдания! Только так можно выразить, происходящее на экране. Сериал держит зрителя в напряженности от первой секунды до последней. Создатели рассказывают истории людей, переживающих последствия данной катастрофы, и эти истории завораживают своей трагичностью и безумием. В определенные моменты становится страшно смотреть на экран, но от этого сериал не становится хуже. Он показываетБоль и страдания! Только так можно выразить, происходящее на экране. Сериал держит зрителя в напряженности от первой секунды до последней. Создатели рассказывают истории людей, переживающих последствия данной катастрофы, и эти истории завораживают своей трагичностью и безумием. В определенные моменты становится страшно смотреть на экран, но от этого сериал не становится хуже. Он показывает реальную историю без преувеличений и заставляет зрителя сопереживать героям. Низкий поклон создателям сериала за огромный труд, с помощью которого они отдают дань уважения всем людям, участвовавшим в ликвидации последствий катастрофы, а так же за то, что показали это людям, чтобы они не забывали и помнили, какую цену заплатили ликвидаторы за жизни нынешних и будущих поколений! Expand
  2. May 14, 2019
    10
    I didn't have much expectations from this, but it turns out it is absolutely and exceptionally powerful television, the cast is superb. It starts slowly, but by episode 2 things become so disturbingly real, I almost could feel my hair fall out from anxiety and the sheer horror of looking impending apocalypse and death in the eyes...
    (Europe as a whole dodged a bullet in 1986).
  3. May 18, 2019
    10
    Great TV show, I am not been so impressed since breaking bad for a TV serie
  4. May 7, 2019
    9
    The first episode tonight was outstanding, made me feel physically ill, and feared that while watching somehow I was being exposed to nuclear radiation.
  5. May 7, 2019
    10
    Very compelling television. This story will induce rage among viewers on how the Russian government was more concerned about their politics than the safety of their people. Can't wait for episode 2.
  6. May 16, 2019
    10
    The first episode was so good. There was a lot of attention put into making things look authentic. It is as bleak as you would expect USSR in mid 80s to be. Everything from camera filters, and lighting to costumes, interiors and hairstyles paint a very convincing picture. Radiation burns is not something that you can see on television every day and many of the scenes were truly shocking.The first episode was so good. There was a lot of attention put into making things look authentic. It is as bleak as you would expect USSR in mid 80s to be. Everything from camera filters, and lighting to costumes, interiors and hairstyles paint a very convincing picture. Radiation burns is not something that you can see on television every day and many of the scenes were truly shocking. It was like watching apocalyptic horror movie...except it wasn't a fiction Expand
  7. May 22, 2019
    10
    I don't see how this show could have been any better. I especially love the eighties sovjet atmosphere. The only thing I don't like is that I have to wait a week for the next one. And that it's a mini-series.
  8. May 16, 2019
    9
    Beautiful acting and amazing cinematography. The sense of impending doom that lasts throughout each episode is suspense at its best.
  9. May 16, 2019
    10
    Una gran serie que recrea bieo que pasó en Chernobyl.
    Altamente recomendada
  10. May 9, 2019
    10
    This show is absolutely captivating. After only 1 episode you can already feel the hopelessness from the event. This is already panning to be one of my favorite limited series from HBO.
  11. May 21, 2019
    10
    I was lucky enough to have visited the USSR twice before the wall came down, and Chernobyl captures that Soviet aesthetic to a tee. It's looming throughout the show as it was when I visited Romania and the Ukraine; ever-present and suffocating. I'm fascinated with every episode they release. There's just no wrong step here.
  12. May 12, 2019
    8
    This show is especially grim and has such an impressive atmosphere that really carries the entire ordeal.
  13. May 7, 2019
    10
    Absolutely brilliant this new series showcasing incredible talent telling us the story behind one of the worst nuclear disasters in history. Very haunting, incredibly powerful, shocking but outstanding. Episode one only.
  14. Feb 27, 2022
    10
    Amazing recreation of this real disaster. The story is made to follow those who have made sacrifices. Maybe the invention of Khomyuk is taking liberties, but you do feel it brings more focus. I felt like it brought some lights on the events. The acting is quite amazing with a great cast. And also, how the story starts and end was a smart choice. I give it a 98%. We probably gets the storyAmazing recreation of this real disaster. The story is made to follow those who have made sacrifices. Maybe the invention of Khomyuk is taking liberties, but you do feel it brings more focus. I felt like it brought some lights on the events. The acting is quite amazing with a great cast. And also, how the story starts and end was a smart choice. I give it a 98%. We probably gets the story of Fukushima Daiichi reactor one day. Still ongoing. Expand
  15. Jun 8, 2019
    10
    Gripping, disturbing, extremely well done... the show maintains a good balance between the human drama and the retelling of the events of the disaster. It's almost unimaginable with how much naivety people reacted to the explosion at the beginning. But the show also manages to portray the Soviet system of lies, fear and deliberately leaving the people in the dark as one of the mainGripping, disturbing, extremely well done... the show maintains a good balance between the human drama and the retelling of the events of the disaster. It's almost unimaginable with how much naivety people reacted to the explosion at the beginning. But the show also manages to portray the Soviet system of lies, fear and deliberately leaving the people in the dark as one of the main culprits. The production design and the choice of locations creates an extremely authentic look of the time. The series offers a glimpse into the abyss of hell and won't let you go until you've seen all the episodes. Expand
  16. May 7, 2019
    10
    This was a great start, i was worried they would censor or leave out disturbing facts of this catastrophic incident. More specifically the shady politics that came with the USSR at the time, how crazy communist governments become and inherently are. I do wish it was Russian actors with subtitles to be as authentic as possible, but the visuals are unimaginable and they definitely dove intoThis was a great start, i was worried they would censor or leave out disturbing facts of this catastrophic incident. More specifically the shady politics that came with the USSR at the time, how crazy communist governments become and inherently are. I do wish it was Russian actors with subtitles to be as authentic as possible, but the visuals are unimaginable and they definitely dove into the realities of what it must have even looked like. Places that only so many people witnessed before their demise such as peering into the core. Absolutely fascinating and it plays out like a horror program, only it is real, all to real. You didn't want to be on the bottom end of the communist totem pole as a soldier, first responder, scientist, or politician when this situation happened. So many lives ruined. I'm looking forward to how the show unfolds and depicts the event many already know or have studied, but as it looks right now they aren't holding anything back. Expand
  17. May 21, 2019
    10
    Очень понравился сериал. Правдоподобный, увлекательный, поучительный и пугающий
  18. May 26, 2019
    10
    The Writing, Set Design, Music, Acting, and Cinematography for this miniseries is absolutely exceptional. The Cinematography is probably some of the best of any TV show ever, and Every episode so far has you in suspense for what will happen next.
  19. May 10, 2019
    9
    So far this a riveting look at the worst nuclear disaster in history. Not only is the human drama compelling, but so is the political drama. The Soviet state dared not admit what happened and prevented the engineers at Chernobyl from speaking truth to power. The Soviets labored under the delusion of supremacy and it cost many lives. Excellent show, pay no attention the New York Times review.
  20. May 7, 2019
    9
    After what HBO did to GoT Season 8, I was going to unsub. This show is great and I'll stick around for it. And then probably unsub.
  21. May 19, 2019
    10
    Ok, forget about that sh**ty a** season 8 of Game of Thrones.

    This is the season of 2019.

    Johan Renck should have been appointed director of GoT S8 and Craig Mazin should have written it.
  22. Jun 3, 2019
    10
    I'm from Russia. The film is believable, and all events are transmitted realistically. I recommend it to everyone. It is a masterpiece.
  23. Aug 9, 2019
    10
    Après avoir vu cette série, on se sent regonflé à bloc comme un écolo barbu binoclard avec les pancartes "non au nucléaire"... on en ressort en effet horrifié, consterné, sidéré. En même temps, une telle catastrophe est dûe à de multiples causes -très bien expliquées dans la série- non liées directement à l'énergie de l'atome.

    Une énergie, précisons-le d'ailleurs pour nos écolos,
    Après avoir vu cette série, on se sent regonflé à bloc comme un écolo barbu binoclard avec les pancartes "non au nucléaire"... on en ressort en effet horrifié, consterné, sidéré. En même temps, une telle catastrophe est dûe à de multiples causes -très bien expliquées dans la série- non liées directement à l'énergie de l'atome.

    Une énergie, précisons-le d'ailleurs pour nos écolos, "propre" entre guillemets : elle ne dégage pas le vilain, le très vilain CO2, ni de fumées polluantes et ne sent pas mauvais comme le biogaz... et en plus, elle fournit une électricité vraiment bon marché. Bref, elle assure un avenir radieux !

    C'est juste que confiée à des enfoirnazes de communistes, ça peut pèter méchamment... et encore... -comme on s'en rend compte ici- le pire a en fait été évité ! Grâce au courage des Russes et à leurs nombreux sacrifices, malgré le poids écrasant de la bureaucratie des Soviets et la Guerre Froide qui n'était pas encore terminée...

    Bien documentée en tout cas mais pas documentaire pour autant, d'une densité bienvenue (seulement cinq épisodes d'une heure), Chernobyl ne sombre jamais dans le pathos ou le violoneux mais se cantonne aux faits et -mon dieu- les faits parlent d'eux-mêmes... Les acteurs sont tous excellents avec notamment un Stellan Skarsgard impeccable, le seul connu du lot d'ailleurs.

    La reconstitution des évènements s'avère rigoureuse et toujours très claire et l'ensemble se révèle finalement aussi effrayant que poignant. Et terrifiant. En France, très éloigné de tout cela, on a pas mesuré l'ampleur de ce cataclysme ; on en mesure toute l'ampleur à travers cette série et accessoirement la faillite d'un système sclérosé, bouffé de l'intérieur, celui de l'Union Soviétique corrompue et à bout de souffle.

    Une grande, très grande série superbement réalisée, sobre, authentique et touchante.
    Expand
  24. May 18, 2019
    10
    It's great. If you enjoy an excellent drama with an intense slow burn storytelling, but still interesting, you'll love it.
  25. May 25, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This has to be one of the few rare and perfect shows on TV!

    I'll give some brief examples that really made it stand out!

    1) Visually it is a masterpiece!
    2) That the characters are based on real people, especially the woman in the beginning whos husband was a firefighter. (She's based on the woman from the introduction to the book: voices of Chernobyl.)
    3) At the end of episode 2 when the men in the tunnels lights were going out due to radiation I almost lost my ****
    4) The music is simply powerful and mindblowing.
    5) The totality of it all! At the end of episode 3 when the cement is laying over the coffins of the firefighters, no human would not cry at that part.

    Conclusion! MUST. WATCH.
    Expand
  26. Jun 4, 2019
    10
    I'm not used to rate 10 because I think that there is always something that could be better but Chernobyl was just...wow, terrifying, brain-blowing. I think everyone should watch it to understand the cost of lies...
  27. JPK
    Jun 13, 2019
    10
    A Complete And Utter Masterpiece
    Chernobyl is a horrifying and accurate account of that tragic day under the oppression of the communist regime.
  28. Jun 5, 2019
    10
    A truly great mini series. Suspenseful and moving this mini series is a perfect binge watch.
  29. May 25, 2019
    10
    Amazing series, truly gives a insight into the devastating and incredible sacrifices made by a small group of men to save millions of lives and thousands of acres of lands from death and devastation. Not a series for the faint of heart however the insight and realism shown are truly remarkable viewing giving the viewer a deep understanding of the event whilst also maintaining some creativeAmazing series, truly gives a insight into the devastating and incredible sacrifices made by a small group of men to save millions of lives and thousands of acres of lands from death and devastation. Not a series for the faint of heart however the insight and realism shown are truly remarkable viewing giving the viewer a deep understanding of the event whilst also maintaining some creative control due to the nature of it being a television show. A must watch for history fans, drama fans and anyone who just wants some education whilst watching a compelling drama alongside. Expand
  30. Jun 14, 2019
    9
    Если у вас есть желание посмотреть сериал с хорошем сюжетом, но не хватает времени, то Чернобыль - лучшее, что с вами может случиться! Весь антураж красной страны передан великолепно! К примеру агит-плакаты или школьная форма. Если вы житель постсоветского пространства, то только по этому вам следует посмотреть сеё творение Йохана РенкаЕсли у вас есть желание посмотреть сериал с хорошем сюжетом, но не хватает времени, то Чернобыль - лучшее, что с вами может случиться! Весь антураж красной страны передан великолепно! К примеру агит-плакаты или школьная форма. Если вы житель постсоветского пространства, то только по этому вам следует посмотреть сеё творение Йохана Ренка
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 27
  2. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Reviewed by: Lucy Mangan
    Dec 4, 2019
    60
    Things may improve over the coming weeks as the smoke clears, and I hope so. Chernobyl is a story that has everything, but at the moment, comrades, justice is not being done to it.
  2. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    May 9, 2019
    70
    The fact that it really happened--and, for all of its devastation, could have been worse--makes this five-part slog of unrelieved misery even more chilling. [13-26 May 2019, p.11]
  3. Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    May 7, 2019
    90
    Spare, bleak and devastating.