- Network: HBO
- Series Premiere Date: Feb 3, 2020
Critic Reviews
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McMillions proves that truth is stranger, and more entertaining, than fiction.
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I’ve seen the first three chapters of the six-part series from executive producer Mark Wahlberg (which premieres Monday), and I’m champing at the bit for more of this jaw-dropper about how $24 million was stolen from the McDonald’s Monopoly game of the 1990s.
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While McMillions is a surprisingly fun examination of the con and the con men, it’s also a worthy portrayal of the toll that predatory offers take on those most vulnerable to their poisoned charms.
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The mindful storytellers carefully shift tones, sucking viewers into an outlandish story before driving home its substantive impact. Even knowing the ending, it’s hard to tell exactly how the docuseries will wrap things up in the back-half, but there’s plenty of great work present — in the structure and the story — to eagerly anticipate more.
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It would have made a better Hollywood film than documentary series, were it not for one man who makes the whole thing irresistible. ... When Mathews is on screen, McMillions is a winner.
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Vividly unravels a multi-million-dollar fraud targeting the popular McDonald's Monopoly promotional game. [3-16 Feb 2020, p.9]
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If you’ve ever wondered why you never won more than free french fries while playing Monopoly, you’ll want to watch this docuseries.
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I’ll be interested to see if McMillions does more to explore that angle in its last three episodes. For now, the first three chapters in this epic saga of burgers and lies definitely have my attention. Sure, if you want, you can even say they’ve stolen it.
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It does what it should—and is what it ought to be: a highly entertaining tale of crime and punishment involving a bunch of mostly average people who wanted a free lunch and instead were served an Unhappy Meal of criminal justice.
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The first three episodes of "McMillion$" unpack the incredible story of the McDonald's Monopoly scam with flair, even if the shape and contours of the series are familiar.
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Though it's not especially good as a piece of formal filmmaking through its first three hours, McMillion$ tells a quirky and frequently hilarious tale filled with enough twists and turns that you'll swear it came from the keyboard of a Carl Hiaasen or Elmore Leonard.
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While it’s not entirely successful, the directing team’s approach is certainly skillful, and McMillions is definitely a fun watch.
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McMillions' flaws are outweighed by how good the story and characters are. It feels like a heist movie.
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McMillions was a terrific, upbeat, gore-free true-crime story of our times stretched out way, way too long.
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It is the characters who carry the series, which is remarkably unstylish in execution and rushes through parts of the investigation where you might have preferred it to linger, and lingers where you might have preferred it to pick up the pace a little.
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“McMillions” is a fun oasis from misery, a comforting remote world where cheaters are caught and prosecuted. But it also feels slight and uncommanding, letting both your eyes and your mind wander.
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Maybe McMillions will get there and be about a story that’s larger than stolen game pieces, but if it does, it will need to get its tone under control. The first episode hints at a story that will be lighthearted and fun, but that doesn’t gel with further revelations or the breadth of the series.
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The film seems uncertain how to handle the bounty of both incident and of peculiar humanity that flows out of its story. The pacing, for instance, forces the viewer to hurry up and wait. .... The film leans hard on artless devices, including a predilection for re-enactment that feels like something out of “America’s Most Wanted.” ... [The people in “McMillions”] deserved more serious consideration.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 5 out of 10
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Mixed: 4 out of 10
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Negative: 1 out of 10
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Feb 6, 2020
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Jun 10, 2020An okay documentary.. goes on a little too long. It’s still interesting, but nothing you HAVE to watch.
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Feb 12, 2020This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view.