HBO has a hit on their hands with Behind the Candelabra, starring Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon as his secret lover. The film is based on the book Scott Thorson (who Damon plays) wrote Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace.
The Nielsen company confirms Behind the Candelabra drew in the highest ratings since 2004’s Something the Lord Made, which was a medical drama. 2.4 million viewers tuned in to watch, with 1.1 million tuning in for the second showing on Sunday night.
According to The BBC, the film will debut in the UK on June 7. Earlier this month, Behind the Candelabra debuted at the Cannes Film Festival.
Even though millions of viewers tuned in to watch Douglas play Liberace, it wasn’t enough to beat out ABC’s Dancing with the Stars as the highest viewed program on television.
Billboard reports that DWTS’ two episodes last week drew in 15 million viewers. NBC’s The Voice was more popular amongst younger viewers, though.
Douglas spoke about Behind the Candelabra at the Cannes Film Festival, along with Damon and director Steven Soderbergh. He thanked them, and producer Jerry Weintraub, for giving him the opportunity to go back to work after his 2010 cancer diagnosis.
“This beautiful gift was handed to me. I am eternally grateful to Steven and Matt and Jerry for a great film,” he said.