The cult book Lord of the Flies is being adapted into a series for the first time, streaming on Canal+ in France, but is it up to the task? Here’s the verdict.
Jack Thorne struck a big chord in 2025 with his Netflix series Adolescence. Not only did the show receive rapturous reviews, but audiences devoured it, to the point that it became the second-most watched English-language series of all time on the Red N (with 142.6 million complete views in 91 days). Finally, the mini-series swept the awards circuit, taking home six Emmy Awards (including Best Limited Series) and four Golden Globes (including Best Limited Series).
While fans await the potential arrival of a second season of Adolescence, which Netflix has not ruled out, Thorne set out on an equally ambitious project. Beyond writing the screenplay for Enola Holmes 3, the Briton pressed on with producing his TV adaptation of the famed Lord of the Flies by William Golding. For those who need a refresher, the premise follows a group of boys stranded on a tropical island with no adults, a descent into the end of their adolescence, and a brutal power struggle.
After airing on BBC in February, the series is finally available on Canal+ in France, but is it worth it? A press roundup.
Majestic Fly
« The cinematic style is effective and the performances are exceptional. If its four episodes had been a bit shorter and if some changes made to the original work had been dropped, Lord of the Flies could have reached excellence. Instead, the series settles for being good. » Collider
« Lord of the Flies doesn’t merely re-interpret its source material. It powerfully conveys the horror and tragedy of collective survival degenerating into murderous brutality. » Variety
« It’s clear that there won’t be a need for another adaptation of Lord of the Flies for a long time. What Thorne, Munden, and their team have achieved here, with a book that remains perennially relevant, isn’t perfect, but it comes very close. » The Hollywood Reporter
« Each episode feels both overstuffed and underpowered, a sensation that only heightens the distortion of the saturated color palette during the violence. It feels like an artifice designed to mask a real lack of emotion. And when the dialogue finally comes, it isn’t great. » The Guardian
« It’s impressive to see that Jack Thorne, along with the rest of the cast and crew, manage to stave off fatigue and bring this adaptation to life with such meticulous attention to detail that you find yourself desperately hoping things turn out differently this time. In a sense, that’s true. But don’t expect a happy ending. » The AV Club
« Powered by a cast of astonishing young actors, elevated by striking visual effects and terrifying imagery, Lord of the Flies consists of four gripping episodes that will keep you on the edge of your seat. […] It’s a show you won’t want to miss, no matter how challenging the experience. » USA Today
« The purists of the novel will surely have criticisms about certain changes, but most of them amplify the original work rather than harm it. The final result is a miniseries not to be missed. » ScreenRant
« Jack Thorne succeeds in infusing a breath of fresh air into the television adaptation of Lord of the Flies by delivering an as immersive as possible experience, as if viewers were at the very center of the chaos, thanks to the superb performances of the actors portraying the main characters. » Decider
With a stellar Metacritic average of 83/100, the first on-screen adaptation of Lord of the Flies has struck a chord with critics. Of course, a few outlets highlighted liberties taken by Jack Thorne, steering away from a strictly faithful adaptation. That aside, overall the reception is positive, and the mini-series could well be one of the must-watch TV events of 2026.
The first two episodes are, in any case, available on MyCanal in France as of June 1. The next two will drop on June 8.
