Will Ferrell's first foray into a starring role in a Netflix comedy series, 'The Hawk', has landed with a thud among critics, debuting to a dismal 32% on the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes. The series features Ferrell as Lonnie Hawkins, a former professional golfer on a losing streak, desperately attempting to recapture his past glory. This low score positions 'The Hawk' as one of Ferrell's least acclaimed projects on the platform, drawing comparisons to past critical disappointments such as 2017's 'The House' (20%) and 2018's 'Holmes & Watson' (10%).
Despite a supporting cast that includes his former 'Saturday Night Live' co-star Molly Shannon, reviewers have been largely unanimous in their criticism. The Independent's Louis Chilton awarded the show a mere two stars, suggesting that Ferrell's 'glory days have seemingly passed'. Variety's Alison Herman noted that the character of Lonnie is 'grating enough to be tiresome', lacking either real edge or the driving force of narrative momentum, leaving the show to 'mostly float along'.
The criticism intensified with NME's Vicky Jessop, who delivered one of the harshest reviews, giving it just one star. Jessop stated that 'there is nothing original about this show,' describing Lonnie as a 'pastiche of every single character Ferrell has played over the last two decades... but with the crassness dialled right up.' The Hollywood Reporter's Daniel Fienberg echoed this sentiment, calling 'The Hawk' a series that 'consistently operates at a barely minimal level,' and found little comedic value even in the supporting role of Lonnie's wife, Stacy.
Ferrell, a household name in the UK thanks to roles in films like 'Elf' (2003), 'Anchorman' (2004), and 'Step Brothers' (2008), gained significant popularity following his seven-year tenure on 'Saturday Night Live' in the US. While 'The Hawk' marks a significant critical misstep, not all of Ferrell's recent ventures have faced such a negative reception. His 2025 romantic comedy 'You're Cordially Invited' was praised for the chemistry between Ferrell and co-star Reese Witherspoon, and the 2024 documentary 'Will & Harper', which chronicled his friend Harper Steele's gender transition journey, achieved universal acclaim with a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Beyond acting, Ferrell has also been an active producer, notably executive producing Netflix's 'No Good Deed' (2024) and 'Dead to Me' (2019). This latest series, however, represents a notable setback in his acting career on the streaming giant.