--- title: "House of Guinness: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/house-of-guinness/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/house-of-guinness" critics_score: 76 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # House of Guinness (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 76 from 11 reviews: 7 positive, 4 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics find House of Guinness an entertaining, stylish family saga, with Steven Knight’s familiar mix of scheming, scandal and swagger doing much of the work. Praise clusters around the cast, with James Norton singled out, and the troubled family relationships give the historical drama its strongest appeal. Comparisons with Peaky Blinders recur throughout the reviews, usually as a recommendation, while the modern soundtrack and period setting make a lively combination. The spread runs from enthusiastic approval to qualified enjoyment, with reservations centred on thin characterisation, uneven pacing and limited historical depth. The Hollywood Reporter finds that the energy and big moments come at the expense of emotional nuance; Empire sees a capable cast without a sufficiently compelling central character. The divide is over substance: admirers find enough feeling in the family’s troubles, while more reserved critics want the series to look beyond its style and scheming. ## The Guardian Rating 5/5. 25 September 2025. This is an irresistible Succession-style romp about the Guinness dynasty's power struggles after the patriarch's death, with smarts, heart and sex appeal; Steven Knight has never made a better show. The focus on the flawed adult children and their personal tragedies amid 19th-century Irish tensions stands out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/sep/25/house-of-guinness-review-james-norton-pheromones-positively-sizzle-off-the-screen) ## Radio Times Rating 4/5. 25 September 2025. The critic praises it as Steven Knight's best since Peaky Blinders, a compelling and stylish saga that treads the line between serious drama and entertaining flair. Strong performances, especially from James Norton, make it a standout period drama full of twists. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/house-of-guinness-netflix-review/) ## The i Paper — Emily Baker Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 25 September 2025. The critic finds Knight's boisterous drama a self-contained, captivating story with rollicking style and swaggering anti-heroes that keeps viewers on board despite familiar hallmarks. It effectively uses historical framework and rumours around the family for an intriguing narrative that serves as a Peaky Blinders spiritual successor. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/succession-meets-peaky-blinders-house-of-guinness-review-3936464) ## Variety — Aramide Tinubu Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 25 September 2025. The review calls it a solid, engaging family drama and intense saga centered on the Guinness dynasty, well-acted and compelling even if it lacks the explosive punch of Knight's prior works. It delivers fun historical lore and myths without full historical accuracy. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/tv/reviews/house-of-guinness-review-netflix-1236515498/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Angie Han Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 25 September 2025. The critic finds the series delivers frothy fun and big splashy moments with electric energy but offers considerably less substance and emotional nuance than expected. It keeps viewers swept up through style and passion despite softening characters and prioritizing plot beats. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/house-of-guinness-review-netflix-1236377520/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 25 September 2025. The critic sees the series as a grimy, watchable historical family saga in the style of Peaky Blinders and Succession, with strong performances and efficient plotting from Steven Knight, but faults its slick surface-level approach that avoids deeper engagement with historical or social issues. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/house-of-guinness-review-netflix-steven-knight-peaky-blinders.html) ## Empire — Dan Jolin Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 25 September 2025. The review notes the series' Peaky Blinders-like stylistic hallmarks and solid cast but observes it lacks a standout lynchpin character and feels like it has yet to really hit its stride in story terms. It positions the show as a spiritual prequel with high production values and anachronistic flair. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/house-of-guinness/) ## The Telegraph — Anita Singh 25 September 2025. The new show from Steven Knight begins with swagger and menace but relaxes into a typical period drama. Imagine a Julian Fellowes show peppered with the F-word and soundtracked by Kneecap; it has enough to keep you entertained if you’re in the market for a sweary Downton Abbey. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/house-of-guinness-netflix-review/) ## The Times Rating ★★★★☆. 25 September 2025. The Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight’s new Netflix series about the Irish brewing family is never dull and is in fact rip-roaring as family sagas go. With flavourings of Downton and Succession, the mix of familial scheming and wider political ruptures coalesces into something pleasurable. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/house-of-guinness-review-netflix-james-norton-th0fgw3vb) ## Digital Spy — Janet A Leigh Rating 5/5. 25 September 2025. The critic praises the series as visually stunning and atmospheric with Knight's signature stylised flair, highlighting compelling performances especially from James Norton as the morally complex Sean Rafferty and the strong female leads. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a68016280/house-of-guinness-review/) ## Paste — Lacy Baugher Milas Rating 8.5/10. 25 September 2025. Calls it a worthy successor to Peaky Blinders with strong family dynamics, excellent cast especially Boyle and Fairn, mixing scheming and scandal; notes some pacing issues in back half but confident identity. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/netflix/house-of-guinness-review) ## Collider — Carly Lane Rating 7/10. 25 September 2025. Praises the cast, Irish identity, punk-rock style and soundtrack as fresh in the genre, but notes issues with pacing, time jumps, and underused characters; overall a fun, diverting historical drama. [Read the review](https://collider.com/house-of-guinness-netflix-review/) ## NME — Paul Bradshaw Rating 3/5. 25 September 2025. The critic views it as a stylish but uneven drama lacking Peaky Blinders' drive, with thin characters and style over substance, praising the lavish production and modern soundtrack elements. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/tv-reviews/house-of-guinness-review-peaky-blinders-steven-knight-3893912) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/house-of-guinness.md