Pistol (miniseries)

Pistol
Company type	Miniseries
Industry	Television
Founded	May 31, 2022; 4 years ago
Founder	Craig Pearce
Headquarters	United States / United Kingdom
Products	Television series
Parent	FX on Hulu, Disney+
Website	www.fxnetworks.com/shows/pistol/

Pistol is a British biographical musical drama miniseries centered on the punk rock group the Sex Pistols. Developed by Craig Pearce for FX and helmed by director Danny Boyle, the narrative focuses on guitarist Steve Jones and the band's journey toward fame and infamy. The show debuted on FX on Hulu in the United States and on Disney+ in the United Kingdom on 31 May 2022.

Premise

This six-episode miniseries traces the rise of Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones alongside the band's increasing prominence and controversial reputation.

Production

The project, created by Craig Pearce, received an order for six episodes from FX in January 2021, with Danny Boyle directing every episode. Toby Wallace was cast to portray Jones, while Maisie Williams joined as part of the supporting ensemble. In March, as filming commenced—including scenes shot in Hemel Hempstead—actors Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Talulah Riley, and Iris Law were added to the cast.

To authentically recreate 1970s London, production designer Kave Quinn studied Julien Temple’s documentary The Filth and the Fury and Andrew Marr’s BBC series The Making of Modern Britain.

According to Esquire, the series’ dedication to embodying the Sex Pistols’ punk spirit extended into its production approach. Director Boyle eschewed conventional shot lists, encouraging actors to deliver scenes and sequences with spontaneity. He utilized inventive cinematic methods such as split-screen editing, flashbacks, archival footage, freeze-frames, surreal dream sequences, and slow-motion to evoke punk’s raw energy.

Music

Live recordings captured both concert performances and musical sequences without relying on overdubs or studio enhancements. Actors portraying members of the Sex Pistols and Chrissie Hynde performed their own vocals and instrumentals. Wallace (Jones), Slater (Cook), and Chandler (Hynde) met their real-life counterparts during production. Boon studied Johnny Rotten’s stage mannerisms and writings to emulate his style, despite Rotten’s disassociation from the project. Jones collaborated closely with creator Pearce, while Cook also provided input throughout filming.

The soundtrack includes numerous tracks by the Sex Pistols and The Pretenders, alongside period-specific songs such as Blondie’s "X Offender" and punk poet John Cooper Clarke’s "Evidently Chickentown", as well as selections from earlier eras.

Legal case over music rights

In 2021, Sex Pistols lead singer John Lydon harshly criticized the miniseries as "the most disrespectful shit I've ever had to endure." In response, former bandmates Steve Jones and Paul Cook initiated legal action against Lydon to secure permission for using Sex Pistols music despite his opposition. They cited backing from Glen Matlock and Sid Vicious’s estate along with a 1998 agreement granting majority control over music rights decisions. The court ruled against Lydon in August 2021, enabling clearance for the series’ soundtrack.

Release

Pistol launched on FX on Hulu in the United States and on Disney+ across the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore on 31 May 2022. The series was subsequently removed from Hulu and Disney+ internationally on 26 May 2023 following a decline in subscribers and revenue that prompted cuts exceeding fifty shows.

Critical response

The series holds a 65% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 62 critic reviews, with an average score of 6.6/10. The critical consensus remarks that "Danny Boyle's energetic direction injects vitality into this punk biopic, yet the predictable narrative arc of a band's ascent and decline renders Pistol somewhat flawed." On Metacritic, it earned a score of 60 out of 100 from 28 critics, reflecting "mixed or average reviews."

Angie Han of Hollywood Reporter commended the show for its "outstanding performances... particularly Anson Boon as lead singer Johnny Rotten" and Thomas Brodie-Sangster portraying Malcolm McClaren, whom she described as a "relentlessly charismatic Svengali" who "elevates manipulation to an art form." Beth Webb from Empire acknowledged some inconsistency in performances but highlighted the undeniable "collective raw energy of the cast under Boyle's direction."

El Hunt at NME delivered a mixed critique: "While Pistol touches on the pitfalls of rock'n'roll mythology, it occasionally falls prey to similar clichés. Viewed superficially, it offers a high-octane portrayal of how punk rock, spearheaded by the Sex Pistols, impacted the UK and beyond."

Jim Sullivan of Book and Film Globe noted a strong sense of authenticity as Boyle explores the band's depth and complexity but criticized the limited exploration of the wider punk movement involving groups like The Clash, The Jam, and The Damned.

Madison Bloom from Pitchfork expressed a negative opinion, describing the script as overloaded with "grandiose manifestos and motivational speeches" that reduce rebellion to formulaic history lessons featuring "clumsy dialogue and flashy editing," resulting in a diluted version of anarchy.

Dominic Patten at Deadline Hollywood remarked that despite a well-curated soundtrack including iconic tracks such as "God Save the Queen," the series "stumbles where it ought to roar," failing to fully capture the revolutionary contradictions embodied by the Sex Pistols.

Band members' response

Before watching the series, John Lydon criticized it sharply, stating: "It goes against everything we originally stood for. When something valuable in your life is exploited just for a bit more money, that's not very human." He also dismissed the trailer as "karaoke," comparing it to "a group of kids from Tring" discussing recent events inaccurately.

Bassist Glen Matlock expressed dissatisfaction, emphasizing that while the series was significant for presenting Steve Jones's viewpoint—the band's founder—he contested his own portrayal. Specifically, Matlock clarified that his exit was voluntary rather than being fired as depicted.

Accolades

Pistol earned nominations in Photography & Lighting, Fiction, and Production Design categories at the 2023 British Academy Television Awards.

– official website (United States)
– official website (rest of world)