New Pride and Prejudice Series Dethrones Keira Knightley Film on Rotten Tomatoes

If you think every possible angle of 'Pride & Prejudice' has already been squeezed dry, you might want to sit down for this one. There’s a new series out, 'The Other Bennet Sister', that’s not only flipping the script on Austen’s classic, but it’s also managed to edge out the beloved Keira Knightley film—at least when it comes to those ever-popular Rotten Tomatoes scores. Yes, seriously.

Wait, Mary Bennet Gets Her Moment?

Instead of yet another parade of Darcy brooding and Lizzie sparring, this show gives Mary Bennet—the bookish, often-ignored middle sister—a shot at center stage. If you can’t immediately picture Mary, that’s exactly the point. She’s the perpetual background character in most adaptations, but here, she finally gets to be more than just ‘the awkward one at the piano’.

What People Are Actually Saying

The initial reaction? Surprisingly warm. Critics seem pretty taken with this fresh angle. Meghan O'Keefe over at Decider put it like this:

'Its fresh approach… enhances Austen's enduring genius.'

Translation: you’re not just getting a retread—you’re actually getting new insight, and Mary’s story feels like it genuinely belongs in Austen’s world, instead of being slapped on as fanfiction filler.

The acting is also getting some love, especially Ella Bruccoleri in the lead. Peter Martin at ScreenAnarchy called her performance 'exquisite' and highlighted that the whole show nails a believable balance of warmth and subtle emotion—nobody’s chewing scenery, and nobody’s sleepwalking through costume changes.

Not Another Bridgerton Wannabe

Here's the thing: Don't go in expecting the champagne-and-sapphires spectacle of Bridgerton. 'The Other Bennet Sister' is being described as more low-key, more grounded, and honestly, a bit of a palate cleanser if you’re tired of every period drama trying to set TikTok on fire. James Croot said it may not match the flashy “Regency-era” gossip of bigger-budget shows, but it turns out you don’t always need fireworks when the writing (and awkward silences) speak volumes.

ScreenRant called it 'cozy' and 'uplifting.' Ed Power summed it up as a show that finally gives outsiders their due. For folks who always felt a little out of place in group chats or dinner parties, Mary’s finally your champion.

By the Numbers: Rotten Tomatoes Face-off

• 'The Other Bennet Sister' currently sits at a 94% critics’ score and matches that with its audience rating—so, the rare double whammy.
• For comparison, the 2005 Pride & Prejudice film (the one with Keira Knightley and the infamous hand flex) can’t quite keep up—at least not for now.

Take that as you will, but it’s not every day a more character-driven, gentle TV series manages to dethrone a mainstream Hollywood Austen adaptation in audience approval—especially one as beloved (and meme-able) as the Knightley version.

Who’s Who?

Ella Bruccoleri leads as Mary, joined by a solid ensemble: Ruth Jones, Indira Verma, Laurie Davidson, and Richard Coyle. The cast is pulling double duty—keeping you inside that familiar Austen world, but upending your expectations of exactly whose story you’re here to watch.

Bottom line: If you’re a die-hard fan or just want something less sugar-rushed than your usual Regency fare, 'The Other Bennet Sister' is genuinely worth a look. And if it keeps trending the way it is, maybe it's time we stop pretending Mary Bennet was ever just background noise.