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Mrs. America

Mrs. America

What happened to women helping women?

2020Miniseries1 season9 episodes~51 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

The true story of the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, and the unexpected backlash led by a conservative woman named Phyllis Schlafly, aka “the sweetheart of the silent majority.”

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Mrs. America?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Mrs. America streaming on Hulu and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Highlights

What stands out about Mrs. America?

Mrs. America earns 5 badges, led by Standout acting and Crowd Pleaser.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Mrs. America worth watching?

Mrs. America's Midcredits score is the 83rd percentile of all shows, from 15K ratings across 2 sources. 86% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

83rd percentile

Better received than 83% of shows

74th percentile among Biography87th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)76th
Approval (how many liked it)85th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

76 /100

76th percentile of all shows

71st percentile among Biography80th percentile among 2020s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

86% liked it

85th percentile of all shows

73rd percentile among Biography88th percentile among 2020s
86% rated it 7–1014% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

90th percentile

15K ratings across platforms

78th percentile among Biography91st percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 35% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the series boasts an extraordinary cast and meticulous period detail, but they split over whether its historical liberties undermine its credibility.

Fans praised

  • Cate Blanchett's mesmerizing performance as Phyllis Schlafly
  • Evenhanded portrayal of both ERA and anti-ERA factions
  • Authentic 1970s production design, costumes, and cinematography

Detractors panned

  • Flagrant historical distortions, especially the debate scene
  • Slow pacing and dull stretches
  • Stereotyped characterizations lacking nuance

What stands out

Acting92

Blanchett's tour-de-force, stellar ensemble

CinematographyDivisive88

Gorgeous period sets and visuals

CharactersDivisive84

Nuanced humanization of opposing political figures

AtmosphereDivisive84

Immersive 1970s political world-building

OriginalityDivisive82

Uncommon dual-perspective feminist history

DialogueDivisive80

Sharp, realistic political and personal exchanges

Plot and storyDivisive75

Multifaceted chronicle of ERA battle

PacingDivisive60

Slow start, mid-season momentum dips

Preferred by

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Under-30s

Under-30s scored it 13 points higher than over-30s.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 12 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 5 points apart
  • US vs non-US 5 points apart

Episodes

1 season

Miniseries · 2020 · 9 episodes · 7.5 average across 1 rated episode

  • S1E1

    Phyllis

    Apr 15, 202047 minTMDB rating 7.5
  • S1E2

    Gloria

    Apr 15, 202048 min
  • S1E3

    Shirley

    Apr 15, 202045 min
  • S1E4

    Betty

    Apr 22, 202051 min
  • S1E5

    Phyllis & Fred & Brenda & Marc

    Apr 29, 202053 min
  • S1E6

    Jill

    May 6, 202048 min

Watch experience

What is Mrs. America like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you thinking.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseContemplative
Heaviest: middle
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.SerializedSingle-season story
ToneThe series presents its political conflict with gravity and nuance, never winking at the audience or undercutting its drama.
The rideThe series sustains political tension with reflective pauses, becoming notably heavier around the peak of the legislative campaign.
StructureTold in chronological order across its run, following the political battle from the early 1970s to the defeat of the ERA.
Episode formatEach episode continues the single story of the ERA fight and Schlafly's counter-campaign from the early 1970s to the amendment's defeat.
Season formatThe series tells one complete, self-contained story across its nine episodes and does not continue beyond its planned arc.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Thought-provokingBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe show's nuanced depiction of both sides leaves viewers with lingering questions about political compromise and personal conviction.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestMission
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% (this title) · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Mission: Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).

6% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe series chronicles Phyllis Schlafly's political campaign to block the Equal Rights Amendment, a clear mission-driven quest.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfPower
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7% (this title): Power 5% (this title) · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% (this title) · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Power

Power · 5% of showsClass · 4% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe series examines who controls political and social change, focusing on the struggle between the feminist movement and the conservative countermovement over the Equal Rights Amendment.
StanceThe series questions who holds power in political movements, presenting multiple perspectives without endorsing any single side of the ERA debate.

The world

Late 20th centuryDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score
Settingsuburban Illinois and Washington D.C. during the 1970s ERA battle

Content guide

Is Mrs. America okay for kids?

TV-MA

Mrs. America is rated TV-MA.

Ratings in 26 other countries
  • Canada18+
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany12
  • France16
  • Ireland16
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil16
  • ArgentinaSAM 16
  • Austria12
  • Belgium16
  • BG16
  • Greece16
  • Hungary16
  • LU16
  • Netherlands12
  • Poland16
  • Portugal16
  • PRTV-MA
  • RO18
  • SingaporeM18
  • South Africa16
  • Spain16
  • Switzerland12
  • Taiwan15+
  • Türkiye13+
  • VITV-MA

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Mrs. America have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Mrs. America?

Cast

3 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Cate Blanchett
as Phyllis Schlafly
Established: A standing when this show came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Rose Byrne
as Gloria Steinem
Established: A standing when this show came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Elizabeth Banks
as Jill Ruckelshaus
Established: A standing when this show came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Uzo Aduba
as Shirley Chisholm
Kayli Carter
as Pamela Whalen
Ari Graynor
as Brenda Feigen-Fasteau
Melanie Lynskey
as Rosemary Thomson
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Margo Martindale
as Bella Abzug
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
John Slattery
as Fred Schlafly
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Jeanne Tripplehorn
as Eleanor Schlafly
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.

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