Death by Lightning
Updated: 12/20/2025, 2:22:21 PM Wikipedia source
Death By Lightning is an American historical drama miniseries created by Mike Makowsky and based on the 2011 book Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard. It stars Michael Shannon as United States President James A. Garfield and Matthew Macfadyen as his assassin Charles J. Guiteau. The four-episode series premiered on November 6, 2025, on Netflix. It received widespread acclaim from critics, with particular praise for the performances, and was named one of the best television programs of the year by the American Film Institute.
Infobox
Created by
Mike Makowsky
Based on
Destiny of the Republicby Candice Millard
Directed by
Matt Ross
Starring
mw- Michael Shannon Matthew Macfadyen Betty Gilpin Shea Whigham Bradley Whitford Nick Offerman
Composer
Ramin Djawadi
Country of origin
United States
Original language
English
No. of episodes
4
Executive producers
Matt Ross Mike Makowsky Bernadette Caulfield David Benioff D. B. Weiss
Running time
47–66 minutes
Production companies
BLB Slater Hall Pictures Pixie Skye
Network
Netflix
Release
November 6, 2025 (2025-11-06)
No. of seasons
1
Tables
· Episodes
1
1
No.
1
Title
"The Man from Ohio"
Directed by
Matt Ross
Written by
Mike Makowsky
Original release date
November 6, 2025 (2025-11-06)
2
2
No.
2
Title
"Party Faithful"
Directed by
Matt Ross
Written by
Mike Makowsky
Original release date
November 6, 2025 (2025-11-06)
3
3
No.
3
Title
"Casus Belli"
Directed by
Matt Ross
Written by
Mike Makowsky
Original release date
November 6, 2025 (2025-11-06)
4
4
No.
4
Title
"Destiny of the Republic"
Directed by
Matt Ross
Written by
Mike Makowsky
Original release date
November 6, 2025 (2025-11-06)
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "The Man from Ohio" | Matt Ross | Mike Makowsky | November 6, 2025 (2025-11-06) |
| 2 | "Party Faithful" | Matt Ross | Mike Makowsky | November 6, 2025 (2025-11-06) |
| 3 | "Casus Belli" | Matt Ross | Mike Makowsky | November 6, 2025 (2025-11-06) |
| 4 | "Destiny of the Republic" | Matt Ross | Mike Makowsky | November 6, 2025 (2025-11-06) |
· Reception › Accolades
2026
2026
Year
2026
Award
Critics' Choice Awards
Category
Best Limited Series
Nominee(s)
Death by Lightning
Result
Pending
Best Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television
Best Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television
Year
Best Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television
Award
Michael Shannon
Category
Pending
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television
Year
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television
Award
Nick Offerman
Category
Pending
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television
Year
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television
Award
Betty Gilpin
Category
Pending
USC Scripter Awards
USC Scripter Awards
Year
USC Scripter Awards
Award
Best Adapted Screenplay – Television
Category
Mike Makowsky (for "Destiny of the Republic")
Nominee(s)
{{pending}}
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| 2026 | Critics' Choice Awards | Best Limited Series | Death by Lightning | Pending | |
| Best Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television | Michael Shannon | Pending | |||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television | Nick Offerman | Pending | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television | Betty Gilpin | Pending | |||
| USC Scripter Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay – Television | Mike Makowsky (for "Destiny of the Republic") | {{pending}} |
References
- Death By Lightninghttps://deadline.com/2024/02/michael-shannon-matthew-macfadyen-death-by-lightning-netflix-1235810651/
- Death by Lightninghttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/arts/television/death-by-lightning-matthew-macfadyen-michael-shannon.html
- Death by Lightninghttps://uk.news.yahoo.com/michael-shannon-admits-didnt-know-190000777.html
- Screen Ranthttps://screenrant.com/death-by-lightning-netflix-pixar-connection-syndrome-mathew-macfadyen/
- Death by Lightninghttps://variety.com/2024/tv/news/nick-offerman-betty-gilpin-netflix-president-garfield-assassination-series-death-by-lightning-1235925784/
- Death By Lightninghttps://decider.com/2025/11/07/death-by-lightning-nick-offerman-chester-a-arthur-muttonchops/
- Death By Lightninghttps://deadline.com/2024/05/bradley-whitford-shea-whigham-death-by-lightning-netflix-cast-1235938034/
- Death By Lightninghttps://deadline.com/2024/07/death-by-lightning-netflix-laura-marcus-1236014092/
- Death By Lightninghttps://deadline.com/2024/10/death-by-lightning-cast-netflix-vondie-curtis-hall-zeljko-ivanek-barry-shabaka-henley-1236113706/
- Budapest Reporterhttps://www.budapestreporter.com/death-by-lightning-budapest-sets-stage-for-netflixs-presidential-drama/
- Death by Lightninghttps://productionlist.com/production/death-by-lightning/
- Death by Lightninghttps://filmmusicreporter.com/2025/10/13/ramin-djawadi-scoring-netflixs-death-by-lightning/
- Death By Lightninghttps://deadline.com/2025/08/death-by-lightning-michael-shannon-netflix-release-date-1236493700/
- Death by Lightninghttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/death_by_lightning/s01
- Death by Lightninghttps://www.metacritic.com/tv/death-by-lightning/season-1
- Death by Lightninghttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/death-by-lightning-netflix-review/
- Death by Lightninghttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/death-by-lightning-review-netflix-michael-shannon-1236419401/
- Death by Lightninghttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/death-by-lightning-review-matthew-macfadyen-shannon-b2858494.html
- Death by Lightninghttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/06/death-by-lightning-review-matthew-macfadyen-netflix
- Death by Lightninghttps://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/2025/11/06/death-by-lightning-review-matthew-macfadyen/
- Death by Lightninghttps://www.tvguide.com/news/death-by-lightning-review-netflix-historical-drama/
- Death by Lightninghttps://variety.com/2025/tv/reviews/death-by-lightning-review-netflix-1236566047/
- Death by Lightninghttps://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/death-by-lightning-review-netflix-james-garfield-1235158524/
- Death by Lightinghttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/death-by-lightning-michael-shannon-james-garfield-netflix-tv-review-2025#google_vignette
- Avatar: Fire and Ash,https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/afi-top-10-movies-tv-shows-2025-list-1236442617/
- Vulturehttps://www.vulture.com/article/critics-choice-awards-2026-nominations.html
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/usc-scripter-awards-nominees-film-tv-2026-1236450386/