“The bar for success is not very high”: Colin Farrell Bashes Critics With The Penguin Success After Being Called a Sopranos Copy

Colin Farrell’s subtle jab at critics comparing The Penguin to The Sopranos, as he recognizes his audience as the ultimate judge of the show’s success.

After embodying one of the most popular Batman villains in the 2022 film The Batman, Colin Farrell returned as Oswald Cobb in the HBO crime drama The Penguin. As the show made its way to the HBO premiere with rave reviews, it also drew comparisons to David Chase’s iconic crime drama The Sopranos.

However, the star of the show doesn’t seem to be bothered much by such comparisons and critics’ remarks as he said that the parameter for his success is based on whether the audience likes his work or not.

Colin Farrell Remains Unfazed by The Penguin And The Sopranos Comparisons

With the release of HBO’s new crime drama The Penguin, comparisons to The Sopranos quickly emerged. From the show’s tone and Colin Farrell’s performance in the titular role to even some specific scenes, there have been constant comparisons between the two shows.

However, the Oscar-nominated actor doesn’t appear too concerned about the comparisons, as he recently stated that “it’s the audience who are really the most important critics.” In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said,

For me, the bar for success is not very high. It’s, ‘Do most people like it?’ — just the simplicity of that. I love being in things that are critically approved — it’s much better than the alternative — but I’ve been around long enough [to know] that it’s the audience who are really the most important critics.

However, Colin Farrell has shared his appreciation for the comparison as well, stating that he thinks of “nothing but compliments” (as per People) when he hears of his show being compared to an iconic show like The Sopranos.

Starring James Gandolfini, The Sopranos follows mob boss, Tony Soprano, as he navigates the challenges of balancing his family life with the violent, complex demands of organized crime.