[Updated] Lifetime’s ‘Steel Magnolias’ Snagged 6.5 Million Total Viewers

The world-premiere of the highly anticipated Lifetime Original Movie Event, Steel Magnolias, debuted on Sunday. The remake was of the original 1989 film and featured Golden Globe nominee Queen Latifah ( who was an executive producer), Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad as ‘Clairee,’ Independent Spirit Award nominee Adepero Oduye as ‘Annelle,’ Tony Award nominee Condola Rashad as ‘Shelby,’ with Grammy winner Jill Scott as ‘Truvy’ and Golden Globe and multiple Emmy winner Alfre Woodard as ‘Ouiser'. 

reached new heights for the network, averaging 6.5 million Total Viewers in its world premiere last night, becoming Lifetime’s third most-watched original telecast ever — posting its best delivery since 2006 (Life is Not a Fairy Tale: The Fantasia Barrino Story ) — and the number one  cable movie among Total Viewers since 2007 (excluding miniseries).  Starring and executive produced by Queen Latifah and also starring Phylicia Rashad, Adepero Oduye, Condola Rashad with Jill Scott and Alfre Woodard, the Sony Pictures Television-produced film averaged 3.2 million Adults 25-54 viewers, Lifetime’s best delivery in the demographic for a movie in 17 years since the 1995 premiere of Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story  , and a cable best since 2006.  Among Women 25-54,Steel Magnolias  has become Lifetime’s most-watched movie in network history with 2.5 million viewers, a cable best since at least 2004, according to Nielsen Research.  It also averaged 3.0 million Adults 18-49 viewers (cable’s best since 2007), 2.4 million Women 18-49 viewers (cable’s best since 2010) and a 4.9 Household rating.