The Fans Have Spoken: Dr Death Beats Serial For The Most 5-Star Ratings Of Any Serialized Podcast

Dr. Death, the hit podcast from Wondery, now leads the chart of total 5-star ratings for any serialized podcast, having surpassed prior leaders Up And Vanished and Serial as of Monday, September 24. Dr. Death has received more than 22,000 five-star ratings on Apple Podcasts in the US. Fully 95% of its 23,500 ratings are 5-stars: the highest ratio for any podcast miniseries with more than 10,000 ratings.

“Wondery has done something remarkable with Dr. Death,” said Dave Zohrob, co-founder of podcast database and analytics provider Chartable. “It’s received over 20,000 5-star ratings faster than any other podcast we’ve seen, as well as the most 5-star ratings of any serialized show. Only two other serialized podcasts have reached 20,000 five-star ratings: Up And Vanished, which launched in 2016, and Serial, which first aired in 2014.”

“This is not a typical true crime story. It’s a story about a system we all depend on”, said Laura Beil, host and reporter for Dr Death. “To get so many positive reviews from listeners in such a short period of time is truly humbling.”

Dr. Death tells the true story of Christopher Duntsch, a Texas neurosurgeon who killed, paralyzed, or maimed 33 patients over a two-year period. It also explores the broken medical system that kept Duntsch in practice. Dr. Death is the latest in an unprecedented string of hit podcasts from Wondery, including Business Wars, American History Tellers, Inside Jaws, Ellen on the Go, and Dirty John.

About Wondery

Wondery is a network of storytellers and the fastest-growing podcast company in the world, with hit podcasts such as “Dirty John”, “Business Wars”, “American History Tellers” and “Dr. Death”. Wondery’s mission is to bring a world of entertainment and knowledge to our audiences, wherever they listen. We provide our listeners with high-quality, emotionally immersive podcasts that allow them to feel the story. For more information visit wondery.com.