Netflix’s Billionaires’ Bunker has landed at #3 on Netflix India’s Top 10 streaming list (for the week of September 22 to September 29). Despite its terrible reception among viewers, it has gained quite a lot of attention in India. The reason? Money Heist (La Casa de Papel).
Billionaires’ Bunker comes from the masterminds behind Money Heist and Berlin, Álex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato. The show had plenty of hype before its release, thanks to its creators’ reputation. However, the majority of viewers have rejected it, with many even calling it a cheap rip-off of Money Heist. It’s a curious case of a high-concept premise clashing with low-impact execution.
In the show, a global nuclear threat forces several billionaires to take shelter in the luxurious Kimera Underground Park bunker. Trapped in the confined space, an existing feud between two families intensifies dramatically.
There was no way Billionaires’ Bunker could have escaped comparisons with Money Heist. But is it really just a cheap copy or rip-off of the acclaimed series? Well, while Money Heist thrived on the Professor’s meticulously planned, seemingly impossible robbery, Billionaires’ Bunker relies on the internal tension of privileged individuals trapped underground.
Yes, there are noticeable differences between the two shows. But there are also reasons why viewers have openly rejected Billionaires’ Bunker and pointed out its similarities to Money Heist. Many have criticized the characters for making illogical decisions purely to push the plot forward, a complaint also aimed at the later seasons of Money Heist.
Another big problem with Billionaires’ Bunker is its jarring genre shift. What starts as a dystopian survival drama suddenly turns into something else entirely.
While Money Heist maintained the cohesive tone of a heist-thriller, Billionaires’ Bunker has been criticized for inconsistent pacing and its struggle to balance survival-thriller elements with melodramatic family feuds.
Currently, Billionaires’ Bunker holds a mediocre score of 5.5 out of 10 on IMDb. On Rotten Tomatoes, the critics’ score is 33%, while the audience score stands at 58%. Clearly, the show has failed to resonate with most viewers. Still, its strong viewership proves that the Money Heist pedigree remains potent enough to generate massive interest.
You can stream all episodes now on Netflix. Stay tuned for more updates.