This thrilling new 70s thriller just hit #1 on Peacock and features an A-list cast

Imagine a show with Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson and Don Cheadle all at once. Sounds too good to be true? Well, it isn’t.

If you’re looking for something new to add to your weekend watch list, I highly recommend Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist a chance (especially if you’re a fan of all things 70s like me). An eight-part limited series on Peacock, the first three episodes were released last week, with the remaining episodes scheduled to drop every Thursday through October 10.

The story revolves around the infamous robbery that took place in Atlanta shortly after Muhammad Ali’s historic comeback match. The event was eagerly anticipated, as it was more than three years since the iconic boxer was suspended after refusing to enlist for the Vietnam War in 1967.

While I was familiar with Ali’s legendary fight, I had absolutely no idea about this heist and the impact it had on Atlanta’s path to becoming the vibrant city it is today. Still, I love shows that are entertaining and also provide an interesting history lesson. This series is created and executive produced by Shaye Ogbonna in association with Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Productions and Will Packer Media and is based on the 2020 iHeart true crime podcast of the same name. Kevin Hart plays the slick Gordon “Chicken Man” Williams, a man who wants to rise to the top of the Black Mafia.

Peacock

Admittedly, I’m a ’70s nerd with a goal of eventually watching every movie made in that decade, so I was immediately sold on the blaxploitation themes prevalent throughout, the afros and Farrah Fawcett flips, and the groovy disco and R&B jams sprinkled throughout. It also has a… gasp… theme song, something we don’t see much of in TV shows anymore.

The split cameras and sharp close-ups are also nice reminders of the era. Optics aside, you already know you’re going to get elite acting when you have OG veterans like Samuel L. Jackson and Don Cheadle, but I especially like when Taraji P. Henson does period pieces because there’s something about her aura and performance that just fits those eras – almost like you could pluck her out and actually stick her in a ’60s/’70s movie and she’d blend in perfectly. Up until that point, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Kevin Hart in a role like this before, and he’s a fresh, welcoming face.

Peacock

The fact that the robbery and Ali’s fight happened on the same night is what transformed Atlanta from “country” to “urban.” And while those who witnessed the change in real time are the only ones who can actually talk about it, this series is the next best thing for those of us who weren’t there during that time period.

Peacock

Simply put, if you like flashy, glamorous crime stories with an old-fashioned emphasis, you’ll definitely enjoy this book. Fight Night: The Million Dollar HeistI can’t wait for the next episodes already.

Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist is now available to watch on Peacock.

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