HBO Scientology Doc 'Going Clear' Converts 1.7 Million Viewers, Best in 9 Years

HBO Scientology documentary “Going Clear: Scientology and The Prison of Belief” attracted nearly 1.7 million viewers on Sunday, according to TV By the Numbers. It had a 0.7 rating in the key 18-49 demographic.

The viewer total (more specifically 1.652 million) makes the film the pay-TV network’s most-watched doc premiere since Spike Lee‘s two-part 2006 Hurricane Katrina offering, “When the Levees Broke” (1.75 million viewers). (A Beyonce doc in 2013 got 1.8 million total viewers in its debut, but that was coded as a music special, so not technically an actual documentary.)

“Going Clear” also topped the individual airing’s Live + Same Day audience total of recent Robert Durst HBO doc “The Jinx.”

Also Read: Robert Durst-Doc ‘Jinx’ Finale Scores 11.1 Million Twitter Views as Hollywood Reacts to Jaw-Dropping Ending

The Church of Scientology was not one of the film’s many fans. On Sunday, it ripped the movie in a lengthy exclusive statement to TheWrap, calling “Going Clear” “desperate,” “ludicrous” and “made-up.”

Afterward, documentary director Alex Gibney fought back against the full statement, saying: “The church claims it is innocent of all misdeeds. How credible does that sound?”

The reaction to the film itself was equally strong; readers can see a sampling of Hollywood tweets here.

Also Read: HBO’s ‘Going Clear’ Triggers New Scrutiny of Scientology’s Tax-Exempt Status

“Going Clear,” based on the book of the same name by Lawrence Wright, featured commentary from prominent former Scientologists, such as Marty Rathburn, Spanky Taylor, director Paul Haggis and Tom De Vocht. It also covers the involvement of two of its most visible members, actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

The film takes an in-depth look at the religion launched by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard. “Going Clear” not only presents a detailed history of the tax-exempt organization, but features former Scientologists who allege serious abuse and mistreatment at the hands of the Church’s senior leadership, including David Miscavige.

Gibney has claimed that those who appeared in the documentary have been threatened with violence.

“A major thing the church got by on for many years was intimidating people into silence, based on their threats of litigation and brutish psychological games,” Gibney said in an interview with TheWrap.

HBO only shares Live + 7 Day ratings these days.

13 of Hollywood's Most Famous Scientologists (Photos)

TOM CRUISE
The "Mission Impossible" star has been an outspoken advocate of the Church for years, even debating Matt Lauer on Scientology's opposition to psychiatric care.
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JOHN TRAVOLTA/KELLY PRESTON
The "Pulp Fiction" star and his wife are both practitioners of Scientology, with Travolta having flown Church volunteers to Haiti in 2010 to provide disaster relief.
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BECK
The musician is a lifelong practitioner of Scientology, stating in a 2005 interview that his father has been a member of the Church for over 30 years.
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JASON LEE
The "My Name is Earl" star's wife cited his devotion to Scientology as a cause of their divorce in 2001.
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ELISABETH MOSS
The "Mad Men" actress has defended the Church in interviews, saying people are "misinformed" on many of its stances.
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NANCY CARTWRIGHT
The voice of Bart Simpson caught flack when she used the voice in an advertisement for a Scientology conference in 2009.
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GRETA VAN SUSTEREN
The Fox News commentator married into the Church after meeting her husband, John Coale.
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DANNY MASTERSON
The former "That '70s Show" star and Scientologist took issue with the HBO documentary "Going Clear," saying, "I wonder if Sundance would allow a documentary of, like, eight people who hate Judaism?"
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ERIKA CHRISTENSEN
The "Parenthood" star grew up in the Church and stated in an interview that they do not in fact "worship rabbits."
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JENNA ELFMAN
The actress has actively supported Scientology-related charities, including the Citizens Commission on Human Rights: Psychiatry, Industry of Death."
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KIRSTIE ALLEY
The actress credits the Church with helping her turn her life around. She also called former member Leah Remini a "bigot" for blasting Scientology.
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JULIETTE LEWIS
The actress defended fellow Scientologist Tom Cruise after his fiery interview with Matt Lauer regarding Scientology's stance on psychiatry.
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GIOVANNI RIBISI
The "Avatar" actor grew up in the Church, attending a Scientology school as a child.
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