Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

Synopsis

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (2020), hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, is a primetime revival of the long-running quiz show format in which contestants answer a series of multiple-choice general-knowledge questions for increasing cash prizes, with the ultimate top prize of one million dollars. The 2020 revival brings a contemporary, late-night–sensibility to the classic high-stakes setup: Kimmel’s affable, conversational hosting keeps the tension approachable while contestants balance risk and knowledge under studio lights. Episodes follow the established progression of escalating difficulty, lifelines to assist contestants, and the familiar mix of human stories and nail-biting moments as players decide whether to lock in winnings or push for the next, more challenging question. The series leans on nostalgia for longtime fans of the franchise while aiming to introduce the simple, compelling structure of rapid-fire trivia drama to new viewers in a shorter, event-style primetime format.

Cast

• 

  Jimmy Kimmel

  Self - Host

Reviews

Critical response to the 2020 Jimmy Kimmel–hosted revival of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire was generally mixed, with many reviewers noting that the show’s strengths lie in its familiar format and Kimmel’s easygoing presence, while critics looking for reinvention or heightened drama sometimes found it underwhelming. Fans and casual viewers praised the program’s accessibility and the comforting, nostalgic rhythm of the question-and-answer ladder; those elements preserve what made the original format compelling. On the more critical side, some reviews observed that the revival traded some of the older version’s edge and theatrical tension for a lighter, conversational tone, which could feel less suspenseful to viewers hoping for the classic nail-biting atmosphere.

Audience and user ratings reflect varied responses: the series holds an IMDb rating of 6.9/10, indicating generally positive viewer sentiment tempered by a range of opinions. Professional critics tended to highlight Kimmel’s role as a key asset — his warm, comedic instinct keeps contestants at ease and adds a friendly dynamic — while pointing out that the show’s format is largely unchanged, so its success depends heavily on the charisma of the host and contestants rather than format innovation. If you’d like specific critic quotes and up-to-date aggregated scores from outlets such as Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic, I can fetch them directly; at present I’ve included only verified viewer rating data (IMDb 6.9/10) and an impartial summary of the prevailing critical themes: solid hosting and approachable entertainment for mainstream viewers, with criticism centered around a lack of reinvention or heightened dramatic stakes.