Netflix Viewership of Hillbilly Elegy Rises Since J.D. Vance Became Trump’s VP

When Donald Trump announced his selection of Ohio junior senator J.D. Vance as his vice-presidential running mate, the viewership of the movie adaptation of Vance’s 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” surged by a staggering 1,180% on Netflix, according to Deadline.

This translates to around 19.2 million minutes watched on July 15, based on Luminate data. Comparatively, the previous day’s viewership stood at only 1.5 million minutes.

The movie, released in 2020 and directed by Ron Howard, runs just under two hours. This data suggests it was viewed by approximately 164,000 people. Even before the official announcement, rumors about Vance being the leading contender for VP likely contributed to the film’s early rise in viewership.

Based on the novel, the movie delves into the decline of the white working class and portrays Vance’s familial struggles against abuse, alcoholism, and poverty. Starring Glenn Close and Amy Adams, the film attracted significant attention, and Close received a Golden Globe nomination for her role.

“Hillbilly Elegy” is likely the primary introduction voters have to J.D. Vance. Despite having less than two years of government experience, the movie frames Vance as an Appalachian kid who rose from poverty to achieve an Ivy League education (Yale University) and now, potentially, the vice presidency of the United States.

The book and film portray Vance with an upbringing that aligns with the values of many Republican voters, providing a stark contrast to Donald Trump’s background. Vance’s unique story makes him a potential bridge between Middle America and the elite corridors of power in Washington D.C.

In the eight years since the book’s release, Vance has distanced himself from his past and is now part of the elite. He’s left his hometown of Middletown, Ohio, earned a law degree from Yale, and went on to run a venture capital fund backed by Peter Thiel, who was also a major donor for Vance’s Senate campaign.

Interestingly, Vance was not initially a Trump supporter. In 2016, he told NPR’s Teri Gross, “I can’t stomach Trump. I think that he’s noxious and is leading the white working class to a very dark place.”

Whether he still believes this isn’t clear, but it’s safe to assume he won’t be vocalizing such views now. That was the 2016 version of Vance, the bestselling author. Now, he’s the Republican vice-presidential candidate. He’ll likely align his positions with the broader Republican agenda, or more specifically, Trump’s interests.

The “Hillbilly Elegy” book and movie may serve Vance well in his campaign. As he wrote in the book’s introduction, “I may be white, but I do not identify with the WASPs of the Northeast. Instead, I identify with the millions of working-class white Americans of Scots-Irish descent who have no college degree. To these folks, poverty is the family tradition.”

“Americans call them hillbillies, rednecks, or white trash. I call them neighbors, friends, and family,” he added.

This relatability speaks volumes to a population often overlooked by politicians, particularly those in the so-called “fly-over” states. Vance’s appeal lies in his authenticity as one of them, even if his journey took him far from backbreaking poverty to significant accomplishments.

However, the question remains: Can Vance truly connect with those who haven’t managed the same upward mobility? Perhaps this question is moot. At this stage, diehard Trump supporters are likely to stand by him regardless. Trump’s appeal has never hinged on relatability.

The recent surge in sympathy for Trump, intensified by a failed assassination attempt, only strengthens his supporters’ loyalty. Vance’s presence as his VP pick brings an added layer of credibility, appealing to a minority of Republicans seeking some validation for their choice.

Should the Republicans reclaim the White House, one might wonder if Ron Howard will inadvertently play a role in Vance’s path to power, much like Seth Meyers did for Trump.

Source: Deadline, Luminate, NPR