Top HBO ratings for Behind the Candelabra thumbs nose at Hollywood for refusing to back the Liberace biopic starring Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas as Liberace in Behind the Candelabra

Hollywood will doubtless be ruing its decision not to back the Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra starring Michael Douglas in the title role after it was watched by 3.5 million people on subscription TV channel HBO.

Nielsen ratings company said 2.4 million people tuned in to the movie's live premiere over the weekend. This represented the network's biggest audience for one of its original movies since Something the Lord Made in 2004. A subsequent 1.1 million people saw a repeat of the Liberace movie that began right after the first airing.

The film's director Steven Soderbergh was turned down flat when he approached Hollywood studios to finance the film in 2011.

Having been picked up by TV channel HBO the film, which was warmly received at Cannes last week, at least got a widespread distribution.

The film charts Liberace 's five-year affair with Scott Thorson, played by Matt Damon.