Netflix thriller Below smashes viewing record with 17 million views in its opening weekend

Netflix thriller Below, starring Josh Hartnett, has become the streaming service’s biggest-ever debut for a Canadian title after attracting a staggering 17 million views during its opening weekend, according to Deadline.

The six-part series, which launched on October 8, has quickly become a major hit for the platform, with its chilling story of a Newfoundland fishing community terrorised by a mysterious sea creature capturing viewers’ attention.

Key points:

• Record-breaking debut: Below attracted 17 million views from its October 8 launch through Sunday evening, making it the most-viewed debut ever for a Netflix Canadian title.
• Number one on Netflix: The thriller topped Netflix’s English-language TV chart for the week of October 5 to 11.
• Star-studded cast: Josh Hartnett leads the series alongside Stranger Things star Charlie Heaton and Mackenzie Davis.
• All episodes available: All six instalments of the limited series are now streaming on Netflix.

The impressive figures put Below firmly at the top of Netflix’s English-language television rankings, underlining the appetite for its mix of creature-feature suspense, family drama and small-town secrets.

What is Netflix’s Below about?

Created by Jesse McKeown, whose writing credits include The Umbrella Academy and 19-2, Below is set in the fictional Newfoundland community of Snooks Arm, where a close-knit fishing town faces an extraordinary threat from the sea.

Hartnett stars as Calvin Penney, a stubborn but big-hearted fisherman and single father of three who is still haunted by the mysterious death of his own father decades earlier. When an unidentified sea creature begins terrorising the town, Calvin finds himself at the centre of a desperate fight to protect his family and preserve the community’s way of life.

With his son Wade, played by Charlie Heaton, and the rest of his family in danger, Calvin joins forces with visiting marine researcher Fonda Howander, played by Mackenzie Davis. Together, they attempt to confront the creature and uncover the buried secrets surrounding the island before the situation spirals out of control.

Blending local mythology, thrilling suspense and moments of dark humour, the six-episode drama explores family loyalty, community spirit and the fear of change. As the residents struggle to survive, they must also confront the fractures within their own lives.

Who stars in Below on Netflix?

Hartnett, known for roles in Trap, Oppenheimer and Penny Dreadful, leads a cast that combines familiar television faces with rising talent.

The main cast includes:

• Josh Hartnett as Calvin Penney, a fisherman determined to keep his family together.
• Charlie Heaton as Wade Penney, Calvin’s son, best known for playing Jonathan Byers in Stranger Things.
• Mackenzie Davis as Fonda Howander, the marine researcher who helps investigate the creature.
• Willow Kean as Ruth Penney.
• Ruby Stokes as Mary Penney.
• Rohan Campbell as Jay Penney.
• Kaleb Horn as Noah.

The series was filmed in Newfoundland, Canada, giving the thriller an atmospheric setting rooted in the region’s rugged coastal landscape and fishing traditions.

McKeown serves as showrunner and executive producer. The writing team also includes Karen Walton, known for Orphan Black, Perry Chafe of Saint-Pierre and Natty Zavitz of Edging.

The episodes were directed by Jamie Childs, whose credits include The Sandman and His Dark Materials, Helen Shaver, known for Station Eleven and The Penguin, and Stephen Dunn, the filmmaker behind Closet Monster.

Executive producers include Jessica Rhoades, Chris Hatcher, Hartnett, Childs, Louise Sutton and Sharon Hall.

East of Eden climbs as Below takes the top spot

While Below dominated Netflix’s English-language television chart, East of Eden also recorded a substantial increase in viewing figures.

The adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic novel, starring Zoe Kazan, attracted 12.6 million views in its second weekend — almost double the 6.5 million recorded during its opening weekend.

Despite that improvement, the series had initially made a relatively modest start. Its first-week figure was the lowest opening for a show debuting at number one on Netflix’s English-language TV chart since March, according to Deadline.

The contrasting performances highlight how viewing momentum can develop after a series launches, with word of mouth and growing audience interest potentially helping shows find a larger following.

For Below, however, the early numbers have already set a major milestone. With 17 million views in its opening weekend and all six episodes available to watch, the thriller has made a powerful start on Netflix.

Below is streaming now on Netflix.

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