Netflix’s New Stephen King-Like Thriller Series Officially Sets All-Time Viewership Record

Published Oct 13, 2026, 3:42 PM EDT Brennan Klein (he/him) is a senior news writer at Screen Rant, host of the Attack of the Queerwolf podcast, and contributor at Alternate Ending and Horror Press. He has been writing and podcasting about pop culture (especially horror movies) for over a decade at platforms including Blumhouse, Fangoria, Dread Central, The Backlot, and Arrow in the Head. Sign in to your ScreenRant account This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.Below has defied its title by landing above the competition. The new Netflix series, which debuted on October 8, is set in Snook's Arm, Newfoundland and follows fisherman Calvin Penney (Josh Hartnett) fighting to protect his family and his small town when a mysterious creature emerges from the sea. Jesse McKeown (The Umbrella Academy) created the show, which also stars Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things), Mackenzie Davis (Halt and Catch Fire), Rohan Campbell (The Monkey), Ruby Stokes (Bridgerton), and Kaleb Horn (The Vampire Lestat). Below reviews have been glowing, with critics drawing comparisons to the works of H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King and giving it a solid 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. Netflix has just shared their official chart of the Top 10 most-watched English-language series for the week of October 5 through October 11. The Stephen King-esque supernatural miniseries Below landed at No. 1 with 17 million viewers accumulating a total of 69.3 million viewing hours. This marks the biggest debut in history for a Netflix original from Canada. Below, see the full chart for the week: Rank Title Viewers #1 Below 17 million #2 East of Eden 12.6 million #3 Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1 4.1 million #4 Mojo Brookzz: I Know You Lying 3.3 million #5 Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story 3 million #6 Mayor of Kingstown season 1 2.7 million #7 Raw: 2026 - October 5, 2026 2.4 million #8 The Gentlemen season 2 2 million #9 Wonka's The Golden Ticket season 1 1.9 million #10 A Different World season 1 1.9 million More to come... Release Date 2026 - 2026-00-00 Network Netflix Showrunner Jesse McKeown Cast Mackenzie Davis Fonda Howander Directors Jamie Childs, Stephen Dunn, Helen Shaver Writers Perry Chafe, Jesse McKeown, Karen Walton, Natty Zavitz Creator(s) Jesse McKeown