The series plunges viewers into the eerie world of Snook's Arm, Newfoundland, where a mysterious creature emerging from the ocean threatens the quiet life of fisherman Calvin Penney, portrayed by Josh Hartnett. Penney finds himself fighting to protect his family and his tight-knit community from the unfolding terror.
Below is the brainchild of Jesse McKeown, known for his work on The Umbrella Academy, and features a strong ensemble cast. Alongside Hartnett, the show stars Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things), Mackenzie Davis (Halt and Catch Fire), Rohan Campbell (The Monkey), Ruby Stokes (Bridgerton), and Kaleb Horn (The Vampire Lestat).
Critics have widely lauded Below, drawing compelling comparisons to the masters of dark fiction, H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King, for its atmospheric tension and chilling narrative. This critical appreciation is reflected in its strong 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling a broadly positive reception from reviewers.
According to Netflix's official Top 10 chart for English-language series between October 5 and October 11, Below secured the No. 1 position. The show captivated an impressive 17 million viewers, accumulating a total of 69.3 million viewing hours in its inaugural week. This performance is particularly noteworthy as it marks the largest debut in the history of a Netflix original series produced in Canada.
The series' triumph is all the more impressive given the formidable competition it faced. Below outperformed other major releases and returning favorites, including the second week of the John Steinbeck miniseries East of Eden, Disney+'s newly licensed Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and Paramount+'s Mayor of Kingstown. It also surpassed the latest installment of Ryan Murphy’s true-crime anthology, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, and the third week of the popular A Different World reboot.
Below's immediate success underscores Netflix's continued ability to launch compelling original content that resonates globally. Its record-setting debut not only highlights the widespread appeal of its Stephen King-esque horror narrative but also signals a significant moment for Canadian television production on the international streaming stage.