🚨 Netflix’s Yellowstone-Style Crime Drama Becomes an Instant Hit Among Viewers and Critics! 😱

Cane, wearing a suit, with Peyton holding his arm next to Bree in Netflix TV show The Waterfront

It’s official: Netflix has found its next big streaming sensation. The platform’s latest crime series is making waves—drawing major comparisons to Yellowstone and captivating both audiences and critics alike. 👀

Packed with high-stakes drama and gritty tension, this new show has quickly become a must-watch for fans of character-driven crime thrillers.

What’s Behind the Buzz?

Cane, wearing a plaid shirt, stands on a dock next to Bree in black top in Netflix's The Waterfront

Since its 2018 debut, Yellowstone has become a cultural phenomenon, launching a successful franchise of prequels and spinoffs. Naturally, other streamers have tried to replicate its magic—and now, Netflix may have cracked the code.

Enter The Waterfront, a crime drama from Scream and Dawson’s Creek creator Kevin Williamson. Set in the coastal town of Havenport, North Carolina, the series follows the Buckleys—Harlan and Mae—who lead the region’s most powerful family. While The Waterfront hasn’t earned the same critical acclaim as Yellowstone, it has scored solid reviews and quickly surged to the top of Netflix’s global charts.

A Fast-Rising Hit on Netflix

Harlan, played by Holt McCallany, wearing a brown shirt and at the wheel of a boat in The Waterfront

The Waterfront premiered on June 19 and shot to the #1 spot within four days—surpassing even Ginny & Georgia Season 3. Between June 16 and June 22, the series garnered 8.3 million views and racked up an impressive 53.3 million viewing hours. It entered the Top 10 in 77 countries and claimed the #1 ranking in 10—including the U.S.—despite receiving only moderate critical praise.

Critics and fans are aligned in their reception, with both giving the show a 70% score on Rotten Tomatoes. While not high enough to earn the coveted “Certified Fresh” badge (which requires 75%), the score still marks the series as officially “Fresh.” Critics noted that while the series leans into familiar tropes, it does so with confidence and style, making for a binge-worthy experience.

Familiar Yet Fresh: The Waterfront vs. Yellowstone and Ozark

Harlan, in an olive shirt, shakes hands with Grady (Topher Grace) in brown jacket in The Waterfront

The series shares DNA with major hits like Yellowstone and Ozark—especially in its themes of wealth, power, and moral compromise. However, The Waterfront takes fewer creative risks than its predecessors, opting instead for a more grounded, emotionally driven approach.

CBR’s Brittany Frederick highlighted these parallels and also pointed to echoes of Williamson’s past projects—Dawson’s Creek and The Following. She describes the series as a fusion of both styles, elevated by a standout performance from Holt McCallany and a compelling ensemble cast.

Inspired by a True Story

What makes The Waterfront even more compelling is its personal origin. Kevin Williamson, known for The Vampire Diaries and the Scream franchise, revealed that the series draws heavily from his own upbringing.

“This is the darker side of me,” Williamson told TV Insider. “Dawson’s Creek was my coming-of-age story. But this one… this was always in the back of my mind. I told my dad, ‘When you die, I’m going to tell your story.’ He just said, ‘Okay.’”

In a revealing interview with Tudum, Williamson shared that his father, once a fisherman, got involved in drug running during a downturn in the industry. “He was a good man,” Williamson said. “But we were hungry. Someone offered him a way to make money, and it was hard to say no. It paid the bills. It sent me to college.”

Streaming Now on Netflix

With a raw backstory, strong performances, and a compelling family drama at its core, The Waterfront has quickly become a breakout hit—proving once again that personal stories told with boldness can resonate on a global scale.

Watch The Waterfront now, only on Netflix.