Netflix poured hype (and money) into Black Rabbit, touting it as the next prestige crime drama destined to dominate 2025. With heavyweights Jude Law and Jason Bateman leading the cast, expectations were sky-high. But instead of praise, the series has been hit with a wave of brutal reviews that may derail its bid for success.

Critics aren’t holding back. Headlines call the eight-part drama “miserable, undercooked, and impossible to care about,” blasting it for wasting its A-list talent on a thin plot and sluggish pacing. What was marketed as a gritty exploration of crime and corruption has been dismissed by some as “a slow, self-serious mess that mistakes bleakness for depth.”

Even fans who tuned in for the star power have voiced disappointment on social media. “I made it through three episodes and couldn’t take anymore,” one viewer wrote. “Jude Law and Jason Bateman deserved better material than this.” Others have compared the series unfavorably to Netflix’s earlier crime triumphs, calling it “a wannabe prestige drama with none of the spark.”

The backlash is particularly painful for Netflix, which billed Black Rabbit as a flagship release for its 2025 slate. Instead, the streamer finds itself facing questions about whether star-studded casts and slick marketing can mask the cracks in weak storytelling.

Still, not all hope is lost. Some defenders argue the show’s slow-burn style could appeal to patient viewers who appreciate moody, character-driven narratives. But in today’s binge culture, where gripping hooks and shocking twists are king, Black Rabbit may already have lost its chance to grab the crown.

For now, what was meant to be Netflix’s newest obsession has turned into its most controversial misfire of the year.