Netflix Horror Series Below Hits Number One Globally
The six-episode horror show topped the English-language television chart with 86.4 million hours watched in a single week.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Horror
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The Netflix horror series Below has claimed the top spot on the streaming service's global English-language television chart. The show accumulated 86.4 million hours viewed during the week of October 12-18.
Why it matters
The series has captured significant global attention shortly after its release, drawing in millions of viewers to its story of an isolated community facing a mysterious threat. Its performance marks a strong debut for the new horror title on the platform.
The six-episode series reached 38.2 million total views within its first two weeks on the platform. It saw 21.2 million views during its second week alone.
The players
Josh Hartnett
He is an American actor known for his roles in various film and television projects who portrays the lead character Calvin Penney in Below.
Netflix
This global streaming entertainment service provides on-demand video content to subscribers and tracks viewership data for its original programming.
The details
Starring Josh Hartnett as Calvin Penney, the show centers on a fisherman who joins forces with a marine researcher to battle an unidentified sea creature. The narrative takes place in an isolated Newfoundland coastal town terrorized by the underwater monster.
Timeline
Below debuted on Netflix on October 8, 2026.
The series reached 86.4 million hours watched during the week of October 12-18, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The series' performance follows a pattern set by other limited-run genre productions that leverage platform-wide engagement to capture top rankings. These successes reflect the ongoing streaming competition for dominance in global television viewership.
The complete six-episode first season is currently available for streaming globally on Netflix. Subscribers can access all episodes immediately through their existing plan.
The takeaway
The rapid success of the series highlights the continued viewer appetite for contained horror narratives on major streaming platforms. Fans of the genre can watch the full season to see how the story concludes.
Further reading
Discover more shows and updates in the Horror section.
Live Poll
Do you plan to watch the horror series Below based on its recent popularity?
