Below on Netflix: Cast, Plot and Why Everyone Is Watching the Josh Hartnett Sea-Monster Thriller

Quick answer: Below, Netflix’s six-episode sea-monster thriller starring Josh Hartnett and Charlie Heaton, premiered October 8, 2026. All episodes are streaming now.

Below, Netflix’s new sea-monster thriller starring Josh Hartnett and Stranger Things star Charlie Heaton, premiered on Thursday, Oct. 8, and it is already one of the most-searched shows in the U.S. All six episodes are streaming now. Here is the cast, the plot (no big spoilers) and whether it’s worth your weekend.

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What is Below about?

When an unidentified sea creature begins terrorizing his hometown, Calvin Penney (Hartnett) has to hold his close-knit community together and protect his family, including his son Wade (Heaton). He teams up with a visiting marine researcher, Dr. Fonda Howander (Davis), to find out what is in the water.

Below cast

Should you watch it?

Early reviews from the Toronto festival were strong, and Variety called it an exhilarating sea-monster thriller and RogerEbert.com gave it 3.5 stars. With six episodes, it is an easy weekend binge for fans of slow-burn horror. If you are deciding which streaming services to keep, see our guide to the best streaming bundles of 2026.

How to watch Below

Below streams only on Netflix. All six episodes are available now, so you can watch at your own pace or binge it in a weekend. You need any Netflix plan:

If you only want to watch Below, the cheapest way is one month of Standard with ads. Our guide to the cheapest way to get Netflix also shows whether your phone plan already includes it.

Is Below scary? What parents should know

Below is a sea-monster thriller, so expect suspense, jump scares and creature attacks. Check the maturity rating shown on the title page in Netflix before watching with kids. You can set a maturity limit for each profile, and lock adult profiles with a PIN, in Account → Profiles → Viewing restrictions. If you are unsure, watch the trailer first; it gives a good sense of how intense the show is.

How to get the best picture and sound

• Dark scenes look better with the lights off and your TV’s picture mode set to “Movie,” “Cinema” or “Filmmaker” instead of “Vivid.”
• Turn off motion smoothing (often called TruMotion, Auto Motion Plus or Motionflow) for a more natural look.
• Turn on subtitles if dialogue is hard to hear over the sound effects. In Netflix, open the speech-bubble icon during playback.
• Use headphones or a soundbar for underwater sound effects; TV speakers often flatten them.
• Old TV or slow app? A newer streaming stick usually fixes lag and buffering.

How to binge Below in one weekend

1. Add it to My List so it’s on your home screen.
2. Download episodes on Wi-Fi if you’ll watch on a flight or commute (on plans that allow downloads).
3. Watch two or three episodes a night; six episodes fit easily into a weekend.
4. Turn on “Autoplay next episode” in your profile settings if you want it to keep going.

Finding more shows like Below on Netflix

• Use the “More Like This” tab on Below’s title page. It lists similar thrillers in Netflix’s U.S. library.
• Search by mood: try “sea monster,” “creature feature,” “survival thriller” or “sci-fi horror” in Netflix search.
• Follow the cast: select an actor’s name on the title page to see their other titles on Netflix.
• Rate it with thumbs up so Netflix recommends similar shows.

Will there be a season 2?

Below is billed as a limited series, and as of Oct. 16, 2026, Netflix had not announced a second season. Limited series are designed to tell a complete story, though Netflix has occasionally brought back a popular one when viewing is strong. Netflix posts its weekly U.S. and global Top 10 lists, which show how a new show is doing. We’ll update this page if a renewal is announced.

Below at a glance

Why sea-monster stories keep working

Deep-water thrillers have been a Hollywood favorite for decades, from Steven Spielberg’s Jaws in 1975 to James Cameron’s The Abyss in 1989 and Underwater in 2020. The formula is simple: a small group, a place they can’t easily escape, and something they can’t fully see. The ocean adds darkness, pressure and isolation, so the tension builds even before the creature appears.

A six-episode series gives that formula more room than a two-hour movie. There is more time for the characters, more mystery about what is down there, and cliffhangers at the end of each episode, which is why shows like this are easy to binge.

Watching with friends in different homes

If you want to watch at the same time as friends or family who live elsewhere, each person needs their own Netflix access. Agree on a start time, press play together, and use a group chat or video call for reactions. Avoid sharing your password with people outside your household; Netflix now charges extra-member fees for that, and it can lock you out of your own account if it detects unusual sign-ins.

Buffering or poor picture? Quick fixes

1. Restart the Netflix app, then the TV or streaming device.
2. Restart your internet router.
3. Move the router closer, or connect the device with an Ethernet cable.
4. Pause other downloads and streams in the house.
5. Check Netflix’s help center if the problem continues; it shows known outages.

An older TV app is a common cause of lag. A current streaming stick usually fixes it; see our best streaming devices guide.

Watch Below without overpaying

• Already have Netflix? Check that you are on the cheapest plan that fits how you watch. Most people watching on one or two screens don’t need Premium.
• Don’t have Netflix? Sign up for one month of Standard with ads ($8.99), watch Below and anything else on your list, then cancel before the next billing date. Here’s how to cancel a streaming subscription in under two minutes.
• Paying for several services? Rotate them one month at a time. Our streaming bundles guide shows which bundles actually save money.

How Netflix picks what you see next

Netflix’s home screen is personal: it ranks rows and even changes the artwork you see based on what you watch, how long you watch, and your ratings. If you liked Below, give it a thumbs up and finish the season; Netflix will push more thrillers and creature features to the top. If the home screen feels stuck, a separate profile for different moods, such as one for family viewing, keeps recommendations cleaner.

Our take

Below is an easy pick for a fall weekend if you like suspense and creature features. It is short, all episodes are out, and it costs as little as one month of Netflix’s ad plan. If you’re on the fence, watch the first episode: by its end, you’ll know whether the slow-burning mystery and the deep-sea setting are for you. If not, Netflix’s “More Like This” row is the fastest way to find something closer to your taste without paying for another service.

Have you watched it? We’ll keep this guide updated with season 2 news and any new Netflix price changes.

Frequently asked questions

Last reviewed: Oct. 27, 2026. Facts are as reported when this story was published on Oct. 9, 2026.

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