Netflix has a new ‘Ozark-like’ series viewers call the best of 2025 after being gripped by very first episode

Netflix has added a new series which viewers are comparing to Ozark, with some going as far as to say that it's the 'best show' the streamer has put out this year.

Between Adolescence, Dept Q, and the multiple conversation influencing Trainwreck true crime docs, taking the top spot as the 'best show of 2025' on Netflix is a competitive title.

For any show to be likened to Netflix's Ozark though is a lofty comparison, with it sitting at a whopping 8.4 on IMDb, one of the highest averages for any show on the platform.

The show was critically acclaimed too, with one season of Ozark going as high as 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Waterfront, released last week on Netflix, may not be quite as high on Rotten Tomatoes as that, but the TV show has clearly been a hit so far.

What is The Waterfront about and who is in it?

The Waterfront follows a North Carolina fishing company whose success is beginning to crumble away.

Faced with a declining fishing empire, the Buckley family are forced to turn to less-than-legal methods of bringing in money.

Harlan, Bree, Cane, and Belle Buckley lead the show as the core four, played by Holt McCallany, Melissa Benoist, Jake Weary, and Maria Bello, respectively.

Add to that a supporting role for That 70s Show and BlacKkKlansman star Topher Grace and you have a fairly stacked cast.

The show, released last Thursday (19 June), has already hit number one worldwide and in the US, sitting at number three in the UK.

Created by Kevin Williamson, it is loosely based on his father's experiences as a fisherman who was convinced to run drugs by criminals.

Fans have been gripped from the very first episode, with one saying on the Facebook group Netflix Bangers: "Just finished watching Waterfront and WOW. This series pulled me in from the first episode and didn’t let go."

Another thread, asking the question of which show was the best of 2025 on Netflix, had The Waterfront as one of the most popular answers.

Who compared it to Ozark and what are critics saying?

The show's premise has led to Ozark comparisons (Netflix)

Several critics and fans have compared the show to Ozark and from the premise it is clear to see why the money laundering show has come to mind.

One recent Reddit thread saying that the show had gotten ‘great reviews-being compared to a mash up of Ozark and Dawson's Creek’.

Another comment agreed, saying: “It reminds me a lot of Ozark but with less likable protags, I’m really enjoying it…

“The visuals are all great and do a perfect job of capturing the coastal southern small-town atmosphere. I've really enjoyed the acting is as well - its a bit melodramatic but in a fun way, I think.

“The whole premise is a little silly. I usually turn off shows like this after an episode or two but something about this one has me sold.”

The critical reception to The Waterfront has been disappointingly mixed despite fan excitement, sitting at a 64 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

ScreenRant called the show ‘Netflix’s new Ozark replacement’, while Cosmopolitan said it's ‘Ozark meets Outer Banks’.

Lucy Mangan, of The Guardian, captured the mixed tone of reactions to the series in her three star review, saying: “It is escapist summer nonsense with -- God, I hope -- no pretensions to being otherwise. Dive into the adult creek and wallow in nostalgia as the waves of absurdity sweep towards shore.”

The Waterfront is available to watch on Netflix now.