The Beast in Me, Netflix’s psychological thriller miniseries, claimed the top spot on Netflix’s TV charts in its premiere week with 6.9 million views (45.4 million hours watched) in just four days. Starring Claire Danes as grieving author Aggie Wiggs and Matthew Rhys as mysterious real estate developer Nile Jarvis, the eight-episode series premiered on November 13, 2025, with all episodes released simultaneously. Created and written by Gabe Rotter and executive produced by showrunner Howard Gordon, the series marks a collaboration between powerhouse producers including Jodie Foster and Conan O’Brien. The psychological thriller received critical acclaim with an 83% Rotten Tomatoes critics score and 71 on Metacritic, praising the “superb performances” from its leads and “crackling tension” that sets it apart from typical murder mysteries.
Cast, Director, and Writer
Creator, Writer & Executive Producer: Gabe Rotter (The X-Files)
Showrunner & Executive Producer: Howard Gordon (Homeland, 24, The X-Files)
Director: Antonio Campos
Executive Producers: Jodie Foster, Conan O’Brien, Daniel Pearle (American Crime Story), Claire Danes, Daniel Kissinger (Conaco)
Main Cast: Claire Danes as Aggie Wiggs (grieving author), Matthew Rhys as Nile Jarvis (mysterious real estate developer), Brittany Snow as Nina Jarvis (Nile’s wife, NYC gallerist), Natalie Morales as Shelley (Aggie’s ex-wife, painter), David Lyons as Brian Abbott (FBI agent), Jonathan Banks as Martin Jarvis (Nile’s father), Tim Guinee as Rick “Wrecking Ball” Jarvis (Nile’s uncle), Deirdre O’Connell, Bill Irwin, Kate Burton, Amir Arison, Hettienne Park, Aleyse Shannon, Will Brill
Production: 20th Television
Release Date: November 13, 2025 (All 8 episodes)
Movie Story & Plot
The Beast in Me follows Aggie Wiggs, a celebrated author devastated by the death of her young son. Struggling to write and withdrawn from society, Aggie finds unexpected inspiration when Nile Jarvis—a mysterious real estate developer with a suspicious past—moves in next door to her Oyster Bay, New York home. Nile is allegedly connected to his first wife’s disappearance and is now hiding out with his second wife, Nina, while managing his powerful real estate empire. As Aggie becomes fascinated by Nile’s complicated history, she decides to use his story as the backdrop for her next novel. However, her investigation quickly spirals into danger as she discovers dark secrets, hidden crimes, and the true nature of her charming neighbor. The psychological thriller explores themes of grief, complicity, narrative manipulation, and the question: Can we truly ever know another person?
Review & Ratings
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score: 83% (Certified Fresh)
Critics Consensus: “A cut above usual murder mystery, The Beast in Me stages a psychological duel that crackles with tension thanks to Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys’ superb performances.”
Metacritic Score: 71/100 (Generally Favorable Reviews)
Critical Highlights: Claire Danes delivers an authentic, nuanced performance capturing grief and obsession with depth. Matthew Rhys is praised as “the heart of the show,” bringing devious charm and complexity as Nile while masterfully portraying his maintained facade. The ensemble cast, including Jonathan Banks, Brittany Snow, and others, are noted for “handling the depth of their respective characters with dedication.”
Strengths Praised: Seamless blend of emotion and mystery thriller; tight pacing that never feels stretched across eight episodes; compelling psychology of both leads; authentic character reactions in complicated situations; strong narrative momentum.
Minor Criticisms: Some viewers felt the eight-episode length was slightly extended; the ending, while competent, could have been grander; supporting cast occasionally felt thin compared to the magnetic leads.
User Reviews: Average 7.5/10 rating. Audiences describe it as a “must-watch psychological thriller” with “phenomenal performances” from both leads.
Netflix Viewership and Performance
Premiere Week Performance (November 13-17, 2025):
– Total Views: 6.9 million
– Total Hours Watched: 45.4 million
– Chart Position: #1 on Netflix TV charts (premiere week)
– First 4 Days: 6.9M views (all eight episodes released November 13)
Context & Significance: The 6.9 million views represent a solid Netflix debut, particularly for a psychological thriller. The series performed approximately 300,000 views more than Netflix’s Black Rabbit but notably fewer than prestige titles like All The Light We Cannot See and The Madness. The all-at-once episode release strategy on November 13 enabled rapid viewership, allowing binge-watchers to complete the series within days. Industry analysts note that The Beast in Me will likely decline in subsequent weeks when Stranger Things launches, but the strong premiere positions it favorably compared to middling debuts like In Your Dreams (animated film at 8.3M views, rank #4 after 3 days).
