Netflix subscribers have another true-crime phenomenon on their hands. A new three-part documentary has raced to the top of the platform’s TV rankings, pulling in millions of viewers within days and proving the genre is still highly appealing.
The Idaho Murders docuseries scores a massive viewership for Netflix
The streaming giant’s latest breakout is The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare, which debuted on July 29 and amassed 18.2 million views in its first week. That performance pushed it to the No. 1 spot on Netflix’s global TV rankings for the week, comfortably outpacing several returning and newly released scripted series. True crime continues to be one of Netflix’s biggest crowd-pullers, and this release is the latest example (via The Wrap).
The series revisits the 2022 killings of four University of Idaho students through a three-episode format that follows the investigation while keeping the victims and their families at the center of the story. Rather than leaning on sensational twists, the documentary uses police footage, interviews and a detailed timeline to reconstruct the case.
The success came during a competitive week for Netflix. While 72 Hours remained the platform’s biggest film with 25.1 million views, the documentary A Toxic Love Story claimed second place among movies with 12.9 million. On the television side, Ransom Canyon Season 2 followed with 5.5 million views, while The Bombing of Pan Am 103 and I Will Find You rounded out the upper tier of the chart.
Critical responses to the documentary have also been impressive. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has received a score of 89% from critics. Viewers have praised the victim-focused storytelling instead of turning the convicted killer into the central figure.
The latest rankings reinforce a familiar trend for Netflix. Whether it’s scripted dramas or real-life investigations, viewers continue to gravitate toward compelling crime stories, and this three-part series has become the platform’s newest must-watch almost overnight.
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on ComingSoon.
