As the streaming landscape continues to shift, Netflix finds itself at the epicenter of a new wave of binge-worthy content, with viewers in the U.S. flocking to both fresh releases and rediscovered gems. In the week leading up to February 20, 2026, the platform’s Top 10 has been upended by a surprising contender: NBC’s crime procedural The Hunting Party, which has rapidly climbed the ranks to become one of the most-watched shows in the country, trailing only behind the ever-popular reality series Love is Blind and a new stand-up special from Katt Williams. According to Screen Rant and Forbes, this surge comes at a time when previous chart-toppers like Shonda Rhimes’ Bridgerton and the legal drama The Lincoln Lawyer have seen their positions slip, making room for a new wave of streaming favorites.
The Hunting Party’s sudden rise is all the more impressive considering its origins. Originally airing on NBC, the series only recently made its Netflix debut, with the first season landing on the platform on Sunday, February 15, 2026. The timing couldn’t have been better: with many NBC shows facing cancellation, The Hunting Party not only survived but thrived, earning a second-season renewal and captivating a new audience on streaming. As Forbes notes, the show’s arrival on Netflix is the result of a time-based licensing deal, allowing it to reach a broader audience a year after its initial broadcast.
But what is it about The Hunting Party that has viewers so engrossed? The premise is as dark as it is compelling. The story centers on former FBI profiler Rebecca “Bex” Henderson, played by Melissa Roxburgh, who leads a team of elite special agents in a race against time to recapture the nation’s most dangerous serial killers. These criminals have escaped from a secret government prison—known as “The Pit”—hidden beneath the Wyoming countryside after a catastrophic explosion. Thrust back into the fold, Bex and her team must navigate a tangled web of intrigue, conspiracy, and personal demons as they hunt down the escapees before they kill again.
While the show’s setup might sound ripped from the headlines, the truth is a bit more nuanced. As reported by BollywoodShaadis and Collider, “The Pit” is a fictional facility, though it draws inspiration from real-life maximum-security prisons such as Colorado’s ADX Florence and California’s Pelican Bay State Prison. The show’s creators have been clear about their intentions: they purposefully avoided basing “The Pit” on notorious real-world sites like Guantánamo Bay, aiming instead for a tone that is “fun, dark, and interesting,” rather than a commentary on human rights violations. Writer JJ Bailey explained, “We talk a lot about staying away from the GITMO of it all. We don’t want this to feel like a terrorist, human rights violation-type thing even though it is a human rights violation-type of thing. We wanted it to always feel—this is going to sound weird—but we always wanted [the series] to feel fun. It’s crazy and it’s weird and it’s dark. We always want it to be fun and interesting and feel like a fun ride.”
Adding to the intrigue, “The Pit” is depicted as being housed in a decommissioned nuclear missile bunker in Cheyenne, Wyoming—a nod to the more than 400 missile silos scattered across the United States, many of which remain off-limits to the public. As BollywoodShaadis highlights, this imaginative setting allows the show to explore themes of secrecy, government experimentation, and the unpredictable nature of criminal behavior. Co-creator Jake Coburn elaborated on this, noting, “They’ve changed, and the change that occurred in them is manifesting itself in their behaviour. So it’s this process of trying to figure out who this person is now, why they’re doing what they’re doing.” The show doesn’t shy away from depicting government efforts to study and even experiment on the prisoners in hopes of preventing future crimes, adding a layer of psychological complexity to the weekly procedural format.
Despite its popularity with viewers, The Hunting Party has divided critics. Season 1 currently holds a dismal 18% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences have given it a robust 82%. This gap has sparked debate across social media and review sites. The AV Club dismissed the show’s execution as lacking, stating, “The premise of The Hunting Party—searching for serial killers whose ill-advised treatments have rendered them even more vicious—is intriguing in theory, but the writers have somehow chosen the dullest possible execution of that vision.” In contrast, audience reviews are far more forgiving, with one viewer writing, “It’s a good watch. So of course critics hate it. They also hated the show Alcatraz. Hunting Party is Alcatraz meets The Blacklist. There’s nothing realistic about it but not like every show has to be realistic. This is fun.”
What accounts for this divide? As Forbes suggests, the show scratches a nostalgic itch for fans of classic procedural crime dramas like Criminal Minds and Bones. “There’s nothing particularly innovative about the premise. But why mess with a good formula?” one audience member remarked. It’s a sentiment echoed by many who feel that the current streaming landscape lacks the kind of satisfying, episodic mysteries that once dominated network television. For those seeking a familiar, binge-able escape, The Hunting Party delivers in spades—even if it leaves some critics cold.
Of course, The Hunting Party isn’t the only show making waves on Netflix this week. As Screen Rant and Collider point out, the platform is also home to a range of new and returning series. The culinary docuseries Being Gordon Ramsay premieres on February 18, offering an unprecedented look at the world-famous chef as he juggles five new culinary ventures in London. Meanwhile, the K-drama Summer Strike is poised to leave Netflix on February 19, prompting a last-minute binge for fans of feel-good television. The third season of the spy thriller The Night Agent drops ten new episodes on February 19, with a fourth season already confirmed. And for those seeking hidden gems, the prison thriller In the Mud boasts a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, though it has yet to catch fire with global audiences.
For viewers who crave variety, Netflix continues to deliver. From the sci-fi adventures of Stargate SG-1 to the uproarious comedy of Derry Girls, there’s something for everyone on the world’s biggest streaming platform. As the countdown to Bridgerton Season 4, Part 2 (set for February 26) continues, the current crop of top-tier series offers plenty of reasons to stay glued to your screen.
In a streaming world driven by both novelty and nostalgia, The Hunting Party stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of a good procedural—and the unpredictable tastes of the viewing public. Whether you’re in it for the pulse-pounding chases, the psychological twists, or simply the comfort of a familiar formula, Netflix’s latest hit proves that sometimes, the fun is in the hunt itself.