Netflix has once again thrown its hat into the ring of top-tier crime dramas with the release of Black Rabbit, an eight-episode limited series that hit the streaming platform on September 18, 2025. Created by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, the show stars Jude Law and Jason Bateman as brothers Jake and Vince Friedkin, whose fraught relationship and shared past ignite a powder keg of family drama, organized crime, and culinary intrigue in the heart of New York City.
Set against the backdrop of a hip Brooklyn restaurant, also called Black Rabbit, the series plunges viewers into the frenetic world of high-end dining, where cocktails flow, celebrities mingle, and secrets simmer just beneath the surface. Jake, played by Law, is a former rockstar turned restaurateur, eager to see his buzzing hotspot finally take off. But his ambitions are quickly complicated by the unexpected return of his estranged brother Vince (Bateman), whose chaotic presence drags Jake into a web of debts, mobsters, and personal demons.
It’s a setup that feels both fresh and eerily familiar. As The New York Times reported, much of the show’s DNA is borrowed from real life. The fictional Black Rabbit closely mirrors the notorious Spotted Pig, a Greenwich Village institution that was once the toast of the town before being shuttered in 2020 amid sexual harassment scandals that rocked the restaurant industry. Baylin and Susman, who lived near the Spotted Pig in the early 2000s, drew heavily from its history and aesthetic—right down to the British-influenced décor, the celebrity clientele, and the dark underbelly of workplace misconduct.
“We loved the warm glow of that restaurant at night,” Susman reflected in an interview with The New York Times. “But when the lights came up, all the cracks showed.” That duality is at the heart of Black Rabbit, which doesn’t shy away from depicting the wild parties, drug use, and inappropriate behavior that defined its real-life counterpart. The show’s owner, Jake Friedkin, is a charismatic figure with genuine affection for his staff—but, echoing the real Spotted Pig’s Ken Friedman, he’s also accused of sexual harassment and of fostering a toxic environment where abuse is tolerated or ignored.
The plot thickens as Vince, the black sheep of the Friedkin family, returns to New York with loan sharks on his trail. His reckless decisions quickly put Jake’s restaurant—and their already fragile relationship—at risk. By the second episode, Vince has lost a pinkie, and Jake finds himself forced to use the Black Rabbit as collateral to a local gang boss, played by Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur. The tension mounts with each episode, blending the relentless anxiety of Uncut Gems with the family dysfunction of Mean Streets and the kitchen chaos of The Bear.
The supporting cast adds further depth, with Cleopatra Coleman, Amaka Okafor, Sopé Dìrísù, Morgan Spector, Dagmara Dominczyk, and Troy Kotsur all delivering memorable performances. The show also stands out for its stylish direction, with episodes helmed by Bateman himself, Laura Linney, Ben Semanoff, and Justin Kurzel—each bringing a distinct flavor to the series. The cinematography, described as “whisky-hued” by one reviewer, gives the show a moody, immersive feel that’s both beautiful and unsettling.
Critical reception has been as complex as the show itself. CBR hailed Black Rabbit as “one of Netflix’s greatest crime thrillers ever,” praising its human core beneath the high drama. Screen Rant went so far as to call Bateman’s performance “a career best,” even suggesting the series surpasses his previous work in Ozark. “Above all, what Black Rabbit demonstrates more than anything might be one of the rarest qualities in any modern streaming series, especially on Netflix – artistic vision and care,” wrote Screen Rant. Vulture echoed that sentiment, describing the show as “a riveting and devastating ride, anchored by some of the most mercurial performances you’ll see on TV this year.”
Yet not all critics are convinced. The Hollywood Reporter dismissed the series as “a show and restaurant that offer the empty calories of star power but no nutritional value.” Deccan Herald was even more blunt, calling the drama “predictable and bland,” and suggesting that while the star power is undeniable, the show ultimately leaves a “bitter aftertaste.”
Still, even the harsher reviews acknowledge the magnetic pull of Law and Bateman’s performances. Both actors reportedly found themselves slightly miscast at first, unsure which brother they would play during early development. But as the show progresses, their chemistry and willingness to step outside their comfort zones become the emotional backbone of the story. The narrative, at times bleak and slow-burning, is elevated by their nuanced portrayals of two men bound by blood but torn apart by secrets and regret.
Beyond the family drama and mob intrigue, Black Rabbit doesn’t shy away from tackling the darker realities of the restaurant business. The series includes a storyline involving sexual assault in the restaurant’s V.I.P. room—a direct nod to the real-life incident at the Spotted Pig that helped bring about its downfall. Both the fictional and real restaurants feature chefs accused of turning a blind eye to abuse, and both are propped up by celebrity investors (in the show, a Black music star reminiscent of Jay-Z, who was a major backer of the Spotted Pig).
The show’s creators have been candid about their complicated feelings toward the world they’ve recreated. “Tumbling into the Friedkins’ shadowy burrow can be harrowing at times, but it’s a fall worth taking when you have Vince and Jake waiting at the bottom,” wrote Vulture. The series, much like the city it’s set in, is full of contradictions—glamour and grit, warmth and menace, ambition and self-destruction.
For viewers who can stomach the slow build and the occasional narrative detour, Black Rabbit offers a potent mix of suspense, character study, and social commentary. It’s a show that invites comparisons to the best of prestige television—Breaking Bad, Fargo, Killing Them Softly—while carving out its own distinctive niche.
In the end, Black Rabbit is as much about the city and its shadows as it is about the brothers at its center. With its blend of high stakes, emotional depth, and real-world resonance, it’s a series that lingers long after the lights go out.
