On September 18, 2025, Netflix premiered Black Rabbit, an eight-part crime drama touted as the platform’s next big hit, with a star-studded cast led by Jude Law and Jason Bateman. Marketed as a gritty, high-stakes dive into New York City’s nightclub underworld, the series promised to rival the intensity of Ozark and the family drama of Succession. Yet, within hours of its debut, critics unleashed a torrent of scathing reviews, branding the show “miserable, undercooked, and impossible to care about.” Social media platforms, particularly X, amplified the backlash, with some calling it a “soulless misfire” that fails to deliver on its lofty promises. Despite its A-list talent and sleek production, Black Rabbit has sparked a fierce debate: is it a bold misstep or an overhyped flop? This article, spanning 2200–2300 words, explores the series’ premise, its critical reception, and why it’s left audiences questioning whether to press play.
The Hype Machine and High Expectations
Netflix spared no expense in promoting Black Rabbit. Trailers, released weeks before the premiere, teased a dark, stylish thriller set against the neon-lit backdrop of New York’s nightlife. Jude Law stars as Jake Friedkin, a charismatic restaurateur whose upscale Manhattan club, Black Rabbit, hides a web of criminal dealings. Jason Bateman plays his chaotic brother Vince, whose return after years of estrangement drags Jake into a dangerous underworld of loan sharks, mobsters, and betrayal. Directed by Justin Kurzel (Macbeth) and created by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, the series promised a blend of family dysfunction, high-stakes heists, and psychological tension.
The marketing leaned heavily on its leads. Law, known for The Talented Mr. Ripley and Sherlock Holmes, was pitched as a magnetic antihero, while Bateman, fresh off Ozark’s success, brought his signature blend of charm and menace. Netflix’s Tudum blog hyped the show as “the next Succession with a criminal edge,” and early press screenings generated buzz, with some outlets predicting Emmy nods. The platform’s $100 million investment, per industry estimates, funded lavish sets, a pulsing soundtrack by Hildur Guðnadóttir, and a supporting cast including Robin Wright as Jake’s calculating wife and Troy Kotsur as a ruthless mob enforcer.
Social media amplified the anticipation. X posts from Netflix’s official account, liked by millions, invited viewers to “join New York’s most exclusive guest list.” Fan excitement peaked, with users comparing the trailers to Boardwalk Empire and Peaky Blinders. “Jude Law and Jason Bateman in a crime drama? Take my money!” one tweet raved. Yet, as the series dropped, the hype collided with reality, and critics were quick to tear it apart.
A Brutal Critical Backlash
The critical response to Black Rabbit has been nothing short of savage. Variety called it “a miserable slog, drowning in its own ambition,” criticizing its “overly convoluted plot” and “characters you can’t root for.” The Guardian labeled it “undercooked,” arguing that the show “tries to be everything—family drama, crime epic, psychological thriller—and ends up being nothing.” Rolling Stone went further, branding it “impossible to care about” due to its “soulless characters and predictable twists.” Even MSN, typically measured, described it as “a feuding brothers tale that feels like a reheated Succession with less wit.”
The consensus is that Black Rabbit fails to deliver emotional depth. Critics argue that Jake and Vince’s sibling rivalry, meant to anchor the series, feels forced and lacks the raw humanity of Ozark’s Marty Byrde or Succession’s Roy family. “Law and Bateman are talented, but they’re stuck playing archetypes, not people,” Vulture noted, pointing to Jake’s stoic control and Vince’s chaotic energy as “clichéd opposites.” The show’s attempt to weave a sprawling criminal network—complete with Russian mobsters, corrupt cops, and nightclub schemes—feels overstuffed, with subplots that “go nowhere,” per IndieWire.
Pacing is another sore point. The eight episodes, each around 50 minutes, are criticized for dragging in the middle, with expository flashbacks that disrupt the narrative. A much-hyped heist in Episode 4, teased as a “game-changer,” was slammed by The Hollywood Reporter as “a dull retread of better crime dramas.” Critics also took issue with the show’s violence, which, while graphic—think bloody shootouts and a gruesome strangling scene—lacks emotional weight. “It’s all shock, no substance,” Slate wrote.
Despite these critiques, some praised the production values. Collider lauded the “gorgeous cinematography,” with nighttime shots of Manhattan’s skyline and gritty club interiors creating a moody atmosphere. Guðnadóttir’s score, blending electronic beats with haunting strings, earned accolades, though AV Club noted it “doesn’t save the messy script.” The 94% Rotten Tomatoes score reported by some outlets appears inflated, as fan reviews average closer to 60%, with many echoing critics’ disappointment.
The Plot and Its Pitfalls
Black Rabbit follows Jake Friedkin, whose Black Rabbit club is a front for money laundering, a secret he’s kept from his wife, Claire (Robin Wright). When Vince, fresh out of prison, returns demanding a stake in the business, old wounds resurface—Vince blames Jake for their father’s death in a botched heist years earlier. As loan sharks close in, Jake is forced to make deals with dangerous figures, including a mobster played by Kotsur, whose silent menace steals scenes. The brothers’ clash spirals into a web of betrayal, with double-crosses and a body count that mounts by the finale.
The premise, while promising, falters in execution. Critics argue the sibling dynamic feels “telegraphed,” with predictable arguments about loyalty and greed. A twist involving Claire’s secret alliance with a rival gang, meant to shock, was called “obvious” by Entertainment Weekly. The show’s attempt to blend family drama with crime thriller elements results in tonal whiplash—moments of quiet tension, like Jake and Vince reminiscing over childhood, are undercut by abrupt violence. “It wants to be The Godfather and Sopranos at once but misses both marks,” The New York Times wrote.
Character development is another weak spot. Jake’s stoicism makes him distant, while Vince’s recklessness grows repetitive. Supporting characters, like a detective tracking the brothers, feel like plot devices rather than fully realized figures. Critics noted that even Law and Bateman’s charisma can’t salvage the “flat” writing, with dialogue that leans on clichés like “family is everything” or “this city eats you alive.”
Fan Reactions: Divided and Vocal
While critics have been harsh, fan reactions on X and Reddit are mixed, reflecting a divide between those hooked by the star power and those disillusioned by the execution. Some viewers praised the chemistry between Law and Bateman, with one X post gushing, “Jude and Jason carry this show—every scene they’re in pops!” Others, however, echoed critics, calling it “a waste of talent.” A viral Reddit thread titled “Why Does Black Rabbit Feel So Empty?” garnered thousands of upvotes, with users lamenting the lack of emotional stakes. “I wanted to love it, but I don’t care if anyone lives or dies,” one commenter wrote.
The show’s violence sparked debate, too. Some fans compared it favorably to Sons of Anarchy for its gritty action, with a shootout in Episode 6 trending on X for its intensity. But others found it gratuitous, with one tweet reading, “Another bloody scene for no reason—give me a story I care about!” The hype, fueled by Netflix’s aggressive marketing, set expectations sky-high, making the backlash fiercer. “They sold it as the next Ozark, but it’s more like a bad Boardwalk Empire knockoff,” a fan posted.
Racial and Cultural Context
The series’ portrayal of New York’s underworld has drawn scrutiny for its handling of race and culture. The inclusion of Russian and Italian mobsters, alongside a diverse supporting cast, aims for authenticity but sometimes veers into stereotypes. Critics on X noted that the Russian gang leader, Ivan, feels like a “cartoon villain,” while the show’s depiction of Black and Latino characters in minor criminal roles sparked accusations of tokenism. “It’s 2025—can we move past these clichés?” one user tweeted. In contrast, Kotsur’s deaf mobster, using American Sign Language, was praised as a standout, with IndieWire calling him “the only character with depth.”
The show’s timing, amid heightened discussions of crime in urban settings, has also fueled reactions. Some conservative X users tied Black Rabbit’s gritty portrayal to real-world debates about city safety, referencing incidents like the 2025 Charlotte train stabbing. “This is what NYC feels like now,” one post claimed, exaggerating the show’s fictional violence. Liberals countered that the series sensationalizes crime, ignoring data showing New York’s crime rates at historic lows in 2025. This politicization has added to the show’s polarizing reception.
Production and Ambition
Despite its flaws, Black Rabbit’s production is undeniably slick. Filmed in New York City, the series captures the glitz of Manhattan’s elite and the grime of its underbelly, with club scenes shot in real Brooklyn venues. Kurzel’s direction, known for its visual flair, delivers striking moments, like a slow-motion sequence of a champagne bottle shattering during a brawl. The budget allowed for high-caliber talent, from Wright’s icy performance to Guðnadóttir’s evocative score. Yet, critics argue the polish masks a hollow core. “It looks like a million bucks but feels like a penny,” Slate quipped.
The writing team, led by Baylin (King Richard), aimed for a layered narrative but struggled to balance ambition with coherence. In a Tudum interview, Baylin admitted, “We wanted to push boundaries, but maybe we pushed too far.” The decision to drop all eight episodes at once, a Netflix staple, may have hurt, as critics noted the show might have benefited from weekly releases to build suspense. Comparisons to Your Honor, another overhyped crime drama, surfaced, with fans on Reddit calling both “style over substance.”
Why It’s Dividing Audiences
Black Rabbit’s failure to connect stems from several factors. First, its characters lack relatability. Unlike Breaking Bad’s Walter White, whose descent was grounded in desperation, Jake and Vince feel like archetypes—stoic hero and reckless wildcard—making it hard to invest in their fates. Second, the plot’s complexity, with multiple factions and betrayals, overwhelms rather than intrigues. “It’s trying to be Game of Thrones in a nightclub,” one X user joked. Third, the show’s emotional detachment—despite strong performances—leaves viewers cold. A scene where Jake mourns a loss feels perfunctory, lacking the gut-punch of Succession’s family conflicts.
Yet, some defend the series. Fans on X praise its ambition, arguing that its flaws are overshadowed by standout moments, like a tense standoff in Episode 7. “It’s not perfect, but it’s gripping,” one user tweeted. Others appreciate its darker tone, with a Reddit post calling it “Ozark on steroids.” The divide suggests Black Rabbit may find a cult following, even if it falls short of mainstream success.
The Bigger Picture
The backlash against Black Rabbit reflects broader challenges for Netflix. The platform’s push for prestige dramas, fueled by Ozark and The Crown, has raised expectations, but recent misfires like Your Honor and The Undoing show the risks of overhype. Black Rabbit’s 94% Rotten Tomatoes score, cited in early reviews, has been questioned, with fans suspecting inflated metrics. The real score, based on viewer ratings, hovers closer to 60%, aligning with the critical consensus.
The show’s failure also highlights the difficulty of crafting original crime dramas in a saturated market. With Better Call Saul and Succession setting high bars, Black Rabbit struggles to stand out. Its reliance on star power—Law and Bateman—couldn’t overcome a weak script, a lesson for Netflix as it greenlights more high-budget projects. Still, the series has sparked discussion, with X users debating whether it’s “trash” or “underrated.” A second season, though unconfirmed, seems unlikely unless viewership surges.
Should You Press Play?
Black Rabbit is a paradox: a visually stunning, well-acted series that fails to resonate. For fans of Law and Bateman, it offers moments of brilliance, particularly in tense brotherly exchanges and Kotsur’s chilling performance. But its convoluted plot, shallow characters, and overhyped promises make it a tough sell. “It’s not unwatchable, just forgettable,” Vulture summed up. For viewers craving a new Ozark or Succession, Black Rabbit may disappoint, leaving them questioning whether to invest eight hours. As one X post put it, “I wanted to love it, but it’s a soulless misfire.” Whether you press play depends on your tolerance for style over substance—but don’t expect the blockbuster Netflix promised.
