Netflix has scored a sleeper success with The Hunting Wives, the sultry psychological thriller, which premiered on the platform in July 2025. After launching quietly with little formal promotional campaign, the series became a fixture on Netflix’s U.S. Top 10 for six weeks, including time at the number one spot.

From Starz Castoff to Netflix Phenomenon

The show has an unusual backstory—produced initially for Starz, The Hunting Wives found itself without a home when the network split from Lionsgate Television. Netflix licensed the U.S. rights for one year, and the gamble paid off handsomely when the series premiered on July 21, 2025.

Created by Rebecca Perry Cutter (Hightown) and based on May Cobb’s bestselling 2021 novel, the eight-episode series follows Sophie O’Neil (Brittany Snow), who relocates with her husband Graham from Massachusetts to the fictional East Texas town of Maple Brook. There, she becomes entangled with Margo Banks (Malin Akerman), a charismatic socialite who leads an exclusive circle known as the “Hunting Wives”.

A Dangerous Web of Secrets

Sophie’s darker past—she killed a pedestrian while driving under the influence in Cambridge—adds another layer to her desperation to fit into this new world. As she grows closer to Margo, Sophie becomes consumed by obsession and seduction, eventually finding herself caught up in the murder investigation of a teenage girl found dead in the woods where the Hunting Wives gather.

The ensemble cast includes Dermot Mulroney as Jed Banks, Margo’s oil tycoon husband; Chrissy Metz, Jaime Ray Newman, and Katie Lowes as members of the elite social circle; and Evan Jonigkeit as Sophie’s husband.

Critical Reception and Cultural Impact

The series earned a 76% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 25 critic reviews. NPR praised the show’s pacing, noting that while it employs a familiar murder mystery structure, relevant facts emerge gradually rather than forcing viewers to wait until the finale for answers.

Viewers have been surprised by the show’s explicit content, which features considerably more nudity and sex than typical Netflix fare—a legacy of its Starz origins. In an interview with Vulture, Akerman revealed the creative team used Melania Trump as a reference for her portrayal of Margo Banks.

The show’s success extended beyond the screen. The week following the premiere, Cobb’s original novel saw a staggering 5,000% increase in sales across all formats compared to the previous year.

Season 2 on the Horizon

Netflix renewed the series for a second season in September 2025 as a global Netflix original rather than a U.S.-only license. The eight-episode second season will continue the original storyline from the Season 1 finale, with the main cast returning.

According to the Season 2 logline, Sophie and Margo begin at odds, but old secrets and new adversaries force them back together, raising the question: are they the hunters or the hunted?

The Hunting Wives demonstrates that sometimes the most unexpected paths lead to success. What began as a discarded Starz project transformed into one of Netflix’s standout dramas of 2025, proving that compelling storytelling—even when wrapped in Texas glamour and scandal—always finds its audience.

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Black Rabbit

Fans of Jason Bateman’s work in Ozark won’t be disappointed with his latest Netflix venture, the crime thriller miniseries Black Rabbit. Released on September 18, 2025, the show, which Bateman also executive produced and directed two episodes of, pairs him with actor Jude Law in a dark and gritty exploration of brotherhood, crime, and ambition.

The Premise: A Brother’s Return

The story revolves around two brothers, Jake (Jude Law) and Vince Friedken (Jason Bateman), who have a complicated and trauma-filled past. Jake is a successful restaurateur in New York City, poised to make his restaurant and VIP lounge, the titular Black Rabbit, a hotspot. His carefully constructed life is upended when his estranged, ne’er-do-well brother, Vince, returns to the city. Vince, a troubled individual with a gambling addiction and a host of enemies, quickly drags Jake back into the criminal underworld. The series starts with a robbery at the Black Rabbit, then flashes back one month to reveal the chain of events that led to the chaos.

The Cast and Characters

Black Rabbit features a strong ensemble cast alongside its two leads. Jude Law plays Jake, the seemingly put-together but deeply flawed restaurateur who is addicted to trying to save his brother. Jason Bateman’s Vince is the unkempt, self-destructive, and often frustrating source of all the trouble. Other notable cast members include Troy Kotsur as a terrifying loan shark, Cleopatra Coleman as an interior designer, and Sope Dirisu as a successful recording artist and investor in the restaurant. The series is at its best when it focuses on the dynamic between Bateman and Law, who have a palpable, brotherly chemistry.

The Downward Spiral

The show is a fast-paced descent into a world of deceit and violence. As Vince’s six-figure debt to a mobster comes to light, Jake is forced to get involved, and the brothers find themselves caught in a dangerous web of schemes and lies. Black Rabbit explores how the brothers’ codependent relationship, rooted in their shared childhood trauma, fuels a cycle of self-destruction. The constant bickering and palpable tension between the two leads make for a compelling watch, even if the subplots and side characters are sometimes underdeveloped.

Is it Worth the Watch?

For those who enjoy a dark, character-driven thriller, Black Rabbit delivers a tense and entertaining ride. While some critics have pointed out a few flaws, such as a predictable plot and a messy narrative, the strong performances from Jason Bateman and Jude Law elevate the series. Their nuanced portrayals of two brothers struggling to escape their past make the show an engaging look at how love and loyalty can become a dangerous force.

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Rating: ★★☆☆☆

The return to the movie theater has been a long time coming for many of us. The allure of the giant screen, the communal experience, and the thunderous sound is a powerful draw. It was with this anticipation that I went to see Jurassic World Rebirth at a local Cinemark, my first theatrical outing since before the pandemic. To my dismay, the experience was a stark reminder of how far home entertainment has advanced. After years of being spoiled by a pristine 4K television and a finely-tuned Sonos home theater system, the theatrical presentation felt dim, dated, and sonically underwhelming.

This isn’t just a critique of one theater; it’s a testament to the technological prowess now available in our living rooms. To give the film a fair shake, I rented Jurassic World Rebirth the following night on Apple TV+ for the premium price of $19.00. The difference was night and day.

From a technical standpoint, the 4K stream is a triumph. The Dolby Vision HDR grading makes the lush jungle environments and futuristic labs pop with vibrant color and spectacular contrast. Every scale, tooth, and terrified expression is rendered with impeccable detail that was simply lost on the theatrical screen. The Dolby Atmos audio track is equally impressive. When experienced on a capable home theater system, the sound design is immersive and dynamic. The guttural roar of a T-Rex vibrates through the room, the subtle rustle of leaves in the background creates a palpable sense of tension, and the score soars without becoming muddled. For the home theater enthusiast looking for new demo material, Jurassic World Rebirth delivers.

Unfortunately, a pristine package can’t save underwhelming contents.

Once the awe of the technical presentation fades, you’re left with the film itself. And sadly, Jurassic World Rebirth is a cinematic flop. The narrative is a lumbering beast, bogged down by sluggish pacing and far too many expository scenes that try, and fail, to stitch together a coherent story. The heart-pounding adventure that defined the franchise is conspicuously absent. While there are a few fleeting action sequences, they lack the creativity and sustained thrill of the series’ previous high points.

The Verdict

Jurassic World Rebirth feels less like the next chapter in a beloved saga and more like a calculated money grab from a studio that has exhausted its imagination. While the film serves as a spectacular showcase for the power of modern 4K streaming and high-fidelity home audio, the movie itself is a hollow and boring affair.

Should you spend the $19.00 to rent it? If your primary goal is to push your home entertainment setup to its absolute limits and witness reference-quality audio and video, then it might be worth it as a technical demo. However, if you are looking for a captivating story or the exhilarating magic of the Jurassic adventures of the past, we recommend you save your money. This is a technically flawless blockbuster with a Stone Age soul.

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