Dark Winds, AMC’s True Detective-esque crime series with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, has become a global hit on Netflix. Based on the Leaphorn & Chee novels by Tony Hillerman, the AMC series follows three Navajo Tribal Police officers who confront their own spiritual beliefs as they investigate a double murder case in the Southwest during the 1970s. Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, and Jessica Matten lead the Dark Winds cast alongside Deanna Allison, Rainn Wilson, Elva Guerra, Jeremiah Bitsui, Eugene Brave Rock, Noah Emmerich, and Nicholas Logan.

Now, shortly after being added to the streaming service, AMC’s True Detective-esque crime series has become a global hit on Netflix. Dark Winds season 1 ranked sixth on Netflix’s Global Top 10 chart for the week of August 19-25 with 2.3 million views and 10 million hours viewed. It ranked just outside the top five for the week, consisting of Emily in Paris season 4, American Murder: Laci Peterson season 1, Wyatt Earp and The Cowboy War season 1, and The Umbrella Academy season 4.

Why Dark Winds Reviews Are So Positive

Seasons 1 & 2 Both Have 100% Rotten Tomatoes Scores

Joe holds a knife to Colton's head in Dark Winds Close-up of Joe Leaphorn looking wary in the Dark Winds season 1 finale
Manuelito and Chee share a look while rigging the dynamite in the Dark Winds finale
Manuelito speaks with the Mormon family in Dark Winds Bernadette and Leaphorn sit in their truck in Dark Winds season 2

Dark Winds season 1, primarily based on Listening Woman while also incorporating aspects of People of Darkness, premiered on AMC in 2022 to universal acclaim from critics. Reviews praised the first season as a strong procedural that derives much of its depth from its rarely depicted cultural setting and a strong performance from Zahn McClarnon. In turn, season 1 holds a rare 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics based on 36 reviews, coupled with a 73% audience score, recently renamed the Popcornmeter.

Dark Winds returned in 2023 with a sophomore season that adapted the rest of People of Darkness and was just as enthralling as the first, according to critical reviews, with Zahn McClarnon once again showcasing his essential and commanding presence as the lead. The second season once again achieved a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics with 18 reviews. However, its audience score dipped all the way down to 56% from 250+ ratings.

Dark Winds was recently added to Netflix on August 19 along with a host of other AMC shows, including Interview with the Vampire, Mayfair Witches, Fear the Walking Dead, and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Only Dark Winds season 1 appeared on Netflix’s Global Top 10 chart for the past week, which means that season 2 should follow in the near future as subscribers continue to catch up on the series. After that, Dark Winds season 3 has officially been renewed by AMC and should premiere sometime in early 2025.