Netflix’s New Disturbing 3-Part True Crime Series Scores Rare 100% Rating & is an Instant Hit

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Okay, I’m officially hooked! Netflix has done it again with a new true crime series that’s getting incredible reviews. It actually debuted with a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is a huge deal – very few shows manage that! I’ve noticed true crime tends to do well with critics, and this one joins a pretty exclusive club. Shows like Secrets We Keep, Arcane, Bring Me The Beauties: A Model Cult, and Trust Me: The False Prophet all hit 100% too, and even The Perfect Neighbor was almost perfect with 99%. Basically, if you’re like me and love a good true crime story, Netflix is the place to be right now.

The new show, The Witness, which premiered on Thursday, June 4th, is based on a shocking true murder from the 1990s. Early reviews have given it a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s already a huge hit – currently the second most popular show on Netflix worldwide and in the United States, according to Flixpatrol. Be warned, it’s a difficult watch, detailing a disturbing UK murder case, a terrible injustice, and the profound trauma experienced by a two-year-old child. Please be aware that the following details are graphic and disturbing.

Netflix’s The Witness is Based on a Tragic True Story

Directed by Alex Winckler, known for his 2022 film Somewhere Boy, The Witness recounts the true story of Rachel Nickell’s 1992 murder. Nickell was fatally stabbed while walking her dog with her son in a public park, and the young boy was left to cope with the horrific aftermath, even attempting to help his mother. The case was deeply disturbing, and the series is based on a memoir written by Nickell’s son, Alex Hanscombe, who, along with his father André Hanscombe, served as consultants on the show. Jordan Bolger delivers a particularly strong performance as Alex Hanscombe.

After the murder, British police focused their investigation on the wrong man, using a deceptive tactic – a “honey trap” – to try and get him to confess. Even though he didn’t confess and the way he was targeted was questionable, he was still charged and brought to trial, but the judge ultimately dismissed the case. Alex’s book, “Letting Go,” detailed his experience with the crime, the intense media attention that followed, and his personal journey through trauma and the challenges of growing up without a mother, as he sought peace. This new account, The Witness, doesn’t gloss over Alex’s struggles or excuse his actions, which is understandable considering everything he endured.

The real story is complemented by the documentary The Murder of Rachel Nickell, which is also streaming on Netflix. The documentary is proving very popular, ranking second worldwide behind Office Romance (featuring Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein) and third in the US.

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2026-06-07 20:20