Harry Hole Tops Netflix Most-Watched Charts
- Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole has become the most-watched show globally on Netflix, achieving the top spot within four days of its release.
- The crime drama is an adaptation of Nesbø's fifth Harry Hole novel, The Devil's Star.
- The narrative centers on a professional rivalry, as the antagonist is revealed to be Hole's colleague, Tom, played by Joel Kinnaman.
Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole has become the most-watched show globally on Netflix, achieving the top spot within four days of its release.
The crime drama is an adaptation of Nesbø’s fifth Harry Hole novel, The Devil’s Star. The series follows detective Harry Hole, portrayed by Tobias Santelmann, as he attempts to track a killer targeting young women in Oslo.
The narrative centers on a professional rivalry, as the antagonist is revealed to be Hole’s colleague, Tom, played by Joel Kinnaman.
Content and Critical Reception
The series has been characterized as relentlessly grim
and noted for its high level of violence. Reports indicate that the show contains disturbing and gory imagery, including dead bodies found in water beds and women tied up in showers.
Beyond the graphic crime scenes, some critical commentary has focused on the depiction of the protagonist’s romantic encounters, which have been described as borderline hate
.
Visual critiques of the production have also emerged, with some observers noting that the depiction of Oslo resembles an urban fremtidsfantasi
(urban future fantasy) conceived around 1990.
Performance and Viewership
The show’s rapid ascent to the top of the global charts follows a trend of high viewership for crime dramas on the platform. By April 2, 2026, the series had recorded 4,900,000 views according to global most-watched data.
This performance places it among a diverse set of global hits, including anime and K-pop content, as well as true crime series such as The Predator of Seville.
The success of the adaptation marks a significant milestone for the Harry Hole franchise, bringing Jo Nesbø’s literary work to a massive international streaming audience.
Production Details
The production features a lead cast including:
- Tobias Santelmann as Harry Hole
- Joel Kinnaman as Tom
- Ingrid Bolso
The series continues to dominate the Netflix charts as of April 7, 2026, maintaining its position as a primary driver of viewership for the streaming service’s crime genre.