Netflix’s New ‘Yellowstone’ Dupe Is a Streaming Hit Despite 64% Rotten Tomatoes Score

It isn’t unheard of for the film and television industries to manufacture success. With the introduction of algorithm-driven programming in recent years, it makes perfect sense for Netflix to try and replicate the sheer virality of Taylor Sheridan‘s franchise-spawning series Yellowstone. The streamer famously passed on the series when it was first being shopped around, and has spent at least a couple of years trying to create something that might appeal to its massive audience. The latest in this assembly line of shows is The Waterfront. Starring Holt McCallany in the lead role, the series jumped straight to the top of Netflix’s viewership charts upon release last week.

According to FlixPatrol, The Waterfront earned 733 points on June 23, ranking first on Netflix. It beat out the holdover hit Sirens, and the more recent Dept. Q. The Waterfront also outperformed the latest seasons of Ginny & Georgia and FUBAR. The show has been averaging nearly 600 points per day on Netflix, and has accumulated a total of 2,756 points across four days of release. Also starring Maria Bello, Melissa Benoist, and Topher Grace, The Waterfront has been created by Kevin Williamson, the mastermind behind the Scream franchise. The eight-episode series follows a North Carolina fishing family trying to keep their crumbling empire afloat.

Despite its success, the show has received mediocre reviews so far. It holds a 64% Rotten Tomatoes score. Audiences were only marginally more receptive, awarding it a 71% rating on the aggregator website. Collider’s Samuel Murrian described it as “one of this year’s best shows” in his review, writing, “It’s also good enough to potentially be regarded as one of Netflix’s flagship series, especially if follow-up seasons deliver on the promise of its premise.”

The ‘Yellowstone’ Franchise Is Expanding

This isn’t the first time in recent months that Netflix has tried to deliver a Yellowstone-inspired project. Just some weeks ago, the streamer released Ransom Canyon, starring Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly. Before that, audiences were presented with the Australian series Territory. Netflix already has a couple of series that could appeal to the Yellowstone crowd: one of its earliest originals was Bloodline, and more recently, the show Ozark emerged as a breakout hit in its own right. Meanwhile, the Yellowstone franchise is set to expand with two upcoming spin-offs. You can watch The Waterfront on Netflix, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.