'Enthralling' crime series hailed as best British drama finally coming to Netflix
The beloved ITV hit Broadchurch lands on Netflix on November 18 - and yes, it still holds up
If you've been saving a spot on your watchlist for a British crime drama that actually makes you feel something, good news: Broadchurch hits Netflix on November 18. And if you somehow missed it the first time around, this is the one (movies and tv series) people won't stop talking about for a reason.
The series first aired in 2013 and unfolds in the quiet seaside town of Broadchurch on the Dorset coast. It starts with a tragedy, then pulls you through a community where almost everyone has something to hide - and every silence feels loud.
David Tennant (movies and tv series) and Olivia Colman (movies and tv series) lead as DI Alec Hardy and DS Ellie Miller, a pairing that just works. He's all edges; she's all empathy. Together, they give the show its heartbeat.
- Created and written by Chris Chibnall (movies and tv series)
- Stars Jodie Whittaker (movies and tv series), Andrew Buchan (movies and tv series), Arthur Darvill (movies and tv series), Carolyn Pickles (movies and tv series), Jonathan Bailey (movies and tv series), Matthew Gravelle (movies and tv series), Charlotte Beaumont (movies and tv series), and Adam Wilson (movies and tv series) across three series
- Originally aired on ITV (2013-2017)
Broadchurch wasn't just popular - it cleaned up. The first series earned seven BAFTA nominations, with Olivia Colman winning Best Actress, David Bradley (movies and tv series) taking Best Supporting Actor, and the show winning Best Drama Series. It also picked up a Peabody Award, which tells you this wasn't just buzzy TV; it had substance.
Critics and audiences landed in the same place: this show is special. It holds a sky-high average on review aggregators, with one reviewer calling it "among the best detective shows - and perhaps even among the best dramas - in several years." Another wrote that after the devastating first season, they didn't think a second was necessary. "I was wrong."
What makes it stick? The show doesn't rely on gore or big, flashy set pieces. It's the quiet tension. The cliff path at dusk. The way Ellie looks at Hardy when a clue doesn't add up. One fan put it simply: "Compelling, emotional acting. Beautiful setting… impossible not to binge."
And yes, Tennant is excellent in a darker register - but Colman is the one who sneaks up on you. As one critic said, she brings Ellie's questions to life with real depth. By the final episodes, you feel like you know these people. Maybe a little too well.
Olivia Colman and David Tennant
If you want to check the receipts, the series sits near the top of critic and audience rankings for U.K. crime dramas. You can see the awards history on the BAFTAs site and the season-by-season scores on Rotten Tomatoes below.
Here's what this means if you cover TV or recommend shows for a living: you're getting a proven hit that still finds new viewers on word-of-mouth alone. It's bingeable, but it also lands emotionally, which is rare. And it sparks conversation - the kind that keeps people texting "Have you finished episode 3 yet?"
Broadchurch starts streaming on Netflix on November 18. If you can't wait, it's also available to watch for free on ITVX right now.
