Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Season 1 – Unbelievable

Play trailer 1:29 Poster for Season 1 – Unbelievable Sep 2019 Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
98% Tomatometer 84 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
When a teen reports being raped, then recants her story, two female detectives follow evidence that could reveal the truth; based on a true story.
Watch on Netflix Stream Now

Where to Watch

Unbelievable — Season 1

Unbelievable — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Heartbreaking and powerful, Unbelievable transcends familiar true-crime beats by shifting its gaze to survivors of abuse, telling their stories with grace and gravity.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
John Powers NPR Dec 23, 2019
Unbelievable unfolds slowly and methodically and without melodrama. Its eight episodes take the time to show the cost of sexual assault on its victims, and its deliberateness heightens the ironic sting of the series' title. Go to Full Review
Robert Lloyd Los Angeles Times Dec 13, 2019
The storytelling is straightforward, shaped to the emotional curve of Marie's story, as she tries to get on with a life that seems to be contracting around her - Dever, impassively terrific, puts up a shield and acts behind it Go to Full Review
Matthew Gilbert Boston Globe Dec 4, 2019
If you like procedural crime dramas, it's top-notch. Go to Full Review
Isobel Nutbrown Loud and Clear Reviews Jan 18, 2025
4/5
What is most shocking about Unbelievable is entirely based on true events. Go to Full Review
Zofia Wijaszka Screen Queens Feb 13, 2022
A
Unbelievable is, without any doubt, one of the most culturally relevant tv shows. Go to Full Review
Erin Maxwell L.A. Weekly Jul 31, 2020
Unbelievable's unique take on cop dramas and amazing performances makes it worth it. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Camille L @CamLaur Sep 1, 2026 So good! Strong acting by Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Colette and Merritt Wever. It was such a compelling and heart-wrenching story about a young woman that suffers an assault without being believed. See more Cinema S @cinema_sensei Aug 21, 2026 A deeply affecting true-story miniseries that handles trauma and institutional failure with remarkable restraint. Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Collette, and Merritt Wever are outstanding, making the investigation feel painfully human rather than sensationalized. The parallel storytelling works especially well, though the pacing can feel slow and some procedural details are repetitive. Still, it's powerful, uncomfortable, and difficult to forget. See more Zainab M @RT84753918 Aug 12, 2026 100% 🍅 The story was unraveled beautifully with great eloquence and sensitivity. See more Brian B @RT53690520 Apr 29, 2026 Really glad I found this one, well worth the watch. See more Rosie D. @Rosieeeee Mar 17, 2026 Its real-world significance far outweighs its technical execution. While this subject matter has become more common lately, the pacing here definitely feels a bit sluggish compared to last year’s hits — All her fault and Adolescence, but maybe that's just the nature of such a raw, real-life story, it’s hard to make it 'exciting' without losing the truth. It makes sense why it got overshadowed by Big Little Lies, but it’s still a powerful, albeit slow-burn experience. See more Kate T. @ckat9 Dec 15, 2025 This drew me in right away. I had to binge watch the whole thing, stayed up two hours later than I had intended that night. The acting is wonderful and being a woman, I absolutely loved seeing the well written roles for these actresses. Each and everyone was marvelous. As where are all the male actors from the smallest walk on part, to all of the leads, they were all great, creating deeply nuanced and complete characters that were impossible to not watch. Very well directed well and edited, great screenplay. It's actually based on a true, very sad story that should never have happened or gone on as long as it did in reality. They explore this, and many other issues in the story, making it compelling intriguing and complex entertainment.. I couldn't stop watching it. I was mesmerized by the performances. That is so rare for me, especially in today's offerings. Thank you, Netflix. You did a good job with this one! See more Read all reviews
Unbelievable — Season 1

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 13, 2019 As a traumatized young woman reports being raped by an intruder, she faces a whirlwind of emotions -- and increasingly skeptical questions from police. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 13, 2019 Episode 2 Marie struggles with the fallout from her retraction; three years later in Colorado, Det. Karen Duvall investigates a strikingly similar attack. Details Episode 3 Aired Sep 13, 2019 As Karen and Grace Rasmussen compare notes on their cases, they consider an alarming possibility; in Washington, Marie's name gets leaked to the press. Details Episode 4 Aired Sep 13, 2019 After meeting with another victim, Grace and Karen reach out to the FBI for help connecting the dots; Marie finds herself in a legal nightmare. Details Episode 5 Aired Sep 13, 2019 As the team juggles small breakthroughs and mounting frustrations, a fresh lead takes Karen across state lines; Marie faces new issues at work. Details Episode 6 Aired Sep 13, 2019 Grace takes a bold step to get close to a suspect, Elias the intern makes a critical discovery and Marie slips into increasingly reckless behavior. Details Episode 7 Aired Sep 13, 2019 Suddenly faced with two suspects instead of one, the team races to identify the rapist and make an arrest; Marie's new counselor tries to win her trust. Details Episode 8 Aired Sep 13, 2019 A call from Colorado sets in motion a chain of events that will change Marie's life; Karen and Grace prepare for a pivotal day in court. Details
When They See Us 96% 89% When They See Us Watchlist TRAILER for When They See Us Green Frontier 100% 94% Green Frontier Watchlist The Search % 0% The Search Watchlist The 7 Lives of Lea % 88% The 7 Lives of Lea Watchlist Fatma % 85% Fatma Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Season Info

Executive Producer
Susannah Grant, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, Lisa Cholodenko, Ayelet Waldman, Michael Chabon, Katie Couric, Richard Tofel, Neil Barsky, Robyn Semien
Network
Netflix
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 13, 2019
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings