Below Netflix: Josh Hartnett Stars in New Sea Creature Thriller
For viewers searching for Below Netflix, the most important thing to know is that this is a new six-episode limited series, not the 2002 movie with the same title. All six episodes are now available to stream on Netflix.
What is Below on Netflix?
Below is a 2026 Netflix thriller series created by Jesse McKeown.
The story takes place in Snooks Arm, Newfoundland, a small coastal community where fishing is an important part of everyday life.
Josh Hartnett plays Calvin Penney, a fisherman and father who is still dealing with the mysterious death of his own father.
His life changes when an unidentified sea creature begins attacking the community.
Calvin eventually works with marine researcher Dr. Fonda Howander, played by Mackenzie Davis, as they try to understand what is happening beneath the water and protect the people around them.
Who is Josh Hartnett in Below?
Josh Hartnett plays Calvin Penney, the central character in the series.
Calvin is not presented as a typical action hero. He is a fisherman trying to keep his family and community together while dealing with problems that existed long before the creature appeared.
His character also carries unresolved questions about his father's death.
That personal history becomes part of the larger mystery surrounding the events in Snooks Arm.
Hartnett has appeared in several major projects in recent years, including Oppenheimer and Trap. His role in Below puts him at the center of a supernatural thriller with a distinctly Newfoundland setting.
What is Below about?
The story begins with a community already facing uncertainty.
Calvin Penney lives in a small Newfoundland fishing town where traditional ways of life are under pressure. When an unidentified creature begins appearing in the surrounding waters, the situation quickly becomes much more serious.
Calvin has to protect his son Wade, played by Charlie Heaton, while trying to understand what is attacking the town.
A marine researcher also becomes involved, adding a scientific perspective to a mystery that is connected to the community's past.
Netflix describes the series as a story about family, community, and a way of life that is gradually disappearing.
What is the creature in Below?
The identity and nature of the creature are central to the mystery of Below.
Netflix's official description deliberately refers to it simply as a mysterious sea creature. The series uses that mystery to gradually reveal what is happening around the coastal community.
Rather than explaining everything immediately, the story begins with strange incidents and growing danger.
That approach allows the series to work as both a creature thriller and a mystery.
For viewers who have not watched the series yet, it is probably better to avoid detailed explanations of the creature because they can reveal important parts of the story.
Who is in the Below cast?
The main cast includes Josh Hartnett, Mackenzie Davis, and Charlie Heaton.
Hartnett plays Calvin Penney, while Davis plays marine researcher Fonda Howander. Charlie Heaton plays Calvin's son, Wade.
The cast also includes Willow Kean, Ruby Stokes, Rohan Campbell, Kaleb Horn, Natasha Henstridge, and Mary Walsh.
The presence of Charlie Heaton may also attract viewers familiar with Stranger Things, while Hartnett brings recognition from both earlier films and more recent productions.
How many episodes does Below have?
Below has six episodes.
Netflix classifies it as a limited series, so the story is designed as a contained six-part thriller rather than a conventional long-running series.
The episodes range from roughly the high 30-minute range to around 47 minutes based on Netflix's episode information.
All six episodes are available on Netflix as of October 8, 2026.
When was Below released on Netflix?
Below premiered on Netflix on October 8, 2026.
The release is particularly timely because the series arrives during October, when audiences traditionally look for horror, thriller, and supernatural entertainment.
Netflix included Below among its October releases and describes it as a six-episode thriller starring Josh Hartnett.
Where was Below filmed?
Below was filmed in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
The location is an important part of the series rather than simply a background.
The rugged coastline, fishing communities, ocean, and isolated environment help establish the atmosphere of the story.
Netflix says creator Jesse McKeown had a long connection with Newfoundland and wanted the setting to be an important part of the series.
The production also involved local actors and crews, helping the series maintain a stronger connection to the region.
Why is Below different from a typical monster thriller?
At first glance, Below may look like another series about a mysterious creature attacking a town.
However, the story has a broader focus.
The series also explores family relationships, the future of a fishing community, local traditions, and changes affecting the environment.
That background gives the creature story a human dimension.
Calvin is not simply trying to defeat a monster. He is trying to protect a community that is already struggling to preserve its way of life.
Reuters also highlighted the environmental element of the story, noting that Calvin is forced to harvest ice from icebergs because of declining fish stocks before the creature becomes the central threat.
Is Below a horror series?
Below is primarily a thriller with horror and supernatural elements.
Netflix officially categorizes it as a thriller, while its story revolves around a mysterious sea creature terrorizing a coastal town.
The series therefore sits somewhere between a creature feature, mystery thriller, and supernatural drama.
This combination is important because the show is not solely focused on scares. The relationships between the characters and the problems facing their community are also central to the story.
Is Below worth watching?
For viewers who enjoy Josh Hartnett, supernatural mysteries, sea creature stories, or small-town thrillers, Below is a new Netflix title worth considering.
Its biggest advantage is its setting.
Instead of placing the story in a familiar metropolitan environment, the series uses a remote Newfoundland fishing community as the center of the story.
The six-episode format also makes it relatively easy to watch in a short period.
Early reviews released on the show's premiere date have generally focused on its combination of creature horror, Newfoundland atmosphere, and Hartnett's performance.
Below Netflix: Quick Facts
Title: Below
Year: 2026
Platform: Netflix
Release date: October 8, 2026
Format: Limited series
Episodes: 6
Genre: Thriller, supernatural, creature horror
Creator: Jesse McKeown
Lead actor: Josh Hartnett
Main cast: Josh Hartnett, Mackenzie Davis, Charlie Heaton
Setting: Newfoundland, Canada
Main threat: A mysterious sea creature
Below Netflix and the 2002 Movie Are Different
There is an important detail for people searching for Below.
The 2026 Netflix series is not the same title as the 2002 film Below.
The older movie also used the title Below and starred Josh Hartnett, which can create confusion in search results.
However, the new Netflix production is a six-episode limited series released in 2026, while the older title is a standalone film.
For searches such as “Below Netflix” and “Josh Hartnett Below”, the 2026 series is the title currently relevant to Netflix viewers.
Final Thoughts
Below brings Josh Hartnett to Netflix in a new six-episode thriller set in Newfoundland.
The story follows Calvin Penney, a fisherman who must protect his family and community after a mysterious sea creature begins terrorizing the town.
What makes the series more interesting is that the creature is only one part of the story. Family, community, local traditions, environmental change, and the disappearance of a traditional way of life are also important elements.
For anyone searching for Below Netflix, the answer is straightforward: the new series is now streaming, with all six episodes available on Netflix as of October 8, 2026.
And for Josh Hartnett fans, Below offers a very different role: a Newfoundland fisherman caught between his family's past, his community's future, and something terrifying beneath the water.