Florence Pugh’s #1 Netflix Hit Officially Gets Dethroned by Oppenheimer Co-Star’s 6-Part Thriller

Florence Pugh’s reign over Netflix’s U.S. television chart has come to an abrupt end. Her seven-episode literary drama East of Eden has slipped to No. 2 after Below, a six-part psychological thriller featuring her Oppenheimer co-star, claimed the top spot on October 9, 2026. FlixPatrol’s U.S. Netflix rankings confirm the changing of the guard.

The newcomer debuted at No. 1, overtaking East of Eden after eight days in the U.S. Top 10. There’s also a fun Oppenheimer connection, with Florence Pugh’s former co-star now leading the chart. Still, the rankings reflect relative popularity rather than actual viewing figures.

Josh Hartnett Brings Oppenheimer’s Legacy to Below

Credits: Netflix

The actor behind Netflix’s latest chart-topper is Josh Hartnett, who played nuclear physicist Ernest Lawrence in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Florence Pugh portrayed Jean Tatlock, whose relationship with J. Robert Oppenheimer became one of the film’s most emotionally fraught storylines. Universal Pictures confirms the ensemble of Nolan’s Oscar-winning biographical drama. Three years later, their careers have collided again, albeit through competing Netflix releases. Hartnett leads Below as Calvin Penney, a struggling fisherman and widowed father whose Newfoundland hometown, Snook’s Arm, faces an increasingly inexplicable threat from the ocean.

The community is already hanging by a thread. Dwindling fishing opportunities, corporate buyout proposals, and environmental changes threaten its survival before a mysterious sea creature begins terrorizing residents. Created by Jesse McKeown, the six-episode limited series also stars Mackenzie Davis as marine scientist Fonda Howander and Stranger Things actor Charlie Heaton as Calvin’s son Wade. Hartnett’s involvement is particularly interesting because he has become increasingly selective about his screen roles.

Speaking to Men’s Health, the actor discussed his preparation for Below, including studying Newfoundland’s distinctive accent through local recordings and immersing himself in the region’s culture. That preparation pays dividends. Calvin feels less like a conventional monster-movie hero and more like a weather-beaten man who has spent years watching his community slowly disappear.

The series has also attracted encouraging reviews. RogerEbert praised its environmental themes and small-scale suspense, while The A.V. Club applauded Hartnett’s grounded performance and the show’s eccentric coastal atmosphere. Its success suggests that audiences remain hungry for creature features with something more substantial beneath the surface than sharp teeth and jump scares.

Florence Pugh’s East of Eden Faces New Competition

Credit: Netflix

Before Hartnett’s maritime nightmare surfaced, East of Eden had been commanding Netflix’s U.S. television rankings. The seven-episode adaptation of John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel premiered on October 1, with Florence Pugh portraying Cathy Ames, one of American literature’s most formidable antagonists. Written and executive produced by Zoe Kazan, the series explores the Trask family’s destructive relationships, inherited guilt, and the struggle between moral choice and seemingly predetermined destiny. 

Pugh’s Cathy is particularly compelling because she refuses to fit comfortably into the familiar mold of a television villain. Kazan has explained that Steinbeck’s novel interrogates the tension between goodness and evil, while questioning whether people can escape the identities imposed upon them. In an interview with Netflix, she discussed how those themes informed the adaptation. The series also features Christopher Abbott as Adam Trask, Hoon Lee as Lee, and Tracy Letts as Cyrus Trask. Critics have responded favorably, particularly to Pugh’s interpretation of Cathy and Lee’s expanded characterization.

FandomWire’s East of Eden ending explained examines the finale’s pivotal use of “timshel,” the concept that people possess the freedom to choose their moral direction. That philosophical weight makes the sudden popularity contest rather amusing. East of Eden examines humanity’s internal monsters, while Below unleashes something considerably more literal from the North Atlantic. The former offers literary tragedy, while the latter serves up maritime horror with a side of ecological anxiety.

For now, Hartnett has won the streaming skirmish. Below’s No. 1 debut pushed East of Eden to second place on October 9. Whether that momentum survives the weekend remains to be seen. Which Netflix series deserves your next binge: Florence Pugh’s literary drama or Josh Hartnett’s ocean-bound nightmare? Share your pick in the comments and follow FandomWire for more rankings, reviews, recaps, and streaming recommendations.