Why Ozark Remains Netflix's Pinnacle Crime Drama Experience

By  Published Apr 12, 2026, 10:30 AM EDT Zach Moser has been writing for ScreenRant since 2026, covering movies, classic TV, and streaming TV. His areas of expertise cover a wide range of genres with a particular interest in horror and drama, and the conversations around the TV and film industry. When he's not covering the latest film releases or chronicling the latest season of a new show, he's writing humor pieces for McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Slackjaw, and Points In Case or working on short stories and his second novel.  Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Netflix's best crime drama is a four-season thriller that has yet to be surpassed on the platform. It's hard to keep up with all the Netflix originals that have appeared on the streamer since the 2010s, and more keep being added every day in just about every genre.

Netflix has always been a quantity over quality streaming platform, but within that large quantity, there are other streamers have to offer. One of their early successes has yet to be surpassed in the crime drama category: , a four-season crime thriller.

Jason Bateman stars as Marty Byrde in what may be the prolific actor's best role of his career. A money launderer for a Mexican Cartel, Marty moves his family to the Ozark region of America in order to take advantage of the fiscal opportunities in the tourist-rich Missouri region.

There, he encounters FBI agents, local criminals who are more dangerous than they seem, and the local drug operations who can give the Mexicans a fight if they're so inclined. It's one of the best shows of the last 10 years and certainly Netflix's best crime drama.

Ozark's Sense Of Place Sets It Apart From Other Crime Dramas

Ozark is a complex, intricately plotted show with an ominous, grim aesthetic that rarely lets up. It begins with Marty in a dire situation, and it keeps that tone throughout the entire series. It also features an incredible cast, including Laura Linney, Esai Morales, Lisa Emery, and an early-career Julia Garner.

What sets Ozark apart is what sets the other great crime dramas apart, a sense of place that other shows can't match. In Breaking Bad, it was the endless, dull deserts of New Mexico that mirrored Walter White's disillusionment and boredom.

In True Detective season 1, we were brought to the swamps of Louisiana, where people and places were forgotten about after Katrina, and in that jungle, rot was left to fester. In Ozark, we travel to the wild rivers and lakes of Missouri, a place rarely seen on television.

The Ozarks are a combination of untamed wilderness and mystery, and hyper-American capitalism, where there's money to be made and customers to appease. It's a unique place that is the perfect stage for someone like Marty, who has one foot in classic, polite business and one in dangerous, wild drug dealings.

Netflix's Latest Crime Drama Shows Have Missed The Mark

Laura Linney Holding a Gun in Ozark

Ozark remains the best crime drama on Netflix, and frustratingly, the streamer's attempts to create something else lasting have fallen flat. Seven Seconds, Queen Sono, Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Florida Man, Painkiller, and Griselda have all taken a shot at the genre.

Subscribe for deeper takes on Netflix crime dramas

Joining the newsletter brings critic-level coverage of Netflix crime dramas - why Ozark still sets the bar, which newer shows miss the mark, and curated viewing recommendations that sharpen your sense of what works in streaming thrillers. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our and . You can unsubscribe anytime.

Many of them have fallen on their faces, and some have succeeded, but only for a season or two before getting trashed by Netflix. Rarely does a Netflix original make it to four seasons. Maybe that's why the streamer hasn't been able to make much that can top Ozark.

, and there's no doubt that showrunners have taken notice. If you're a writer with a great idea for a crime drama, you might be nervous to sign with Netflix, because who knows when your series will be cut? It's possible that with this model, Netflix will never have an Ozark-level crime drama again.

54 8.9/10 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-MA Release Date 2017 - 2026 Network Netflix Showrunner Chris Mundy Directors Alik Sakharov, Andrew Bernstein, Amanda Marsalis, Benjamin Semanoff, Daniel Sackheim, Ellen Kuras, Phil Abraham, Robin Wright, Cherien Dabis, Laura Linney Writers Ning Zhou, Alyson Feltes, David Manson, Whit Anderson

Cast

• Jason Bateman Marty Byrde
• Laura Linney Wendy Byrde

Where to watch Close

WHERE TO WATCH

Expand Collapse

Follow Followed Like Share Close Trending Now