Netflix Just Dropped a Critically Acclaimed Crime Thriller With a 96% Score on Rotten Tomatoes — Viewers Say It’s “A Masterpiece You Need to Watch Immediately,” and “Better Than Breaking Bad”! It’s slick. It’s smart. And it’s finally on Netflix. The critically acclaimed crime thriller that’s been hailed as “a masterpiece in disguise” has arrived — and fans can’t stop raving. With a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score and comparisons to Breaking Bad, this razor-sharp series flips the genre on its head: if Walter White was about a man becoming a criminal, this one is about a criminal discovering his humanity — without losing his edge. Packed with cons, secrets, and moral crossroads that keep you guessing to the very last frame, it’s being praised for its “brilliant writing,” “magnetic performances,” and “old-school tension you just don’t see anymore.” If you crave a show that mixes heart with hustle and deception with redemption, this is your next obsession. Netflix has officially unlocked one of TV’s most underappreciated gems — and the binge begins now. 👇

Netflix has quietly added one of the sharpest and most addictive crime thrillers to its lineup – and fans are already calling it essential viewing.

Sneaky Pete, a critically praised series that originally aired on Prime Video, has landed on Netflix this week (July 10), giving the con-artist drama a new life and a much bigger audience.

The show stars Giovanni Ribisi as Marius, a skilled grifter who gets out of prison and immediately assumes the identity of his old cellmate, Pete, in a desperate attempt to dodge a dangerous enemy.

But what starts as a simple case of identity theft quickly snowballs. Marius ends up embedded in Pete’s family, who haven’t seen the real Pete in over 20 years – and are now running a family-owned bail bond business with secrets of their own.

Caught in a web of lies, Marius must balance playing the perfect ‘long-lost grandson’ while running cons of his own and trying to avoid being found by Vince, the violent gangster played with icy charm by Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston – who also co-created the series.

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It’s sharp, fast-paced, and full of tension – the kind of series you tell a friend about halfway through episode two because it’s just that good.

Season 2 Episode 10 'Switch' A con man on the run from a vicious gangster takes cover by assuming the identity of his prison cellmate, Pete, reuniting with his estranged family, that threatens to drag him into a world just as dangerous as the one he's escaping.
You may recognise Giovanni from playing Phoebe’s brother, Frank, in Friends (Picture:Netflix)
Television Programme: Sneaky Pete with Giovanni Ribisi as Marius. * CAPTION From the CBS series Sneaky Pete Giovanni Ribisi Photo: Jeff Neumann CBS? 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. * SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS ? MANDATORY CREDIT; NO SALE; NO ARCHIVE; NORTH AMERICA USE ONLY * COPYRIGHT -- ? 2015 CBS BROADCASTING INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Will ‘Pete’ end up back in prison… (Picture: Jeff Neumann)

Since arriving on Netflix, Sneaky Pete has been rediscovered by viewers who missed it the first time around, with fans calling it one of the most underrated shows ‘that you need to watch immediately.’

One Reddit user, @ershkan266, praised the series: ‘THIS SHOW IS A MASTERPIECE.’

‘Such an amazing show.’ Dyxnsty added on reddit.

The show originally ran for three seasons between 2017 and 2019. While it didn’t become a massive mainstream hit at the time, it earned consistent critical praise and a loyal following for its clever storytelling and high-stakes twists.

The first season holds a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers praising the show’s tight plotting and strong performances across the board.

Ribisi brings a unique mix of charm and vulnerability to Marius, making him one of the most complex and watchable antiheroes in recent TV memory.

His constant juggling act – lying to a family who genuinely care about him, while running scams to stay ahead – is both thrilling and, surprisingly, moving.

Television programme: Sneaky Pete
The perfect ingredient to a binge-worthy crime-thriller is the one and only Margo Martindale, who plays ‘Pete’s’ Grandmother (Picture: Jeff Neumann)

Then there’s Margo Martindale, who steals scenes as Audrey, Pete’s no-nonsense grandmother and the true powerhouse of the family.

Marin Ireland, Peter Gerety, Shane McRae, and Libe Barer round out the ensemble, each bringing depth and intrigue to a family that might not be as innocent as they seem.

If Breaking Bad is a show about a man becoming a criminal, Sneaky Pete is about a criminal learning what it means to be human – all while trying to stay alive and out of trouble.

The show’s creator, David Shore (House), left early in the process, but Graham Yost (Justified) stepped in as showrunner.

Even more exciting? The real Pete eventually re-enters the picture, throwing Marius into an even deeper mess of his own making.