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entertainment

Netflix’s New #1 Show Looks Intense, Riveting and Brutal

It stars Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin

Author image: greta
By Greta Heggeness
•
Published Jan 15, 2025
american primeval netflix taylor kitsch
MATT KENNEDY/NETFLIX

I’ve been binge-watching my way through Netflix’s top-rated list, which is filled with hidden gems (including a Harlan Coben adaptation and an intense mystery-thriller). However, I never expected American Primeval to rise above the rest. 

The Western drama just hit Netflix on January 9, and it’s been gaining popularity ever since. In fact, it recently dethroned Raw as the top series on the streaming service’s list of most-watched shows. (It’s currently ranked ahead of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, Squid Game and Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action.)

american primeval netflix taylor kitsch
Justin Lubin/Netflix

The plot of American Primeval is inspired by a real-life massacre that took place during the Utah War in 1857. The event saw Native Americans, the Mormon militia and the federal government going head-to-head in a brutal battle that’s been so buried in the history books, it’s almost unheard of. This particular film focuses on a mother-son duo as they embark on a journey that puts them right in the middle of the chaos.

Director Pete Berg revealed that he wanted to provide viewers with a realistic portrayal of the American West of the 1850s. “I read an article on something called the Mountain Meadows Massacre,” he told Netflix’s Tudum. “A group of Mormons [got] into a very violent altercation with these pioneers from Arkansas trying to get to California.”

The American Primeval cast is led by Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights) and Betty Gilpin (Three Women). Other stars include Dane DeHaan, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Derek Hinkey, Joe Tippett, Jai Courtney, Preston Mota, Shawnee Pourier, Shea Whigham, Kim Coates and Lucas Neff.

*Adds to streaming queue*

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greta
Greta Heggeness

Senior Editor, News and Entertainment

  • Writes and edits news and entertainment content
  • Specializes in breaking celebrity news, royal family coverage and TV show and movie recommendations
  • Has 9 years experience in entertainment coverage
read full bio