Nathan Fillion’s enthralling crime series boasting eight seasons has become a global streaming hit on Netflix as new episodes release weekly. Fillion’s TV shows include a plethora of popular network series, from the cancelled sci-fi show Firefly to the crime mystery show Castle. His series have been quite popular throughout their runs, including his currently-airing crime series.
The Rookie began in 2018, following Fillion as John Nolan, a rookie joining the LAPD at the age of 45. His status as the team’s oldest rookie is the initial focus of the show, while its continued evolution throughout the years has focused on him training new rookies on the team. The Rookie season 8 is currently airing weekly on ABC.
Now, FlixPatrol reports that The Rookie has become a smash hit on Netflix, the series becoming the Number 8 show in the world on the platform. According to data from January 15, 2026, its success comes from international viewership. While it’s not Number 1 in any individual countries, the highest it’s reached is Number 2 in the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
It’s important to note that The Rookie‘s release on Netflix doesn’t extend to the US, where it’s not available on the streaming platform. In the US and other English-speaking countries, the show’s primary home is either Disney+ or Hulu, where new episodes arrive the day after they air on ABC. This makes it constantly up-to-date on these streaming platforms.
As of writing, only the first seven seasons of The Rookie are available internationally on Netflix. The Rookie season 8 premiered on ABC on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, with only two episodes having aired as of writing. New episodes likely won’t hit Netflix until after the season is over, meaning they won’t arrive on streaming until June 2026 at the earliest.
Even so, the episodes that are available have clearly captivated an international audience. The series’ developments showcase Nolan and other rookies slowly developing into full-fledged police officers. The characters in The Rookie all have their own personal relations with one another as well, weaving into weekly stories to make them stand out more readily.
Given how quietly The Rookie has succeeded on Netflix, it seems the show has a strong international audience that enjoys the LAPD’s characters and cases. With season 8 likely not coming to the platform for a few more months, its popularity could extend into later this year once the current batch of episodes has finished releasing.
- Release Date
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October 16, 2018
- Showrunner
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Alexi Hawley
