Netflix just dropped a new seven-episode crime thriller, and it’s already a streaming sensation. When it comes to crime thrillers on Netflix, few can do it like Harlan Coben. The acclaimed author has had several of his best-selling books adapted into shows and movies for Netflix. This year saw the release of the insanely popular (and insanely good) I Will Find You, which has been a mainstay on the streaming charts since its release in June. But a new crime thriller has come to keep you on the edge of your seat until the next Harlan Coben adaptation, and it has quickly become one of Netflix’s most successful shows of the year. TUDUM just dropped its latest streaming data for this week, which outlines which shows and movies on Netflix have been the most popular. The list contains heavy hitters like KPop: Demon Hunters (which has remained in the top 10 for well over a year!), the new horror movie The Last House, and the return of Outer Banks. But on the top 10 non-English-language shows of the week sits a brand new crime thriller that is rising up the ranks. Earning a staggering 3.5 million views this week, Umthetho is a streaming hit, as the third most-popular non-English-language series on Netflix this week. The Swedish detective thriller, Blood Sacrifice, holds the top spot with seven million views.
‘Umthetho’ Is a Harlan Coben-esque Thriller With a Twist

Top 10 Non-English Shows (8/17/26–8/23/26)

Position

Title

Views

1

Blood Sacrifice: Season 1

7,000,000

2

Our Sticky Love: Limited Series

3,700,000

3

Umthetho: Season 1

3,500,000

4

Spooky in Love: Limited Series

2,700,000

5

Moria: Season 1

2,200,000

6

Operation Safed Sagar: The Highest Air Force Mission: Season 1

2,000,000

7

Badly in Love: Season 2

1,900,000

8

My Daughter’s Father: Season 1

1,300,000

9

The Apartment Job: Limited Series

1,100,000

10

Teach You a Lesson: Limited Series

1,100,000

Produced by Black Brain Pictures, Umthetho is a South African crime thriller that’s packed with insane twists and brutal moments of action. The series follows Mbali Dlamini, a State Prosecutor who must return to South Africa when she learns that her long-lost brother is actually alive (if that doesn’t sound like a Harlan Coben series, then nothing does). What’s more, her brother is now in charge of a ruthless prison syndicate. Mbali finds herself torn between two paths: saving her brother and shutting down the growing criminal empire. Coben thrillers usually follow someone trying to find a long-lost family member (like I Will Find You), but they very rarely pit sibling against sibling.
‘Umthetho’ Is a Divisive Netflix Hit

Umthetho might be one of the biggest shows on Netflix this week, but that doesn’t mean that everybody has fallen in love with the show. As it was a low-budget production and quiet release on Netflix, it didn’t get the usual kind of attention from critics. Only two reviews have been submitted to Rotten Tomatoes, with no user reviews, meaning an RT score cannot be generated. Those two reviews give the show a decent 3/5 rating. IMDb is your best indicator as to whether you should stream or skip Umthetho (or you can just watch the first episode and decide for yourself). From just 100 user reviews, which really isn’t a lot for IMDb, the series holds a middling 5.5-star rating.

Release Date

August 14, 2026

Network

Netflix

Cast

Albert van Vuuren

Detective