It didn’t take long for Prime Video’s newest crime thriller to find its audience. After just 24 hours, the 8-part series has already become a smash hit not just in the United States, but globally, as well. Released on Mar. 11, the new thriller is based on a popular book series by Patricia Cornwell, so it already came with a built-in fan base. It’s no surprise, then, that Scarpetta is already the most popular show on Prime Video in the United States, and the second most popular on the global charts (per Flix Patrol). The best part is that it’s been getting rave reviews thus far, which bodes well for its future. That spells good news for fans, especially when you consider that there are 29 books in the series, so there’s still a lot of material to adapt. Check out the full Top 10 below to see what shows Scarpetta has already toppled in the U.S.

1

Scarpetta

2

Young Sherlock

3

Cross

4

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

5

56 Days

6

Fallout

7

The Gray House

8

Beast Games

9

Judy Justice

10

House of David

‘Scarpetta’ Is the Perfect Genre Mash-Up With Major Star Power

Starring Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis, Scarpetta follows the exploits of a brilliant forensic pathologist who uses the latest technology to help solve crimes. Along the way, she navigates political pressure, personal conflicts, and dangerous secrets that threaten to derail her work. The new Prime Video thriller takes inspiration from the first book in the series, Postmortem, as well as the 25th, Autopsy. Part crime procedural, forensic drama, and psychological thriller, Scarpetta is the perfect blend of genres for fans looking to sink their teeth deep into a mystery. Think CSI mixed with a bit of HBO’s True Detective, only flashier. Each of its eight episodes are nearly an hour long, so there’s plenty to binge-watch over the course of a weekend, or — if you’re feeling up to it — a single day. Holding a Certified Fresh rating of 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, Scarpetta is clearly a favorite among many, who’ve called it everything from “bonkers” to “an adaptation done right.” Many are singling out the chemistry between Kidman and Curtis, who portray sisters in the series. As Karina Adelgaard from Heaven of Horror writes:
“…Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis, I never expected to love them together as much as I did. Their chemistry and the brilliant dynamic force between them in Scarpetta is pure magic. This is the kind of stuff you hope for, but can never be certain of.”

Will ‘Scarpetta’ Return for a Second Season?

Amazon Prime Video

If you’re one of the people who have already watched all eight episodes of Scarpetta and are itching for more, then you’re in luck. The series has already been picked up by Amazon for Season 2, meaning there’s still lots more to come in the saga.

The downside is that you’ll probably have to wait until next year for it to arrive, as production only got underway last week. For those interested in where the story might go, Scarpetta Season 2 will adapt the fourth and fifth books in Cornwell’s series, Cruel and Unusual and The Body Farm. Look for more news on Scarpetta Season 2 in the coming months, and stream all eight episodes of Season 1, now on Prime Video.

Release Date

March 11, 2026

Network

Prime Video