Netflix‘s forgotten yet rewarding 6-part crime thriller is perfect for an easy one-night binge that viewers can start and finish in just one sitting. If you’re looking for one of the best shows to watch on Netflix that is designed for a short binge, this 6-part crime thriller is among the strongest streaming choices currently available right now with a total runtime of roughly 4.5 hours.
Released in 2025, this 6-part crime thriller features elements of murder mystery, French noir, and dark family drama. Often compared to Netflix’s other binge-worthy crime thrillers, such as Harlan Coben’s Shelter and Run Away, due to its sharp pace and many twists, this series was a viral streaming hit when it first dropped, reaching the top 10 in over 40 countries, and still holds up as one of Netflix’s best shows to binge.
Under A Dark Sun Is Perfect For An Easy One-Night Binge
Under a Dark Sun, also titled Soleil Noir, is a 6-part French crime thriller series that is worth a quick binge-watch on Netflix. The series was released back in July 2025 and became an instant streaming hit, climbing to the #2 spot on Netflix’s worldwide viewership charts under Squid Game season 3, which had just been released the week before. The series also peaked at #5 in the U.S. and was considered one of the most viral new Netflix series of Summer 2025.
If you’re looking for a Netflix series with non-stop twists and turns, Under a Dark Sun is an ideal choice. The story follows Alba Mazier (Ava Baya), a mother with a troubled past who gets a job at a flower farm in southern France. Alba works for the wealthy Lasserre family, who have a strong reputation in the area for the quality of their flower farm. Soon after Alba starts working for the Lasserre family, one of them, Arnaud, is murdered, making Alba the immediate prime suspect.
Arnaud’s murder is only the first piece of an elaborate puzzle in Under a Dark Sun, as dark secrets are revealed following his death that directly affect Alba. While the story and acting are strong, one of the most appealing aspects of the series is its setting, filmed in the rural French countryside in the region of Provence, which borders Italy and the Mediterranean Sea. The series also features a performance by 2-time Oscar nominee Isabelle Adjani (Possession, Camille Claudel), who plays the family matriarch, Béatrice Lassere.
Watch All 6 Episodes Of Netflix’s Crime Thriller In One Sitting
Under a Dark Sun is one of those shows on Netflix that’s very easy to stick with once you press play. While not necessarily the most critically acclaimed series on Netflix, it’s intriguing enough to keep viewers interested for 6 short episodes. The series received mixed reviews from critics, some of whom claimed that Under a Dark Dun suffers from a convoluted plot that tries to do too much. Others, however, found the series tense and multi-layered, suggesting that it may not have worked as a 10-part series, but does as a 6-parter.
This 6-part legal thriller on Netflix is one of the best shows to watch for a one-night binge, thanks to a standout performance by Sienna Miller.
Under a Dark Sun is ideal for a one-night binge for its blend of high-stakes tension, psychological suspense, nuanced melodrama, and scenic landscapes. As Decider put it, “Under A Dark Sun has just enough thrills, despite a pedestrian mystery, and fun-to-watch performances by Baya and Adjani, that the show is worth a viewer’s time.” The core mystery is not overly complex, allowing viewers to follow along with ease while also keeping them guessing and landing unexpected twists that instantly change the story’s direction.
To be clear, Under a Dark Sun is not one of Netflix’s best original series, but it does serve as a perfect one-night binge that is worth watching for fans of French noir, crime mystery thrillers, and series that are full of shocking, albeit occasionally unrealistic, twists.
Under a Dark Sun
- Release Date
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2025 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Marie Jardillier
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Isabelle Adjani
Béatrice Lasserre
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