Summary

Williamson's new series, The Waterfront, is currently the top show on Netflix globally with a 64% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
The drama follows the Buckley family in North Carolina, stars Maria Bello, and deals with crime, power, and family legacy.
Williamson described The Waterfront as a more adult series, reflecting on his upbringing and memories.

Kevin Williamson has told countless horror stories, but his latest project is a fascinating family drama series that is at the top of the global streaming charts.

While Williamson directed Scream 7 and wrote Scream, Scream 2, and Scream 4, he's also a big name in the TV industry. After creating Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, he created the young adult dramas The Vampire Diaries and the short-lived Hidden Palms. He has also brought some horror stories to the small screen with Tell Me A Story, The Following, and Stalker. He's known for crafting coming-of-age stories about families and friendship and also wrote the horror/sci-fi film The Faculty. Williamson's latest TV show was released last week, and it's been a big hit so far.

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By Aya Tsintziras

Kevin Williamson's Netflix Series The Waterfront Is The Top Netflix Show Globally

Holt McCallany and Mario Bello in The Waterfront

According to Flix Patrol, Kevin Williamson's new Netflix series The Waterfront is the top show on Netflix worldwide. The series has a 64% Rotten Tomatoes rating, and is rated 70% on the Popcornmeter.

The Waterfront began streaming on Netflix on June 19th, 2025 and is a gripping and entertaining crime drama. The series follows the Buckley family who run a fishery and restaurant in Havenport, North Carolina. As they start running into problems, they worry about staying on top and maintaining their power, legacy, and financial situation. The show stars Maria Bello, Holt McCallany, Humberly González, Melissa Benoist, Jake Weary, Brady Hepner, Danielle Campbell, and Rafael L. Silva.

According to Netflix.tudum.com, Williamson shared that The Waterfront is inspired by his family, as his father was a fisherman. He explained that his dad "got tempted to do some things that weren’t so legal and got him in some trouble" and "He got caught, he served his time, he got out, and I graduated."

What Are The Top 10 Netflix TV Shows, According To Flix Patrol (As Of June 23, 2025)?

The Waterfront
Olympo
Ginny & Georgia
Dept. Q
The Many Deaths of Nora Dalmasso
Our Unwritten Seoul
Sirens
FUBAR
The Survivors
The Rookie

Williamson also told Netflix.tudum.com that The Waterfront is a "more adult" series than his TV background, as he's focused on telling stories in the young adult genre for several years. Williamson said:

“It’s an escalation of other stuff I’ve done. It’s me looking back on my life growing up. It’s reflection, it’s nostalgic, it’s a little bit of a memory piece.”

The Waterfront isn't the only time that the writer/director/showrunner has written about the world of fishing. He penned the script for I Know What You Did Last Summer which features the legacy character Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze Jr.) Who works in the industry in the small town of Southport, North Carolina. The movie's villain, Ben Willis, is also a fisherman.

Scream 7 is also a fairly personal story for Williamson as he has been a huge part of the slasher franchise since day one. He explained that he's excited that the sequel is diving deeper into Sidney Prescott's character and also shared that he called Matthew Lillard about reprising his role of Stu Macher. Besides anticipating the release of Scream 7, Williamson is working on three TV shows. Deadline reported that he made a deal with Universal Television that includes TV adaptations of the David Fincher movie The Game, the Ruth Ware novel The It Girl, and the beloved Alfred Hitchcock movie Rear Window.

At the time of this writing, there is no word on whether The Waterfront will be renewed for season 2. However, considering that The Waterfront season 1 is at the top of the Netflix global charts, it seems likely that there could be more episodes coming about the dramatic Buckley family.

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