This New Netflix Thriller Just Became the Most-Watched Show — Beating ‘Stranger Things’
Netflix has kicked off 2026 with another big hit from author Harlan Coben. His new thriller series, Run Away, arrived on the platform on January 1 and quickly grabbed attention. Within days, it became the most-watched show in the US, even beating Stranger Things. Worldwide, the series is already sitting at number two on Netflix’s global charts.
Run Away stars James Nesbitt in the lead role. He plays Simon, a man who seems to have everything in life. He has a stable job, a loving family, and a comfortable home. That life falls apart when his teenage daughter Paige disappears. The role of Paige is played by Ellie de Lange.
The story follows Simon as he searches for his missing child. When he finally finds her, she is in a bad place and clearly struggling. What starts as hope quickly turns into fear. A violent moment changes everything, and Paige vanishes again. From there, Simon is pulled into a dark world filled with danger, lies, and painful truths. His search forces him to face secrets that could destroy his family for good.
The series is based on Coben’s 2019 novel of the same name and runs for eight episodes. According to Coben, the story is not just about crime. It is also about family and trust. Speaking to Tudum, he explained, Run Away is about family — about what we will do to keep our family intact, what secrets we keep within our family, and what secrets we keep as a family.
He also added, Every time you walk past a house, there’s a whole universe behind that door and none of us really know what’s going on inside.
One missing daughter. One dead boyfriend… and a PI with all the questions 👀
— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) January 1, 2026
Harlan Coben's RUN AWAY, starring James Nesbitt, Minnie Driver and Ruth Jones, is now playing on Netflix pic.twitter.com/Jzk8RHl4bM
Coben has also spoken highly of the cast. He said he knew right away that James Nesbitt was the right choice for Simon. Jimmy has so much range. He feels everything, and that makes you feel for him too, Coben told Tudum.
For the role of Paige, Coben reviewed many auditions before choosing Ellie de Lange. He praised her performance, saying she showed both strength and weakness in the character. There’s a lot she has to show emotionally, and she really delivers, he said.
The show also stars Ruth Jones, Minnie Driver, Alfred Enoch, and Lucian Msamati. Early reviews have been solid, with an average critic score of 80 percent and an audience score of 44 percent.
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