When a TV show or movie takes off on Netflix, chances are it becomes much more than just a streaming sensation. After all, major Netflix hits like Bridgerton, Stranger Things and even Squid Game have gone on to become major cultural sensations too. In fact, most recently, the crime comedy series Big Mistakes, created by Dan Levy and Rachel Sennott, has not only quickly climbed the streaming charts worldwide (snagging #2, per FlixPatrol), but it’s also become one of the most talked-about shows online too.
According to TelevisionStats, the eight-episode series, which premiered on April 9, 2026, has become the #1 most popular Netflix show online, as well as the #1 crime show, and the #3 comedy show. Compared to other Netflix titles, also on TelevisionStats, it reigns supreme and is followed by Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, Peaky Blinders, and ONE PIECE. As both a streaming powerhouse and a show that has people talking, it’s safe to say Levy’s new show is another all-around hit for the actor and producer.
What Is ‘Big Mistakes’ About?
Big Mistakes follows aimless siblings Nicky (Levy) and Morgan (Taylor Ortega), who stumble deeper and deeper into the world of organized crime after Morgan steals a diamond necklace for their dying grandmother. Levy’s Nicky is a well-meaning pastor at a local church, whose patrons have very little understanding of boundaries, or his sexuality, leading him to often sacrifice his own happiness to make everyone else happy. Ortega’s Morgan, on the other, is the perfect sarcastic middle child whose sharp tongue masks her deep disappointment with how her life has turned out as she stagnates in an uncomfortable relationship and a failed attempt to get out of her small town.
The family is completed by the overbearing mother Linda (Laurie Metcalf), who micromanages her children through the imminent death of her mother, and their obnoxiously perfect younger sister Natalie (Abby Quinn), who is helping her mom launch her mayoral campaign. Throughout the season, as Nicky and Morgan get blackmailed into increasingly dangerous assignments, Linda and Natalie’s local political power grab provides an unusual blend of storylines that feels remarkably relatable despite their unusual circumstances.
Filling out the ensemble are a strong mix of legendary heavy hitters and up-and-comers, highlighted by the mother-son duo of Elizabeth Perkins‘ Annette, an intense local real estate mogul who doesn’t have time for fools, and Jack Innanen‘s Max, Morgan’s man-child trust-fund boyfriend who somehow manages to be endearing despite his many faults. There’s also Nicky’s secret boyfriend, local handyman Tareq (Jacob Gutierrez), who is beginning to feel frustrated with having to hide their relationship.
‘Big Mistakes’ Is a Welcome, Bingeable Addition to Netflix
Just five days since its release and Big Mistakes is already making waves. Not only has it become the second-most watched title on Netflix, and has created plenty of buzz online, but the series is also a hit with audiences and critics alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series soars with 83% from critics and 74% from the audience. Among the critical highlights is how effective the series is in being a show viewers are entertained by and wrapped up in from beginning to end. “It starts as predictable, but then it just gets wackier with every episode, and that is a quality that I can only hope the show will carry forward in the next season,” one review wrote. “Part family sitcom, part crime caper, this series feels like a breath of fresh air,” wrote another review.
According to Collider’s very own review by Samantha Coley, the series is successful because of the incredible actors that make up the ensemble, including Levy and Ortega’s perfect sibling chemistry, and Metcalf doing what she does best. “One of the biggest strengths of Big Mistakes is that every character feels real and grounded and relatable, even — and perhaps especially — when they’re being annoying, selfish, or unreasonably confident,” the review reads. That includes Metcalf’s character Linda who, despite initially coming off as an annoying, overbearing mama bear, layers the role with genuine love and care for her kids. The same goes for Levy’s Nicky, who has a nuanced relationship with his faith and congregation, as well as his own sexuality, both inside and outside his family. “Beyond his sexuality, there’s a deep sense of integrity, and the weight of being the eldest sibling sits heavily on Nicky’s shoulders,” the review reads. “He cares very deeply for his family as well as his congregation, and he’ll do anything for them simply because it’s the right thing to do.”
With such interesting and layered characters, and a plot that lands the main duo in more dangerous and life-threatening scenarios each time, Big Mistakes hits the sweet spot. After all, as the terrible decisions Nicky and Morgan make find themselves in even deeper trouble, viewers still manage to feel for them, root for their success, and binge each episode to see how the story will pan out. By nailing that altogether, it’s no wonder the series has become one of the most-talked about TV shows on Netflix this month.
- Release Date
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April 9, 2026
- Network
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Netflix
