Jude Law and Jason Bateman team up as brothers in turmoil in Netflix's 2025 crime drama Black Rabbit. When a successful restaurateur lets his chaotic brother back into his life, he unknowingly opens the door to dangerous debts and dark family secrets. This eight-part miniseries aims for the gritty heights of Ozark but often gets lost in its own gloomy ambiance.

With a premise ripe for tension and two A-list stars at the helm, Black Rabbit delivers a slow-burning story of codependency and consequences. But does this rabbit hole lead to a satisfying destination, or is it a frustrating tunnel of misery? Grab your flashlight—we're going in.

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The Basic Info: Your Menu for the Evening

Before we dive into the drama, let's look at the essential facts about this Netflix offering.

• Movie Title: Black Rabbit
• Directors: Jason Bateman (first two episodes) and others
• Key Cast: Jude Law (Jake Friedken), Jason Bateman (Vince Friedken), Cleopatra Coleman (Estelle), Sope Dirisu (Wes), Troy Kotsur (Joe Mancuso)
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
• Runtime: 8 episodes (approximately 1 hour each)
• Release Date: 2025
• Rating: TV-MA
• Where to Watch: Streaming exclusively on Netflix

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Story Overview: A Recipe for Disaster (No Spoilers!)

Black Rabbit introduces us to Jake Friedken (Jude Law), the suave and successful owner of a swanky New York City hotspot that shares the show's name. As the series opens, he's celebrating the glamorous launch of his restaurant, a place where the city's elite come to see and be seen .

However, this sleek facade is shattered with the return of his brother, Vince (Jason Bateman). Vince is everything Jake is not—bedraggled, impulsive, and haunted by a past involving drug addiction. He's fallen on hard times and carries a massive, six-figure gambling debt owed to a local mobster, Joe Mancuso (Troy Kotsur) .

The central problem Jake faces is one of family loyalty versus self-preservation. Against his better judgment, Jake allows Vince back into his life and the business they once built together. This single decision acts like a crack in a dam, unleashing a flood of trouble that threatens to destroy the restaurant, their relationships, and ultimately, their lives. The story explores the messy, codependent history of these two brothers as they are dragged into a web of deceit and violence .

My Personal Take: A Feast for the Eyes, But Is It Fulfilling?

Overall Enjoyment: Ambitious but Flawed

I really wanted to love Black Rabbit. The ingredients for a great show are all there: a killer cast, a moody atmosphere, and a high-stakes premise. However, my overall feeling is one of frustration. The series is an ambitious slow-burn that often mistakes being slow for being deep . At eight hours long, the pacing can feel like an aggravating trickle, with the story sagging noticeably in its middle episodes before finding some momentum in the final stretch . It’s less a thrilling binge and more of a demanding chore that tests your patience.

The Highlights: What Shines in the Darkness

1. A-List Star Power: There's no denying the appeal of watching Jude Law and Jason Bateman share the screen. Law brings a suitable suaveness to Jake, the brother trying to outrun his past, while Bateman fully commits to the gritty, scuzzy appearance of Vince . Their dynamic—teasing out the lifelong bond of brothers who both need and destroy each other—is the core of the show and has its compelling moments .
2. Strong Supporting Villain: Oscar winner Troy Kotsur is a clear standout as the mobster Joe Mancuso. While the main brothers can be hard to root for, Kotsur’s villain has a simple, direct motive that feels dangerously authentic. He earns the audience's attention rather than assuming it, providing some of the series' most grounded tension .
3. Moody Atmosphere: The show has a distinct visual style. It leans heavily on dark, moody lighting and deliberate camera work to create a sense of lingering dread. If you appreciate a show that prioritizes a specific aesthetic vibe, Black Rabbit’s gloomy New York ambiance might be for you .

The Weaknesses: Where the Recipe Falters

1. Unsympathetic Characters: The biggest hurdle is that Jake and Vince are deeply difficult to care about. Vince, in particular, is written as an "unrepentant chaos agent" who repeatedly makes bone-headed mistakes, making it hard to root for his redemption . Jake, for all his success, is also flawed, making decisions that feel frustratingly selfish. The show breaks a golden rule of hospitality: it fails to create a welcoming environment for the viewer .
2. Pacing and Length Issues: This story might have been more effective as a tight two-hour film. Stretched over eight hours, the sense of "panicky overwhelm" feels strained . The dialogue-heavy scenes and frequent flashbacks can disrupt the narrative flow, making you wish for a swifter resolution .
3. Wasted Elements and Comparisons: The restaurant setting inevitably invites comparisons to The Bear, but Black Rabbit fails to generate the same exciting, culinary energy . Furthermore, many supporting characters, particularly the women, feel underwritten, existing mainly to suffer from the brothers' mistakes .

The Final Verdict: Who Is This Meal For?

Score: 6/10 ★★★☆☆

Black Rabbit is a mixed bag. It's a well-acted and stylishly shot series that ultimately buckles under the weight of its own slow pacing and unsympathetic characterizations. It’s a decent watch if you have patience to spare, but it's unlikely to be remembered as a classic.

Perfect For:

• Viewers who love slow-burn, character-driven dramas with a heavy atmosphere.
• Fans of Jude Law and Jason Bateman who want to see them tackle darker roles.
• Anyone who enjoys gritty New York crime stories inspired by the Safdie brothers' style (like Uncut Gems) .

Not Recommended For:

• Anyone seeking an action-packed, fast-paced thriller.
• Viewers who prefer to root for likable protagonists.
• Those who get easily frustrated by characters making consistently poor decisions.

My Recommendation:

Consider streaming it, but maybe don't move it to the top of your list. If you're a die-hard fan of the actors or have a high tolerance for slow, moody narratives, you might find things to appreciate. It's best watched without the expectation of a thrill-a-minute ride. For more reviews of the latest Netflix series and films, check out CineWatched.

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References & Links

• Watch Black Rabbit on Netflix
• Learn more about the series on IMDb
• Read the original review on RogerEbert.com
• For more reviews and deep dives, visit our homepage at CineWatched