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Season 1 – American Rust

Play trailer 1:00 Poster for Season 1 – American Rust 2021 Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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28% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Based on Philipp Meyer's novel of the same name, "American Rust" explores the tattered American dream through the eyes of a police chief in a Rust Belt town in southwest Pennsylvania. Chief Del Harris (Jeff Daniels) becomes compromised when the son of the woman he loves is accused of murder. Complications continue to arise as the investigation proceeds. Maura Tierney, David Alvarez, Bill Camp, Julia Mayorga, Alex Neustaedter and Mark Pellegrino also star.
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American Rust — Season 1

American Rust — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

American Rust's tale of America lost is a worthy one, but despite an A-list cast it simply doesn't have the narrative clarity or heft necessary to do its subject matter justice.

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Critics Reviews

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Deborah Ross The Mail on Sunday (UK) American Rust is being billed as 'the new Mare Of Easttown'. And it isn't. In its dreams, you might even add. Rated: 2/5 Dec 6, 2021 Full Review Hugo Rifkind The Times (UK) What, even your rust is special now? Dec 4, 2021 Full Review Fiona Sturges Financial Times American Rust is relentlessly, oppressively gloomy. Rated: 2/5 Nov 29, 2021 Full Review Joonatan Itkonen Toisto.net For those willing to look into the darker places of working-class existence, it proves there are still compelling and touching stories to tell. Rated: 4/5 Jul 4, 2024 Full Review Akos Peterbencze Vulnerable Man (Medium) The writing is flawed, lacks coherence and direction, and eventually anchors the two aspects the series has going for it: characters and atmosphere. Jul 24, 2023 Full Review Susan Granger www.susangranger.com Just like that collapsed bridge in Pittsburgh, 'American Rust' - filmed in and around that city - demonstrates the ruination or what can happen when a crime drama isn't properly developed or cared for, making it of little use to anyone. Rated: 5/10 Jan 30, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Matheus F A project that works because of Jeff Daniels' impeccable work. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/18/25 Full Review Jesse T Pretty good story line and acting but feel the writing lacks any sort of structure. I'm not homophonic but the extremely graffic sex scenes are a little much. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/10/25 Full Review Buck W Outstanding TV noir. Great acting. Atmospheric and it stays with you. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/01/25 Full Review Stuart G Stayed with it because of a couple of my favorite players. But it wasn't worthy of my time. Too much gratuitous sex that didn't move the plot, and an altogether disjointed story line. Two stars only for Jeff and Maura, who are good troopers for taking the roles. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/26/24 Full Review Cyndi B Cast is good. Plot is ok. The story of these people is depleting, they have nothing. Their support is so shallow. Sex, drugs, the consistent relentless language-gees. It would be refreshing to see another side-maybe some kind of hope. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 09/12/24 Full Review Carl C I watched the first episode a couple of years ago but didn't continue because it wasn't free. When it came back on Prime (with minimal commercials), my wife and I started over. This is a series that doesn't adhere to the typical formula of modern American crime shows. Although there are some young actors, they don't look like some clever TikTok influencers from southern California--they look and act like real people. Having lived in SW Pennsylvania, I thought the producers did a great job using the landscape and moody feel for that area and the sense of loyalty that develops among people who are hurting. Even though the main characters screwed up (in some cases big time), they stayed true to each other. The only reason I didn't give this show 5 stars is that there is too much unnecessary violence. There is also a plot line about fracking and water contamination that is left hanging at the end. I'm sorry the show was canceled. The last episode left so many things up in the air that I thought a 3rd season was inevitable. Those of us who like the show can hope for a resurrection. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/30/24 Full Review Read all reviews
American Rust — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Jeff Daniels

Del Harris

Maura Tierney

Grace Poe

Bill Camp

Henry English

David Alvarez

Isaac English

Alex Neustaedter

Billy Poe

Julia Mayorga

Lee English

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 12, 2021 The Mill In a small rust-belt town in southwest Pennsylvania, Chief of Police Del Harris investigates after a dead body turns up in an abandoned steel mill. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 19, 2021 Happy Returns Harris' investigation continues; Isaac leaves town; Billy and Lee reunite; Buell celebrates a shotgun wedding. Details Episode 3 Aired Sep 26, 2021 Forgive Us Our Trespasses Grace enlists help in her effort to unionize the dressmakers; the sheriff gets an anonymous tip about the murder in the steel mill. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 3, 2021 My Name Is Billy Isaac befriends someone who teaches him the rules of the road; the sheriff searches for evidence in Billy and Grace's trailer; Billy tells Lee what happened in the steel mill. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 10, 2021 Jojo Ameri-GO Harris races the clock in his search for the anonymous eyewitness; Lee seeks professional advice about whom to protect; Harris' old Pittsburgh PD partner pays him a visit. Details Episode 6 Aired Oct 17, 2021 Debt Collection Alejandro learns of Lee's history with Billy; Isaac turns his first trick solo; Harris travels back to Pittsburgh with his old partner to repay a debt. Details Episode 7 Aired Oct 24, 2021 Blue Mountains Billy gets in with a questionable crowd; Isaac travels alone; Harris' investigation into the anonymous eyewitness continues. Details Episode 8 Aired Oct 31, 2021 St. Sebastian Isaac is taken in by a kind stranger; Grace's union drive is put to the test; Billy fires his public defender; Harris realizes what he has to do. Details Episode 9 Aired Nov 7, 2021 Denmark Harris finally finds the anonymous eyewitness; Lee decides not to return to New York; Billy is returned to the general prison population to face the consequences of his actions; the D.A. may be forced to drop the case. Details

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American Rust — Season 1

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American Rust — Season 1

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Season Info

Executive Producer
Jeff Daniels, Michael De Luca, Dan Futterman, Katie O'Connell, Adam Rapp, Brian McGreevy, Lee Shipman, Paul J. Martino, Elisa Ellis
Network
Prime Video
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 12, 2021