Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Season 1 – The Boroughs

Play trailer 2:28 Poster for Season 1 – The Boroughs May 2026 Drama Adventure Mystery & Thriller Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
97% Tomatometer 67 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In a seemingly picturesque retirement community, a group of unlikely heroes must band together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they don't have, time.
Watch on Netflix Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Boroughs — Season 1

The Boroughs — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The Boroughs exudes excellence through its wonderfully plotted sci-fi trappings, star-studded cast, heartfelt narrative, and genuine ingenuity; a new classic through-and-through.

Read Critics Reviews

Audience Says

A slightly addictive sci-fi, creature-driven mystery, The Boroughs isn’t just for Boomers -- it’s a rewarding, star-studded binge steeped in atmosphere and corny charm, with broad appeal.

Read Audience Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
David Bianculli NPR 4d
It's all good fun, even when it scores some serious points and has some serious scenes about death and dementia and loneliness. The cast is more than up to it all, and there are younger cast members contributing, too. Go to Full Review
Peter Travers The Travers Take May 29
3/4
It’s been called ‘Stranger Things’ for seniors, but it’s so much more as Geena Davis and Alfred Molina lead a cast of A-listers as retirees who take on aliens, aging and a society that sees them as invisible. Go to Full Review
Wenlei Ma The Nightly (AU) May 28
The Boroughs makes literal the fears we all have about obsolescence and the end of life – that we’ll all be shunted and hidden away in a special place when we’re no longer of any use, just waiting to die. Go to Full Review
Neely Swanson Beverly Hills Courier 5h
The writing is tight, the pace is heart-quickening, and the acting is superb. “The Boroughs” cleverly intersperses the outlandish with the real-world frustrations of being discarded after a certain age, interweaving the real with the surreal. Go to Full Review
Mark Meszoros The News-Herald (Willoughby, OH) 4d
2.5/4
Despite some flaws, we believe "The Boroughs" deserves better than an early retirement. Go to Full Review
James Delingpole The Spectator 4d
Though the convoluted plotting doesn’t bear too much close scrutiny, and though, being American and about old age, it can’t resist being schmaltzy in places, overall it’s a delight. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Michael M. @MikeFM 5h Great show with an awesome all star line up! Will there be a season 2? I hope so! See more Pedro S @pedroos77 6h Proves that a simple, unpretentious story works. Kind of need more scifi like this. Love the set. See more J F. @RT90736905 8h The Boroughs was something that was compared to Stranger Things which made my expectations fall flat. See more C S @cfshule 10h Pretty good series reminds me of the scifi TV event movies of yesteryear See more Sheri B. @sheri_b 12h The writing is absolute garbage. The moment the 70+ year old cast began discussing their "body counts" my eyes glazed over and I had to turn it off. So sick and tired of everything being written by millennial women. It's absurd, trite and unoriginal. See more Pakshal L @RT72817913 15h Overall a decent watch. Not a lot of highs and lows. Very predictable and doesn’t keep you wanting more. Writing is good, as on lines with the Stranger Things franchise. Overall - Decent show but could be skippable See more Read all reviews
The Boroughs — Season 1

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired May 21, 2026 Welcome to the Boroughs When grieving widower Sam Cooper reluctantly moves to a desert retirement community, he discovers something is lurking beneath its perfect surface. Details Episode 2 Aired May 21, 2026 The Mourning After Still reeling, Sam seeks answers close to home; Renee gets a break in the case of the missing minerals; Judy and Wally face up to painful realities. Details Episode 3 Aired May 21, 2026 A Pyramid Sam and Wally decide to take a risk; Renee and Paz's investigation brings them closer together; Art seeks answers in the desert. Details Episode 4 Aired May 21, 2026 Forbidden Fruit Art savors the fruits of his explorations; Blaine warns Sam that curiosity comes with consequences; Renee makes a shocking discovery. Details Episode 5 Aired May 21, 2026 Another Beautiful Day Sam, Judy and Wally uncover a new side of the Boroughs; Renee and Paz go on a road trip; Blaine tries to convince Claire to take action. Details Episode 6 Aired May 21, 2026 The Grey Rebellion With the entire gang under Blaine's thumb, Sam desperately seeks a way out; Art and Judy hit a breaking point; Wally gets a taste of a new life. Details Episode 7 Aired May 21, 2026 Time to Go As the anniversary party approaches, Anneliese reveals a painful secret; the gang gets in gear for a high-stakes rescue mission at the Manor. Details Episode 8 Aired May 21, 2026 Triple Audible With Blaine and Anneliese desperate to capture Mother, Sam and his friends put it all on the line to save their neighbors and set things right. Details

Season Info

Director
Kyle Patrick Alvarez
Screenwriter
Jeffrey Addiss, Will Matthews
Network
Netflix
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama, Adventure, Mystery & Thriller, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date
May 21, 2026