Ozark (2017)

Kernel Score: 90% · 2,668 ratings

Genres: Crime, Drama

First aired: 2017-07-21

Seasons: 4 · 44 episodes

Is Ozark worth watching?

Must-watch. A mild-mannered adviser launders money for a cartel and moves his family to the Ozarks, where things only get worse. It's tense, dark and well acted, and it keeps raising the stakes.

Watch it if you

  • liked Breaking Bad
  • enjoy morally compromised families
  • want a tense, binge-worthy crime drama

Skip it if you

  • dislike bleak, violent stories
  • want characters you can root for

Best for: Binge weekend

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Ozark

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

A financial adviser drags his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks, where he must launder $500 million in five years to appease a drug boss.

Ozark parents' guide: ages 15+

Parents need to know that Ozark centers on money laundering for a drug cartel, with cartel violence, crime, and moral compromise throughout.

  • Violence & scariness: Moderate — Cartel-related threats, killings, and intimidation occur regularly as part of the crime drama.
  • Language: Moderate — Adult crime drama with expected strong profanity (TV-MA).
  • Drinking, drugs & smoking: Moderate — Drug cartel operations and drug trade are central to the plot.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official TV-MA rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Shows like Ozark

If you liked Ozark, these are the shows we'd watch next.

  • Breaking Bad (2008) — 99%: The ordinary man turned criminal, done to perfection.
  • Better Call Saul (2015) — 92%: Slick crime drama about moral compromise.
  • Fargo (2014) — 92%: Dark crime story where ordinary people spiral.
  • The Sopranos (1999) — 98%: Landmark family-and-crime drama.
  • The Wire (2002) — 92%: Complex, realistic crime drama.
  • Good Girls (2018) — 86%: Ordinary people drawn into crime for money.

Cast

  • Jason Bateman as Marty Byrde
  • Laura Linney as Wendy Byrde
  • Sofia Hublitz as Charlotte Byrde
  • Skylar Gaertner as Jonah Byrde
  • Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore
  • Charlie Tahan as Wyatt Langmore
  • Jessica Frances Dukes as Maya Miller
  • Felix Solis as Omar Navarro
  • Damian Young as Jim Rettelsdorf
  • Adam Rothenberg as Mel Sattem

Ozark FAQ

Is Ozark worth watching?

Must-watch. A mild-mannered adviser launders money for a cartel and moves his family to the Ozarks, where things only get worse. It's tense, dark and well acted, and it keeps raising the stakes.

Where can I watch Ozark?

In the US you can stream Ozark on Netflix.

Is Ozark OK for kids?

Ozark is rated TV-MA. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Ozark centers on money laundering for a drug cartel, with cartel violence, crime, and moral compromise throughout.

What shows are like Ozark?

If you liked Ozark, try Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Fargo and The Sopranos.