Netflix’s gripping new series lands perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score

The Netflix miniseries documents the manhunt and capture of Osama Bin Laden (Picture: Netflix)

A new Netflix docuseries currently boasting an 100% Rotten Tomatoes score has surged up the streaming platform’s top TV ranking.

American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden is the sister series to American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing and explores the counterterrorism efforts in the US in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

The Netflix miniseries documents the manhunt and capture of Osama Bin Laden, who masterminded the terrorist attack. The three-parter stitches together archival footage and talking head interviews to capture a behind-the-scenes look at the governmental decision-making at the time. 

Directors Daniel Sivan and Mor Loushy said their goal in making the show was to transport viewers into these rooms in real time, building from the initial intelligence that suggested an attack was imminent to figuring out who was responsible and seeking justice.

The show aims to ask viewers what they would do in such a situation, as the directors told Netflix’s Tudum: ‘For us, the best way to understand history is to truly experience it.

‘Being thrown into the driver’s seat after the worst attack in American history would rattle anyone, even these brave men and women who had devoted their lives to protecting Americans by assessing geopolitical threats and sounding alarms that were often ignored.

The documentary recreates the raid on Bin Laden’s compound (Picture: Netflix) All three episodes are streaming on Netflix (Picture: Netflix)

‘But the intelligence analysts didn’t have time to grieve or reflect. They had a mission at hand: to figure out who did this and stop them before the next attack.’

‘American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden does not tell the story of the United States and the War on Terror,’ said Sivan and Loushy. ‘It tells the story of the people tasked to find the world’s most wanted terrorist and bring him to justice. It [was] a hunt that changed their lives, America, and the world as we know it.’

The show’s third episode gives Zero Dark Thirty a run for its money in its tense recreation of how Osama Bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan was raided during a nighttime operation predicated on a hunch, but which resulted in his death 10 years after 9/11.

Netflix viewers have already shared their reactions to the show, taking to X to praise the direction.

The documentary uses archival footage and interviews with CIA personnel (Picture: Netflix) The directors have said their goal was to transport viewers into these rooms (Picture: Netflix)

@RakitaMode wrote: ‘American Manhunt Osama Bin Laden was a riveting documentary series. Just 3 episodes, most of which I’ve seen bits and pieces over several documentaries/movies. But it was put together so well, especially the 3rd episode was nail biting cinema! Hard hitting! Must watch!’

@AngelaBaevis added: ‘That Osama Bin Laden American Manhunt installment is soooo good. 10s to whoever produced & directed it.’

Other viewers did note the one-sided nature of the documentary, describing it as jingoistic at times. @boredpeanutt shared: ‘Watching the American manhunt for Osama bin Laden on Netflix rn, and it feels like the main point of the show is to make people sympathise with the CIA and the intelligence officers for their years-long intelligence failure. It’s an overkill at this point.’

@JakeQRyan added: ‘Netflix has released American Manhunt Osama Bin Laden which seems to feature the “heroic” CIA Officers who worked in Alec Station?? FBI & Congress blamed those clowns for actively concealing the presence of known Al Qaeda terrorists in USA before the 9/11 attacks. Not heroes. Idiots.’

American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden is available to stream on Netflix.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.