Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis Crime Thriller Nabs a Killer Rotten Tomatoes Score
Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis power a new Amazon Prime Video crime thriller that’s winning over critics with a strong Rotten Tomatoes score—and already lining up a second season.
Prime Video has a new crime thriller flexing its muscles with critics. 'Scarpetta' opened strong, picked up a Certified Fresh badge, and already secured a second season. If you wanted a forensic drama with movie stars swinging for the fences, this one is absolutely doing that.
So, what is Scarpetta?
Based on Patricia Cornwell's long-running novels, 'Scarpetta' tracks a brilliant medical examiner who keeps getting pulled into big, messy cases that sprawl well beyond the slab. The series was created by and is run by Liz Sarnoff. Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis not only star, they also executive produce. Season 1 runs eight episodes, and Season 2 is officially happening.
- Platform: Prime Video
- Season 1: 8 episodes
- Renewal: Season 2 confirmed
- Creator/Showrunner: Liz Sarnoff
- Based on: Patricia Cornwell's 'Scarpetta' novels
- Main cast: Nicole Kidman, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bobby Cannavale, Simon Baker, Ariana DeBose, Tiya Sircar, Sosie Bacon
How the reviews shook out
The early response leans positive, with a lot of praise for the storytelling ambition and the cast doing heavy lifting. More than a few critics brought up how the show tackles real-world hot buttons like workplace misogyny, violence against women, and the creep factor of AI, all while flinging its conspiracy net way wider than you might expect. The swings are big, the tone can get weird, and that seems to be part of the appeal.
"Delightfully deranged."
Another reviewer said it has everything it needs to grow into a long-term hit for the service, even as it occasionally wanders into territory that feels a little too silly for its own good. The performances, across the board, earned a lot of credit for keeping it grounded when the plot starts doing cartwheels.
"Prime Video's next great detective series."
Book fans, you are seen. One take called it an adaptation done right: it keeps the core of what made Cornwell's novels popular, but remixes enough details that even readers will still get blindsided by reveals. On the other side, there were knocks about pacing and a mystery that piles on misdirections to the point of exhaustion. The suggestion for next season: tighten it up and streamline the casework.
"Too many red herrings the size of Moby Dick."
Where things stand
'Scarpetta' sits at a 78% on Rotten Tomatoes with a Certified Fresh seal. Between the score, the star power, and the renewal, Prime Video clearly likes what it has. If Season 2 trims the fat without losing the big-swing energy, this could turn into one of their steadier crime plays.