The series is Mr. Mercedes, a three-season crime drama adapted from Stephen King’s Bill Hodges novels. Rotten Tomatoes currently displays a 91% Tomatometer score from 40 reviews and a 71% Popcornmeter score from 500+ ratings. Those figures are live and may change; they were accessed October 8, 2026.
What is Stephen King’s 91% crime series?
Mr. Mercedes follows retired detective Bill Hodges, played by Brendan Gleeson, after a killer begins taunting him with letters and emails. Rotten Tomatoes describes the premise as “A demented killer taunts a retired police detective with a series of lurid letters and emails.” The show is based on King’s Bill Hodges trilogy, according to Tom’s Guide.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Mr. Mercedes - Season 01 | $40.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Mr. Mercedes (Season 3) | $30.68 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Mr. Mercedes - Season 02 | $54.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Mr. Mercedes - Season 03 | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Mr. Mercedes | $29.42 | Buy on Amazon |
It is a crime investigation built around psychological pressure and a cat-and-mouse relationship. Calling it psychological horror captures some of its unsettling tone, but Rotten Tomatoes categorizes it as a drama; the score itself does not establish a genre label. It is distinct from The Outsider, another King adaptation that also currently shows 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. Mr. Mercedes is the retired-detective serial-killer story.
What do the Rotten Tomatoes scores mean?
Rotten Tomatoes currently displays a 91% Tomatometer based on 40 reviews and a 71% Popcornmeter based on 500+ ratings. These are different measures: the Tomatometer reflects the share of counted critic reviews classified as positive, while the Popcornmeter reflects audience ratings. Neither percentage is a direct measure of how much every viewer will enjoy the show, and both counts and scores can change.
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#1 Best Overall
| Listing | Displayed score | Count and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Series Tomatometer | 91% | 40 reviews; Rotten Tomatoes page accessed October 8, 2026 |
| Series Popcornmeter | 71% | 500+ ratings; Rotten Tomatoes page accessed October 8, 2026 |
| Season 1 Tomatometer | 83% | Rotten Tomatoes page and guide values accessed in 2026 |
| Season 2 Tomatometer | 100% | Rotten Tomatoes page and guide values accessed in 2026; guide updated October 29, 2025 |
Season scores are also snapshots, not guarantees of a consistent response across the entire run. Rotten Tomatoes lists three seasons for the series, but the cited guide values above are specifically established for seasons one and two. See the Rotten Tomatoes series page and its Stephen King adaptations guide.
Is it a good choice for a weekend binge?
Choose Mr. Mercedes if you want a continuing investigation rather than a supernatural mystery or a short limited series. Its three-season run gives the retired detective’s pursuit room to develop, while the killer’s direct taunting keeps the central conflict personal. The premise and season count make it a crime-series binge, though whether its dark, unnerving tone feels like horror is a matter of taste.
Rank #2
Where can you watch Mr. Mercedes?
Availability is not consistent across the cited listings. Rotten Tomatoes currently shows Apple TV seasons 1–2, while Tom’s Guide says all three seasons stream on Peacock. These listings do not establish which option is available in your country or whether a particular season is included in a subscription. Check the service’s current regional catalog before signing up or renting.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you read the books first?
No prior reading is required to follow the series. If you want the source material afterward—or prefer to meet Bill Hodges on the page—start with King’s Bill Hodges trilogy, beginning with Mr. Mercedes. Tom’s Guide identifies the show as based on that trilogy.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
