Get ready for peak family drama, as Netflix's The Waterfront is washing up on shore this Thursday (June 19). Starring Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, Melissa Benoist, and Jake Weary, the new drama centers around the fictional Buckley family who are trying to maintain control of their North Carolina fishing empire.
Inspired by true events and written and executively produced by Dawson Creek's Kevin Williamson, The Waterfront explores the family dynamics and the lengths people will go to when their legacy is on the line.
"This is about a working man who’s trying to make a go of it for his family. They’ve pulled themselves up from nothing and they’ve built this mini fishing empire in their small little town," creator Williamson told Netflix's Tudum. "Now it’s being taken away from them bit by bit. They’ll do anything to hold onto it, because it represents their family."
While yet to drop on the streaming site, the show has already drawn comparison to some of our fave shows.
"Sounds like Ozark meets Outer Banks definitely keeping an eye on this one," one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
"So Bloodline, Ozark, and Yellowstone all in one," another said.
Read on for everything you need to know about the series, including how many episodes there are and who's in the cast.
What is The Waterfront release date?
The Waterfront will air on Netflix on Thursday, June 19.
What is The Waterfront about?
Inspired by true events, The Waterfront focuses on the flawed Buckley family, as they attempt to retain control of their fishing empire, driving them to increasingly dangerous activities to keep their heads above water.
The official synopsis reads: "For decades, the Buckley family has ruled Havenport, North Carolina, dominating everything from the local fishing industry to the town’s restaurant scene. But their fishing empire has started to crumble as patriarch Harlan Buckley (Holt McCallany) recovers from two heart attacks, and his wife Belle (Maria Bello) and son Cane (Jake Weary) venture into the deep end to keep the family businesses afloat.
"As their attempts spiral out of control and into treacherous waters, Harlan steps back in to take command. Facing her own demons, Buckley daughter Bree (Melissa Benoist) — an addict in recovery who’s lost custody of her son Diller (Brady Hepner) — finds herself entangled in a complicated relationship that could threaten the family’s future forever."
The Waterfront cast
Below is a cast list for The Waterfront:
- Holt McCallany as Harlan Buckley
- Maria Bello as Belle Buckley
- Jake Weary as Cane Buckley
- Melissa Benoist as Bree Buckley
- Rafael L. Silva as Shawn West
- Humberly González as Jenna Tate
- Danielle Campbell as Peyton Buckley
- Brady Hepner as Diller Hopkins
- Gerardo Celasco as DEA Agent Marcus Sanchez
- Michael Gaston as Sheriff Clyde Porter
- Zach Roerig as Troy
Topher Grace and Dave Annable also appear in the series.
How many episodes of The Waterfront are there?
There are eight episodes of The Waterfront.
All episodes will be available to stream on June 19.
The Waterfront premieres on Netflix on Thursday, June 19.
Grace Henry is Cosmopolitan UK’s Acting Entertainment and Lifestyle Director. She oversees the Entertainment and Lifestyle strategy across print, digital and video. Grace joined Cosmo in March 2025, after working as the Online Entertainment and Factual Editor at Radio Times. As a journalist for almost a decade, Grace has interviewed the likes of Caitlyn Jenner, Eva Longoria, Morgan Freeman, Sylvester Stallone and more. Grace loves all things reality TV, and when she’s not interviewing a big celeb you can find her binging old episodes of The Real Housewives, with Atlanta and Potomac being her top two faves from the franchise. She also loves a female-led drama series – think OITNB and Sex and The City – and is a sucker for a true crime doc!
