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The Swarm

The Swarm

The tide has turned.

2023Ended1 season8 episodes~46 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

Across the globe, strange happenings, borne out of the oceans, are mystifying and imperiling the world’s population. A group of scientists undertakes a terrifying mission to the depths of the Arctic Ocean to confront a deadly intelligent life force bent on human extinction.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Swarm?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Swarm streaming on The Roku Channel (free) and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Rent / Buy

Buy

Highlights

What stands out about The Swarm?

The Swarm earns 1 badge: Overhyped.

Reception

Is The Swarm worth watching?

The Swarm's Midcredits score is the 14th percentile of all shows, from 8.2K ratings across 2 sources. 48% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

14th percentile

Better received than 14% of shows

10th percentile among Drama15th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)15th
Approval (how many liked it)15th

Acclaim

Mixed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

61 /100

15th percentile of all shows

11th percentile among Drama16th percentile among 2020s

Rating distribution

Ratings scatter across the whole scale — one of the most divisive reactions in the catalog.

Approval

How many liked it

48% liked it

15th percentile of all shows

10th percentile among Drama18th percentile among 2020s
48% rated it 7–1052% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

92nd percentile

8.1K ratings across platforms

89th percentile among Drama93rd percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 22 days to Oct 26Down 24% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the series prioritizes personal drama and slow buildup over action and global-scale tension.

Fans praised

  • ambitious ecological premise with real-world relevance
  • stunning global cinematography and location work
  • thoughtful, character-driven slow-burn storytelling

Detractors panned

  • leaden pacing with excessive filler and melodrama
  • wooden acting and flat, poorly adapted characters
  • cheap CGI and underwhelming spectacle for the budget

What stands out

CinematographyDivisive75

stunning locations and beautiful shots, but some found static framing and dark grading

ActingDivisive50

uneven; some performers praised (Sukowa, de France), others criticized as wooden or miscast (Karim, Odjick)

Plot and storyDivisive45

intriguing concept undermined by meandering execution, illogical leaps, and unfocused narrative

CharactersDivisive40

divisive; fans found them relatable and realistic, detractors called them flat, poorly developed, and unengaging

Effects and spectacle40

mixed; some animal CGI praised, but often criticized as cheap, dated, and sparse for the budget

TensionDivisive35

fans found slow-burn suspense effective; detractors called it devoid of thrills

PacingDivisive30

sharply polarizing; fans enjoyed deliberate buildup, detractors found it glacial and padded with filler

DialogueDivisive30

frequently criticized as stilted, heavy-handed, or cringeworthy; occasional praise for science discussions

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 3 points apart
  • US vs non-US 4 points apart

Watch experience

What is The Swarm like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you thinking.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseDread
Heaviest: late
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.SerializedSingle-season story
ToneThe series plays its ecological threat and human response straight, with a grave seriousness.
The rideThe show maintains a building tension as the ecological threat escalates toward its climax.
StructureThe 8-episode serial follows a linear narrative arc typical of a serialized thriller.
Episode formatThe 8-episode run tells one continuous ecological thriller story.
Season formatThe show is a limited series with one complete season.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Thought-provokingUnsettling
Why it leaves you this wayThe show's message about ecological interconnectedness lingers, creating unease about humanity's future.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterInvasion
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% (this title) · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Invasion: An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).

18% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeHumanity faces a retaliatory natural force that threatens global survival, framed as an ecological thriller.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfNatureIdeas
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% (this title) · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% (this title) · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5% (this title): Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% (this title) · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Ideas

Nature · 3% of showsSurvival · 12% of showsCommunity: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.
Warns its theme: Presents its theme as a danger or a coming cost.Global stakes: Consequences reach the world.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeExplores humanity's dependence on and conflict with the natural world.
StanceThe series warns of the consequences of humanity's disregard for nature.

The world

ContemporaryWildernessInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernForeground music · original score
SettingGlobal oceans and research stations under threat from a mysterious swarm.

Content guide

Is The Swarm okay for kids?

TV-14

The Swarm is rated TV-14. As of October 5, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (29/100), sexual content at moderate (42/100), language at moderate (38/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (24/100) and frightening material at mild (33/100). Its violence, language, drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank.

Ratings in 11 other countries
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Austria12
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK12
  • Norway12
  • Poland12
  • PRTV-14
  • SwedenFrån 15 år
  • Switzerland12
  • VITV-14
Overall
Mild · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Mild
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 59%
Profanity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (8 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Mild
too few votes to rank (6 votes)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Too few votes to rank this title overall (47 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does The Swarm have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Swarm?

Cast

Alexander Karim
as Dr. Sigur Johanson
Cécile de France
as Dr. Cécile Roche
Leonie Benesch
as Charlie Wagner
Joshua Odjick
as Leon Anawak
Takehiro Hira
as Riku Sato
Krista Kosonen
as Tina Lund
Rosabell Laurenti Sellers
as Alicia Delaware
Barbara Sukowa
as Prof. Katherina Lehmann
Oliver Masucci
as Capt. Jasper Alban
Klaas Heufer-Umlauf
as Roscovitz

Crew

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What are shows like The Swarm?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like The Swarm include Surface (2005), Project Blue Book (2019) and Calls (2021).

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What other shows share a tag with The Swarm?

226 other shows share the rarest tag below, kind of show: survival thriller. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.