The North Water (2021)
A savage Arctic miniseries pitting a disgraced surgeon against a murderous harpooner in the frozen wilderness of the 19th century.
The North Water - Series Information
- Original Title: The North Water
- First Air Year: 2021
- Last Air Year: 2021
- Created by: Andrew Haigh
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Mystery
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 50 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 5
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: July 14, 2021 (United States - TV-MA), July 14, 2021 (Canada - 14+), July 14, 2021 (United Kingdom - 15), July 14, 2021 (Germany - 16), July 14, 2021 (France - 12), July 14, 2021 (Australia - MA15+), July 14, 2021 (Brazil - 16), July 14, 2021 (Spain - 16)
- Networks: AMC+
- Alternative Titles: The North Water - Hyytävä helvetti (FI), 北海鲸梦 (CN), Dans les eaux du Grand Nord (CA), Nordwasser (DE)
- Production Companies: See-Saw Films, Rhombus Media, BBC, AMC, AMC+, Canada Media Fund | Fonds des médias du Canada, ICI Télé, Super Channel, BBC Studios Distribution, Anton Capital Entertainment
- Production Countries: Canada, Luxembourg, United Kingdom, United States of America
The North Water - Plot
Henry Drax is a harpooner and brutish killer whose amorality has been shaped to fit the harshness of his world, who will set sail on a whaling expedition to the Arctic with Patrick Sumner, a disgraced ex-army surgeon who signs up as the ship's doctor. Hoping to escape the horrors of his past, Sumner finds himself on an ill-fated journey with a murderous psychopath. In search of redemption, his story becomes a harsh struggle for survival in the Arctic wasteland.
The North Water - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the frozen world of The North Water come to life:
Those who journey here will find only themselves.
Where to Watch The North Water
Looking for where to watch The North Water?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
The North Water - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Andrew Haigh
Main Cast
- Colin Farrell
- Jack O'Connell
- Roland Møller
- Philip Hill-Pearson
- Gary Lamont
- Gerry Lynch
- Sam Spruell
- Kieran Urquhart
- Simon Rubaudo
- Greg Dennis
Writers
- Andrew Haigh
Executive Producers
- Niv Fichman
- Jamie Laurenson
- Iain Canning
- Emile Sherman
- Andrew Haigh
The North Water - FAQs
Is The North Water based on a book?
The North Water is adapted from Ian McGuire's acclaimed 2016 novel of the same name. The book was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and praised for its visceral prose. Writer-director Andrew Haigh adapted the source material faithfully, preserving its brutal atmosphere and morally complex characters.
How does The North Water end?
Patrick Sumner survives the Arctic ordeal and ultimately confronts Henry Drax in a brutal final reckoning. After enduring extraordinary hardship, starvation, and violence, Sumner finds a grim kind of redemption — not through escape from his past, but by facing it head-on in the frozen wilderness.
Is The North Water worth watching?
Absolutely. The North Water earned widespread critical acclaim for its stunning cinematography, ferocious performances — particularly Colin Farrell's terrifying turn as Drax — and its uncompromising atmosphere. It holds a strong score on Rotten Tomatoes and stands as one of the most viscerally powerful miniseries of recent years.
Where can you stream The North Water?
The North Water is available to stream on AMC+, including via the AMC+ Apple TV Channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, and AMC+ Roku Premium Channel. It's also on Philo and Spectrum On Demand. Free viewing is available on Amazon Prime Video and Hoopla, and ad-supported streaming is available on The Roku Channel.
Who are the main actors in The North Water?
The series stars Colin Farrell as the savage harpooner Henry Drax and Jack O'Connell as the tormented surgeon Patrick Sumner. The supporting cast includes Roland Møller, Philip Hill-Pearson, Gary Lamont, Gerry Lynch, Sam Spruell, Kieran Urquhart, Simon Rubaudo, and Greg Dennis.
How many episodes does The North Water have?
The North Water is a miniseries comprising five episodes, all released as part of its single season in 2021. Each episode runs approximately 50 minutes, making it a compact but deeply immersive viewing experience that unfolds like a dark, relentless literary thriller.
Where was The North Water filmed?
The production filmed extensively in the Arctic, including on location in Svalbard, Norway, to capture the brutal authenticity of the frozen wilderness. Additional filming took place in the United Kingdom. The commitment to real Arctic locations gives the series its extraordinary, unforgiving visual texture.
What is the content rating for The North Water?
The North Water is rated TV-MA in the United States, reflecting its intense and graphic content — including violence, strong language, and disturbing themes. Viewers in the UK saw it rated 15, while other territories applied similar mature-audience classifications. It is not suitable for younger viewers.
More About The North Water
Explore further details about The North Water on these authoritative resources: