Dark Winds Season 3's record-breaking viewership all but proves its Season 4 renewal to be worth the wait 

AMC's Dark Winds reached a major milestone with Season 3, attracting 2.2 million viewers on the premiere night, according to Nielsen live+3 ratings, per AMC on March 14, 2025. That represents a huge spike, 50% above Season 2, and doubled as many new subscribers to AMC+.

The show, based on the 1970s and following the Navajo Tribal Police, has emerged as one of the top TV crime dramas. It has also picked up a third consecutive 100% score by Rotten Tomatoes, everyone's enamored with it!

They are currently shooting Season 4 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, so it goes to show Dark Winds is something you won't want to miss out on.

Dan McDermott, head of entertainment at AMC Studios, complimented the show on its success, adding:

“For Season 3 to attract more than 2.2 million premiere night viewers and again receive this level of critical acclaim is truly remarkable.”

Star and executive producer of the series, Zahn McClarnon, will direct for the first time in Season 4, increasing the hype for its release in 2026.

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Dark Winds Season 3’s record-breaking success

Dark Winds cemented its reputation as a critical and commercial giant. AMC's recent report reinforces that Season 3 not only surpassed its earlier counterparts but also helped drive noteworthy growth for AMC+.

The viewership of the season premiere reached more than 50% of Season 2, proving that the show was gaining momentum in popularity.

The series' recent presence on Netflix's Top 10 Chart during the fall helped grow its viewership base even larger, solidifying its position as a premium crime drama. The show has repeatedly been met with universal praise, with Rolling Stone deeming Season 3 arguably the year's greatest episode of television.

Vulture praised Zahn McClarnon's work, calling for:

“Give Zahn McClarnon an Emmy already.”

Dark Winds is recognized for its local narrative, suspenseful atmosphere, and robust character development. This is akin to hit series such as True Detective and Breaking Bad. The series has been gaining increasingly more followers, and critics are hailing it. Season 4 will continue this excellent work.

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What to expect in Dark Winds Season 4?

As Season 4 goes into production, audiences should expect even richer storytelling. Returning for more of the Lt. Joe Leaphorn role he portrays, actor Zahn McClarnon also comes behind the camera for the first time, taking the directing chair for a pilot.

This season will revisit the tense mysteries of Leaphorn, Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon), and Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) as they are pulled into bloody crimes and governmental plots of the 1970s Southwest.

Creator, John Wirth, spoke about his joy in the show's renewal, saying:

“We are excited and energized by the opportunity to continue exploring and expanding the world of Dark Winds in a fourth season.”

Season 4 will also see new season-long guest stars, following the series' tradition of building depth for its impressive cast. With its storytelling legacy and high-level performances, Season 4 is promising to be a must-watch.

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Dark Winds Season 3 airs on AMC and is also streaming on AMC+.

And older seasons can be seen on AMC+ and in the AMC Collection on Netflix.