Nearly a month after its finale, it remains ranked among the 25 greatest TV shows ever.
Dexter has always been a show that sparked debate. During its original run, the series had both unforgettable highs and disappointing lows, and the 2021 revival Dexter: New Blood left many fans divided with its controversial ending. At the time, Michael C. Hall himself seemed ready to close the chapter on Dexter Morgan forever.
But as it turns out, all it took was a change of heart from Hall to bring everyone’s favorite serial killer back to life. Given Dexter’s long-standing place as one of Showtime’s most valuable properties, the greenlight for a new series was inevitable once Hall was on board. And so, during the Dexter: Original Sin panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, showrunner Clyde Phillips shocked fans with the announcement of Dexter: Resurrection.
The announcement was met with a mix of excitement and concern. Fans were thrilled at the chance to see Dexter again, but after the ending of New Blood, many wondered: would Showtime get it right this time?
A Revival With Star Power ...and Substance
When casting news began to surface in 2025, fans’ jaws dropped. Heavyweights like Uma Thurman and Peter Dinklage were announced as part of the Dexter: Resurrection cast, either in main roles or key guest appearances. While some skeptics feared this influx of A-list talent was a sign the writing might be weak—Hollywood often uses star power to mask shaky scripts—it quickly became clear this wasn’t the case.
The reason these big names signed on wasn’t just the legacy of the Dexter franchise, but the strength of the scripts themselves. The writing was bold, compelling, and good enough to convince actors of this caliber to say yes.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Dexter: Resurrection Wins Over Audiences
Despite cautious expectations, Dexter: Resurrection blew fans away. The show premiered with a gripping two-episode debut and continued to get stronger with each weekly installment. Word of mouth spread quickly, and fans flocked to IMDb to rate every episode as soon as it dropped.
Within hours of release, each episode was pulling in tens of thousands of votes, an undeniable sign of how engaged the fanbase had become again. The momentum pushed Dexter: Resurrection to the #1 spot on IMDB’s “Most Popular TV Shows” chart for several consecutive weeks. By the time the season wrapped, the series had an astonishing 9.2/10 average rating.
This momentum also vaulted the series onto IMDb’s legendary Top 250 TV Shows list. At one point, Dexter: Resurrection climbed as high as #17—an achievement most revival series could only dream of.
The Numbers Speak for Themselves
To put this into perspective:
- The original Dexter sits at 8.6/10 on IMDB (with over 881,000 ratings), ranking at #134 on the Top 250 list.
- Dexter: Resurrection currently holds a 9.1/10 average (with 94,000 ratings and climbing), placing it at #25 overall.
That means the revival is officially rated higher than iconic fan-favorite series such as The Office, Seinfeld, True Detective, Better Call Saul, Mad Men, and many more.
A Rare Television Comeback Story
Of course, as more ratings pour in, IMDb rankings are always subject to change. But what Dexter: Resurrection has achieved so far is nothing short of remarkable. Very few shows—especially sequels or revivals of long-running series—manage to not only redeem themselves after divisive endings but also surpass their original runs in critical acclaim.
Dexter: Resurrection proves that when strong writing, visionry storytelling, and the right cast come together, even a franchise once thought to be finished can rise to new heights. For us fans, it’s both a vindication and a reminder of why Dexter Morgan remains one of TV’s most unforgettable characters.