‘Yaga’ Casts a Spell on Audiences as AMC+’s Witchy Thriller Lands a Near-Perfect Popcornmeter and a Strong Critic Score

Halloween season always brings a fresh batch of spooky television, but few new shows have arrived with as much online buzz as AMC+’s latest. A witchcraft thriller built around one of folklore’s most feared figures has been drawing attention since its first trailer, and its casting pulled in fans from a very different corner of pop culture.

The series stars Hudson Williams, who found fame in ‘Heated Rivalry,’ alongside Carrie-Anne Moss, Noah Reid and Clark Backo. Adapted from Kat Sandler’s stage play, it reimagines the myth of Baba Yaga as a contemporary mystery set in a small coastal town. It debuted on October 23 in time for Halloween.

Now the early numbers are in. The ‘Yaga‘ Rotten Tomatoes score currently sits at 85% on the Tomatometer from 13 reviews, with a 96% Popcornmeter from more than 100 audience ratings. That’s a strong combination for a new genre show, and audiences have been even more enthusiastic than critics.

It’s still early, so the figures have shifted as reviews arrive. ‘Yaga’ first debuted at 80% based on just 5 reviews, then rose to 90% from 10 reviews, with a 97% audience score from more than 50 ratings. The series page recently showed 83% from 12 reviews alongside a 98% Popcornmeter.

The pattern is typical for a new release. Small review counts make scores jump around, and the audience number will likely settle as more viewers weigh in. Even so, a Popcornmeter in the high 90s is the kind of start most streaming shows only dream about.

The series follows Rapp, a private investigator played by Reid, who travels to a coastal town to find Henry Park, the missing heir to a powerful fishery. Williams plays Henry, whose disappearance is tied to something far older and stranger than a simple missing-person case. Moss and Backo round out the leads as characters drawn into the web of ancient magic and seduction.

It’s an 8-episode season with each episode running about 30 minutes. AMC+ is streaming it in the United States, while it’s a Crave original in Canada. Rachel Talalay and David Frazee direct, and Sandler serves as showrunner.

Reviews are mostly positive, with some reservations. Randy Myers of the San Jose Mercury News gave it 3.5 out of 4 stars and compared it to ‘True Blood’ and ‘Widow’s Bay.’ ScreenRant rated it 7 out of 10, praising the performances and noting that the short episodes keep the story moving.

Others were less convinced. The Hollywood Reporter called it an entertaining but not fully satisfying brew, and one critic argued it works better as a stage play than as a TV series. Collider gave it 4 out of 10, while Bloody Disgusting offered 3.5 out of 5 and joked that viewers should come for Williams and stay for the show’s steamy antics.

Part of the appeal is the cast. Williams’ presence has driven attention since his casting was announced, and print copies of the original play reportedly sold out shortly afterward. Moss, best known for ‘The Matrix,’ also serves as an executive producer, which gives the project extra weight.

The show also joins a growing slate of witchcraft programming on AMC+, including ‘Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale.’ Some viewers have compared the tone to ‘Penny Dreadful.’ AMC reportedly won a competitive bid for the US rights after the series premiered in the Primetime program at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.

La magia è una gran rottura di palle Il nuovo trailer di #YAGA, accompagnato da una versione inedita di “Season of the Witch” reinterpretata da Alanis Morissette. Dal 23 ottobre su HBO Max. #Yagaween 🐓 https://t.co/wZbzDXaeFg

— HBO Max Italia (@hbomaxit) October 19, 2026

‘Yaga’ premiered with 2 episodes, and new installments arrive on Fridays. The next episode lands on October 30, in time for Halloween weekend, and the season wraps with a 2-episode finale on November 27. Neither AMC nor Crave has announced a second season.

If the audience score holds, that could change quickly. For now, the show is proving that Baba Yaga still has plenty of bite, and that fans are happy to follow a witch hunt wherever it leads.

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