Run Away is a British crime thriller that Netflix released on 1 January 2026: eight episodes of roughly 40 to 50 minutes, adapted from Harlan Coben's 2019 novel of the same name. James Nesbitt plays Simon Greene, a well-off father whose eldest daughter, Paige (Ellie de Lange), has run away and fallen into drug addiction. When Simon finds her and tries to bring her home, her boyfriend ends up dead, and Simon is pulled into a murder investigation that also involves two police detectives, a private investigator played by Ruth Jones, and a pair of killers. Minnie Driver plays his wife, Ingrid.
It is a Coben thriller through and through: a family with secrets, a twist at the end of every episode, and a lot of coincidences. If your family has watched Fool Me Once or The Stranger, you know the style.
Screenwise Parents
See allNetflix rates it TV-MA. Common Sense Media rates it 14+.
It landed on New Year's Day, when a lot of families were home looking for something to binge, and the Coben name pulls in parents first. Teens tend to find it through a parent's profile or through clips.
The hook is the mystery. Every episode ends on a reveal, and the plot keeps adding suspects.
It is about a teenager. Paige's addiction and her disappearance are the center of the story, which makes it feel close to home for older teens and for parents.
The TV-MA rating is mostly about violence, drugs and language. Here is what is in it:
- Violence: frequent and sometimes graphic, including murders, a brutal assault, shootings and visible injuries.
- Drugs: Paige's addiction drives the story. It is discussed more than shown, but drug dealers and drug dens are part of Simon's search.
- Language: strong language throughout, including "f--k" and "s--t."
- Sexual content: light. Some innuendo and sexual comments, and adults shown in bed together.
Ages 16+: This is where it fits most families. Older teens who like crime dramas can handle the twists, and the violence is the main thing to weigh.
Ages 14-15: Possible for a teen who already watches crime shows, if you watch the first episode yourself first or watch together. Common Sense Media's 14+ rating sits here.
Ages 13 and under: The violence is realistic and the core story, a teenager lost to addiction, is heavy for this age. For a younger kid who wants a mystery, look at mystery shows for teens instead.
The addiction storyline is the heart of the show. It takes Simon's fear seriously, and it doesn't make drug use look appealing. If addiction is close to home for your family, it may be a hard watch, for you or for your teen.
It's darker than the poster. The art sells a worried dad. The show includes a string of killings.
It's one complete story. Run Away is a limited series, so the mystery wraps up in episode eight.
Critics liked it more than viewers did. Rotten Tomatoes shows 83% from critics and a much lower audience score. Some reviewers found the twists far-fetched.
If your teen is watching (or wants to watch), here are some conversation starters:
"Why do you think Paige ran away?" It's an easy way into talking about drugs, pressure, and coming to you when something goes wrong.
"What did Simon get right and wrong in trying to find her?" Teens are quick to judge the parents on screen, and their answer tells you what they'd want from you.
"Did you see the twist coming?" Coben shows are built around misdirection, which makes them good practice at spotting how a story steers you.
"How are you feeling after watching that?" A simple check-in. If they seem anxious or down after episodes, that's useful information.
Run Away is a violent, twisty Harlan Coben thriller about a father searching for his addicted daughter. It's fine for most older teens who like the genre, and worth previewing for 14- and 15-year-olds.
If your 16+ teen wants to watch: Go for it, and check in after a few episodes.
If your younger teen is asking: Watch the first episode yourself, then decide, or watch together so you can pause for the heavy parts.
If they're already watching: Ask what they think of Paige and Simon. It's a better conversation than a lecture.
If you decide it's not right for your family, there are plenty of other Netflix shows for teens.
- Check out our Netflix page for ratings, reviews, and how other families handle streaming decisions
- Learn about setting up Netflix profiles and parental controls if you haven't already
- Explore other mystery shows for teens if you're looking for something less intense