‘Enthralling’ series about horrific battle soars to top of UK Netflix chart

A new Netflix documentary about an US military disaster has quickly become the most watched show on the streaming service in just one day. In 1993 what was meant to be a 30-minute operation to capture the lieutenants of a warlord descended into a shocking 48-hour conflict which would come to be known as the Battle of Mogadishu. The conflict that led up to the event began in the 1980s when political unrest within Somalia eventually led to a violent civil war.

After food shortages and a drought sparked a devastating famine, the United Nations sent in peacekeepers. However, after coalition forces began to target a warlord – Mohamed Farrah Aidid – the relationship between the occupying US forces and the locals went downhill. On October 3, 1993, American troops were tasked with capturing two of Aidid’s lieutenants however a retaliation saw two Black Hawk helicopters shot down.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video. Up Next. A risky rescue mission then unfolded as more soldiers were then sent to recover the men who had crashed into hostile territory. By the end of the battle, 18 US soldiers had been killed and 73 were left wounded, while Malaysian and Pakistani forces also suffered losses.

Somali casualties, both insurgents and civilians, numbered in their hundreds. The incident sparked a massive outcry, with the US pulling out of the U.N. mission two years later. In 2001 the Battle of Mogadishu was the focus of Ridley Scott’s blockbuster war film Black Hawk Down, which followed the crew of one of the helicopters that was shot down. Now Netflix has released a three-part documentary about the botched operation, this time ‘turning the cameras on the actual soldiers and the Somali people who survived and allowing them to share exactly what happened in their own words’.

Produced by Scott’s production company the series features interviews, reenactments and footage captured on the ground ‘before, during and after the bloodshed’. It’s been sold as ‘providing a multifaceted perspective on a day that forever changed the lives of everyone involved’. Less than a day after being released the series has shot to number 1 on the Netflix charts in the U.K., with viewers calling ‘enthralling’.

‘Just watched Surviving Black Hawk Down, and wow! This is storytelling on another level. It’s the masterfully captured perspectives for me. From U.S. soldiers and Somali militias to the civilians caught in between. It was raw, emotional, a superbly done documentary,’ Brenda posted on X. ‘Everyone should watch Surviving Black Hawk Down on Netflix. 10/10,’ Meghan shared. ‘If you haven’t seen surviving Blackhawk down on Netflix. Sprint,’ Busta added.

Meanwhile on IMDB, user BaronBadger called it a ‘powerful and necessary documentary that sheds light on an often-overlooked chapter of military history, reminding us of the brutal realities of war and the resilience of those who endure it’. However, others said it ‘lacked context’ including referencing the Malaysian and Pakistani forces also caught up in the conflict. But in a recent interview with Time, former U.S. Army Ranger Brad Thomas who was part of the rescue efforts spoke about how the documentary highlighted the voices of others previously overlooked, including the Somali survivors.

‘The movie Black Hawk Down has kind of become the official narrative, and anyone that knows me will ask me, how real was the movie? I didn’t have a voice in that story, and now I’ve been able to share my part of the battle and the things that I saw,’ he said. This is the salary you need to buy a house in every London borough — and it's bleak. What I Rent: We pay £2,060 for our Battersea studio flat — and yoga classes are included.

'Iconic' Notting Hill home hits the market for £1,250,000 — but there’s only one bedroom. I finally got on the property ladder and it was the biggest mistake of my life. 'Charming' city crowned best place to move to in 2025 — but there's one big drawback. Surviving Black Hawk Down is streaming on Netflix. Got a story?. If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.