Top 10 Worst Netflix Show Cancellations, Ranked

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Throughout the 2020s, Netflix has become known for quickly canceling TV shows. Many people criticize the streaming service for ending popular and well-regarded series too soon, often before the stories are finished or even fully developed.

Netflix’s recent cancellations show how quickly things are moving in television today. It’s not just viewers who are less patient; streaming services themselves are eager to see a return on their investment in new shows. This is a shift from the mid-2010s, when Netflix was known for wholeheartedly supporting ambitious and unconventional projects, even if they took time to gain an audience.

Netflix used to give shows plenty of time to find their footing, even if they weren’t immediately successful. Today, shows like House of Cards, Insatiable, and 13 Reasons Why likely wouldn’t have lasted as long if they were made now.

However, just in the past month, the streaming service cancelled two promising shows: The Abandons, which had a good number of viewers, and The Vince Staples Show, which critics loved. Even so, these cancellations aren’t as significant as some of Netflix’s most controversial decisions to end popular series.

10. Archive 81

Canceled In January 2022

Just edging out the popular series Kaos for the last spot on our list, Archive 81 is a chilling horror mystery inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King. The show features a clever and unique storyline, jumping between two time periods as two documentary filmmakers investigate a mysterious building fire.

Despite racking up an impressive 128 million viewing hours worldwide, the supernatural horror series Archive 81 wasn’t renewed for a second season on Netflix. The show’s cancellation came as Netflix began using new metrics – focusing on the cost per viewer and how many people finished watching – to determine whether to continue a series.

9. The Get Down

Canceled In April 2017

Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis created The Get Down, a truly groundbreaking musical drama series. Set in 1970s New York, it vividly depicts the birth of hip-hop and disco through the eyes of teenagers who were central to these exciting new music scenes. The show rightfully generated a lot of buzz upon its release.

The show also needed a large viewership to make its $120 million cost worthwhile, but it never attracted enough viewers. Only around four million Americans watched the first part of The Get Down, leading Netflix to cancel it after just one season, consisting of 11 episodes. Even now, the show’s star, Justice Smith, seems upset about the cancellation, as evidenced by his comments regarding Netflix’s new rules about password sharing.

8. Daredevil

Canceled In November 2018

Netflix likely would have continued the popular Marvel series Daredevil for more than three seasons, but their increasing competition with Disney led to its cancellation. Disney+ was set to launch within a year, and disagreements between Netflix and Marvel Television regarding the number of episodes and creative control ultimately resulted in the show being cancelled.

Charlie Cox, who plays Matt Murdock, has talked about how upset he was when the original Daredevil series on Netflix was cancelled. While he’s now back as the character in the new Disney+ series, Daredevil: Born Again, many fans still miss the earlier show and wish it had lasted longer.

7. Sense8

Canceled In June 2018

Created by the filmmakers behind The Matrix, Sense8 is a critically acclaimed sci-fi series quickly becoming a modern classic. Like the recent show Pluribus, it features a group of people – eight in this case – who are uniquely connected, sharing a mental link with each other.

The cancellation of Sense8 in June 2018 was a major letdown for many TV fans, and it marked a turning point for Netflix. Before this, Netflix was known for taking risks on expensive, ambitious shows. After Sense8, the company began to focus more on how much shows cost compared to how many people watched them, leading to a shift in its spending strategy.

6. Shadow and Bone

Canceled In November 2023

The 2023 cancellation of Netflix’s Shadow and Bone highlights a troubling trend: major streaming services are increasingly quick to cancel shows they don’t see as profitable. Despite positive reviews and strong viewership, the fantasy series, based on Leigh Bardugo’s books, wasn’t renewed for a third season.

Unfortunately, Netflix cancelled the show during early stages of production, and it wasn’t successful enough to continue. This means, like many streaming series recently, the main storylines were never finished. We’ll never find out what really happened with Alina Starkov’s powers, what became of Matthias Helvar, or the outcome of the Six of Crows’ plan to attack the Ice Court.

5. Boots

Canceled In December 2025

No matter your political views, it’s clear that Netflix canceled the show Boots because of political pressure. Just two months after the Pentagon criticized it as “woke garbage,” Boots was the only show in Netflix’s top 25 most popular releases to be canceled.

The critically acclaimed show Boots, which followed the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals serving in the U.S. military, was popular with viewers. Now that it’s been cancelled, the creators are worried this signals a pattern of Netflix making choices based on politics rather than a show’s performance and popularity.

4. GLOW

Canceled In October 2020

The cancellation of the Netflix series GLOW in October 2020 came as a surprise, especially since the show had already been renewed for a fourth season. Netflix reversed its decision, citing increased costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but fans were still disappointed.

I was completely hooked on GLOW! It was such a funny, but surprisingly emotional show about an actress who finds her way into the world of women’s wrestling just to get by. The characters were so unique and the stories were amazing – it really grabbed a lot of us viewers. That’s why it was such a shock when Netflix suddenly cancelled it, especially since it was still so good!

3. Bone

Canceled In April 2022

As a huge animation fan, when I heard about Netflix cancelling Bone, it really hit me hard. It perfectly shows how far Netflix has come – or, honestly, fallen – from being the fresh, exciting alternative. They’ve become just another big network, making decisions based on the bottom line instead of artistic merit, and it’s disappointing to see.

Despite winning numerous awards and remaining popular for decades, the comic strip Bone surprisingly hasn’t been made into a TV show. Netflix is largely responsible for this – they cancelled the project after working on it with the creators and animators for two and a half years.

2. The OA

Canceled In August 2019

The cancellation of The OA after only two seasons left viewers with a major cliffhanger at the end of season two – a twist so significant that it desperately needs resolving. What makes it particularly frustrating is that the show’s creators originally intended for the story to continue, leaving fans without closure.

Since it was canceled, The OA has gained a dedicated and growing fanbase, and many people are still hoping for its revival. There’s a real possibility of more seasons, as the show’s creators, Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, are interested in continuing the story when their schedules allow, and if Netflix decides to bring it back.

1. Mindhunter

Canceled In August 2019

The cancellation of Mindhunter by Netflix is arguably their biggest mistake when it comes to ending a truly great show. This crime drama, skillfully guided by David Fincher, offered exceptional stories, captivating acting, and stunning attention to historical detail – exceeding even the quality of Fincher’s acclaimed film, Zodiac.

When the show’s budget was cut, the director chose to end it rather than compromise its quality. This means we likely won’t see the storyline of BTK resolved in the series. Netflix should be disappointed in this outcome.

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2026-02-07 21:01