Netflixrecently released a report that makes a complaint often lodged against them even more valid. Over the last several years,Netflix has delivered some great original content, from shows likeThe CrowntoStranger ThingstoWednesday.While these shows have taken off and earned multiple seasons, Netflix has developed an unfortunate reputation forcanceling its original showstoo soon.
Netflix has undoubtedly produced some incredible shows,but their tendency to cancel their own originals after only one or two seasons makes some viewers hesitate to dive into their newest releases. No one wants to fall in love with a new show only for it to be abruptly canceled before it even has a chance.
Netflix’s 2025 Viewership Data Confirms The Staying Power Of Its Original Shows
Netflix Original Shows & Movies Do Well Years After Their Release
The report states that:
Netflix Originals continue to engage audiences years after they premiered. Nearly half of viewing for Netflix Originals in this report came from titles that debuted in 2023 or earlier.
The report goes on to mention series likeOrange Is the New Black, Ozark,andMoney Heist,as well as films likeRed Notice, Leo,andWe Can Be Heroes.The report then highlights the popularity of series from around the world, as well as anime titles, dramas, comedies, and family-friendly television.
All three of the shows directly mentioned have at least four seasons, withOrange Is the New Blackboasting seven seasons.These series were given time to find success on Netflix,raising the question of why the streamer is so quick to cancel many of its new original shows.
Netflix’s Report Makes Its Cancellation Complaints Even Worse
Why Is Netflix So Quick To Cancel New Shows?
If Netflix original series continue to find success years after their premiere, why would the streaming service cancel shows so quickly? Shows likeDead Boy Detectives, Shadow and Bone, Sense8,andThe Chilling Adventures of Sabrinahad many of the ingredients for success and achieved mostly positive reviews. And yet,they were all canceled after only one or two seasons,despite there being more story left to tell.
Even creators who had previously enjoyed success on Netflix were not immune to this. After the success ofThe Haunting of Hill HouseandMike Flanagan’s other horror miniseries,The Midnight Clubwas still canceled after only one seasondespite plans for more. More recently, the Shondaland-produced comedy,The Residence,got the ax after its first season.
The Residenceearned its star, Uzo Aduba, an Emmy nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy Series, making its abrupt cancellation even more surprising.
Abrupt cancellations like this often leave audiences with unanswered questions,making them hesitant to watch new Netflix originals in the future.Many of these cancellations remain hard to swallow even years later, in some cases prompting fans to campaign for more episodes, as is the case with thecrime dramaMindhunterand the trippy sci-fi show,The OA.
Sometimes, Netflix cancels shows so soon after they premiere that interested viewers may not have even had the chance to watch them yet. And after learning of the cancellation,many viewers may choose to skip the show entirely,not wanting to invest in something without a proper ending.
The Streamer Should Give Its Original Shows More Time To Find Their Footing
Netflix Should Allow Its Original Shows To Find Their Audience
Netflix’s viewing numbers for the first half of 2025 prove thatthe streaming service’s original shows can find success years lateras more and more people discover the show. Still, it’s incredibly disappointing to discover a great show only to learn that it was canceled after only one or two seasons.
Although Netflix does not often release detailed viewing numbers, it seems apparent that they place a high value on how well a show does in the days and weeks after its initial release. However,this does not give shows much time to find their audience,and it doesn’t allow for word-of-mouth about a particular show to spread.
This also puts a lot of pressure on the first season ofnew Netflix shows, as they have to immediately engage audiences and keep them watching. Throughout much of television history, shows have been allowed to struggle through a weaker first season if they were still pulling in decent numbers. With Netflix’s model, though,a new show has to be a megahit from the very beginning.
Perhaps Netflix produces too many shows or spends too much money on them, or some combination of the two. Whatever the reasons, Netflix has canceled numerous shows that likely would have been hits if the service had given them a proper chance. In light of their most recent Engagement Report,Netflixshould consider giving its original shows more time to find their footing.
