Once being a prominent Network to the Rescue, Netflix is, perhaps not surprisingly, also known for making original shows that run for at least two seasons (or in some cases, one season split into multiple parts). This is because of their business model of not pandering to advertisers, which allows showrunners of Netflix shows to do a lot more than other television networks could do, and since the service depends less on ratings and more on pure and simple subscription numbers for its money, Netflix are quite a bit more motivated than traditional TV executives to ensure their original programming has at least some decent closure, even if the crew has to end the show before the fans are ready.
Nevertheless, it too cancels shows like any other TV Network studio for a variety of reasons; it simply wasn't popular, they listening to online controversy, Movie and TV deals fell through, or the reasons are only known by or only make sense to Netflix themselves. Thus, the network has become increasingly infamous for cancelling shows before a third or even second season is ordered.
Note: Shows hanging in Development Hell or were never officially cancelled are not listed here. Similarly, projects that die prior to release also don't count, as tempting as it is to add them. Similarly, try to avoid adding examples with no citations.
Live-Action Shows
- The Baby-Sitters Club (2020) was a surprise cancellation after airing for just 2 seasons with the series being widely acclaimed and the ratings seemingly being similar to the first season. The creator had alluded to algorithms tailored to binging
as one possible reason for the cancellation as well as the timing of its release alongside Squid Game. - Although Jeff Pinkner teased plans of a potential second season, Hollywood Report had reported that Netflix had canceled the Cowboy Bebop (2021) live-action remake on December 9, 2021. What's especially notable, is that this came two weeks after the show had premiered onto the service, and considering that Netflix does at least try to give shows two seasons before cancelling or renewing them (or one season split up into two in some cases), it's quite surprising how uncharacteristically rash they were when making this decision. The final straw was the death of Keiko Nobumoto, the writer for the original Anime, which happened a week before hand.
- The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance was a hit show based on comparatively obscure and cult classic movie, and was canceled after only one season. Netflix waited over a year to announce the cancellation, most likely to avoid embarrassment about submitting a canceled series for that year's Emmys (which it won). A mobile game of the series was also released, but that too failed, and thus it ended the franchise.
- Julie and the Phantoms had a pretty active and loyal fan base that remained active for a full year while waiting for renewal. When it was finally announced that it was canceled, it was by the series creator, Kenny Ortega, not Netflix, and it was during a fan convention. Naturally, petitions immediately sprung up to get it picked up by another streaming network, but to no avail.
- The Netflix Marvel shows; Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders, and The Punisher were cancelled due to the then-impending launch of Disney+, which basically meant the shows were going to be a revenue stream competitor. Speculation also exists that Netflix tried to sabotage the shows by scaling back the show's marketing campaigns, which doesn't appear to hold much water, as they were consistently some of the most watched shows on the platform, and were advertised quite well at the time. What ultimately sunk the ship were the reports of the main producer of Marvels' TV division, Jeph Loeb, being very hard to work with; that is, until Marvel cut ties with him for his behaviour, with several horror stories about the former's' time at Marvel coming out. Kevin Feige took his place after shutting down Marvel TV (and therefore the Netflix productions) so he was in charge of films and future series' on Disney+. Interestingly, the shows themselves were not rendered Exiled from Continuity before moving to Disney+, as Feige had already confirmed that the actors from these shows would reappear if the stories needed them, which came to pass in Hawkeye (2021) and Echo (2024) as Vincent D'Onofrio reprised his role as The Kingpin, and retains much of his backstory that the latter series outright confirms. Meanwhile, Charlie Cox returned to play Matt Murdock for Spiderman No Way Home and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, with Murdock implying he still works as a pro-bono lawyer at his own firm in Hells' Kitchen.
- Resident Evil (2022), the show based on the game franchise got canceled just over a month after release, most likely because of its negative and confused reception, leading to an Uncertain Audience, and that didn't translate into viewing numbers.
- White Rabbit Project was taken out the back of the shed and shot after just one season. Negotiations between Netflix and the crew failed, further agitated by a very vocal minority of fans of the original Mythbusters crying foul at how the show isn't like Mythbusters. Any remaining chance of renewal got obliterated completely with co-host Grant Imahara's untimely passing in 2020.
- First Kill was cancelled less than two months after release, ending the first season on a huge cliff-hanger. What's especially surprising about this, is that the show scored 89% fresh with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, made 30.34 million hours viewed within the first three days, and managed to land in the platform's top 10 shows within the first month, all despite a noticeably low budget and apparent minimal marketing.
Western Animation
- Despite being a Cult Classic, Netflix appears to have simply Quietly Cancelled Buddy Thunderstruck. Ryan Wiesbrock, who has plans for a second season, isn't thrilled by the move.
- Netflix was originally a Network to the Rescue, and Care Bears & Cousins was a product of saving the franchise from Hasbro and The Hub, which had screwed over the previous series. Cousins lasted for two series until American Greetings cancelled it in 2017, and was replaced by the baffling Care Package Chronicles web animated series, with Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot leaving the service soon after due to the rights expiring. Seems to have been canceled so Hasbro could reboot the series and create a new generation, as Care Bears: Unlock the Magic did exactly this, and it moved to Boomerang in 2019.
- Dead End: Paranormal Park, despite positive reception from critics and fans and making the trending list frequently, was Cut Short after two seasons, just as the third season was being written.
- The Hollow didn't have much advertising, and there was a 2-year gap between seasons 1 and 2. It ended after 2 seasons in 2020.
- Hoops was canceled on December 8th, 2020, partly because it didn't get much advertisement on social media back when it released earlier that year, and partly because both Netflix's audience and TV Critics were alienated by the premise; a coach who can't stop swearing, while also being an asshole for no reason, which lead to people finding it cringe-inducing to watch, and it got cancelled soon after.
- Despite the show having a massive following, Netflix went back on its agreement to renew Inside Job (2021) for a second season, shocking everyone, including the show's staff, in the process. Unlike most cases, no explanation has been put forth by Netflix as to why they cancelled the series, only earning them more ire from all parties.
- Season 5 of Ridley Jones got little to no promotion from Netflix, possibly because they wanted to avoid backlash from the season's Coming-Out Story. The season was later confirmed by Chris Nee to be the last one.
- Tuca & Bertie, despite a lot of praise from reviewers, was not renewed. A year later, the show would be rescued by [adult swim] for a second and third season.
- Twelve Forever had a very rough life. Though initially ignored by Cartoon Network, which is where the pilot was originally pitched at, Netflix later picked up the series, but the show immediately suffered from Troubled Production, involving repeated missed deadlines (its release was delayed a total of three months after its completion for unknown reasons) and the show didn't get much advertising, meaning when it did release, it was without much fanfare. What ultimately killed it, however, was the show being Overshadowed by Controversy with the creator, Julia Vickerman, being caught making pederastic comments on her social media, and with the animation studio went under. All this meant that Netflix didn't renew it for a second season, as implied here in this now-deleted tweet. Netflix did not comment on the ultimate fate of the series, but Petosky implied they were not to blame.
