Not too long ago, Netflix was the premiere streaming service online. Whether viewers wanted film or television, the little red icon on their phone, tablet, or computer was the way to go. Now, several other streaming services have given the platform much-needed competition. Still, it remains the most subscribed-to streaming service, according to Forbes. While that may indicate they consistently keep their subscribers happy, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Whether it’s the frequent hiking of prices or tamping down on account sharing, many have vocalized their anger with the company. Another complaint? Canceling shows. No show is safe from Netflix’s chopping block, whether it’s a new series that barely gets a chance to establish itself or a well-loved program in its second or third season. 2024 has shown that Netflix is selective about which programs to continue to invest in.
Let’s mourn these Netflix series that have already been canceled this year.
8 Obliterated (2023)
Obliterated is an action dramedy about U.S. Armed Forces and intelligence operatives who join a team to prevent a terrorist attack. The team consists of a CIA officer, Navy SEAL officers, a Marine Corps sniper, and an Air Force pilot, among others. The attack is set to occur in Las Vegas and is led by a woman named Ava. In the pilot episode, Real American Heroes, the group engages in a cat-and-mouse chase with a Russian operative. Eventually, they capture him. And while they celebrate a job well done, Ava discovers the job may not yet be over.
A Bit Too Inane
Silly. Nonsensical. Camp. These are adjectives both fans and haters of the show alike use to describe Obliterated. Indeed, the show doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is a quality some people can tolerate for a guilty pleasure, while others can’t make it past a few episodes. The latter may have been the more common scenario, as Netflix canceled the series after one eight-episode season. For many, The Boys and its spin-offs executed this concept a lot better.
7 Buying Beverly Hills (2022)
Netflix has a host of reality shows on its platform, though most revolve around dating. Buying Beverly Hills is perfect for viewers who love architecture, interior decorating, and anything that revolves around luxury real estate. Mauricio Umansky is the head of a real estate agency creatively called The Agency. He and his family navigate running the business amid personal struggles and competing for control against one another. Viewers get insight into the lavish properties they are trying to sell, as well as the agents trying to sell them.
Expensive Real Estate & Production
A real estate reality TV show was probably going to have a pretty niche audience no matter what. However, the inclusion of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards drew in a lot more eyes. Her split from Mauricio was likely the first nail in the coffin. The show was canceled after two seasons in August 2024. According to Deadline, subpar viewing numbers couldn’t justify the cost it took to produce the show.
6 My Dad the Bounty Hunter (2023)
My Dad the Bounty Hunter is an animated sci-fi that premiered in 2023. Sean and Lisa love their dad, Terry, but are frustrated by how much his job keeps him away. What exactly does he do anyway? Determined to spend more time with him, they hitch a ride in their dad’s car while he’s on his way to work. Instead of popping out of the car in an average parking garage or in front of an office building, they are on a spaceship. The children discover their dad is a bounty hunter who ventures off into space to take down dangerous aliens.
A New Direction
This is a very cute series aimed at younger children. Adults watching it with little ones may roll their eyes at some of the humor, but it’s an otherwise harmless watch. The animation is solid and there’s always something fun going on in each episode. Streaming numbers were good, but not extremely impressive, especially given Netflix’s new direction that’s venturing away from children’s programming. It was given the boot after two seasons and nineteen episodes.
5 Break Point (2023)
In 2023, Netflix partnered with the Association of Tennis Professionals and the Women’s Tennis Association to bring Break Point to the world. This documentary series follows professional tennis players as they gear up and participate in major tournaments around the world. From the French Open to the Australian Open, audiences see just how much work goes into this sport before even stepping on the court. The players themselves hail from across the globe — like Italy, Norway, Canada, Greece, the United States, and more — showing just how international this sport is.
Disappointing Ratings
With the release of Challengers, a steamy romantic drama starring Zendaya releasing in March 2024, one would think tennis would be at the front of viewers’ minds. Yet Break Point failed to capture a loyal following.
Several articles have speculated about why the documentary didn’t reach the masses. Maybe tennis isn’t a popular enough sport. Maybe Netflix should’ve signed on more recognizable players to follow. Maybe the successful Formula 1 docuseries Drive to Survive set too high expectations. Whatever the reason may be, Break Point served its final set in January 2024.
4 Everything Now (2023)
Everything Now focuses on a sixteen-year-old girl named Mia Polanco. She feels like she missed out on so much after spending time in a hospital due to an eating disorder. Now, Mia’s back in school and trying to reacclimatize to life of a “normal” student. But so much has changed, including Mia herself. To help her cope with everything, she creates a bucket list of experiences she wants to have. From going to parties to experiencing her first kiss, the time for these milestones is now.
No Time to Grow
Unfortunately, it wasn’t the breakout Netflix hoped for. One of the show’s writers, Dylan Brady, spoke to Film Updates and said that several episodes for season two were written, but the show was canned before they ever got the chance to film. He voiced his frustrations with the instant success model the entertainment industry has fallen into:
“This kind of mentality we see now, where it’s like, ‘If it doesn’t get 16 million views in the first 28 days, it’s not worth anyone’s while.’ It’s really disheartening to see because I think there’s also a lot of people who refuse to invest in a new show with the knowledge that it might just end up getting canceled.”
3 Dead Boy Detectives (2024)
In Dead Boy Detectives, Edwin Payne was killed in 1916 after a prank by his classmates went horribly wrong. Charles Rowland died in 1989 after his peers attacked him when he tried to stop them from bullying another kid. But they didn’t rest in peace, refusing to join the afterlife. Together they work at an agency investigating crimes that are ghostly or otherwise supernatural in nature. Their living contact is Crystal Palace, a psychic who can communicate with ghosts.
A Surprise to Many
This series had the drama of any classic teen show but with added mystery and intrigue due to the ghostly premise. Edwin and Charles steal the show, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given they are referenced in the show’s title. While fans weren’t expecting Dead Boy Detectives to win any awards, they enjoyed it for what it was.
With a high Rotten Tomatoes score and solid viewing hours, a second season seemed like a shoo-in. It’s safe to say the announcement of a cancelation in August 2024 came as a shock. Nothing is safe at Netflix HQ.
2 The Brothers Sun (2024)
Bruce Sun in The Brothers Sun lives a pretty typical life in sunny Los Angeles. That is until his brother Charles shows up from Taiwan. Bruce learns that his family is the head of the Jade Dragons, an organization of assassins. A detail his mom conveniently left out his entire life. After the boys’ father is shot by a rival assassin, Bruce is pulled into this dangerous world. Mixing action, comedy, and drama, The Brothers Sun is a fast-paced series with a chaotic family at its center.
A Quick Cut
While the cancelation of some series on this list came as a surprise, many viewers saw this one coming. Even those who enjoyed watching the brothers, especially Bruce, go up against ruthless killers, couldn’t deny the ratings were quite low. Other series with better numbers got axed, so this one’s ending seemed inevitable. The first season was released in January 2024 and news of the cancelation came rapidly in March.
1 Ratched (2020)
Ratched is a psychological thriller and served as a prequel to the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Actress Sarah Paulson played the lead as Nurse Mildred who cares for patients at a psychiatric hospital in the 1940s. At first glance, she seems like the ideal person for the job. However, as the genre may suggest, a more sinister side of Mildred begins to crack through the surface.
Couldn’t Get On Board
There’s much to like about Ratched. The set design is what viewers have come to expect from Netflix-backed shows. Paulson’s acting is great, even if some audience members have questions about her character and the plot conveniences that help her chug along.
Whenever a modern show is taking an iconic character from a previous work, it’s always an uphill battle. Sometimes, it works (see Netflix’s other series, Wednesday, following Wednesday Addams), and other times, as with Ratched, it doesn’t. A second season was confirmed early on, but eventually, that decision was overturned.
