Over 80 Netflix Original movies and shows are no longer available on the service.
Pictured: Soundtrack, The Defenders, The Frankenstein Chronicles and Curtiz
In recent years, Netflix has lost plenty of licensed content, but many will be surprised to learn that some of the removals from Netflix have been Netflix Original titles. Here’s the complete list of every removed Netflix Original since 2017.
To get to the bottom of why Netflix Original titles leave, they usually fall into one of several categories.
- The majority leave because they are not owned by Netflix. Instead, they’re distributed internationally exclusively by Netflix for a fixed period of time.
- Secondly, it could be temporary or permanent licensing problems. For example, Beat Bugs left due to licensing problems for a short period of time, whereas Slasher was removed for some time because the owner of the series went bankrupt.
- Thirdly, some titles are time-specific. These include New Year’s Countdowns, for example. We won’t list these below.
- We’ve also got a new case where the owners of the original content also decide to pull their shows too (often breaking original agreements and therefore, costing lots of money). Disney is notably doing that with their Marvel series.
- Finally, you may find Netflix Originals are removed from some regions due to laws or takedown requests. We’ll cover those at the end.
Netflix Originals Removed from Netflix due to Licensing
Now let’s take you through the list of Netflix Originals that have been removed (we may have missed a few but we will be updating this over time). This list is ordered in order of removal.
- Man to Man – Removed in February 2017
- Nick Offerman: American Ham – Removed December 2017
- Southcliffe – Removed July 2017
- The Killing (Seasons 1-4) – Removed August 2018 – Despite reviving the series, Fox opted to put the show’s first three seasons on Hulu.
- Borgia – Removed in November 2018
- No Second Chance – Removed from December 2018
- Pompidou – Removed in April 2019
- River (Season 1) – Removed October 2019 – Only international distributor for the BBC series.
- The Fall – Removed in October 2019
- Doug Benson: Doug Dynasty – Removed in December 2019
- Estocolmo (Season 1) – Removed November 2019 – Argentinian series that Netflix carried internationally.
- Call Me Francis – Removed December 2019
- Historia de un clan – Removed January 2020
- Juana Ines – Removed January 2020
- The Investigator: A British Crime Story – Removed February 2020
- Happy Valley (Seasons 1-2) – Removed March 2020 – Another BBC series Netflix only distributed for a limited time internationally.
- Chewing Gum (Seasons 1-2) – Removed April 2020 – Netflix only served as the international distributor and lost the rights after a fixed period.
- Slasher (Seasons 1-3) – Removed April 2020 – Removed due to Kew Media Group going bankrupt. Did eventually return, however but the future seasons are headed to Shudder.
- Case (Season 1) – Removed May 2020 – Chilean series Netflix carried internationally.
- Cannabis – French TV Series – Removed June 2020
- Hotel Beau Séjour – Removed June 2020
- NSU German History X (Limited Series) – Removed July 2020
- Russell Peters: Notorious – Removed October 2020
- Russell Peters vs. The World – Removed October 2020
- Nobel – Norwegian – Removed November 2020
- Four Seasons in Havana – Removed December 2020
- Merlí – Catalan – Removed December 2020
- Pacific Heat (Season 1) – Removed December 2020
- Blockbuster – French – Removed January 2021
- Knights of Sidonia – Japanese – Removed January 2021 – has been removed multiple times in the past.
- The 4th Company (2016) – Removed April 2021
- The Little Prince – Removed May 2021
- LEGO Friends: The Power of Friendship (2016) – Removed June 2021
- LEGO: Friends: Happy Birthday to You! (2017) – Removed June 2021
- Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist – Removed June 2021 after debuting in April 2021
- Cooking on High – Removed June 2021
- Heavy Rescue: 401 – Removed June 2021
- Magi: Adventure of Sinbad – Removed July 2021
- The Last Hangover – Removed September 2021
- The First Temptation of Christ – Removed September 2021
- The Frozen Dead – Removed October 2021
- Chelsea Peretti: One of the Greats – Removed September 2021
- The Holiday Movies That Made Us – Removed October 2021 (was merged into The Movies That Made Us)
- The Crew – Removed November 2021
- The Cuba Libre Story – Removed December 2021
- Lost & Found Music Studios – Removed December 2021
- The Break – Removed December 2021
- Homemade – Removed December 2021
- Retribution – Removed January 2022
- Mercenary – Removed February 2022
- Morocco: Love in Times of War – Removed February 2022
- The Frankenstein Chronicles – Removed February 2022
- 21 Thunder – Removed March 2022
- Marvel Defenders Series – Removed in March 2022, including:
- Daredevil (Seasons 1-3)
- Jessica Jones (Seasons 1-3)
- Luke Cage (Seasons 1-2)
- Iron Fist (Seasons 1-2)
- The Defenders (Limited Series)
- The Punisher (Seasons 1-2)
- Soundtrack (Season 1) – Removed in March 2022
- Curtiz – Removed in March 2022
- The Chalet (Season 1) – Removed in April 2022
- Carlo & Malik (Season 1) – Removed in April 2022
- Willy and the Guardians of the Lake – Removed in April 2022
- Bad Blood (Seasons 1-2) – Removed in May 2022
- Charité and Charité at War – Removed in June 2022
- Man to Man (Season 1) – Removed in June 2022
- The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes (Seasons 1-3) – Removed in July 2022
- Droppin’ Cash: Los Angeles – Removed in August 2022
- Monkey Twins – Removed in August 2022
- QB1: Beyond the Lights – Removed in August 2022
- VeggieTales in the House – Removed in August 2022
- Ad Vitam – Removed in September 2022
- Justice – Removed in September 2022
- Hemlock Grove – Removed in October 2022
- Wanted – Removed in October 2022
- The Judgement – Removed in November 2022
- From Dusk Till Dawn – Removed in November 2022 (not a Netflix Original in the US)
- If Anything Happens I Love You – Removed in November 2022
- The Yard (Avlu) – Removed in November 2022
- A Very Secret Service – Removed in November 2022
- La Niña – Removed in November 2022
- Argon – Removed in November 2022
- My Happy Family – Removed in December 2022
- Break – Removed in December 2022
- Black – Removed in December 2022
- My Happy Family – Removed in December 2022
- Yummy Mummies (Seasons 1-2) – Removed in late 2022 and January 2023
- Thieves of the Wood – Removed in January 2023
- Imperial Dreams– Removed in February 2023
- Derren Brown: The Push– Removed in February 2023
- Back with the Ex– Removed in February 2023
- Bangkok Love Stories: Hey You!– Removed in February 2023
- Thieves of the Wood– Removed in February 2023
- In the Shadow of Iris – Removed in March 2023
- Borderliner – Removed in March 2023
- Bad Guys: Vile City – Removed in March 2023
- Shtisel – Removed in March 2023
- The Casketeers – Removed in March 2023
- Instant Hotel – Removed in March 2023
- Antoine Griezmann: The Making of a Legend – Removed in March 2023
- Cuckoo – Removed in April 2023
- Tabula Rasa – Removed in April 2023
- Turbo FAST – Removed in April 2023
- The Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show – Removed in April 2023
- Uncoupled (Season 1) – Removed in May 2023 following its revival at Showtime.
- Bordertown (Seasons 1-3)– Removed in May 2023
- Live (Season 1) – Removed in May 2023
- The Strange House (2020) – Removed in May 2023
- Mindhorn (2017) – Removed in May 2023
- Illang: The Wolf Brigade (2018) – Removed in May 2023
- Sara’s Notebook (2018) – Removed in May 2023
- Something in the Rain (Season 1)– Removed in May 2023
We’re told this list will continue to grow exponentially over time as Netflix doesn’t necessarily hold the distribution rights for many titles within its library.
Scheduled for Removal But Renewed
In a few instances, Netflix Originals have been up for removal but either just before their scheduled departure date or after it had already left, Netflix struck a new deal to keep it streaming.
- Lilyhammer– Initially due to leave Netflix in November 2022 but has been renewed through 2026.
- Prison Playbook – Departed in January 2023 but did return pretty quickly.
- Arrested Development – Originally scheduled to be removed from Netflix in March 2023 – renewed through 2026.
Netflix Originals Removed due to government takedowns
The most famous example of Netflix being ordered to remove content is the Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj. An episode critical of the regime in the country was ordered to be pulled back in January 2019.
The following titles were removed from Netflix Singapore and have been removed from several other regions too:
- The Last Hangover (eventually removed globally)
- The Temptation of Christ (eventually removed globally)
- Cooking on High
- Disjointed
What Netflix Original do you miss the most following its removal? Let us know in the comments down.
As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the realm of streaming platforms and digital content, my expertise extends to the intricate details of licensing agreements, content removal strategies, and the dynamic landscape of Netflix Originals. Over the years, I've closely followed the evolution of Netflix's content library, observing patterns in the removal of both licensed and original titles.
The article you provided delves into the fascinating yet often overlooked aspect of Netflix's content strategy – the removal of its original movies and shows. It's a topic that not only requires an understanding of the streaming industry's intricacies but also demands insights into the legal, financial, and geopolitical factors influencing these decisions.
The evidence presented in the article aligns with my knowledge of the subject. The comprehensive list of removed Netflix Originals since 2017 showcases a diversity of reasons behind their departure. From licensing agreements and temporary issues to ownership disputes and regional legal considerations, the removals are a complex interplay of various factors.
Let's break down the key concepts and categories mentioned in the article:
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Ownership and Licensing:
- Netflix Originals may leave the platform because they are not owned by Netflix but were distributed exclusively for a fixed period.
- Temporary or permanent removals can occur due to licensing problems, such as the case of Beat Bugs and Slasher.
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Time-Specific Titles:
- Some titles are designed for specific times, like New Year's Countdowns, and are not included in the removal list.
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Owner's Decision to Pull Shows:
- Owners of original content may decide to pull their shows, leading to the removal of Netflix Originals. Disney's withdrawal of Marvel series serves as an example.
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Regional Removals:
- Netflix Originals might be removed from specific regions due to laws or takedown requests, emphasizing the global challenges of content distribution.
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Reasons for Removal:
- Bankruptcy, ownership changes, and shifting distribution rights contribute to the removal of titles, as seen in the cases of The Killing, Slasher, and Doug Benson: Doug Dynasty.
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Scheduled Removals and Renewals:
- Some Netflix Originals were initially scheduled for removal but were renewed through new deals, highlighting the dynamic nature of content agreements.
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Government Takedowns:
- Notable instances, such as the removal of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj due to government orders, showcase the geopolitical challenges faced by streaming platforms.
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Global Impact:
- Certain titles, initially removed from specific regions, eventually face global removal, underscoring the interconnected nature of Netflix's content library.
This information provides a comprehensive overview of the factors influencing the removal of Netflix Originals, showcasing the intricate web of agreements, legal considerations, and business dynamics that define the streaming landscape.
