Why Do Netflix Originals Leave Netflix & The Different Types of Netflix Original

Dec 18, 2025 - 12:00

why do netflix originals leave what are netflix originals

Picture Credit: Imago

Over the past decade or so, Netflix has grown its Original library considerably. Once reliant wholly on licensed titles, Netflix Originals have become the most vital part of Netflix’s arsenal for signing up and keeping subscribers. Starting from zero, there are now 4,855 Netflix Originals (~62% of the overall library) on the service in the US alone, with that number varying slightly by region.

Not all Netflix Originals are created equally, though, and over the past few years, we’ve seen hundreds of titles with the Netflix Original logo shed off the service. Why is this happening? What are the different types of Netflix Originals?

We’ve covered this in various forms over the years, but given that traffic on our “100+ Netflix Originals leaving in 2026” list has rocketed thanks to some of the titles leaving, blowing up across social media, it’s probably time for a revisit with different examples. What is a Netflix Original? Why do some leave and others don’t?

Let’s dig in just after an important caveat. Removals are always subject to change, regardless of whether the title carries the Netflix Original branding. Deals are fluid and can be extended at any given time. We’ve also seen instances where Netflix Originals leave, and the titles are later re-added without Netflix Original branding.

The Different Types of Netflix Originals

Netflix Original Forever – Owned Outright

Picture Credit: Netflix

For most Netflix Originals, especially in more recent years, they’re developed in-house and owned outright by Netflix. That means Netflix was on board from day one and fostered the series or movie from its early stages right through to production and release.

In these cases, there is no expiry date because Netflix owns the underlying rights to the show or movie. Therefore, except in highly rare circumstances, they should remain on Netflix indefinitely.

Examples of this type of Netflix Original:

Stranger Things
Locke & Key
The Witcher
Bridgerton
Sweet Magnolias
Virgin River
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein
Red Notice

The Exclusive Distributor In Select Countries

Picture Credit: Channel 4

This iteration of a Netflix Original was commonplace in the early days of Netflix, but is now a bit rarer as Netflix has evolved its development pipeline and goals. This type of Netflix Original is one in which Netflix serves solely as the distributor in select regions after its original run. It usually means Netflix doesn’t hold the global rights, and the distribution time can be a bit shorter.

There are a few good examples, such as Netflix teaming up with Sony Pictures Television to distribute Better Call Saul as a Netflix Original in all international territories following its initial run on AMC. Netflix would go on to license Better Call Saul in the United States, but without the Original branding.

That’s an example of a US show getting international distribution, but there are plenty of examples of it happening in the other direction. Netflix has picked up many French and British shows for exclusive distribution in the US (and other regions), such as Crazyhead, owned by Channel 4, and Peaky Blinders, first run on the BBC. Again, Netflix did license these shows in the UK, but without Original branding.

K-Dramas are another big example of this, where Netflix gets first-run rights to many network shows in all international regions.

Other examples include:

Chewing Gum – British series by Channel 4 – removed in April 2020
From Dusk Till Dawn – International Original – removed in November 2022.
Sisters – Australian series licensed as Original elsewhere – removed in September 2023
Babylon Berlin – a German series first aired there and licensed exclusively to Netflix for a limited time– was removed in February 2024.
Derry Girls
The Great British Baking Show

Co-Production With Global Distribution

Many global Netflix Originals, including some of Netflix’s most prominent and recognizable titles, can also be removed because the underlying distribution rights are owned elsewhere. The Night Agent is a great example of this. However, it’s a Netflix Original through and through; Sony Pictures Television owns the underlying rights. That means that Netflix keeps the show through the lifetime of the show, plus 10 years in this specific instance. Meaning if the show concluded with season 4 in 2027, it’ll remain on Netflix through 2037.

Another prominent example with plenty of removals thus far is the DreamWorks Television deal, where Netflix carries the shows for the lifetime of the show, plus a number of years after. Many of these DreamWorks titles have already left Netflix, and the rest will follow suit.

This also applies to revivals, too, where Netflix only came in later on and took over the show. Two great examples of this are Lucifer and Manifest, which Netflix picked up in their later seasons for exclusive release.

While this primarily covers TV shows, there are numerous instances of movies under similar deals that expire. Tyler Perry’s output on Netflix is a good example where Netflix funds them, but Perry gets the rights to his films, whether that be the likes of Straw or the Madea titles, 15 years after they were added to Netflix.

Other show or movie examples include:

Wednesday (MGM Television)
Ozark (MRC)
House of Cards (MRC)
Cobra Kai (Sony Pictures Television)
XO, Kitty (Paramount Television Studios)
The Lincoln Lawyer (A&E Studios)
F is for Family (Gaumont Television)
The Umbrella Academy (Universal Television)
Enola Holmes (Warner Bros.)

Acquisition with Global Distribution

In truth, this is only a slightly different variation on the co-production side of things and mainly applies to movies and documentaries, although there are a few instances where it also applies to series.

These are titles that were initially funded either independently or by another studio, and Netflix came along after the fact and picked up the rights for a set period. Sometimes this will be indefinite, but more often than not it’s for a fixed period, usually a few decades. Award-winning movies are probably the best example, with Train Dreams funded and released at Sundance before Netflix came in as a buyer and picked up the exclusive distribution rights for 20 years.

Other examples:

The Mitchells vs. The Machines
The Cloverfield Paradox
It’s What’s Inside

We hope this goes some way into explaining why Netflix Originals can and do depart Netflix. We’ve got the complete list of Netflix Original removals here.