Netflix has made a name for itself for being absolutely ruthless when it comes to cancelling series. If something is underperforming, the company won’t think twice about dropping it. That goes for popular, critically acclaimed shows too.
The recent cancellation sprees at Netflix only provide more evidence for the fact that, in today’s market, franchises are the safest bet. It explains why companies are so keen to make spinoffs of their highest-performing titles.
Franchise Extensions Often Represent the Safest Option
The idea of following up a successful piece of entertainment with a sequel or spinoff has been going on for decades. However, since the surge in online entertainment platforms, it has risen to another level. Now, everywhere you look, you can find content that has come about thanks to the success of an earlier original.
The online casino market, where there are numerous booming franchises, illustrates this perfectly. For instance, after playing other Big Bass games, players may want to find out where to play Big Bass Splash online, which is another offering in the successful series. All the games capture the same whimsical essence of the original Big Bass Bonanza, but offer different features and mechanics. By providing a range of games, developer Pragmatic Play has countless ways to attract new players. It also proves how a winning formula can easily be adapted into new titles.
In the television market, spinoffs have become the norm and are almost expected if something is a hit. Netflix has always aimed to extend its best-performing shows, with the likes of Money Heist, Stranger Things, and The Witcher all getting the spinoff treatment. Not only is this a safe bet for attracting viewers, but it also helps to keep winning franchises alive for longer.
Netflix Doesn’t Think Twice About Cancelling Underperforming Originals
Part of Netflix’s immense success over the years has been its careful attention to metrics and use of data to decide which shows to go ahead with and which ones to axe. A lot of the time, the company’s decisions shock viewers, especially when series have been popular.
For example, in 2024, Jeff Goldblum’s turn as Zeus in Kaos was met with five-star reviews, and audiences loved it. Despite being described by some as a masterpiece, Netflix simply saw that the numbers weren’t good enough and dropped it from its lineup. There’s been a recent cancellation spree at the company as well, which has seen it bin at least 30 titles as of August 2026.
One standout offering was The Boroughs, which was produced by the Duffer Brothers and billed as the next big sci-fi. In fact, there were even discussions about filming seasons two and three back-to-back. However, those plans were scrapped after it underperformed and became another Netflix original relegated to history.
Even though this ruthlessness may upset some viewers, it means that Netflix can produce a lot of content and give itself a better chance of striking gold. There are plenty of originals that go on to have great success, and then these are the ones that become massive franchises. However, the numbers don’t lie, and they show why studios are keen to explore franchise extensions before turning to originals.
