We don’t blame you if you haven’t spent the summer binge-watching, but autumn is on its way, and Netflix’s sizable catalog will be changing with the leaves. Unfortunately, the site isn’t exactly upfront about what’s leaving and what’s coming—to get that info, we had to do a bit of digging.
Here’s a rundown of what’s on the way, along with a list of the best films and TV shows leaving Netflix over the next few months. The next time you think that there’s nothing left to watch, check here; we’ll help you find something while you’re waiting for the popcorn to finish popping.
BoJack Horseman: Season 5—Available on September 14
Everyone’s favorite anthropomorphic horse actor is back, and so is his massive depression. Presumably. The last season ended with a rare glimpse of positivity, but let’s be honest: If BoJack made peace with his demons, would we still stick around for the new season? What fun would it be to watch a horse meditate, do pilates, and drink wheatgrass smoothies?
https://youtu.be/GRZSGAZ403g
Either way, we’re excited about what’s in store for BoJack, Princess Carolyn, Diane, and the rest of the gang in season 5. Things can’t really get much worse than they have been…can they?
The Dragon Prince: Season 2—Available on September 14
The second series of The Dragon Prince will continue to follow the story of two princes as they attempt to unite their kingdoms. There’s elvish assassins, dragons, and jelly tarts.
With beautiful computer animation and flawless voice acting, The Dragon Prince should please fans of plot-driven animated shows. It’s written by Aaron Ehasz, the head writer of Avatar: The Last Airbender (the show, not the awful M. Night Shyamalan movie). If that doesn’t get you excited, you either haven’t seen Avatar: The Last Airbender, or this show simply isn’t for you.
Iron Fist: Season 2—Available on September 7
Danny Rand is back to redeem himself. So are the showrunners of Iron Fist. Critical consensus on the first season hasn’t been kind, and even Jessica Jones herself made fun of the guy on Twitter.
Captain Jazz Hands has moves. https://t.co/O33XsIhwFN
— Jessica Jones (@JessicaJones) May 6, 2017
And don’t even get us started on his role in The Defenders.
The pressure is on. Luckily, the Netflix Marvel Universe (which is roughly the size of Hell’s Kitchen, for the most part) has a great history. Luke Cage and Jessica Jones are going strong. The Punisher and Daredevil still make for some of the most compelling television ever streamed. We’ve got high hopes for this one.
Sierra Burgess is a Loser—Available on September 7
This Netflix Original film retells the Cyrano de Bergerac story through the lens of a bunch of high school students, but that’s not why everyone will be talking about it when it drops on September 7. That honor goes to the movie’s young star, Shannon Purser, best known for her meme-ready turn as Barb on Stranger Things.
Yep, Barb is back. Except not really. But that’s what people will be saying, and if you hope to keep up with the water-cooler talk come September 8, you’d better watch this one. If you have teenagers in the house, they’ll be watching. You might not be able to miss it.
The Land of Steady Habits—Available on September 14
Based on the novel of the same name, The Land of Steady Habits follows Anders Hill, a middle-aged man who decides to force his own mid-life crisis. He leaves his wife, gets a condo, then realizes that he’s in over his head.
The film will star Ben Mendelsohn (Bloodline), Edie Falco (The Sopranos), and Thomas Mann (Kong: Skull Island), among others. It was directed by Nicole Holofcener, a former student of Martin Scorsese. Previously, Holofcener worked on Parks and Recreation, One Mississippi, and Orange is the New Black, but The Land of Steady Habits will be her first feature film since 2013’s Enough Said.
Maniac: Season 1—Available on September 21
Jonah Hill and Emma Stone star in this dark-comedy mini-series set in a mental institution. The 10 episodes will reportedly follow Stone and Hill’s characters through bizarre fantasy worlds while they undergo treatment.
Maniac will reunite Hill and Stone, who previously co-starred in Superbad. However, this mini-series will have a starkly different tone than the 2007 coming-of-age comedy. Other members of the cast include Justin Theroux, best known for his role in HBO’s The Leftovers, and Sally Field, an Oscar-winning actor best known for Forrest Gump and Steel Magnolias. Given the strong cast, Maniac seems like a surefire hit, but we’ll find out when all 10 episodes drop simultaneously on Sept. 21.
The Good Cop: Season 1—Available on September 21
We could all use a little more Tony Danza, right?
At first glance, this seems to be a pretty by-the-numbers cop drama. A “plays-by-his-own-rules” cop (Tony Danza) joins up with his good-cop son (Josh Groban) to fight crime. The curveball is, of course, Tony Danza.
We’re curious to see whether he’s still got his comedic chops, but even if he doesn’t, Groban should pick up some of the slack. It’s from the creator of Monk, so we’re cautiously optimistic. In any case, from the trailer, Tony Danza looks to be in great shape—for some reason, that makes us happy.
Private Life—Available on September 21
With a terrific cast and a 94 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Private Life looks to be one of Netflix’s best September additions. It stars Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti as a couple who are desperately trying to have their first child. After dealing with failed fertility treatments and fruitless adoption attempts, they’re out of options—until a college dropout (Kayli Carter) provides some hope.
As critics have noted, Private Life lives up to its name with its intimate treatment of a very difficult subject. It’s also fairly funny, but its well-written characters and excellent performances are the real draws.
Hilda: Season 1—Available on September 21
Based on the excellent children’s books of author Luke Pearson, Hilda will feature the voice talents of Bella Ramsey (who you might know as Lyanna Mormont from HBO’s Game of Thrones).
She’ll play the title character, a blue-haired girl who travels to an imaginative realm of elves, giants, and trolls. Netflix’s kids shows have been hit or miss, but we’ve got high hopes for this one, given the strong source material. It’s intended for viewers aged 5-7, and early test footage indicates that its animators know what they’re doing.
Hold the Dark—Available on September 28
Hold the Dark is the story of a writer who’s hired by a family to track down their missing son. It’s also the story of a guy who hunts man-eating wolves, but it’s quite a bit more complicated than that. We don’t want to give away any of the plot twists, but if you’re a fan of tense, character-driven action movies, you’ll probably want to give this a look.
It’s directed by Jeremy Saulnier, whose previous film, Green Room, was lauded as one of the best thrillers of 2015. That film starred the late Anton Yelchin in his final role, and while it’s not available on Netflix, you can find it on Amazon here.
Apostle—Available on October 12
Written by Gareth Evans (director of The Raid and the Safe Haven segment of V/H/S/2), this period drama is set in 1905. A man named Thomas Richardson (Dan Stevens) travels to an island to try to free his sister from the clutches of a sinister cult. The film’s official description notes, “Apostle is a harrowing occult fable where the only thing more horrifying than madness is the sinister reality behind it.”
While Evans’ other films have been straightforward horror-action films, Apostle will be less violent. Per horror site Bloody Disgusting, it’s currently scheduled for release on October 12, although Netflix hasn’t officially announced that date.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: Season 1—Available on October 26
Hey, ’90s kids, remember Sabrina, The Teenage Witch? She’s back…sort of…not really.
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will follow the titular witch and her talking cat, but it’s not the lighthearted romp you remember from your childhood. Kiernan Shipka (known for her role on Mad Men) will play Sabrina in the teen drama, which will be significantly darker and moodier than its predecessor.
All 10 episodes of “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” will premiere October 26. #CAOS @sabrinanetflix pic.twitter.com/sFvY9409uP
— Netflix Queue (@netflixqueue) July 29, 2018
The series’ creator is Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who previously brought Riverdale to the CW. That show, of course, is a darker take on the Archie comics, and Sabrina comes from the same comic universe. Don’t expect any crossovers, however—while these shows will undoubtedly share a few similarities, they’re on separate networks.
House of Cards: Season 6—Available on November 2
The final season of one of Netflix’s early originally produced winners will focus on Robin Wright’s character, the notorious Claire Underwood. That’s just as well. She was always a compelling presence in the story, and it is both fitting and exciting that she’ll get her share of the spotlight after five seasons playing second fiddle.
Wright and everyone else in the production remain pretty tight-lipped about what this season has in store for Claire. We’ll just have to find out when the new season drops this November.
The Other Side of the Wind—Available on November 2
Film snobs, you can no longer say that Netflix never did anything for you. The Other Side of the Wind was shot by Orson Welles between 1970 and 1976, but never completed; over the past four-plus decades, legal issues have prevented it from being completed. It’s a satirical mockumentary in both color and black-and-white, and it spoofs the career of Michelangelo Antonioni.
With that said, you don’t need an intimate familiarity with Italian cinema to appreciate this lost masterpiece. Critics who’ve seen rough cuts rank it with Welles’ best works, and the Netflix version will be the first complete cut released to the public.
Outlaw King—November 9
It’s like Netflix is setting out to systematically conquer every movie and television drama ever conceived, all through its strong and growing lineup of original content. Now, we come to their entry in the period drama genre. It will succeed because of at least two things: Chris and Pine.
This film follows Robert the Bruce, who you might remember as the supporting character to Mel Gibson’s William Wallace in Braveheart. History tells a different story. In fact, Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, went to war against the English crown at the turn of the 14th century. What happened next? Well, you won’t find any 700-year-old spoilers here. You’ll have to check out Outlaw King when it drops November 9.
The Kominsky Method: Season 1—November 16
This Netflix Original dramedy unites Hollywood legends to tell a purely Hollywood story. Chuck Lorre ruled the sitcom scene of the 2010s; he produced classics like Dharma & Greg, The Big Bang Theory, and Grace Under Fire. He is also responsible for Two and a Half Men.
Anyway, Lorre is bringing the star power of Michael Douglas to this tale of a has-been actor turned esteemed acting teacher. That’s where the concept of the “Kominsky Method” comes in, since the guy is named Kominsky, just FYI.
Given the shared credentials of the folks who put this show together, it’s bound to be a major moment in streaming history. Be there to see it…well, not live, since it’s streaming…but whatever analog to broadcast TV gives you the same sense of participation.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Season 1—November 16
Personal anecdote: Upon hearing the credits song from the original She Ra: Princess of Power series of the 1980s, this kid we once knew toddled up to his busy mother and announced, “I know what the most powerful power is. It’s the power of love.”
https://youtu.be/E6BJTCFtKPU
If we were that mother, we would have promptly burned the television. Instead, here we are again, with a reboot of the classic tale of He-Man’s twin sister (although it’s unclear if there even is a He-Man in the reboot, which is probably a good choice, thematically). She’s not a princess this time, either—the new children’s show centers around an orphan girl. But the sword still turns her into She-Ra, inveterate enemy of evil.
That kid we once knew was wrong about the most powerful power. It’s not love. It’s nostalgia.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs—November 16
Because everything the Coen Brothers decide is right and brilliant, they chose to make an anthology Western film starring a Gleeson and a Neeson, and they chose to release it on Netflix. The date of this major streaming event is approaching; in fact, you can find it right up there, in the subhead.
Why is this a big deal? Well, the Coen Brothers have already proven their Western-genre bona fides in No Country for Old Men and True Grit. Plus, see the previous paragraph; these folks made The Big Lebowski and Raising Arizona. And that’s not just, like, our opinion, man. The Coen Brothers abide.
Bleach—Leaving Netflix in September 2018
Bad news for anime fans: Netflix is reportedly dropping Bleach—or at least, the first three seasons that are on Netflix—in September. That doesn’t leave you much time to binge the initial adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki and the soul reaper Rukia Kuchiki and the Soul Society arc (which was good enough to rope millions into watching the progressively worse 13 seasons that followed it).
Luckily, the episodes are only 23 minutes long, so even three seasons is bingeable…until you consider that these aren’t your standard 12-episode seasons. All three seasons run at least 20 episodes, so unless you have time to get through 60-plus episodes of this anime staple, you might have to find it somewhere other than Netflix.
Naruto—Leaving Netflix in September 2018
Remember that bad news for anime fans from just a second ago? Well, it gets worse. Netflix-watchers are saying that Naruto is on its way out, too. That’s a deep blow to those of us who grew up with the young ninja with his spirit demon.
Like Bleach, Netflix hosted the first three seasons of Naruto, although it includes a chunk of what is technically season 4. Altogether, you only have until September to watch a whopping 156 episodes of this adventure classic. It doesn’t matter that the episodes are 23 minutes long when you’ve got more than 150 of them; time to clear the calendar for the weekend. Of course, you could always skip the filler and enjoy the measly 127 canon episodes.
The Assets—Leaving Netflix in September 2018
Mark this one down as a strong maybe. Sources do say that Netflix is dropping The Assets, a Cold War suspense mini-series based on real events, in September. But sometimes Netflix ends up making last-minute renewal decisions. There’s one reason why you might expect them to hang on to The Assets: It stars Jodie Whittaker.
If you’ve been following the story of the world’s first female doctor of Doctor Who, you recognize that name. Whittaker will portray the 13th Doctor in the BBC show’s 11th season, which is set to drop sometime this fall. It’s a safe bet that people will get interested in Whittaker, making this a strange time to lose The Assets.
On the other hand, maybe whoever controls the rights for the show jacked up the price to stream when Whittaker got the Doctor job…If only we had a TARDIS, we’d tell you more.
Egypt—Leaving Netflix in September 2018
This TV docudrama transports viewers back to the early days of European Egyptology, when folks like Howard Carter and Giovanni Belzoni explored the pyramids and found stuff like the Rosetta Stone.
It’s a BBC production with surprisingly decent reviews. Rather than a cheap, daytime-TV crime recreation-type show, it’s apparently well-written with excellent acting. There isn’t much time left to see for yourself; this thing is leaving Netflix like an Egyptian mummy illegally shipped out of the country to a foreign museum.
Ocean Giants—Leaving Netflix in September 2018
Go up close and personal with some of the seas’ greatest creatures, and we don’t mean that as a judgement value; we’re talking great size. They’re also pretty great creatures, though, so we actually mean “great” in every sense of the word here.
Ocean Giants is a nature documentary that takes us into undersea worlds to meet whales and dolphins, including humpback and blue whales. Across three 50-ish-minute episodes, viewers learn how smart these creatures are, and get to hear their calls and vocalizations. But this whale of a series is swimming away in September, so act fast if you want to get your feet wet.
So Awkward—Leaving Netflix in September 2018
Teenagers really responded to the CBBC program So Awkward, which makes it pretty awkward that Netflix is reportedly pulling it in September. The show follows a trio of typically uncomfortable 13-year-olds as they try to get through just even a single moment without terrible embarrassment and deep, abiding social shame. You know, 13-year olds.
Anyway, Netflix currently only offers the second season, so maybe it’s not that much of a loss to see it go. Or maybe we’re being typical adults, who don’t understand the youth any more than we pretend to take them seriously.
Coco—Leaving Netflix on November 29
If you haven’t caught this Disney/Pixar instant classic, plan to stream it before it crosses over into the afterlife of Netflix. The animated film tells the story of Miguel, a music-loving kid with a deep family secret.
This film is visually stunning, and the Dia de los Muertos imagery is macabre without being scary, just like the holiday itself. This film won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film the year it came out (which was 2017). It earned another Oscar for Best Original Song.
Check it out before it’s too late—or, at least, you have to stream it somewhere other than Netflix, which is a kind of little demise of its own.
