Netflix Boss Claims They’ve Never Cancelled a “Successful” Show

It’s not exactly a secret that Netflix is currently undergoing a very terse tightening of the metaphorical belt. – After years of throwing money at pretty much any half-baked idea, ultimately, with subscribers falling away in their millions, they’ve had to start turning their attention towards actually producing cost-effective shows rather than their prior policy of just throwing (again, metaphorical) sh*t at a wall and seeing what would stick.

Speaking in an interview via GameSpot, however, Netflix chief Ted Sarandos has said that despite much criticism over the years, they’ve never cancelled a “successful” show. And, in fairness, he’s probably right. Well, only if you use the words “successful” and “highly profitable” synonymously.

Netflix Defends Show Cancellations Saying Nothing “Successful” Ever Got Cut!

Now, in fairness, Netflix is a business. And, as every good business should, while a key focus has to be on giving its consumers what they want, the bottom line is, ultimately, the bottom line. They can’t make the shows some people want unless they’re the kind of shows that a lot of other people might also like.

With that being said, however, you do have to raise an eyebrow when he says, and quote, “We have never cancelled a successful show”. – Now, excluding shows that some may argue ran their course, here’s just a brief list of shows I know which were universally loved, by both critics and consumers, yet ended up getting the axe; Ozark, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Special, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and, of course, not to mention (perhaps most crucially) Stranger Things.

Yes, Netflix might argue the point that for as great as they were, not enough people watched these shows. And that’s a fair point. – On the other hand, however, what about the fact that if both critics and viewers loved them, maybe Netflix didn’t give them a big enough push? With the right kind of marketing and promotion, even the garbage they do occasionally tend to shove down our throats must get some solid attention!

Stranger Things though is perhaps the maddest one yet. This has undoubtedly been a huge hit, yet Netflix still decided to cancel it following the upcoming and concluding release of its 5th and final season. Yes, maybe the production was expensive, but I don’t believe for one second that Netflix was producing that show at a loss! – Then again, perhaps ending with a bang is better than a whimper. Well, to use a popular metaphor, before they “jump the shark”.

It’s a complicated one, but even if I might be wrong, somehow Netflix claiming that they never cancelled a “successful” show just feels disingenuous to me.

What do you think though? – Let us know in the comments!