Netflix is the world’s biggest streaming platform, responsible for global hits including Squid Game, Bridgerton and Adolescence.
But in recent months, the service has struggled to attract audiences to its latest releases, prompting some subscribers to seek their entertainment elsewhere.
As Netflix shares have plunged and the company works to bring in fresh customers, executives have announced sweeping changes. More than 1,000 jobs are being cut, while projects deemed to offer “zero financial return” are being scrapped.
The full list of projects facing cancellation remains unclear, but the restructuring is expected to have consequences for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Among those reportedly losing their positions are executives who helped bring With Love, Meghan to the platform and supported the Sussexes’ high-profile documentary series about their tensions with the Royal Family.
Netflix bosses are said to have concluded that audiences would not sign up specifically “to see a Meghan show”. The company is therefore expected to move away from expensive “royal-linked vanity projects” and concentrate on finding the next Stranger Things.
A Netflix insider said: “There is a huge restructuring. They had to make cuts as decisions were made that had zero financial return. I suspect that Harry and Meghan were part of that, because people are not going to subscribe to see a Meghan show.”
However, the Sussexes are not the only Netflix names to have struggled to hold viewers’ attention. Several series released this year have reportedly failed to deliver the audience figures expected of them.
Harry and Meghan are not the only Netflix stars facing an audience downturn, with several series released this year reportedly becoming costly flops.
Despite its impressive cast and largely positive reviews, Agatha Christie adaptation Seven Dials struggled to attract viewers after its January release (pictured: Mia McKenna Bruce).
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials – 19.89 million viewers
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials had a strong cast and received favourable reviews, yet the mystery series failed to generate significant viewing figures.
Adapted from Christie’s 1929 novel, the three-part drama featured Mia McKenna-Bruce as Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent, a young detective determined to unravel an enigmatic murder.
Helena Bonham Carter played her mother, Lady Caterham, while Martin Freeman appeared as Superintendent Battle in the murder mystery.
The show earned a respectable 71 per cent “fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes. Our News Outlet’s Christopher Stevens gave it a rare five-star review, describing the production as a “frightfully glorious romp”.
Even so, the limited series failed to win over everyone, with some viewers complaining that it was so slow it was “putting them to sleep”.
Fewer than 20 million people watched Seven Dials during its first two weeks on Netflix, highlighting the gap between critical praise and audience demand.
Virgin River (Season 7) – 16.5 million viewers
The seventh season of Virgin River recorded a 12 per cent fall in viewership, attracting 16.5 million views during its first two weeks (pictured: Martin Henderson and Alexandra Breckenridge).
Premiering in 2019, Virgin River follows Mel, played by Alexandra Breckenridge, as she leaves Los Angeles to begin a new chapter in the rural community of the same name.
The sixth season ended on a cliffhanger, with Mel and her partner Jack, played by Martin Henderson, hoping to realise their dream of adopting a baby.
Yet the resolution did not attract as many viewers as earlier instalments. Season seven suffered a 12 per cent decline, recording 16.5 million views in its first two weeks.
The series as a whole holds a 66 per cent popcornmeter (audience score) on Rotten Tomatoes, which slumped to 56 per cent for season seven.
Audience reviews stated: ‘An epitome of cliche. The writers of this series successfully gathered every formulaic soap opera situation you can think of and crammed it in.’
‘I’ve watched all 7 seasons because I got hooked—characters, scenery, actually some good acting on the part of key characters—but the show seems to be trying too hard in season seven.’
It remains to be seen if the upcoming season eight will be able to win back viewers, having been renewed well ahead of the season seven premiere back in July 2025.
The early renewal meant that Virgin River is now Netflix’s longest-running scripted English-language live-action series, surpassing Grace and Frankie and Orange Is the New Black.
Finding Her Edge (Season 1) – 14 million viewers
Canadian teen drama series Finding Her Edge was released in January to plenty of hype but failed it pick up viewers (pictured: Cale Ambrozic and Madelyn Keys)
Canadian teen drama series Finding Her Edge was one of the first new releases of 2026, being released in January to plenty of hype.
Adapted from Jennifer Iacopelli’s novel of the same name, the series starred Madelyn Keys as Adrianna, a competitive ice skater from a dynastic family, who embarks on a budding romance with her new on-ice partner Brayden (Cale Ambrozic).
However, things are complicated by the fact she still has feelings for her ex-boyfriend and former ice partner Freddie, played by Olly Atkin.
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Finding Her Edge holds a high 87 per cent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes when it comes to critic reviews, however, it drops down to just a 50 per cent audience rating on the popcornmeter.
Regardless, Netflix seems to have faith in the series, having renewed the show for a second season shortly after its debut.
Season two is currently in production and slated to be released on the streaming platform in 2027.
Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen (Miniseries) – 13.32 million viewers
Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen was highly publicised given the Duffer Brothers were serving as executive producers, yet only received 13 million views (pictured: Camila Morrone)
Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen received plenty of hype when it was released, yet this failed to translate to viewership.
The mini-series was highly publicised given that Stranger Things’ bosses the Duffer Brothers were serving as executive producers, yet ultimately only received 13 million views.
Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen launched on March 26, starring Camila Morrone and Adam DiMarco in lead roles.
The pair played engaged couple Rachel and Nicky – who soon face a harrowing obstacle to their upcoming nuptials.
The cast also included Oscar-nominated actress Jennifer Jason Leigh as Victoria, Nicky’s mother.
Meanwhile, Silence of the Lambs star Ted Levine – aka Buffalo Bill – portrayed Nicky’s father, Boris.
The series was a hit with critics, earning an 84 per cent tomatometer score, although audiences weren’t as enthusiastic, with 63 per cent on the popcornmeter.
While the show was pitched as a mini-series, showrunner Hayley has expressed an interest in continuing the story, saying it ‘would be a great opportunity’.
She added to Variety: ‘I’ve thought about the show as a potential anthology, and whatever that next existential fear is, I’d need to figure out what to explore there.’
Netflix has not announced any plans to renew the show.
Vladimir (Limited Series) – 8.6 million viewers
Billed as a limited series, Netflix has not announced any plans to renew Vladimir yet the standalone didn’t pull in many viewers (pictured: Leo Woodall and Rachel Weisz)
Based on Julia May Jonas’ novel of the same name, Vladimir followed the story of a professor (Rachel Weisz) who develops an obsession with a younger colleague (Leo Woodall).
The limited series earned a 75 per cent fresh tomatometer rating, while Our News Outlet’s critic Deborah Ross gave the series a five-star rating, calling it a ‘spellbinding, sexually-charged romp’ and ‘the best performance of Rachel Weisz’s career’.
She wrote: ‘Vladimir is a darkly comic exploration of desire, told in eight snappy episodes (each under 30 minutes), that is so sly and incisive and delicious I wish I hadn’t seen it so I could come new to it again.
‘As for its star, Rachel Weisz, this may be the best she has ever been. You will, I swear, be mesmerised, spellbound, transfixed, plus all the other synonyms in the thesaurus that could equally be deployed. (Riveted, that’s another one).’
Conversely, the audience popcornmeter was a disappointing 55 per cent.
One viewer shared their thoughts: ‘A mixed bag. Love the humour and Rachel Weisz is brilliant. But the plot becomes a bit meh as it goes on.’
Billed as a limited series, Netflix has not announced any plans to renew the show.
Free Bert (Season 1) – 7.93 million views
While it was received well by critics and viewers, Free Bert – a fictionalsed version of Bert Kreischer’s life – ended up not having much pull (pictured: Arden Myrin and Bert)
While it was received well by critics and viewers, Free Bert ended up not having much pull.
The series starred comedian Bert Kreischer playing a fictionalised version of himself as he moved his family to Beverly Hills to enrol his children in an exclusive private school.
Bert’s unfiltered personality quickly rubs his neighbours up the wrong way, however, making the Kreischer family social outcasts in their new neighbourhood.
Critics and viewers were aligned in their thoughts, with Free Bert racking up 71 per cent on the tomatometer and 70 per cent on the popcornmeter.
Free Bert has been renewed for a second season, with Netflix noting it will be filmed in Atlanta, where Stranger Things was shot.
Showrunners Jarrad Paul and Andy Mogel said of the news: ‘We’re incredibly grateful to Netflix for believing in this show and giving us the chance to continue the freeing of Bert.’
