Top 20 Biggest Netflix FAILURES

Chuck Lorre is the master of the sitcom, but he couldn’t make it work with “Disjointed.” Released at a time when marijuana laws were relaxing, “Disjointed” is all about the substance. Kathy Bates plays Ruth Feldman, the stoner owner of an L.A. dispensary. Sometimes the show is a workplace comedy, other times it’s a thinly veiled pamphlet on how awesome the plant is. Between the bad jokes, the sitcom tackles misconceptions about the substance, relays its long history, and touts its medical benefits. Basically, “Disjointed” seems to have been made by committee to cash in on the growing weed craze of the time. It received terrible reviews and was canceled after one season.

Now that we think about it, a lot of Netflix projects are probably made by committee to cash in on crazes. The actual United States Space Force was founded in December 2019, and the show was released about five months later. It really should have been a hit, with the topicality of the real Space Force and massive names like Steve Carell, John Malkovich, and co-creator Greg Daniels. Unfortunately, the show failed to launch. Reception was quite poor, with critics singling out its lazy satire and messy tonal inconsistencies. The involvement of Daniels also raised expectations way too high, considering he developed and co-created “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation,” respectively. “Space Force” ain’t them. Not by a long shot.

On July 21, 2017, a movie called “Girls Trip” was released theatrically. It starred Regina Hall, scored 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, and grossed over $140 million. Three weeks later, another Hall project called “Naked,” which bombed and scored 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, came out. Oh the fickle nature of Hollywood. An American remake of a Swedish comedy, “Naked” stars Marlon Wayans as Rob Anderson, a nude man stuck in a time loop on his wedding day. The premise is certainly fun, but the movie lets it down in every conceivable way with a weak script and lame attempts at comedy. Let’s just watch “Groundhog Day” again. Or “Girls Trip.” Or the original Swedish film. Anything, really.

By the mid-2010s, it seemed like superhero fare could do no wrong - especially if it belonged to the MCU. Well, “Iron Fist” proved that theory wrong. This was the fourth Marvel show released by Netflix, and it was undoubtedly the worst. It was a disaster from the start, with white English actor Finn Jones being cast in the lead role. This led to accusations of whitewashing, which the character’s co-creator publicly and controversially rebuked. The show itself was also a massive letdown, with bad pacing, bad writing, and bad fight choreography - a major no-no when it comes to a story centered around martial arts. “Iron Fist” was trashed by critics and MCU fans alike and was canceled after two seasons.

How many times are we going to do the “friends going about their lives in New York” thing? That’s the question many were surely asking when “Friends from College” was released. This comedy follows a group of 40-something-year-old pals in New York who navigate life, jobs, friendships, relationships - we know, yaaaawn. The series was widely criticized for its lack of originality, and while the characters were played by talented actors, they were deeply, deeply unlikable. And not in a fun “Succession” sort of way. The inferior quality made us want to watch other, and far greater, “friends living in New York” shows, and Netflix quietly let this one go after two seasons.

Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot all in the same movie!? How could this go wrong? We don’t know, but it did. “Red Notice” certainly wasn’t a disaster, and did well enough to warrant two upcoming sequels. That’s the star power of the core trio at work. But the movie itself is a huge disappointment, considering the incredible talents both behind and in front of the cameras. It received a surprisingly lukewarm reception, with many people criticizing its trope-filled script, bad action scenes, and thin character work. It’s fun enough for a lazy Sunday afternoon, and it was certainly successful enough, but everyone was expecting more.

Many people will never forgive Netflix for what they did to “Death Note.” The manga is enormously popular and the anime has received universal praise, acting as a shining example of “short but sweet.” And then came the live-action Netflix adaptation. To say that it was received poorly by fans of the manga would be a massive understatement. Virtually everything about the film was compared negatively to its source, including the complexity of the characters, the lack of moral ambiguity, the significant plot deviations, and the whitewashing of the cast. The backlash eventually got so bad and so heated that director Adam Wingard was forced to delete his Twitter account.

When it was announced that Netflix would be bringing back “Arrested Development,” the world let out a collective cheer. When we saw what they did with it, it was a collective groan. The original three Fox seasons are undeniable classics of television comedy. Season four, however, is a major swing and a miss. Many criticized the bizarre narrative structure of the season, as it eliminated the ensemble dynamic we’d come to love to focus on individual character stories. It was a risk, and it didn’t pay off. The fifth season brought the gang back together, but like a high school reunion, the chemistry wasn’t the same. The great Netflix revival was a disappointment overall, and “Arrested Development” ended again after season five.

Remember that “Resident Evil” show that Netflix did? That’s OK, few people do. Released in July of 2022, this was the second franchise adaptation in just eight months, following the movie “Welcome to Raccoon City,” released the previous November. While the show received a mixed response from critics, it was viciously condemned by fans of the “Resident Evil” franchise. Criticisms ranged far and wide, and included general complaints centered around the acting, writing, and directing. There were also more specific ones taking aim at things like unlikable characters and the way the fun zombie-killing story was turned into a teenage soap opera. While the show debuted in the top ten in over 90 countries, it wasn’t successful enough to warrant a second season.

There’s a delicate balancing act required when writing dark sitcoms. Unfortunately, “Bad Samaritans” fails to toe that line. It’s about a group of people performing menial jobs for community service, but the result is more sad than enjoyable. Our “heroes” are people who start a forest fire (how funny!?), and they’re required to perform tasks like euthanizing dogs (hilarious — not!). Put simply, it wasn’t a very pleasant show, and it’s no surprise that it came and went without any significant attention. Not only was it quietly axed after one season, but it is no longer available on Netflix, having been pulled off the service some time ago.

Capitalizing on the American cultural landscape, Netflix produced a country-themed original with distinct characters. “The Ranch” examines family dynamics, with Sam Elliott playing the grizzled patriarch and Ashton Kutcher starring as the black sheep that strayed and returned home. Despite such an accomplished cast, the show was plagued by polarizing reviews, with many finding the characters, jokes, and narrative to be highly predictable. It also tried to blend comedy with hard-hitting family drama, but none of it really worked in the long run. And finally, “The Ranch” and its reputation was also marked by real-world issues, as Danny Masterson was accused of assault. He was fired, not appearing in the final three “parts.”

On paper, this Netflix Original seems like a winner. Will Arnett, known for “Arrested Development” and “BoJack Horseman,” is the creator, executive producer and star. He plays Chip, a Venice Beach native that’s trying to overcome his personal demons. Given the premise, many have noticed similarities to the popular Showtime series “Californication,” which also features a conflicted man living in Venice. Strong as the production values may be, including some direction from the Oscar-winning Wally Pfister, “Flaked” failed to impress critics, considering its plot holes and tendency towards melodrama. Plus, the average viewer could easily find weak spots in the storytelling and the lead character’s all-too-familiar traits.

In July 2016, “Stranger Things” immediately connected with viewers thanks to its charming cast and nostalgic style. One month later, Netflix dropped another youth-centric series, albeit with a much different budget and setting. Created by the iconic Baz Luhrmann, “The Get Down” examines the molding of culture and music in 1970s South Bronx. The series reportedly cost a whopping $120 million, making it one of the most expensive Netflix Originals of the time. The initial six episodes were mostly well received, but viewers, whose numbers were already lower than expected, were kept waiting eight months for the second half, further hurting the numbers. Given the disconnect, Netflix ultimately cut the cord.

Filmed at Denver’s Bellco Theatre, this stand-up special didn’t exactly break the bank in terms of production costs or anything, but it was depicted as a trainwreck by numerous media outlets. Amy Schumer’s crude brand of humor seemingly didn’t connect with many Netflix subscribers, most notably the far-right. According to various reports, a coordinated effort was actually made to lower the Netflix Original’s rating, resulting in a lengthy Instagram reaction from Schumer herself. Whether you agree with the largely positive reviews from critics or the naysayers and commenters online, the end result was the same for Netflix - a brutal rating and plenty of bad press.

Produced in Canada, this Netflix Original blends science fiction with teenage angst. There’s certainly a market for a series like “Between,” but the Netflix distribution deal didn’t prove to be a success with critics or subscribers. Former Nickelodeon actress Jennette McCurdy adds a certain amount of star power, but the story of Pretty Lake feels watered-down and bland when compared to more popular Netflix Originals, resulting in a 22% Rotten Tomatoes rating. After two seasons totaling 12 episodes, “Between” found itself relegated to a spot in television production limbo, eventually being considered dead.

As the platform’s first talk show, this Netflix Original broke new ground. Three episodes would air each week, featuring interviews between host Chelsea Handler and various celebrities. The star power is there, yet many fans and critics cite the bland conversation as a major flaw. In fact, “The New York Post” once published an article titled “Why is Chelsea Handler’s new show so awful?” Some viewers may have enjoyed the mix of edgy conversation and light-hearted topics, but the critics most definitely had issues with “Chelsea,” a series that seemingly bored more than it excited prior to its cancellation.

To tell an epic story, studios need an epic budget, and Netflix was willing to oblige in order to bring this historical drama to life. They reportedly spent $90 million on the first 10 episodes alone. Despite the quality production design, season one of “Marco Polo” didn’t impress critics. Season two delivered a notable bump in quality, but this Netflix Original inevitably flopped because of dollars and sense. All said and done, Netflix reportedly lost $200 million, a deficit from which the series couldn’t possibly bounce back. As a result, “Marco Polo” became the first Netflix Original series not to be renewed for a third season.

Unlike a TV series, films have no second season in which to mature and improve, meaning that when they fail, they can do it in truly spectacular fashion. “True Memoirs of an International Assassin” holds a 0 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating as of 2024, which some would argue is the film’s greatest feat. The screenplay itself received plenty of hype in the years leading up to production, but the filmmaking and acting failed to keep viewers engaged. Critics were generally scathing in their reviews. Furthermore, the film upset many Venezuelans for the negative depiction of their country, making it a true international failure.

During its initial run, this Netflix Original earned two Emmy nominations. The visual effects and “Hemlock Grove” theme music were praise-worthy, but critics otherwise picked the show apart, particularly the storytelling, with many citing the lack of focus and slow pace as the primary issues. Viewers may find value in the horror experience, as well as all the gore and comedy that come with it. But the series ultimately failed to reach its full potential, even with noted horror director Eli Roth serving as co-executive producer. Netflix put the final nail in the coffin after three seasons.

Adam Sandler’s brand of comedy has always been rather distinct. So when he signed a four-movie deal with Netflix in 2014, many subscribers knew what to expect. However, in addition to failing to deliver the laughs, “The Ridiculous 6” managed to disappoint in surprising ways with its lack of cultural sensitivity. Numerous Indigenous actors reportedly walked off set during the initial production. Despite the backlash and subsequent flops like “The Do-Over” and “Sandy Wexler,” Netflix extended Sandler’s deal in 2017. It would seem that Sandler’s Netflix Original films nonetheless deliver strong streaming numbers. Regardless, “The Ridiculous 6” was widely considered a colossal flop, at least cinematically and culturally speaking.

Did you enjoy any of these offerings, despite them flopping? Let us know in the comments below!