The 20 Most Overhyped Netflix Series That Crashed and Burned

Netflix has become a leader in streaming by creating a huge collection of original shows and movies. They spend billions of dollars each year to attract well-known actors and develop large-scale series designed to appeal to viewers worldwide. However, this ambitious approach doesn’t always succeed, and sometimes even heavily promoted shows fail to attract an audience or receive positive reviews. The following series were highly anticipated, but ultimately didn’t live up to expectations in terms of quality or lasting popularity.

‘Hemlock Grove’ (2013–2015)

This horror series was among the first original shows created by the streaming service. Starring Famke Janssen and Bill Skarsgård, it told a story about eerie events in a small town in Pennsylvania. However, critics quickly disliked the show, finding its plot confusing and focusing too much on cheap scares. Despite consistently negative reviews and low ratings, it lasted for three seasons. The series is remembered as a sign of the platform’s growing pains as it began creating more of its own content.

‘The Irregulars’ (2021)

This show was a supernatural take on the Sherlock Holmes stories, reimagining them through the eyes of a group of street kids. While the advertising emphasized the connection to the classic detective to attract mystery lovers, viewers felt it strayed too far from the original Conan Doyle tales and didn’t capture their spirit. Netflix quickly cancelled the series after its launch because not enough people continued watching. Ultimately, it didn’t succeed in bringing a fresh, young adult perspective to a well-known story that’s in the public domain.

‘Chambers’ (2019)

Uma Thurman led this horror drama, which centered around a woman who began to change after receiving a heart transplant, seemingly taking on characteristics of the donor. While the idea was interesting and having a well-known actress like Thurman promised a high-quality show, viewers found the story moved too slowly and the ending wasn’t worth the ten-episode commitment. The show didn’t attract enough attention online or in terms of viewership to warrant another season, and it was quickly canceled – becoming another unsuccessful attempt by the streaming platform to create a popular supernatural thriller.

‘Away’ (2020)

This science fiction drama starred Hilary Swank and followed humanity’s first journey to Mars. While the show had stunning visuals and aimed for a heartwarming feel to attract many viewers, it was criticized for unrealistic details and overly emotional storylines. These issues, combined with the show’s high production costs and low ratings, led to its cancellation after only one season. It’s often used as an example of how a famous actor isn’t enough to guarantee a show’s success if the story isn’t strong.

‘Disjointed’ (2017–2018)

The new comedy series brought together veteran sitcom creator Chuck Lorre and acclaimed actress Kathy Bates, set in a marijuana shop. Despite the impressive talent involved, the show didn’t live up to expectations. Critics found it relied too heavily on old-fashioned tropes and awkwardly mixed serious scenes with canned laughter. The series never quite found its footing with viewers and was canceled after two seasons, marking a rare misstep for both its creator and star.

‘Girlboss’ (2017)

This comedy series was based on the popular memoir by Sophia Amoruso and executive produced by Charlize Theron. It was promoted as a bold and inspiring story about creating a fashion empire from the ground up. However, many viewers struggled to connect with the main character and found the show’s humor fell flat during its first season. The series was quickly cancelled, which happened around the same time the real company it was based on filed for bankruptcy. It’s a good example of how turning a popular book into a TV show doesn’t always work.

‘Gypsy’ (2017)

Naomi Watts played a therapist who gets deeply involved in her patients’ lives in this suspenseful thriller. The show was advertised as a dramatic and thought-provoking series for mature viewers. However, critics found the story’s slow speed and unbelievable twists hindered its progress. Despite Watts’s involvement, the series wasn’t renewed for another season and became one of the network’s fastest-canceled high-profile dramas.

‘Cursed’ (2020)

As a fantasy fan, I was really excited about this show! It was a new take on the Arthurian legend, focusing on Nimue, and with Frank Miller involved, plus Katherine Langford as the lead, it had a lot of buzz. Sadly, it just didn’t live up to the hype. The writing felt really familiar – nothing that made it stand out – and the special effects were pretty uneven. It was cancelled after only one season, leaving a lot of storylines hanging, which was a huge disappointment. It felt like they were trying to jump on the bandwagon of popular fantasy shows after others had ended, but it just didn’t quite work.

‘Marco Polo’ (2014–2016)

This streaming service tried to compete with cable TV by making a grand, expensive historical drama about a well-known explorer. When it first came out, it cost more to produce than almost any other TV show. While the show looked stunning with its beautiful filming and detailed costumes, viewers thought the story moved too slowly. The show lost a lot of money and was canceled after just two seasons, serving as a warning that spending a lot on a show doesn’t guarantee people will watch it.

‘The Get Down’ (2016–2017)

Baz Luhrmann’s musical drama told the story of hip-hop’s beginnings in the South Bronx during the 1970s. However, the show faced numerous delays and its budget quickly grew out of control, making it one of the most costly productions ever. Although the show’s visuals were well-received, its complicated storyline and long episodes turned some viewers away. Ultimately, it was cancelled after only half a season because not enough people were watching to cover the high costs. The series remains a bold attempt, but one that wasn’t financially viable for the platform.

‘Space Force’ (2020–2022)

This comedy series brought together Steve Carell and Greg Daniels, the creators of ‘The Office,’ to poke fun at a new branch of the military. While fans were excited about the show’s creators, critics found the humor wasn’t sharp enough and the show’s style was inconsistent. Despite a major revamp for the second season, it wasn’t renewed and is generally considered a letdown, especially considering the talented people involved.

‘Troy: Fall of a City’ (2018)

This BBC co-production aimed to present a raw and realistic take on the Trojan War. However, it received criticism for its writing and for changing many details from the original story. Many viewers found the dialogue weak and the characters’ journeys unmoving. The show was poorly received by audiences, as reflected in its low ratings, and quickly faded into obscurity.

‘Marvel’s Iron Fist’ (2017–2018)

The fourth series in Marvel’s grittier, more mature corner of the cinematic universe was intended to finish assembling ‘The Defenders’ team. However, the first season received harsh reviews, with critics citing a sluggish pace and poorly executed fight scenes. Even before it launched, choices regarding casting and the storyline caused disagreement and discussion among fans. Although a second season tried to fix the issues, the damage to the show’s reputation was already done. Its cancellation ultimately signaled the breakdown of the collaboration between Marvel and the streaming platform.

‘The I-Land’ (2019)

This sci-fi miniseries centers on a group of people who find themselves stranded on an island with no recollection of who they are or how they got there. While promoted with hype suggesting a complex mystery – some even compared the rollout to the Fyre Festival – the show was widely panned by both critics and viewers. Many found the plot confusing and the acting unconvincing. It’s become notorious for being among the worst-reviewed original series ever made and is frequently mentioned when people talk about poorly written TV shows of recent years.

‘Blockbuster’ (2022)

The show’s biggest draw was the humorous contrast of a streaming service creating a comedy about a struggling video rental store. While Randall Park and Melissa Fumero starred, the show couldn’t overcome its predictable workplace jokes. Many viewers felt the nostalgic elements weren’t handled well and the comedy wasn’t as witty as other shows of its kind. It was quickly cancelled after failing to attract a large audience, becoming a fitting symbol of the streaming service effectively ending the legacy of its former rival.

‘Jupiter’s Legacy’ (2021)

This superhero show was meant to be the first major series produced after the company bought Millarworld. It cost roughly two hundred million dollars to make just one season, but critics disliked the low-quality costumes and found the frequent flashbacks boring and drawn-out. The show was cancelled quickly, just weeks after it began airing, and led to significant changes in the plans for future projects. Ultimately, it’s remembered as one of the most costly single-season failures ever on television.

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (2021)

The new live-action series, based on a beloved anime, faced a lot of both excitement and doubt. Many longtime fans disliked the changes in mood and felt the show’s visuals were an exaggerated imitation of the original. Viewers also found the connection between the main actors wasn’t strong enough to save a weak script. As a result, Netflix cancelled the series just under a month after it launched, following a significant decrease in viewership. This failure adds to the common belief that it’s very challenging to successfully turn anime into live-action shows.

‘Resident Evil’ (2022)

This TV show, based on a well-known video game series, tried to weave a story across two time periods. However, it strayed so far from the game’s original story that longtime fans were turned off right away. Viewers in general didn’t like the focus on teenage relationships and found the rules of the show’s post-apocalyptic world confusing. Ratings dropped quickly after the first week, and the show was soon cancelled. Most people consider it one of the worst adaptations in the entire franchise.

‘Queen Cleopatra’ (2023)

Before it even premiered, Jada Pinkett Smith’s docudrama became the center of international debate due to its casting. The discussion about how accurately it portrayed history ended up dominating conversations about the story itself, and led to a flood of negative reviews online. Many critics felt the reenactments were low-quality and the historical insights weren’t backed up by strong research. The series received some of the worst ratings ever seen on popular review sites, demonstrating that creating controversy doesn’t guarantee a show will be well-received or successful in the long run.

‘The Witcher: Blood Origin’ (2022)

This new series aimed to build on the story of the popular fantasy world, but fans didn’t like it. They felt it ignored previously established details and was written in a very basic way. Many also thought the show looked cheaper than the main series, and the visual effects weren’t up to par. As a result, few people watched, and the show received mostly negative reviews. This ultimately hurt the franchise’s reputation and made people question whether future spin-offs would be successful.

Tell us which of these series disappointed you the most in the comments.

2025-11-26 01:46