Since launching original programming in 2013, Netflix has released a wide range of original titles. Although the streamer has scored major hits such as “Stranger Things” and “Squid Game,” it has also seen several notable high-profile failures.
Here are the biggest Netflix originals that missed the mark, providing insight into the challenges of producing compelling content at such a massive scale.
Atlas (2024)
‘Atlas,’ starring Jennifer Lopez, has been widely regarded as a critical flop. It holds a low 19% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 37, indicating a dismal reception from critics who criticized its lack of originality and poor writing. Despite its critical failure, the film managed to achieve significant viewership on Netflix.
The Electric State (2025)
Despite a massive $320 million budget and a star-studded cast (Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown), the film failed to attract a significant audience and quickly dropped out of the platform’s top rankings. Critically, it was panned, earning a dismal 15% on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers citing shallow writing, poor world-building, and a lack of emotional connection.
Bright (2017)
This fantasy crime film starring Will Smith and Joel Edgerton was intended to be the start of a new franchise, but it received poor reviews and failed to generate enough interest for a sequel.
The Midnight Club (2022)
At a hospice for terminally ill young adults, eight patients come together every night at midnight to tell each other stories—and make a pact that the next of them to die will give the group a sign from the beyond. It was meant to run for two seasons. However, the series was canceled after one season.
Red Notice (2021)
“Red Notice” is a complex case when evaluating its success or failure. On one hand, it became Netflix’s most-watched movie ever, indicating a significant viewership success despite receiving poor reviews from critics, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of just 36%. Despite its viewership success, many critics and viewers felt that the movie did not live up to its potential due to a predictable plot and lackluster script.
The Woman in the Window (2021)
An agoraphobic woman (Amy Adams) living alone in New York begins spying on her new neighbors, only to witness a disturbing act of violence. The film was produced and was originally scheduled to be theatrically released but was delayed and subsequently sold to Netflix due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The excesses of the plot and its contrivances were widely panned by critics.
Jupiter’s Legacy (2021)
The first generation of superheroes has kept the world safe for nearly a century. Now their children must live up to their legacy in an epic drama that spans decades and navigates the dynamics of family, power, and loyalty. The series received mixed reviews from critics and was canceled after one season.
The Unforgivable (2013)
The film stars Sandra Bullock as a woman who, following her release from prison after serving twenty years for committing murder, is determined to reunite with her estranged younger sister. It received mixed reviews from critics, but Bullock’s performance was praised.
