Netflix has made many hit shows and movies over the years. Big names, huge budgets, and exciting ideas have helped the streaming service become one of the biggest in the world. Shows like Stranger Things and Squid Game became huge successes and won fans across the globe.
But not every Netflix original has been a winner. Some projects had famous actors, big budgets, and lots of excitement before they came out. Still, they failed to impress critics, viewers, or both. Some were canceled early, while others were forgotten soon after release. Here are Five Netflix originals that became some of the platform’s biggest flops.
Atlas
Jennifer Lopez led the sci-fi action movie Atlas, which arrived on Netflix in 2024. Before its release, many people hoped it would become one of the service’s next big action hits.
Instead, the movie received very poor reviews. Critics said the story felt unoriginal and the writing was weak. It earned a low score on Rotten Tomatoes and also received a low rating on Metacritic.
Even with the bad reviews, many Netflix subscribers still watched the movie. That showed how a famous star can bring viewers, even when critics are not impressed. Still, the movie was mostly remembered for its poor reviews instead of its story.
The Electric State
The Electric State looked like a movie that had everything needed for success. It had a reported budget of around $320 million and starred Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown.
Many expected it to become one of Netflix’s biggest movies. Instead, it quickly dropped from the platform’s top rankings after release.
Critics also gave it very poor reviews. They said the movie had weak writing, did not build its world well, and failed to create an emotional connection with viewers. Even with a famous cast and a huge budget, it struggled to leave a lasting impression.
Bright
When Bright came out in 2017, Netflix hoped it would begin a brand-new movie franchise. The fantasy crime film starred Will Smith and Joel Edgerton, making it one of the company’s biggest releases at the time.
The movie mixed modern police work with a fantasy world filled with magical creatures. While the idea sounded interesting, many critics did not enjoy the final result.
Reviews were mostly negative, and the movie failed to create enough excitement for a follow-up film. What was planned as the start of a long-running series ended after just one movie.
The Midnight Club
The Midnight Club told the story of eight young patients living in a hospice. Every night at midnight, they gathered together to tell scary stories. They also made a promise that whoever died first would try to send the others a sign from the afterlife.
The series was expected to continue for two seasons. However, Netflix canceled it after only one.
Many fans enjoyed the show’s mystery and emotional moments, but it did not attract enough viewers to keep it going. The early cancellation left several storylines unfinished.
Red Notice
Red Notice became one of Netflix’s biggest hits when it came to viewership. Millions of people watched the action comedy after it was released.
Even with those huge viewing numbers, the movie received mixed to negative reviews from critics. Many said the story was easy to predict and that the script did not make the most of its talented cast.
Because of that, Red Notice is often seen as both a success and a disappointment. It attracted a massive audience, but many viewers felt it could have been much better.
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