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Why I Don’t Think Ride Or Die Should Have Been Cancelled (And What Company Should Save It...)
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) So…I recently came across a Reddit thread, talking about films on streaming, wondering why there are no reliable sources out there for streaming ratings data. Sigh. Honestly, as annoyed as I am that so many still don’t realize that we have streaming ratings, I somewhat get it. Until now, there was such a long delay between when a show or film came to streaming and when we got its viewership data; I understand why people were confused. (But, as you know, this just changed.) Also, even back in the day, how many people knew how well films did on television? Luckily, as a reader, you’re in the know. Okay, on to this week’s issue. I want to take a look at Prime Video cancelling Ride or Die and whether I agree with that decision. Overall, we didn’t have any breakout hits (no TV shows landed over 20 million hours according to Nielsen) but we have a lot of steady performers on the streaming charts. Plus, we’ll look at where $50 million in missing box office dollars went. (Spoiler: straight-to-streaming.) All that, plus new episodes of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Supergirl heads to streaming, a new YA show does well on Netflix, the viewership for the Daily Wire’s $50 million fantasy show, what TV show hit-maker can’t make streaming hits, CD sales, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of September 7th to September 13th, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Television - Ride or Die Is a Hit…But It Got Cancelled? What The Data “Says” I hate the phrase “here’s what the data says”, even though sometimes I find myself using it. If data just told us everything, we data folks would be out of a job! Data is often messy, complicated and nuanced. When it comes to strategy, many of the best decisions can’t actually use “data”, since it’s vastly too complicated to model. Anyways, I’ve been singing the praises of Prime Video’s Ride Or Die this summer, a show that did very well for them. And yet…it got cancelled. Now, usually when a show gets cancelled, a bunch of websites say “a hit show got cancelled”... Here’s the thing, though: in this case, they’re right! The data “says” that this show was a hit. Specifically, out of 522 first seasons to make a week on the Nielsen charts since 2020, it’s the 75th biggest. On Amazon, Ride or Die is eighth out of 41 first seasons: That’s top 15th percentile all time, almost exactly, which is my definition of a “hit”! I mean, outside of Reacher, Amazon needed a hit this summer! (Admittedly, Off Campus did well for Amazon in the spring, but Ride or Die performed even better.) So what happened? Why did Amazon cancel one of their rare 2026 bright spots? Well, Deadline reported a reason—which I’ll get to—but I’d break it down into three relevant questions: What is a given streamer’s reasoning? Is that reasoning sound? Could the stated reason not be the real reason? According to Deadline, Amazon felt the show “over-indexed” in middle-aged women. (This was based on leaks from within Amazon.) The logic is this: Amazon already reaches this demographic because of unlimited two-day shipping bundled with Prime, so they don’t really need more shows like this. Now, it’s my job to ask if that’s a good reason, and I’ll be honest, in this case, I don’t think it is. Sure, this show may “over-index” in middle-aged women—I’ll just assume that’s the case here—but I think folks often oversell how important over-indexing actually is. When a show is a “hit”, it isn’t a bit bigger than its rivals; it’s usually multiples bigger. For example, Elle only made the charts for two weeks at 8.3 million hours each. So Ride or Die was 80% bigger in its first two weeks, and likely had a much stronger hold, with its terrific 13 million hours in week three. Ride or Die was nearly three times bigger than Sterling Point through three weeks too. And that means that _Elle, Sterling Point a_nd other Amazon YA shows need to not just over-index a little with younger women (assuming that’s who Amazon prefers over middle-aged women), but massively over-index. Otherwise, more people in that demo (and a bunch more besides) likely watched Ride or Die. (I’ll try to explore this concept more in a future article.) And don’t get me started on how Ride or Die did compared to a certain (very, very popular, possibly the world’s most popular) YouTuber’s reality show…which didn’t make the charts after its first week and likely cost much, much more than Ride or Die. All to say, Amazon-MGM Studios/Prime Video can tell reporters that this show didn’t reach the right audience, but that excuse feels weak to me. So this leads to the third question: could other reasons have come into play? Yes! Renewal or cancellation decisions rarely (I’m tempted to say “never”) boil down to one variable. At its simplest, it’s two things: budget versus viewership. But often factors like critical acclaim, ownership and, yes, personal opinion come into play. In this case, Amazon has a new executive running things, and this show isn’t owned by Amazon-MGM Studios (unlike Elle). And yes, it may not have indexed with the right target viewers, too. Likely all of those factors came into play.1 My guess is ownership ended up mattering most. Amazon doesn’t own Ride or Die. It’s actually produced by another major studio. Fortunately/allegedly, this show is being shopped around. I can think of one brand new CEO who should consider it for one of his two major streamers…especially if he wants to rebuild goodwill in Hollywood. His name is on this list of exec producers of Ride or Die… If David Ellison needs some goodwill—and he does—rescue this female-led show tomorrow and grab some good headlines for a day. The data justifies it. Quick Notes on TV We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… How The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives latest season did on Hulu, post-controversy... Whether Supergirl soared on HBO Max... Why the box office is losing money due to the streamers... The viewership for the Daily Wire’s $50 million fantasy show... Updates on The Gentlemen, Lanterns, Outer Banks, King of the Hill and more... What former hit-maker has three streaming flops in a row... Whether The Mandalorian and Grogu popped in week two... All the flops, bombs and misses... And a whole lot more... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. If you want an idea of just how much content you’d get in a full issue, check out this older issue. Coming Soon! Oh man, we’re almost caught up! We just have two more issues, then the streaming Ratings Report will be coming out just two weeks after a TV show premieres! Next issue, I’ll be looking at the first two weeks of the NFL Thursday night games on streaming, a huge new spinoff, Reacher’s Neagly on Prime Video, and the latest edition of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story on Netflix, the return of Slow Horses on Apple and MobLand (quietly one of their biggest shows) on Paramount+, and Dancing with the Stars on both ABC and Disney+. Plus I’ll take a look at animation for adults in 2026. The week after, a ton of movies are coming to streaming: Toy Story 5 on Disney+, Backrooms on HBO Max, Jackass: Best and Last on Paramount+ and The Breadwinner on Netflix, plus a Unabomber film on Netflix and a romcom on Prime Video. Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey have a show on Apple, along with a game show inspired by Willy Wonka that everyone seems to hate. Long term, some crazy (but hopefully crazy like a fox) IP news. FX ordered a new Sons of Anarchy show from Charlie Hunnam, but it’s not about the biker gang. No, it features the show’s cast playing themselves in a new “meta-thriller”. Huh. And a lot of the cast is coming back. Next, Ryan Gosling is producing a Flintstones movie about a “grown-up Bamm-Bamm Rubble”. Also, huh. This one is in “early development” so we’ll see what happens. Both projects are based on IP, but also seem to have crazy takes on the IP, which I like.
Amazon Hires Three Netflix Business Affairs Execs
The streamer has moved to a genre-based model for its business affairs operation.
The #2 Movie on Netflix Is a Thrilling Documentary About a Charismatic Serial Killer
"The Widower: 'Til Death Do Us Part" follows the twisting story of Thomas Randolph, also known as the "Black Widower," of whose six wives, four ended up dead.
Netflix’s #1 Movie Has Viewers Ugly Crying
Netflix’s #1 movie is leaving viewers reaching for the tissues. Find out more here.
New TV shows to watch this week: Tune in to 'Cupertino' on CBS, stream 'Carrie' on Prime Video and revisit 'The Haunting of Hill House' on Netflix
The new TV shows worth watching — from the HBO divorce drama "War" to Netflix's "East of Eden" adaptation and a seaside mystery starring Josh Hartnett.
Why 'East of Eden' Star Mike Faist Looks Familiar
Mike Faist stars as Charles Trask in the Netflix limited series adapatation. Here's where you may have recognized him before.
'The Watcher' Season 2 finally kicks off at Netflix, 4 years after its renewal
Ryan Murphy fans will have a turn to be "watchers" once again.
What to stream in October 2026: ‘East of Eden,’ ‘VisionQuest,’ ‘Carrie’
Here's what's coming to Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Prime Video, Peacock, Paramount+ and other streaming services in October.
Apple TV Just Updated Its Selection of 'Bonus' Movies
Starting today, the Apple TV streaming service is offering a new selection of "bonus" movies in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and some other countries. While competitors like Netflix offer an extensive catalog of movies from various studios, Apple TV primarily offers its own original films produced by Apple.
What's new to streaming this week? (Oct. 2, 2026)
What’s new on Netflix, Prime Video, Paramount+, and more? We've got you covered.
Netflix's 11 best new movies and shows in October, including Halloween favorites
Florence Pugh's "East of Eden" and Ben Affleck's "Animals" lead a month packed with new releases and horror classics.
Looking at the Ugly Side of the Paramount-Skydance Merger...And How I’d Fix It
A Message from Our Sponsor Certified Fresh with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, FX’s Adults is an ensemble comedy series about a group of twenty-somethings in New York leaning on each other to navigate love, work, friendship and family. Don’t sleep on “The Sitcom of the Moment” - Awards Buzz All Episodes now streaming on Hulu on Disney+. Watch The Teaser Trailer... (Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industr(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Before we dive in, I wanted to congratulate Broadcast Now for being the first to report that Netflix’s How to Get to Heaven from Belfast has been cancelled. (I saw this in a write-up by Kasey Moore of Whats-On-Netflix.) More importantly, I wanted to note that, as of yesterday, none of the other trades had reported the news yet. I have half a guess that eventually one of them will report this. Anyways, it’s time to take a break from my deluge of streaming ratings reports to continue my analysis of the Paramount Skydance Warner Bros. Discovery (PSWbD) saga. As I noted last week, a lot of times when folks use the (sometimes cliched) “the good, the bad and the ugly” framing for an article, “the ugly” section is just more bad. Or very, very bad. In this case, yeah, I do think it’s ugly. In more than one way. Unfortunately, we’re only going to have time to tackle one of those ways today: the ugly pile of debt to finance this deal. (In a future article, I may cover the entire process for how it went down, which was very, very ugly.) Last issue, I explained why I liked this deal in a vacuum. Unfortunately, “vacuums” don’t exist outside of space. Let’s dive in. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - The Ugliness of the Paramount/Warner Bros. Merger More than one person sent me a note speculating that the big problem with Paramount Skydance buying Warner Bros. Discovery is the “Warner Bros.” portion of the deal. In fact, that’s a take I read a lot about Warner Bros., ever since they caught Netflix’s, and then Paramount-Skydance’s, eye. In short, multiple companies (Time, AOL, AT&T, Discovery) have bought and then regretted buying Warner Bros. Since it’s nearing Halloween, you could almost say it’s like the folks think WB is cursed! It’s a haunted studio—like the town of Derry in movie studio form—and whoever takes possession of it will fall into misery! Yet...I just don’t like that story, because it doesn’t explain the “why” behind why those deals fell through. Especially when Warner Bros. has continued to succeed as a TV and film studio in the intervening two decades. Lord of the Rings? Harry Potter? Game of Thrones? Everything HBO? Considering it never fully owned a broadcast TV channel, this media company has done pretty well. So what went wrong? Well, in recent years, companies bought Warner Bros. instead of the other, smarter option. Explaining POCD (And Applying It to Mergers & Acquisitions) As I explained last issue, one of my favorite frameworks is the POCD tool for evaluating venture capital investments: People Opportunity Context Deal The bar to invest as a VC is high. (Or I might say “was” since cheap interest rates made life easier last decade.) You review a thousand prospectuses, get pitched by a hundred, and invest in the ten best, with the hopes that one of those ten would pay for the rest. That means every element of a deal needed to pay off: you needed the right people running the companies, who could capitalize on the right opportunity, in the context of an industry that was ripe for disruption. If you could then not overpay, you could make some money in a smart deal. The analogy isn’t perfect here, but close enough. For a merger or acquisition to work, you need the combined company (which is the opportunity) to make more than the price you need to pay (which is the deal). Note: the people and context still matter, but with M&A, it’s a little more straightforward: does the opportunity exceed the cost? And usually with Warner Bros., it hasn’t. If you want to find out the single biggest mistake made by the Warner Bros. suitors over the last few years (and my simple fix) become a paid subscriber. I’ll also touch on who I think Paramount-Skydance could (shockingly) consider buying next, TBD, and more. Sign up here.
How accurate is Netflix's 'Unabomber' movie?
Retired FBI profiler James R. Fitzgerald tells Business Insider what's fact and fiction in the Netflix movie.
Netflix's East Of Eden Brings Humanity To Cathy Ames: Florence Pugh & Zoe Kazan Explain The Changes
Florence Pugh and Zoe Kazan explain what changed in Netflix's East Of Eden series, and why Cathy Ames was given more humanity.
The 11 best new Netflix shows and movies in October, including Halloween favorites
Florence Pugh's "East of Eden" and Ben Affleck's "Animals" lead a month packed with new releases and horror classics.
The Streamers Tried To Conquer Labor Day…and Whiffed
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) What? Another Streaming Ratings Report already? You betcha. Nielsen has moved up the release of their Streaming Ratings data by two weeks, which means I’ve got two extra issues to get out. But I love this change because it will make this report more timely and easier to publish regularly. This week—with the viewership data for the week of 31-Aug—we’ve got some huge, huge topics to discuss. On the film side, two theatrical films (The Mandalorian and Grogu on Disney+ and Scary Movie on Paramount+) contend with two non-Netflix straight-to-streaming films (Mayday on Apple TV and The Runner on Prime Video). The streamers went all in to win Labor Day weekend in America. And we have a bunch of TV shows to analyze, both new shows (Netflix’s The Gentleman, Hulu’s Chad Powers, and an Alix Earle reality show) and weekly shows like Reacher, Ted Lasso, House of the Dragon and Lioness. All that, plus nepotism in Hollywood, some eye-popping fantasy football stats, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of August 31st to September 6th, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Film - A Slew of Labor Day Disappointments? A lot of streamers released big new films this week, why? My theory is that the streamers know that four-day weekends can propel streaming films to glory. But if you’ve been reading more over the last two years, you know that big holiday weekends aren’t driving big viewership numbers the way they did post-Covid. And interestingly enough, Netflix didn’t put out a big new film this week. But four other streamers did, trying to take advantage of the holiday with some (not cheap) swings, including… The Mandalorian and Grogu on Disney+ (a Star Wars film that cost $165 million and made $177 million at the US domestic box office) Mayday on Apple TV (rumored $100 million budget, no theatrical release) The Runner on Prime Video (at least a $40 million budget, but likely $50 to $80 million, no theatrical release). Scary Movie on Paramount+ ($30 million budget, made $108 million domestically). (Paramount+ also released a made-for-streaming film based on the Thundermans IP, and I’ll discuss that later.) So…how’d they do? The Mandalorian and Grogu Leads The Way (But That Isn’t Enough) Let’s start with The Mandalorian and Grogu (which I’ll abbreviate to Mando for most of this article). We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… How Mando, Mayday, The Runner and Scary Movie performed on streaming... How the powerhouse weekly released shows (Reacher, Ted Lasso and Lioness) have accumulate a LOT of viewership… How House of the Dragon finished its run… The latest Netflix show to have a sophomore slump… Whether top creators can drive viewers to their shows… Nepotism in Hollywood and the music business... All the flops, bombs and misses for the week… And more… ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. Coming Soon! Since Nielsen has accelerated their streaming data release schedule, I’ve got a lot of Streaming Ratings Reports coming your way! Next issue, I’ll be looking at the second season of Peacock’s The Paper, the latest season of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and a very, very expensive Daily Wire fantasy series that’s now on Prime Video. Plus Crew Girl and Dang! on Netflix, a new Tyler Perry film, and one of the biggest bombs of the summer, Supergirl. In the next two issues, I’ll take a look at the return of the NFL to streaming, Toy Story 5 on Disney+, Backrooms on HBO Max, and The Breadwinner on Netflix. On the TV side, we’ve got Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, Dancing with the Stars on Disney+, Apple TV’s Slow Horses, a Reacher spinoff on Prime Video, and Paramount+’s MobLand, a Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey comedy on Apple TV, a sequel to a Cosby Show spinoff on Netflix, The Great British Baking Show, and the Unabomber film. And while doing all that, I want to take a look at adult animated shows, Ride or Die’s cancellation, and Netflix’s summer films. So much great stuff! Long term, two bits of comic book news. The X-Men cast has been announced, and go ahead and color me bull-ish, if not very, very bull-ish on this bit of comic book IP. In weirder news, HBO Max ordered a “true crime” show by Jimmy Olsen about Gorilla Grodd being falsely convicted of murder. I mean, what? I don’t know, let’s see what happens.
Michael Che's new Netflix special is 'Shot in Minnesota'
MINNEAPOLIS — Everyone who wasn’t allowed a bathroom break while “Saturday Night Live” weekend anchor Michael Che was taping his Netflix special at First Avenue is about to find out
DIFFERENT WORLD
I watched Netflix’s new A Different World from top to bottom in one sitting — 10 fascinating, spellbinding episodes.
Netflix on Building Products as Artifacts of Fandom
Netflix's Filippo Zuffada explains how the streamer is building year-round licensing momentum and why partners need to start with fandom, not format
Shawn Levy Inks Overall Deal With Disney’s 20th Television
The producer and director, who recently finished the next 'Star Wars' film for Disney, has been based at Netflix since 2017.
Shawn Levy Signs Overall TV Deal at Disney
The producer and director, who recently finished the next 'Star Wars' film for Disney, has been based at Netflix since 2017.
Shawn Levy Moves To Disney’s 20th Television With Overall Deal After Long Tenure At Netflix
Shawn Levy Moves To Disney's 20th Television With Overall Deal After Long Tenure At Netflix
Shawn Levy and 21 Laps Entertainment Sign Overall TV Deal With Disney's 20th Television
The new deal that lured the producer over from Netflix kicks off in 2027
Shawn Levy and 21 Laps Entertainment Sign Overall TV Deal With Disney’s 20th Television
The new deal that lured the producer over from Netflix kicks off in 2027
Netflix’s #1 Show Is a Reboot Fans Say Actually Gets it Right
Netflix’s #1 show is getting rave reviews from viewers, including longtime fans of the original. Find out more here.
Watch: Rob Lowe announces Netflix documentary about his life
"The West Wing" and "Parks and Recreation" actor Rob Lowe announced a Netflix documentary about his life that was "three years in the making."
Funko warned it might not last 12 months. Its new CEO came from Netflix with a plan.
Funko, the company behind the big-headed Pop! figurines, warned last year it might not survive, squeezed by tariffs, canceled retail orders and its own overproduction. A new CEO based in Los Feliz is trying to turn it around.
Funko warned it might not last 12 months. Its new CEO came from Netflix with a plan.
Funko, the company behind the big-headed Pop! figurines, warned last year it might not survive, squeezed by tariffs, canceled retail orders and its own overproduction. A new CEO based in Los Feliz is trying to turn it around.
After nearly 19 years in development hell, Ubisoft's Beyond Good & Evil 2 is somehow still showing signs of life
Ubisoft Bordeaux narrative director Rik Godwin has shared an update on Beyond Good & Evil 2's progress.
'The Beast in Me' will return for season 2 at Netflix
Claire Danes as Aggie Wiggs and Matthew Rhys as Nile Jarvis in episode 3 of season 1 of 'The Beast in Me.' (Netflix)
Nick Robinson talks new film ‘Charlie Harper,’ favorite romantic movies
Seattle actor Nick Robinson shares how his new film, "Charlie Harper" (out Thursday) was impacted by the Netflix Western series "The Abandons."
Netflix’s #6 Show Is the Thrilling Serial-Killer Binge Everyone’s Watching
Netflix’s #6 show right now has viewers hooked, and it’s perfect for anyone who can’t resist a good true-crime binge. Find out more here.
‘Happy Valley’ Star Sarah Lancashire Leading Dark Netflix Series About A Modern-Day Witch Hunt
Netflix is teaming with Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire, Abi Morgan and Sister on a dark thriller about a modern-day witch hunt, while the streamer has secured Bob Mortimer and Ricahrd Ayoade for i...
Who was the Unabomber? The true story behind Netflix's new Ted Kaczynski movie.
The crime drama stars Jacob Tremblay as the Unabomber, whose bombing campaign killed three people and injured 23.
What's new to streaming this week? (Sept. 25, 2026)
What’s new on Netflix, Prime Video, Paramount+, and more? We've got you covered.
International Emmy Nominations: United Kingdom Leads This Year’s Tally; Canada’s ‘Heated Rivalry’ Doesn’t Make the Cut
The United Kingdom led all territories in nominations at this year’s International Emmys, landing 14 nods total — including Disney+’s “A Thousand Blows” in drama and Netflix’s “Man vs. Baby” in comedy...
Plimsoll Studios Promotes Andrea Jackson To Oversee Talent Strategy
EXCLUSIVE: Plimsoll Studios, the company behind Disney+’s Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston, has a new head of talent strategy. The company, which also produced Netflix’s Skyscraper Live with A...
Disney+, Hulu price to increase as soon as Wednesday
The price increase will bring Disney+ more in line with a similar plan sold by Netflix.
Netflix’s #2 Series Is Getting Rough Reviews, But Everyone Agrees on Sarah Paulson
Netflix’s #2 series is getting seriously panned by critics and viewers, but there’s one thing everyone seems to agree on. See what fans are saying here.
Angus Sampson Signs With Buchwald & Sweeney Entertainment
EXCLUSIVE: Australian actor and filmmaker Angus Sampson has signed with Buchwald and Sweeney Entertainment for representation. Sampson is best known for his multi-year run as Cisco in Netflix’s hit le...
Nimesh Patel on stand-up, Palestine and politics: ‘The way that religion’s been weaponized is ugly’
The comedian went from being discovered by Chris Rock to making Saturday Night Live history. Now his new Netflix special, Buy the Dip, tackles timely topics with optimism
Hayden Panettiere remembered at Malibu memorial service
Hayden Panettiere attends the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix's new film 'Blonde' at TCL Chinese Theatre on Sept. 13, 2022, in Hollywood, California. (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)Hayden Panettiere was celebrated over the weekend at a memorial service held in California, her representative confirmed to ABC News.Around 80 friends of the late Nashville star, who died on Aug. 16 at the age of 36, gathered in Malibu on Saturday to share "an evening of music, memories, laughter and tears."“We wanted to honor Hayden in the best way we knew how—with as much love as possible," Panettiere's representative, Kasey Kitchen, said in a statement with a group of the actress's friends, who jointly organized the memorial.The statement continued, "It was a beautiful and intimate ceremony where friends came together to celebrate her life and honor the beautiful, magnetic light and love she infused into the world.”Panettiere's Nashville co-star Connie Britton and other celebrities, including Evan Ross and Ruby Rose, were photographed attending the memorial.Panettiere died after she was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest at a Greenville, South Carolina, apartment.The actress's official cause and manner of death have not yet been announced.An investigation into her death has expanded from South Carolina to Los Angeles, and investigators are focusing on the role drugs may have played in her death, sources told ABC News last week.Kitchen, Panettiere's representative, said in a statement on Sept. 15 that her death "remains under investigation pending toxicology results.""As we await the answers we are all seeking, may we also remember Hayden for the incredible legacy she leaves behind — the light she shined on mental health and postpartum depression, and the voice she gave to those who felt unseen and unheard," Kitchen said. "The answers we are all seeking will come."Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Headley's 'Sweet Magnolias' canceled at Netflix
Northrop High School graduate Heather Headley’s Netflix series has "poured it out" for the last time.
4 Forgotten Netflix Shows That Deserve Another Chance
If you can't remember a show that Netflix debuted earlier this year, it's probably because the streamer is constantly dropping new series.
Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck Almost Reunited on Screen After 23 Years
Ben Affleck revealed why Jennifer Garner didn’t end up starring in his new Netflix thriller, Animals. The actor-director explained how a series of unexpected production changes led to Garner’s departu...
Can ‘A Different World’ sequel change lives like the original series? Hillman is back in session
Netflix’s new “A Different World” sequel arrives with high expectations.
Can 'A Different World' sequel change lives like the original series? Hillman is back in session
Netflix's new "A Different World" sequel arrives with high expectations.
Can 'A Different World' sequel change lives like the original series? Hillman is back in session
Netflix’s new “A Different World” sequel arrives with high expectations | KCBS All News 106.9FM and 740AM
Can 'A Different World' sequel change lives like the original series? Hillman is back in session
Netflix’s new “A Different World” sequel arrives with high expectations. The original series inspired many viewers in their college and career choices. Kadeem Hardison, who played Dwayne Wayne, still hears
Netflix’s ‘Best Of The Best’ Brings A Niche World Into The Spotlight
Netflix's dive into the world of South Asian dance competitions carves out a story many young South Asians might recognize, but also one that anyone can connect with..
Ben Affleck Almost Cast Ex-Wife Jennifer Garner in His Netflix Film ‘Animals’: ‘She Was Like, “We Don’t Want to Do That”’
Ben Affleck says he almost cast his ex-wife Jennifer Garner in his Netflix thriller "Animals," but knew it'd come with "baggage."
'Why Did I Get Married Again?' Cast Reunites on Netflix
The Netflix sequel reunites Tyler Perry's cast as marriage, parenthood and hard-earned lessons bring new depth to their beloved characters.
JoAnna Garcia Swisher Breaks Her Silence After Shocking 'Sweet Magnolias' Cancellation: 'How Do You Say...
Netflix has canceled the popular drama after five seasons.
JoAnna Garcia Swisher Breaks Her Silence After Shocking 'Sweet Magnolias' Cancellation: 'How Do You Say...
Netflix has canceled the popular drama after five seasons.
Watch the Tense New Trailer for Ben Affleck's Netflix Thriller 'Animals'
Ben Affleck wrote and directed the movie, a thriller about the son of an L.A. mayoral candidate being kidnapped.
Is ‘Monster’ star Ella Beatty related to actor Warren Beatty?
Ella Beatty plays the titular character in Netflix's 'Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story'
‘Sweet Magnolias’ Creator Reacts to Netflix Cancellation: ‘I Hope Serenity Will Always Have a Place in Your Heart’
Following the news that “Sweet Magnolias” has been canceled at Netflix, creator and showrunner Sheryl J. Anderson is looking back on the romantic drama’s 5 Season run. “Living in Serenity for five sea...
Popular comedian stops at Williams Grove race as track partners with his TV show
Shane Gillis visited Williams Grove Speedway, his hometown dirt track, which partnered with his Netflix series "Tires."
Charlie Hunnam admits he was ‘dreading’ that vomit scene in ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’
The stars and director of ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ break down that ‘absolutely crazy’ vomiting scene in the second episode of the Netflix series.
Carson Rowland Breaks Silence on 'Sweet Magnolias' Cancellation After Exit
Carson Rowland just broke his silence after Netflix's shocking decision to cancel Sweet Magnolias after his exit from the show.
“Sweet Magnolias” canceled after 5 seasons at Netflix as star and creator reteam for new show
Creator Sheryl J. Anderson and star JoAnna Garcia Swisher are already working on a new series together.
Au revoir: 'Emily in Paris' wraps production on final season
Lily Collins as Emily behind the scenes of 'Emily in Paris.' (Cr. Giulia Parmigiani/Netflix © 2026)
Millie Bobby Brown appears to welcome 2nd baby, shares new photo
Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi attend the Enola Holmes 3 NY Premiere on June 25, 2026, in New York City. (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Netflix)
Netflix's 'Monster' revisits the notorious Lizzie Borden case. Critics are divided.
Ella Beatty, Rebecca Hall and Charlie Hunnam star in the fourth installment of Netflix's true-crime anthology.
The ‘East of Eden’ team knows there’s a lot of eyes on their adaptation (exclusive)
‘East of Eden’ stars Christopher Abbott and Mike Faist, and writer Zoe Kazan, preview the Netflix limited series, which is a new adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic novel — and one Kazan has been preparing her whole life for.
Did Lizzie Borden inspire Aileen Wuornos? Netflix's 'Monster' series says she did.
Sarah Paulson plays serial killer Aileen Wuornos in...a Lizzie Borden series?
Nick Kroll Delivers Heartfelt Appeal for Productions to Shoot in L.A.: 'It Will Bring Life Back' to the City
Nick Kroll said upcoming Netflix comedy series "A Hundred Percent," which he co-created and stars in, is a "love letter" to Los Angeles -- and he expressed hope that a "thriving" production community can vitalize the city.
Netflix exec Bela Bajaria punts on streamer’s future NFL ambitions
Netflix more than doubled its NFL footprint this season compared to last. The streamer is scheduled to exclusively broadcast five games as opposed to just two last year. It’s all part of the company’s broader live events strategy. Week 1 from Melbourne, Thanksgiving Eve, a Christmas doubleheader, and a Week 18 matchup with playoff implications…
Netflix’s Monster makes murder look very stylish, but should it be entertainment?
The Lizzie Borden story, a gruesome real-life murder from the 19th century, is so well known in America that it has its own nursery rhyme. It’s featured in the trailer for this fourth instalment of Ry...
'Crew Girl' cements Miku Martineau as Netflix's next YA star. She's ready for the ship wars.
"Crew Girl" star Miku Martineau on leading Netflix's hit TV drama, taking sides on Teagan's love triangle and navigating her breakout moment.
Netflix content chief Bela Bajaria defines event strategy as streamer eyes more live sports
Bajaria said Netflix would be open to a package of international NFL games if one becomes available when the league renegotiates its media rights agreements.
What's new to streaming this week? (Sept. 18, 2026)
What’s new on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and more? We've got you covered.
JD Vance calls 'Emily in Paris' a 'masterwork of American television'
JD Vance is deep-diving into "Emily in Paris," using it as an example to explain why the popular Netflix show is an apt "criticism of millennial decision-making."
Unexpected Canadian Series Has Suddenly Taken Over Netflix as No. 1 Worldwide
An unexpected Canadian series has quietly dethroned every major Netflix show to claim the No. 1 spot worldwide. The coming-of-age sports drama pulled off the impressive feat within just days of its de...
Jo Koy talks Netflix special 'Blue in the Face' and his keys to comedy wellness
On the heels of selling out SoFi Stadium and now releasing his sixth Netflix special, 'Blue in the Face,' Jo Koy talks about processing grief and the keys to staying healthy on the road.
Netflix's 'Pride and Prejudice' adaptation gets winter release date
Emma Corrin stars in 'Pride and Prejudice.' (Justin Downing/Netflix)
Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen star in the first look at Netflix’s “The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey”
The limited series was previously dropped by Paramount+.
JD Vance explains why you need to watch 'Emily in Paris'
JD Vance is deep-diving into "Emily in Paris," using it as an example to explain why the popular Netflix show is an apt "criticism of millennial decision-making."
Why Blizzard Entertainment is expanding beyond games and into TV
With a new "Diablo" animated show in the works at Netflix, Blizzard Entertainment is looking to catapult its video game IP into the film and TV world.
Will Netflix’s Latest Horror Film Save Its Summer? And Introducing a New Data Source...
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) All month, I’ve been polling you, my readers, on how we think the summer’s biggest blockbusters will do when they eventually land on streaming, and I wanted to share the results. First up, how readers think The Odyssey will perform when it comes to Peacock... People are pretty bullish that The Odyssey will smash it for Peacock. I don’t know that it will have as much rewatchability as Wicked did for kids, but we’ll see. It is now Universal’s highest-grossing film of all time. One note: almost half of Christopher Nolan’s films weren’t available for streaming the week The Odyssey came to theaters, including some of his biggest films like Inception, Dunkirk, Tenet, Oppenheimer and Insomnia. If you did want to watch the others, Prime Video had Memento and The Dark Knight trilogy, HBO Max only had The Dark Knight trilogy (even though Warner Bros. produced most of Nolan’s films), Hulu had The Prestige and Interstellar, and Paramount+ had Interstellar. So you needed at least two streaming subscriptions to catch the rest. Warner Bros. whiffed right here. I know they have long term licensing deals, but they should have tried to get as many Nolan films on HBO Max for launch as possible. Here are the results for Spider-Man: Brand New Day: The audience is a bit more mixed on this one, with everyone agreeing Spider-Man will swing to a big opening, but not necessarily elite or best all time. On to this week’s issue. Netflix continues searching for a hit straight-to-streaming summer film and Lioness and Ted Lasso allow me to look at the difference between a “hit” and a ‘hit for them”. All that, plus new YA/teen melodramas on Prime Video and Netflix, the House of the Dragon finale, USA Network claims a big opening, more big NFL ratings, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. But we start with a fun new data announcement. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of August 3rd to August 9th, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe A New Data Source: Reelgood’s Data on Content Libraries Here’s a fun new treat for you. Reelgood—an online service and app that lets users track where shows or films are streaming—is providing data every month for the Streaming Ratings Report on the size of each streamer’s catalogue, along with the new shows and films for each streamer. Yay! Previously, I had pulled “new shows on streamers premiering on the first of the month”: While I liked that data cut, it was a big wonky since it didn’t show all of the new shows or movies that came to a streamer each month. Instead, I would have preferred something like this from Reelgood’s annual report: And now we have it! I’m going to feature Reelgood’s data monthly, showing both total catalogue size and new shows and films appearing on the charts. That’s going to make these two cool new charts. First, here’s the size of various streamers’ film catalogues… (By the way, Reelgood offered to make the charts for me, but I like doing that task by hand to understand the data better.) They also provided data back to last year. Here’s the number of films timeline: And here are the new films on each streamer for the month prior to Aug: As I get used to this data, I plan to keep tinkering with how I display it, but I’m excited to feature it monthly. Today, I’m sharing the film charts; next issue, I’m going to feature TV shows by streamer. Now, in full disclosure, Reelgood is a sponsor of this little-newsletter-that-could. But in my constant quest to figure out what streamer various shows and films are on, I was already a Reelgood user before this sponsorship. I go to their website all the time, and their data is very accurate on where shows are (or have been). Plus, I’ve been sharing their weekly top ten lists for years now, pre-sponsorship. For me, this is a great win-win, since I get to amplify a service I love, and I get a cool new data source to play with. Now, normally folks don’t usually mention their sponsors directly, but as I wrote before, as I start featuring ads in my newsletter, I plan to be extremely open about who is sponsoring my writing so you can trust what I write. Television - Two Big Returning Shows Look Set to Take Over The Charts One key question when it comes to judging streaming shows is whether a show is a “hit” or a “hit for them”. To be clear, the former means a show that’s one of the top shows on streaming, no questions asked. The latter means a show is one of the biggest, for a given streamer. That distinction makes a big difference! It’s really good to be one of the biggest shows on a streamer; it’s much better to be the biggest on streaming, despite the size of a streamer. Because, as we’ve seen now, nearly every streamer—while lacking the number of subscribers or usage of Netflix—can make hit TV shows: Paramount released Landman, whose first and second seasons were among the top two TV shows the year they came out. HBO Max’s The Pitt’s second season is the biggest show of the year so far. Love Island USA was the top show in 2025 for Peacock. And, crucially for today’s discussion: Wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy back in 2023, Ted Lasso was actually the top streaming show of the year according to Nielsen! So even Apple TV (formerly +) can make hit shows. It just doesn’t make them that often. And looking at the Nielsen charts this week, we have two prime candidates for this discussion: That’s right: Ted Lasso returned to Apple TV for its fourth season. Did it return in all its expected glory? Sure, though right now it’s still just a “hit for Apple TV”, but we’ll see how long it lasts on the charts. Its ten episodes are coming out weekly. (Smart choice, Apple!) Ted Lasso started out strong, actually making the Nielsen charts the week before new episodes dropped, which is a rare feat. (Shows like Stranger Things or Bridgerton have pulled that off. That’s terrific company to join!) On Nielsen, it opened to 14.4 million hours in its first week, and 16.6 million the week of 10-Aug. Here’s how that compares to previous seasons: Apple put out that this is their biggest TV launch through two days ever, and looking at the chart and Apple TV’s viewership history, I’d believe it. Here’s Apple’s top shows for season two and beyond: Other data tells a (mostly) similar story. Ted Lasso made Samba TV and it has elite IMDb scores, an insane 8.7 on 465K reviews. The only outlier is Luminate, where the latest season only had 7.4 million hours, and no other seasons made the top ten. As you’ll see below, that’s well below some other solid, but not spectacular shows like Sterling Point, Ride or Die or Furious. I’d be surprised if Ted Lasso isn’t bigger than those other shows, but it’s fine for different data sources to occasionally disagree. And while it’s sucky to bring this up, given that Warner Bros. produced this show, I do wonder how the streaming wars may have been different if Ted Lasso landed on HBO Max initially instead of Apple. I don’t think one show can make or break a streamer, but given HBO’s brand, it could have helped bring people to that streamer much earlier in its lifespan. (Though yeah, I don’t love calling out executives for passing on hit shows, since that’s just the nature of the job. Even the absolute best execs will pass on lots of successful shows. The key is not greenlighting the under-performers/misses.) The other show I’m thinking about in the “hit or hit for them” category is Lioness from Paramount+. Like Ted Lasso, its first season missed the charts, but it’s grown its audience since then. Here’s how season three opened: We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… How Lioness did on streaming... Two new melodramas for Netflix and Prime Video... Whether Netflix’s latest horror film saved its summer... Hulu’s Furious and Prime Video’s Ride or Die continuing their strong runs... The latest high profile showrunner to flop on streaming... All the flops, bombs and misses... And a whole lot more... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. Next week, we’ve got a double issue—since the week of 17-Aug had very few notable new shows or films—so I’ll look at HBO’s Lanterns, Prime Video’s Reacher, Netflix’s Tires, Outer Banks (which posted up huge numbers four years ago), an Aussie romance, and another baseball event (that didn’t resonate). And a bunch of movies like the latest dramedy from an Adam Sandler daughter, Don’t Say Good Luck, Camp Rock 3 on Disney Channel and Disney+, Michael on Starz, and more. Later this month, we’ve got a ton of shows and films to analyze! Movies will be the big story, featuring a box office bomb (Supergirl on HBO Max) and an “underperformer” (The Mandalorian and Grogu on Disney+) contending with a bunch of star-studded straight-to-streaming films like Netflix’s The Whisper Man (Adam Scott, Michelle Monaghan and De Niro!), Mayday on Apple TV+ (Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh!), The Runner (Gal Gadot) and The Last Sunrise (Eva Longoria and Maia Reficco) on Prime Video. Plus, a ton of TV shows have sophomore seasons coming out. Will The Gentleman put up big numbers on Netflix or suffer from a sophomore slump? Leanne and Beauty in Black on Netflix seem small, but they both might be bigger than you think. Hulu has a bunch of shows: a new season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (the first after all the controversy last year) and the second season of Chad Powers (from Peyton Manning’s production company and starring Glen Powell). This one flopped last year; can it score a touchdown this year? Same goes for FX’s Adults, which I didn’t track last year; will it hit this year? Peacock’s The Office spinoff, The Paper and Apple TV’s Dark Matter also return for second seasons. And Netflix has more Untold specials featuring Vince Young, Raygun (that horrible breakdancer) and Mr. T. Long term, Paramount+ is rebooting yet another franchise, Clueless, and I’m somewhat bullish on this new show. The talent attached (Alicia Silverstone) and creative Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (of The O.C. and Gossip Girl) also feel solid...if they make it funny like the original.
Diablo TV Series in the Works at Netflix
Netflix is developing an animated TV series based on Blizzard Entertainment's "Diablo" video game franchise.
Diablo TV Series in the Works at Netflix
Netflix is developing an animated TV series based on Blizzard Entertainment's "Diablo" video game franchise.
This Netflix Drama Is So Good, I’m Mad I Didn’t Watch It Sooner
Netflix’s latest binge-worthy hit has crime, dark comedy, sharp British banter and plenty of twists to keep you watching. Find out more here.
‘Call My Agent! The Movie’ review: Film channels series in the best ways
There’s not much to distinguish the movie, now streaming on Netflix, from an episode of the show, but that's a good thing, writes Moira Macdonald.
‘Call My Agent! The Movie’ feels like the series. That’s a good thing
There’s not much to distinguish the movie, now streaming on Netflix, from an episode of the show, but that's a good thing, writes Moira Macdonald.
Minka Kelly seemingly confirms “Ransom Canyon ”cancellation, shares goodbye message: ‘I love you forever’
The actress played Quinn O’Grady on the Netflix series for two seasons.
🏈 Y! Sports Biz: From doubt to Down Under
How Netflix went from no sports to Australia with the NFL.
This Fan-Favorite Netflix Show Was Canceled, But Now It’s Getting a Spin-Off
Though the fan-favorite show will end after its fifth season airs in 2027, "The Lincoln Lawyer" is getting a spinoff starring an unexpected character.
“Ransom Canyon” reportedly canceled by Netflix after 2 seasons
The show’s creator, April Blair, recently dished to Entertainment Weekly about what was in store for season 3.
The Not-So-Secret Winner in Netflix and YouTube’s Streaming Wars Battle
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Here’s a good piece of advice: when someone tells you a company has “won” the streaming wars, just assume they haven’t. Remember the narratives about the streaming media over the last few years: 2024 - Netflix has won the streaming wars! 2025 - YouTube has won the streaming wars! Yet…in 2026, I’d categorize it as… 2026 - Netflix and YouTube are battling for talent! Netflix and YouTube are aggressively fighting for top creators, marking a fierce new battle in the streaming wars. For two companies that “won”, that certainly doesn’t seem like winning behavior. If you win, you don’t have to fight for talent, because talent has to come to you. This is a good reminder that, if the streaming wars are a war—and I think they are—we should know what type of war they are. So it’s worth revisiting one of my big theories of the streaming wars, that the war these battles most represent is… The Thirty Years’ War1 I prefer this war to other, simpler wars, because, while it featured two “sides”—based on religion—and the current war has two main sides—tech versus entertainment—it also featured a lot of smaller players battling it out, sometimes switching sides. And that’s still the case for entertainment and media, despite the above headlines. I’d recommend this truism: if someone has to tell you they won the streaming wars, they probably haven’t. To wit, if someone told you they were fighting in the Thirty Years’ War—and no, they didn’t call it that at the time—and in year five, they told you they won, well, obviously they had 25 more years to go. That’s a lot of preamble to say, the story of the week is the latest battles between YouTube and Netflix. Their battle for talent says a lot about how hard this war will be to win. All that, plus The Curse of the Mogul in action, Netflix providing more (theatrical) data, whether Apple TV is in trouble, AMC getting in on distribution, and a whole lot more. Subscribe Today’s article is sponsored by… Substack is hosting a live Emmys watch party, starting at 5PM on the East Coast (2PM on the West Coast) on Monday, 14-Sep. Check it out! Tune In Most Important Story of the Week - Who’s the Big Winner in the Netflix vs YouTube Showdown? Netflix spent a lot in 2025, and then even more in 2026 adding a host of “creators”—both podcasters and YouTube stars—to their TV lineup. Frankly, for years, I’ve thought that more major studios/streamers/channels should look to YouTube as the launching pad for future stars and IP. Either by poaching proven talent—albeit at good prices—or by treating YouTube as an arena for your “A&R” reps to scout new talent and emerging voices. Netflix started executing the former strategy—which I thought was smart—while Focus Features did the latter with Obsession. So what changed? YouTube finally responded! Yikes. That’s a strong response, and stronger than I’d argue most narratives about YouTube suggest. People often describe YouTube as a self-reinforcing flywheel of success. Get on YouTube or perish. So why did YouTube have to respond? Because other folks poaching their top talent could really damage their business, implying their flywheel is a pinch more rickety than most analysis suggests. Clearly, creators can envision a life off YouTube and potentially a much more lucrative one. The Curse of the Media Mogul is Playing Out In Real Time We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… Who is the big winner in the Netflix versus YouTube battle… The biggest question about YouTube… Plus why YouTube’s saber rattling should worry talent… Why I’m skeptical that a U.S. federal tax credit for film will happen… What key change could pull Apple from the streaming business. AMC getting in on distribution… Some great reads on the Warner Bros.-Paramount merger... And a whole lot more... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support.
'Nobody Wants This' gets season 3 release date at Netflix
Adam Brody as Noah and Kristen Bell as Joanne in episode 1 of 'Nobody Wants This' season 3. (Netflix)
GTA 6 Netflix preview drove more than 100,000 sign-ups during its six-hour exclusivity window
Rockstar's extended look resulted in the third-largest subscriber spike on Netflix this year, according to Ampere Analysis