Several ofNetflix’s original TV shows are coming to an end in 2025, and all six of them added something unique and interesting to the streaming service’s catalog. Ever since Netflix createdHouse of Cardsin 2013, it has become one of the biggest producers of original movies and shows in the world. Each year, the list ofNetflix’s best showsis increasingly filled with original series that the streaming service financed. The streamer also offers a surprisingly varied and diverse list of programs aimed at all types of viewers, and it’s proven to be an extremely successful strategy.
Though Netflix’s original shows are a key part of its business model, even they must end sooner or later. In 2025 alone, six different long-running and beloved Netflix shows will see their final seasons. Each one of the shows set to end this year was either massively successful with audiences, critics, or both, and all of them could have conceivably gone on indefinitely. Interestingly enough, most of Netflix’s shows are ending due to creative reasons, not financial ones, which should give fans some measure of closure.
One of Netflix’s flagship original shows - and one that launched several promising young actors into stardom - ends in 2025. The long-awaitedStranger Thingsseason 5is set to premiere on Netflix at a yet-unannounced date in 2025. It’s hard to overestimate how importantStranger Thingshas been to Netflix.Since it began in 2016, the show has only gotten more popular with time, andStranger Thingsseason 4 currently stands as the second most-watched English language show on Netflix(viaTudum). OnlySquid GameandWednesdayhave surpassed it, and it was one of the shows that cemented Netflix as a powerhouse producer of original content.
The Complete Stranger Things Timeline Explained
Take a closer look at the complete Stranger Things timeline, beginning with the founding of Hawkins, Indiana, and what we know about season 5.
Stranger Thingsfollows a group of children as they investigate the supernatural occurrences inspired by the popular role-playing gameDungeons & Dragonsthat occur throughout the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.Thecast ofStranger Thingsincludes a host of young actors who got their start in the Netflix show, such as Millie Bobbie Brown and Finn Wolfhard, as well as older actors who experienced a resurgence in popularity, like Winona Ryder and David Harbour. Complete with excellent nerd culture, impeccable 1980s nostalgia, and a killer soundtrack, it’s no wonderStranger Thingsbecame a cultural phenomenon.
Complete with excellent nerd culture, impeccable 1980s nostalgia, and a killer soundtrack, it’s no wonder Stranger Things became a cultural phenomenon.
Many viewers may wonder why a show as successful asStranger Thingsis ending after season 5. According toNewsweek, series creators Matt and Ross Duffer always planned forStranger Thingsto last just five seasons.That became clear after theending ofStranger Thingsseason 4, which introduced the ultimate villain in the form of Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and set the series' climactic conclusion in motion. Whatever the Duffer brothers have in store forStranger Thingsseason 5 is almost certainly a fitting end for the massively popular show, and it should be an emotional farewell for longtime fans.
Another of Netflix’s most popular shows ever,Squid Game, is coming to an end in 2025. When its first season debuted in 2020,Squid Gamewas an instant international hit.It became by far the most popular show on Netflix, andSquid Gameseason 1 garnered over 265 million views, beating bothWednesdayandStranger Things. It’s now thebest Korean drama on Netflix, and it likely had a large part in the streaming service’s more recent focus on international shows and movies.Squid Gameseason 2 continued the first season’s success as well, garnering over 173 million views in just over a month since its release.
Why Squid Game Season 1 Was So Popular
Squid Game season 1 was a global sensation and the biggest show on Netflix, and there were a variety of reasons it got so popular in the first place.
Squid Gamefollows Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), a poor man from South Korea who is invited to play a series of deadly children’s games for an enormous cash prize. Through the games,Squid Gameoffers a biting critique of capitalism, as well as some intense thrills, nail-biting suspense, and heart-wrenching drama. After the cliffhangerending ofSquid Gameseason 1, millions of fans all over the world waited to see how Gi-hun’s story would progress, and how he would go about ending the games once and for all inSquid Gameseason 2.
Why Squid Game Season 3 Is Releasing Only 6 Months After Season 2
After a three-year hiatus between seasons 1 and 2, Netflix’s Squid Game season 3 is releasing only six months after season 2’s record-breaking debut.
Like withStranger Things, viewers may wonder whySquid Gameseason 3will be the series' last.Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk was open about the fact thatSquid Gameseason 3 would be written as the ending of Gi-hun’s story, so the show was not canceled. Instead, bothSquid Gameseasons 2 and 3 were written with a predetermined endpoint in mind. Luckily for fans of the show,David Fincher is set to make aSquid Gamespinoffthat will relocate the story from South Korea to the United States, so there’s plenty more thrills on the horizon.
One ofNetflix’s best animated shows geared towards adults,Big Mouth, will see its final season in 2025. Netflix has been a major name in animation for a long time, butBig Mouthhelped fulfill the one niche it hasn’t completely dominated.Netflix shows likeCastlevaniaorArcaneare some of the best narrative-driven dramatic animated shows on streaming, but the streaming service hadn’t been able to match the comedy prowess of shows likeRick and MortyorSmiling Friends. Luckily,Big Mouthhelped show the world that Netflix’s animation could handle adult humor just as well as it could handle adult drama.
Big Mouthhelped show the world that Netflix’s animation could handle adult humor just as well as it could handle adult drama.
Big Mouthfollows a group of middle schoolers as they experience the stress and anxiety of puberty through fictional hormone monsters. Despite featuring child characters, the show features an extremely mature sense of humor that jokes about everything from sex and puberty to racial and gender-based issues.Thevocal cast ofBig Mouthstars prominent comedians like Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Maya Rudolph, and more, which gives it more than enough comedic talent to make such jokes land.Big Mouthwalks a fine line between obscene and hilarious, but its talented cast and creators manage to keep it on the right side most of the time.
Every Cameo In Big Mouth Season 7
Big Mouth is no stranger to famous and hilarious guest stars, but the Season 7 episodes get celebrities bigger than the show has ever had before
As one of the longest-running Netflix original shows that’s set to end in 2025,Big Mouthseason 8 being the ending of the seriesisn’t too surprising.As a show focused on kids going through puberty, there was always an expiration date on the series as its main characters simply aged out of middle school. The series' creators are still working with Netflix as well, and they may simply be ready to tackle a new project in lieu of more seasons ofBig Mouth. There’s no telling what the creators ofBig Mouthcould do next.
Netflix took a gamble when it picked up aKarate Kidspinoff 34 years after the original movie was in theaters, butCobra Kaiproved to be a massive success for the streamer.Cobra Kaiwas originally created by and housed on YouTube, but Netflix picked it up after the show’s third season. Once it did, the series exploded in popularity, and it remains one of the streaming service’s most reliably successful series years later.Cobra Kaiis also probably Netflix’s most successful instance of picking up a show from another production company and turning it into a hit.
Why Cobra Kai Moved To Netflix In Season 3 (After Starting On YouTube)
The Karate Kid sequel series Cobra Kai was originally housed on Youtube, but it moved to Netflix in season 3 where it found exceeding opportunity.
Cobra Kaifollows, primarily, the main villain from the firstKarate Kidfilm, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), as an adult who runs a karate dojo in direct competition with Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio).Cobra Kaiessentially works as a legacy sequel to the originalKarate Kid, and it exploroes some of the distant aftermath of Johnny and Daniel’s battle. While it certainly had nostalgia working in its favor,Cobra Kaialso more than earned its popularity, as it has been nominated for dozens of television awards over the years.
Cobra Kai Season 6 Clip: Miyagi-Do Trains For The Final Round As Sekai Takai Decision Is Reached
Netflix unveils more of Cobra Kai season 6, part 3, the final episodes of the Karate Kid sequel series, in the form of a teaser and first-look images.
Like many other Netflix shows ending in 2025,Cobra Kai’s conclusion was a long time coming.Cobra Kai’s creators explained why the show was endingby saying that they had figured out inCobra Kaiseason 5 that their story was reaching its natural conclusion. Unlike other entries on this list, however,Cobra Kaiwon’t be the end of the franchise, asthe upcoming filmKarate Kid: Legendsis set to feature many of the characters from the shows and movies.Cobra Kaiactually largely madeLegendspossible, as it forged a resurgence in interest inKarate Kidas a franchise.
Netflix’s most successful entry into the ever-popular crime genre,You, will also end in 2025. After the success of shows likeDexterandHannibal,Youoffered Netflix a way into the world of fictional villains and killers. It quickly became a success story for the streamer as well.Netflix picked upYoufrom Lifetime, and each season of the series has routinely drawn tens of millions of views. With an average score of 92% onRotten Tomatoes,Youhas also been a massive critical success for Netflix, which has helped the streamer earn a reputation for creating quality programming.
You Season 5 Official Teaser
The official teaser for You season 5 released by Netflix.
Youfollows Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), a serial stalker and murderer who inserts himself into the lives of beautiful women he becomes obsessed with.Youoffers viewers a chance to tap into a morbidly curious story and follow a main character who is anything but heroic.On top of its dark subject matter,Youalso features an intriguingly complex plot filled with twists and surprises as Joe tries to keep his lies from collapsing and burying him. It has plenty of things going for it, which helped it become one of Netflix’s most successful original shows.
All in all, it’s likely for the best thatYouis ending with season 5.
Once again,Youseason 5will be the show’s last not due to cancelation, but because it was written as the conclusion to Joe’s story. After the controversialending ofYouseason 4, many fans can agree that the show is reaching its endpoint.Additionally, after seven years and several obsessive relationships,Youdoesn’t have nearly as many new avenues to explore with Joe as it once did. All in all, it’s likely for the best thatYouis ending with season 5.
The last Netflix original show set to end in 2025 - so far - isMo. Aside from only lasting two seasons,Mois unique among Netflix’s ending shows for another reason.Mowas a massive critical success - it has a rare 100% with critics and 89% with audiences onRotten Tomatoes- and it’s arguably one of the best shows Netflix has created in years.Moseason 2 has also already been released on Netflix, is currently available to stream, andreviews forMoseason 2already look as positive as they were for the first installment in the series.
“Brings Tears To Your Eyes”: Spielberg Sent Letter About How Much He Loved Netflix Show
Legendary director Steven Spielberg wrote a letter expressing his enjoyment of a Netflix comedy series, making its lead star emotional.
Mofollows Mo Najjar (Mohammed Amer), a Palestinian refugee as he struggles to secure citizenship in the United States.In a blend of tragedy and comedy,Mochronicles many of the challenges and heartbreaks many immigrants experience while transitioning to a new country. In addition to telling a story catered to an underrepresented audience,Moalso has universal themes of culture shock, oppression, and trying to carve joy out of the everyday tragedies life holds. It’s clear whyMowas able to become so cherished by so many viewers.
Netflix ordered Mo season 2 as the final installment in the show, and it may have done so due to low viewership or some other undisclosed reason.
Mois also unique in that it doesn’t have a very clearly defined reason for ending. Series co-creator Mohammed Amer gave a quote expressing his thankfulness at being able to tell the story of Mo, but other than that, there hasn’t been much explanation of the show’s cancelation (viaEntertainment Weekly). Netflix orderedMoseason 2 as the final installment in the show, and it may have done so due to low viewership or some other undisclosed reason. ThoughNetflixdoesn’t always explain its reasoning, its original shows almost always end on a positive note.
