10 TV Shows That Found a Second Life on Netflix After Cancellation

Netflix has a reputation for cancelling shows — but it also has a history of saving them. When a show is cancelled on its original network, Netflix has frequently stepped in to give it a second chance.

For every show Netflix cancels after one season, there's another that Netflix rescued from cancellation elsewhere. The streaming giant has become the most prolific "saviour" of cancelled shows in television history — often because the data shows that cancelled network shows thrive on a streaming platform.

Here are ten shows that were cancelled on their original networks — and found a second life on Netflix.

  1. Lucifer (Fox, 2016–2018 → Netflix, 2019–2021) — The most famous Netflix save. Fox cancelled Lucifer after three seasons. #SaveLucifer trended #1 on Twitter worldwide. Within a month, Netflix picked it up for a fourth season. The show ran for three more seasons on Netflix, concluding properly in 2021. The penultimate episode of season 4 was even titled "Save Lucifer."
  2. Manifest (NBC, 2018–2021 → Netflix, 2023) — NBC cancelled Manifest after three seasons on a massive cliffhanger. The first two seasons had recently hit Netflix and become the most-watched show on the platform, with 25 million accounts watching in 28 days. After months of fan campaigns, Netflix ordered a 20-episode fourth and final season.
  3. You (Lifetime, 2018 → Netflix, 2019–present) — Premiered on Lifetime with modest ratings but strong word-of-mouth. Netflix acquired the series for its second season, and it became a global phenomenon. Now one of Netflix's most-watched original series, with multiple seasons and a dedicated fanbase.
  4. Cobra Kai (YouTube Premium, 2018–2020 → Netflix, 2020–2025) — The Karate Kid sequel series debuted on YouTube's premium service. When YouTube stopped funding original content, Netflix saved it. The show became one of Netflix's most-watched series, running for six seasons and earning critical acclaim.
  5. The Expanse (Syfy, 2015–2018 → Amazon, 2019–2022) — Technically saved by Amazon, not Netflix, but the fan campaign was so significant that it belongs on any list. Syfy cancelled it after three seasons. A massive fan campaign — #SaveTheExpanse — included a banner flown over Amazon Studios. Jeff Bezos personally intervened. Amazon produced three more seasons.
  6. Arrested Development (Fox, 2003–2006 → Netflix, 2013–2019) — One of the most acclaimed comedies of the 2000s, cancelled by Fox after three seasons. Netflix revived it seven years later for a fourth season, then a fifth. While the revival was polarising, it proved that Netflix could resurrect even the most unlikely shows.
  7. Designated Survivor (ABC, 2016–2017 → Netflix, 2018–2019) — ABC cancelled this political thriller after two seasons. Netflix picked it up for a third and final season, giving the show a proper ending. The Netflix season was shorter (10 episodes vs 22) but provided closure ABC never would have.
  8. Black Lightning (Fox → Netflix, 2019) — The show was developed for Fox, then moved to Netflix before production, making it a unique case of a show being "saved" before it even aired.
  9. Longmire (A&E, 2012–2014 → Netflix, 2015–2017) — A&E cancelled this modern Western crime drama after three seasons. Netflix revived it for three more seasons, allowing the story to reach its planned conclusion. The show was one of Netflix's earliest and most successful rescues.
  10. The Killing (AMC, 2011–2012 → Netflix, 2013–2014) — AMC cancelled The Killing after two seasons due to low ratings. Netflix partnered with AMC to produce a third season. When AMC cancelled it again, Netflix commissioned a fourth and final season — one of the first examples of a streaming service saving a cancelled network show.

For every show saved, dozens more never get a second chance. That's why every cancelled show deserves a proper ending — whether the network provides it or the fans do. Explore our library of fan-written conclusions.