Entertainment
Say Goodbye to These 8 Netflix Shows Before They Officially Leave Streaming
One of the advantages of streaming is that you can always go back to a show and watch it, even years later. It’s always “on,” meaning it’s available to stream 24/7. But this isn’t necessarily actually the case. Netflix, like other streamers, licenses non-original shows for streaming, and eventually, those licenses expire, and the show is removed. Meanwhile, even some Netflix originals are removed from the service from time to time.
This means you might find that one day a show you bookmarked ages ago has suddenly disappeared. Consider, for example, that Dexter was removed from Netflix in the U.S. in 2025 and left Netflix in other countries in 2026. In July 2026, Netflix removed Between, a short-lived co-production with Canada that originally streamed a decade ago. Gilmore Girls also recently left the streamer, along with classics like The Bernie Mac Show and Prime Video original series Sneaky Pete. Lots more shows are leaving soon, so make sure to watch them before they’re gone.
1
‘Home Improvement’ (1991–1999)
This classic ’90s sitcom will be leaving Netflix on August 1. Home Improvement stars Tim Allen as the grunting handyman dad who spends his days on his fictional home improvement show Tool Time and his nights with his wife and three sons. It’s a traditional heartwarming sitcom that highlights family, parenting, and all its challenges, told through a humorous lens, as per Allen’s signature style.
The highlights of every episode are Tim (Allen) and his interactions with his sons, as well as the advice he gets from his wise neighbor Wilson (the late Earl Hindman), whose face is never seen above their backyard fence. The show is relatable, nostalgic, and cleverly written, with plenty of jokes to keep you laughing all the way through.
2
‘The Game’ (2006–2015)
Only the first three of nine seasons of The Game have been streaming on Netflix, but they will be leaving the streamer on August 15. The comedy drama is a spin-off of Girlfriends that originally aired on The CW, after which it was cancelled, then revived for BET. There was also a revival that aired for two more seasons on Paramount+. The show centers around Melanie Barnett (Tia Mowry), a medical student who abandons her studies to move to San Diego with her boyfriend Derwin (Pooch Hall), who is pursuing his rookie football career. While there, she meets other women who help her balance her medical education with her boyfriend’s rising sports stardom.
Fans love the focus on strong female characters in The Game, along with how it portrays complicated relationship dynamics. Sharp, witty, and tackling serious topical issues in later seasons like mental health and the pressures of fame, The Game is one of those underrated series you probably haven’t even heard of. But if it sounds like it’s up your alley, watch now before it’s gone. Along with the talented cast, the special guest appearance cast list is huge, too, including names like Tichina Arnold, Rob Base, Morris Chestnut, Terry Crews, Cuba Gooding Jr., Tiffany Haddish, Jason Momoa, and more.
3
‘Better Than Us’ (2018)
If you’re looking for a hidden sci-fi gem, Better Than Us is Netflix’s first Russian original show. With dialogue in Russian (you can watch with subtitles or dubbing), it tells the story of Arisa (Paulina Andreeva), an advanced android who exists in the future year 2029, at a time when androids live alongside humans. When Arisa accidentally kills a man who tries to use her as a sex robot, she goes on the run. If the leaders discover that she went against Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics, it will be the end of her.
It’s easy to see how Better Than Us is so relevant, showcasing a future world that isn’t so far off from today, both in date and in the rise of humanoid AI robots doing menial jobs. The story takes a more touching turn when Arisa meets a young girl named Sonya (Vita Kornienko) and acts as her guardian, protecting her and becoming part of a family. The 16-episode season is worth a watch before it’s gone on August 16. You get a clever mix of fast-paced, futuristic thriller with family drama, which makes Better Than Us oddly relatable, too.
4
‘The Venture Bros.’ (2003–2018)
If you have been meaning to watch this highly rated adult animated action-adventure series, check out The Venture Bros. before August 16, as that is when it will reportedly be removed from Netflix. The show, which originally premiered on Adult Swim, follows the Venture family, led by their scientist father, as they go on all their adventures. From the world-building to the blending of comedy and drama, The Venture Bros. has been a hit since it debuted.
With seven seasons under its belt, the series ties traditional superhero and supervillain stories with the boy adventurer satire of the 1960s. You get a subversive story with compelling characters and plots that intentionally lean into tropes. While The Venture Bros. starts and ends as a satire, the character development and unique narrative sometimes make you forget that’s the intent.
5
‘Fear the Walking Dead’ (2015–2023)
It’s possible that an extension deal can be made with AMC before the license for Fear the Walking Dead expires on August 19, but if not, that’s the day that all eight seasons will no longer be available to binge. So, if you stopped halfway through and have been meaning to catch up, now is the time. The post-apocalyptic horror drama is the longest-running The Walking Dead spin-off, existing in the same world but telling the story from a different perspective and location.
You get to see the onset of the outbreak for the first time in this must-watch zombie show, something The Walking Dead skipped over by only beginning when Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) woke up from his coma. There’s the stunning backdrop of Los Angeles and eventually Mexico, and a different mix of characters, even some crossover ones in later seasons. While Fear the Walking Dead admittedly lost its way in the final seasons (I’d recommend even skipping the final season altogether), its first seasons tell a strong story with characters you will adore, like Colman Domingo‘s Victor Strand, and ones you’ll mourn as they depart one by one.
6
‘Under Fire’ (2021–2024)
One of the rare Netflix originals that will be removed from streaming, the Belgian drama Under Fire will no longer be available to stream starting August 24. The story follows a team of firefighters and their daily work saving people in danger while also dealing with their own internal conflicts. At the heart of the story is the risk of the fire station being closed following a fatal error.
Under Fire doesn’t offer anything markedly different from other dramas that focus on first responders, but if you’re looking for something with a perspective from another country, it might scratch an itch while you wait for your favorite American procedural shows to return or new episodes to come out.
7
‘Undercover Law’ (2018)
You have until August 31 to binge the extra-long first and only season of this Colombian drama about a group of women who form their own special police force to infiltrate the local drug cartels. What makes Undercover Law, called La ley secreta in its native language, especially compelling is that it’s inspired by a real story about a police intelligence unit in Colombia made up entirely of women.
Undercover Law follows these women as they manage their double lives, working as wives, mothers, and caretakers while also keeping their dangerous jobs a secret from the people they love. The high-stakes action is gripping and exciting in this Netflix show no one remembers today. If you’re looking for a good female-led series, Undercover Law is a worthwhile watch.
8
‘A Discovery of Witches’ (2018–2022)
Another show with the potential for renewal, if that doesn’t happen, A Discovery of Witches will be leaving Netflix on August 19. The British fantasy series is based on Deborah Harkness‘ All Souls Trilogy and centers around Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer), a historian and witch who reluctantly heads back into the world of magic. She gets help from Matthew Clairmont (Matthew Goode), a biochemist and vampire.
The series is smart, romantic, and brings you into a wonderful world of magic, monsters, and fantasy. You see witches, vampires, and demons living among humans. The plot weaves in historical themes, science, and political tensions as various factions come together to fight evil forces.
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