Television producers and filmmakers believe streaming services are ruining television shows and cinema. From Steven Spielberg to Christopher Nolan, Patty Jenkins and Martin Scorsese, renowned auteurs have had a reason or two to denounce these platforms. Scorsese, for instance, published a lengthy piece, decrying how the art of cinema has been devalued to just content.
With the television industry getting the short end of the stick, producers like Jeff Sagansky (Woke Up Dead), John Wells (ER, The Pitt), Jerry Bruckheimer (The Amazing Race), and Stephen Schiff (The Americans) have lent their voices to the cause, highlighting the various issues with the streaming platforms. For audiences, these issues often translate to the neglect of their viewing experience or cancellation of shows they truly fancy. Here are examples from 2026 thus far.
01. Gen V
@genv Marie said DON’T make unnecessary journeys! don’t take risks on treacherous roads!! #GenV
Picking up from Season 1’s ending, Gen V had another thrilling outing for its second season, pitting Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair) and her friends against the God U founder. The season ended with the supe friends joining Starlight’s resistance. But then, they didn’t influence the events of The Boys’ final season as fans anticipated. Worse still, Amazon Prime Video pulled the plug on the show in April 2026, leaving fans with several unanswered questions about Marie and her friends. While another The Boys spinoff is in the works, Gen V’s cancellation makes no sense, at least for the fandom.
02. Ponies
@peacock This is what you call a power couple ❤️🔥 #PONIES arrives January 15 on Peacock. #HaleyLuRichardson #EmiliaClarke #Spy #Girlhood
The Peacock spy thriller premiered in January 2026 and pulled a decent following with its lighthearted Cold War drama blending buddy comedy with amateur espionage. Starring Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson, the series created by Susanna Fogel and David Iserson debuted to positive reviews from fans and critics, with a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite these feats, the NBC streamer didn’t think the period drama deserved a second installment. The show was canceled in June, barely six months after it premiered.
03. The Copenhagen Test
@peacock Are you in? #TheCopenhagenTest arrives December 27 on Peacock. #SimuLiu #MelissaBarrera #Drama
Ponies isn’t the only show with great potential that Peacock shelved after one season. Thomas Brandon’s sci-fi spy thriller suffered the same fate earlier in April. The Copenhagen Test premiered in December 2025 and attracted a large following with its story about an intelligence agent forced to prove his allegiance after sinister forces hacked his brain. Starring Simu Liu, Melissa Barrera, and Sinclair Daniel, The Copenhagen Test’s viewership numbers competed with Netflix’s Stranger Things and Paramount+’s Landman. Despite being an instant streaming hit with a solid approval rating, Peacock abandoned the spy action thriller after its numbers declined.
04. The Boroughs
@netflix welcome to THE BOROUGHS, we’re so happy you’re here…
Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews’ sci-fi adventure premiered on Netflix in May 2026 and quickly became the streamer’s top show. Produced by Stranger Things’ Duffer brothers, The Boroughs also claimed the top spot on Nielsen’s streaming ratings, alongside a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In June 2026, when Netflix announced it wouldn’t greenlight Season 2, The Boroughs still ranked among the platform’s Global Top 10 Shows. All of these ensure The Boroughs’ spot among the most unexpected and confusing cancellations of 2026. But then, the reported production cost of $10 million per episode explains Netflix’s decision to discontinue the show.
05. The Abandons
@netflixuk Mother against Mother. Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson go head-to-head in TheAbandons, premiering 4 December, only on Netflix
Before The Boroughs, Netflix canceled another promising show — a Western drama starring Lena Headey, Gillian Anderson, and Nick Robinson. Kurt Sutter’s The Abandons premiered in December 2025 and claimed the 4th spot on the streaming service’s Global Top 10 Shows. While it dropped off the list after two weeks, The Abandons had the makings of a great show, but Netflix gave it only one month to prove itself. The streaming giant axed the series in January 2026 to Sutter’s ire. He took to Instagram to blast Netflix for choosing algorithms over creators’ visions.
06. Kevin
@primevideoph Live like you only have nine lives. Kevin is coming to Prime Video on April 20.
♬ original sound – Prime Video Philippines – Prime Video Philippines
Amazon Prime Video’s adult animated series packed up two months after it premiered. Created by Joe Wengert and Aubrey Plaza, Kevin received mixed reviews but drew comparisons to the acclaimed Netflix sitcom, BoJack Horseman. A show with such a massive promise deserves more time to earn its place, but Prime Video could only spare eight weeks. The Amazon streamer dumped the sitcom to the creators’ disappointment. Plaza expressed her frustration over the development on Instagram, but hopes to find a new home for the New York anthropomorphic cat. Check out the burning question The Pitt Season 3 must answer.
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