Several TV shows have come to an unexpected end in 2024, with both broadcast networks and streaming platforms announcing series cancellations here and there. From critically acclaimed series to highly anticipated new releases, the abrupt goodbyes have surprised fans so much that some have even petitioned to renew their favorite shows.
Budget constraints, declining viewership, and creative decisions have all played roles in these cancellations, affecting both long-running favorites and promising newcomers alike. Here’s a look at 14 canceled TV shows that have left audiences heartbroken in 2024:
American Born Chinese
Kelvin Yu created the action-comedy TV series American Born Chinese (2023) for Disney+, which premiered in May 2023. While the show was hailed as “one of the best offerings” on the streaming service and received generally positive reviews, it was ultimately canceled in January 2024 after just one season.
According to a source at Variety, Disney was enthusiastic about the series’ creativity, but its viewership wasn’t sufficient for renewal. However, the producers plan to pitch the show to other platforms to continue the story of 10th-grader Jin Wang (Ben Wang), who struggles to fit in with his peers. Jin’s life takes an unexpected turn when he’s assigned to show a new exchange student, Wei-Chen (Jimmy Liu), around school. This simple task leads Jin to become entangled in a battle between mythical Chinese gods.
Julia
Daniel Goldfarb’s acclaimed comedy series Julia (2022) enjoyed a two-season run on HBO Max before it was canceled in January 2024. Based on the life of iconic chef Julia Child and her TV show The French Chef, the biographical drama’s cancellation came as a surprise after receiving generally positive reviews. Julia garnered an overall 97% critic rating and 4.7/5 audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and an 8.3-star rating on IMDb (rated by over 14k IMDb users).
This highlights the fact that critical acclaim and quality alone don’t drive business decisions for TV projects. You have to take viewership numbers and production costs into consideration as well. Since both seasons were well-received by critics and viewers alike, the show’s cancellation caused many to lament the loss of a potential third season.
Ratched
Evan Romansky’s psychological thriller Ratched (2020) explores the origin story of asylum nurse Mildred Ratched. A prequel to Miloš Forman’s 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the drama premiered on Netflix in September 2020 and was met with mixed reviews.
Ratched ranked No. 1 in the Nielsen ratings in its first week of release, with a Netflix viewership of 48 million in the first month. However, critics and audiences couldn’t help but criticize the show’s characterizations and plot holes that undermined the outstanding production and the incredible performances by the cast.
Despite Netflix initially ordering Ratched for two seasons, the show was ultimately canceled after just one season, following an almost four-year wait.
Minx
Minx (2022) is a comedy series set in 1970s Los Angeles that follows Joyce (Ophelia Lovibond), an earnest young feminist who teams up with a low-rent publisher named Doug (Jake Johnson) to publish a magazine (the erotic kind) for women. Despite receiving generally favorable reviews for its witty writing and strong performances, the TV show struggled to find a large audience.
While Minx was initially green-lit for a second season, Warner Bros. Discovery canceled it as a “tax write-off” just days before production was wrapped. The show was then saved and picked up by Starz, with the second season premiering in July 2023.
However, Minx reportedly drew fewer than 100,000 viewers per episode, making it difficult to justify its production costs, and was subsequently canceled again in January 2024. This second cancellation left fans disappointed, as the series had garnered a dedicated following for its unique premise and exploration of 1970s gender dynamics.
CSI: Vegas
The police procedural drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000–2015) became such a huge success that it spawned several spin-offs and evolved into a major media franchise. In 2021, its revival series, CSI: Vegas (2021-2024), debuted on CBS as the fifth (and final) series in the franchise.
Despite the success of the original show and the initial excitement and nostalgia surrounding the revival, CSI: Vegas struggled to match the popularity of its predecessor. While the show maintained a dedicated fan base and averaged around 6.4 million viewers per episode in Nielsen’s seven-day linear ratings, it was still among the least-watched dramas on CBS.
In April 2024, CBS executives decided to cancel CSI: Vegas after just three seasons — CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach explained that the decision was based on a combination of factors, including “financials and the performance” of the show, as well as the need to keep the network’s schedule fresh. Interestingly, the series finale, which aired on May 19, 2024, saw a 16% increase in viewership, drawing 4.8 million total viewers.
Constellation
Apple TV+ is no stranger to releasing sci-fi series, and Constellation (2024) is no exception. Led by Noomi Rapace as Johanna “Jo” Ericsson, it tells the story of an astronaut who survives a disaster in space and returns to Earth to find some parts of her life missing. The sci-fi, psychological thriller received generally favorable reviews from critics, earning a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The series earned praise for its compelling performances and unsettling atmosphere, which made Constellation an engaging and enjoyable watch. However, Constellation failed to enter Nielsen’s streaming top 10 during its run. The network’s focus on sci-fi is also said to have taken its toll, potentially causing an oversaturation of the genre.
Halo
Paramount+ took a bold step in creating a live-action TV adaptation of the hit video game franchise Halo. Developed by Kyle Killen and Steven Kane, the military sci-fi series follows a 26th-century war between the United Nations Space Command and the Covenant, a theocratic military alliance of several alien races determined to eradicate humanity.
The show’s development began long before its March 2022 premiere, dating back to 2013. Filming started in 2019 but was halted due to COVID-19, resuming in February 2021. However, in July 2024, the show was canceled after just two seasons. Although Paramount didn’t reveal the reason behind the cancellation, sources allege the staggering production costs and negative reception from the beloved video game’s fans may have had something to do with it.
The Brothers Sun
Just when everyone thought Michelle Yeoh’s star power, fresh from her Oscar win for Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), would draw audiences to the Netflix original series The Brothers Sun (2024), the show got canceled after just one season.
The comedy-drama peaked at 50 million hours of streaming during its second week but gradually lost much of its viewership. Netflix gave the show two months to redeem itself, unfortunately, no positive developments emerged, and the show was ultimately canceled in March 2024. While the main story essentially wrapped up at the end of the season, the post-credits scene introduced new elements that hinted at potential future developments. Sadly, it’s not something fans will get to see unfold.
Outer Range
Prime Video’s Outer Range (2022-2024) left fans not only heartbroken but also furious when it was canceled in July 2024, despite showing significant improvement in its second season. The sci-fi neo-Western series, which initially received mixed reviews, likely due to its numerous subplots, gained a loyal following in its second season under new showrunner Charles Murray.
Viewers and critics alike praised the performances of lead stars Josh Brolin (as Royal Abbott) and Imogen Poots (as Autumn), making the cancellation particularly disappointing. Reports suggest that Outer Range fell victim to budget concerns, with production costs and actor salaries outweighing its financial returns.
The Acolyte
Lucasfilm and Disney have recently focused on producing Star Wars shows, with their latest offering being The Acolyte (2024). The story follows twin sisters Osha and Mae after a mysterious assassin emerges, killing off several Jedi. However, long before its debut, the show became controversial, facing a severe review bombing campaign that led to low viewership ratings. As a result, just a month after its eight-episode run, the show was canceled.
While The Acolyte received favorable reviews from critics, it divided the franchise’s fans. Deadline reported that the show fell out of Nielsen’s Top 10 originals chart by its third week. Although it briefly climbed back for its finale, it was said to be the “least-watched” ending of any Star Wars series. Following the cancellation, fans launched a petition campaign to renew the show, though it remains unclear if it will capture the attention of Lucasfilm and Disney.
Life & Beth
Life & Beth (2022) might not be the most popular series on Hulu, but the show offers something unique with its semi-autobiographical storyline created by Amy Schumer. The series featured Schumer alongside Arrested Development star Michael Cera. However, despite the recognizable cast and mixed-to-positive critical reception, the show was canceled after two seasons.
Although Hulu remained silent about the cancellation, the decision was not entirely surprising. The dramedy is believed to have failed to make it onto Nielsen’s streaming list, although the network did not release any viewing data.
Dead Boy Detectives
Netflix’s Dead Boy Detectives, released in April 2024, was a highly anticipated addition to The Sandman (2022) universe. Based on the beloved DC Comics characters created by Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner, the series initially showed promise, debuting at No. 2 on Netflix’s Top 10 TV list.
However, it struggled to maintain its position, falling to No. 7 after just three weeks. Despite praise from critics for its imaginative supernatural elements, witty writing, and strong performances from the cast, the show failed to capture a large enough audience to secure its future.
Fans took to social media to express their disappointment, with one Twitter user lamenting, “I can’t believe we won’t get to see more of Charles and Edwin’s afterlife adventures. #DeadBoyDetectives was just getting started!”
My Lady Jane
Premiering in June 2024, Prime Video’s historical fantasy romance My Lady Jane was a breakout series this summer. It tells the story of the titular character, Lady Jane Grey, played by Emily Bader. While the show received positive reviews from critics with an impressive 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it was ultimately canceled after just a couple of months.
The unexpected cancellation led to a backlash, with fans petitioning for the show’s renewal. Even renowned author George R.R. Martin wanted to see the continuation of Jane’s story. Unfortunately, it may never happen, as the show reportedly failed to attract a wide audience.
Pretty Little Liars (2022)
Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (2022) was canceled by Max in September 2024 after running for two successful seasons. This reboot, the fourth installment in the Pretty Little Liars franchise, took a more horror-centric approach, blending the franchise’s signature mystery elements with slasher film aesthetics.
The show garnered widespread praise from critics, evidenced by its impressive 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Its positive reception led to a second season titled Pretty Little Liars: Summer School (2024). Despite the enthusiastic critical response, Max decided not to renew the series for a third season.
The streamer released a statement praising the creators and Warner Bros. for their “fun, horror-filled point of view” on the PLL universe. The cancellation came as a surprise to fans, especially given that the second season finale ended on a cliffhanger teasing a new threat.
Time Bandits
Time Bandits (2024), a fresh take on the beloved 1981 British fantasy film, aired on Apple TV+ in July only to be canceled after its first season. The fantasy adventure TV series stars Lisa Kudrow as Penelope and Kal-El Tuck as 11-year-old Kevin.
Despite garnering positive reviews and earninga 78% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, the show struggled to attract a substantial audience leading to its cancellation less than a month after the season finale.