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Despite being one of the best new original shows of 2026 so far, Netflix has canceled The Boroughs. Stranger Things creators the Duffer brothers produced the new sci-fi show, which saw a group of retirement home residents attempting to navigate an otherworldly threat.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the decision was made to cancel it after only a month on the platform due to two major reasons. The first is cost, as sci-fi is expensive to produce, meaning the viewership threshold needs to be as high as possible to compensate.
That being said, it seems like the show did pretty well. It's been in the weekly top 10 on Netflix every week since its May 21 release, which is no mean feat.
However, there's also another player at work: the Duffer brothers' new deal with Paramount. The creators have an upcoming movie due to be released by the studio in November 2028, which splits their loyalties away from just Netflix. According to THR, this was a contributing factor in the decision.
Starring Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, Denis O'Hare, Jena Malone, and Geena Davis, the star-studded series was a hit with critics and viewers alike. The show is currently sitting at a near-perfect 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers calling it Stranger Things for adults. Viewers were positive too, with an audience score of 78%.
Season one also ended on a pretty huge twist, which will be disappointing for fans hoping to find out what happens next. The show was created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, but neither of them has commented on its cancellation yet.
For what you can still stream on Netflix, check out our guides to the best Netflix shows and the best Netflix movies available now.
