Netflix faces a sharp drop in viewership in its second seasons

Netflix is experiencing a decrease in viewership for several of its most successful series starting from the second season. Data published by the platform itself shows significant drops in titles such as One Piece, Beef, The Night Agent, and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

The company is analyzing the causes of this trend while trying to maintain viewer interest with new releases. At the same time, investors are closely monitoring the evolution of viewing time and the performance of its most important content.

Netflix series that lost viewership in their new seasons

According to Netflix figures, One Piece, one of the most-watched productions of 2023, lost more than 30% of its audience in its second season during the first four weeks of release.

In the same period, the second season of Beef recorded a drop of over 70%, while The Night Agent reduced its audience by 50% in the second season and another 35% in the third.

Meanwhile, the new season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, one of the most-watched titles on the platform in 2024, started with a drop of over 60% during its first week.

Why Netflix is studying this audience behavior

According to sources familiar with the matter cited in the report, Netflix is analyzing its metrics to understand why fewer and fewer viewers continue watching some series after the first season.

In this context, the platform decided to end The Night Agent after its next season and renewed the comedies Running Point and The Four Seasons, despite both also recording a loss of more than 50% of their audience compared to their first installments.

The major successes Netflix had in 2026

During the first five months of 2026, Netflix only achieved two major successes, according to the report: His & Hers and the fourth season of Bridgerton.

The new installment of Bridgerton was one of the few exceptions to the trend of audience loss between seasons.

After that release, the platform went nearly four months without incorporating another significant success. During that period, one of the most-watched contents was the comedy special starring Kevin Hart.

How this trend impacts Netflix

The report indicates that the total time users spent watching Netflix over the past year grew by less than 2%, while third-party estimates suggest a slowdown in user growth, at least in the United States.

Additionally, the platform faces increased competition for viewing time against services like YouTube and Roku, which continue to expand their share of television consumption.

Netflix's strategy to maintain growth

CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters stated that Netflix's strategy remains focused on expanding its catalog and adding new offerings for users.

In this direction, the company has incorporated new content formats, including live sports broadcasts, podcasts, and partnerships with local partners in various markets.