naiwa 2026-04-10

Streaming is adding original films less frequently and focusing on bigger releases instead of racing for quantity.

According to a recent study by the French publication Netflix & Chiffres, in the first quarter of 2026, only 23 original feature films were released on Netflix — fewer than in any of the past eight years. For comparison: during the same period in 2025, 34 original films debuted on the platform, and the peak was in 2022, when about 50 films were released per quarter. The reduction is especially noticeable in Western regions: in the first three months of the year, only four original films came from the US and Canada, and just six from European countries.
At the same time, the decrease in volume does not mean a drop in quality: in 2026, Netflix has already released notable premieres such as the crime drama The Rip starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, the sci-fi action film War Machine with Alan Ritchson, and the long-awaited Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. Observers link the strategy shift to a desire to invest in more expensive projects, the impact of changes in the film division leadership, and echoes of the 2023 strikes; simultaneously, the service continues to expand its catalog through licensing deals with Universal and Sony Pictures. There has also been a decline in the series segment — 49 shows were released during the quarter — but subscribers can look forward to new original films like the shark horror Thrash and the thriller APEX starring Taron Eger…