6 Major Licensed TV Shows Leaving Netflix In Full This May

Picture Credit: Showtime

As we often say around here, what Netflix giveth, Netflix must eventually taketh away. While the streaming giant has been heavily leaning into licensing major third-party shows over the past couple of years, those deals come with strict expiration dates. Now, we’re looking ahead to May 2026, and it’s shaping up to be a pretty heavy month for TV departures in the United States, so here’s a special rundown of all the shows that should be on your radar. If you’ve been planning to watch, start now, or if you’re midway through any of these – hurry up!

This list is just a handful of the titles set to leave Netflix throughout May 2026, and we’re covering all the removals, whether they be movies or series, in our full guide to the month’s departures.

Here’s a look at the major licensed series we know are leaving Netflix US so far in May 2026:

The cult classic college football comedy has had a surprisingly bouncy history with Netflix. Originally airing on Spike TV, the raunchy comedy starring Alan Ritchson as the unforgettable Thad Castle has come and gone from the service a few times over the past decade.

Its most recent stint on Netflix is coming to an end after two years (it was added back in May 2024, having previously streamed throughout most of the late 2010s), meaning you have a limited time to get your fill of the BMS Mountain Goats. Given Ritchson’s massive recent success with Reacher, the show has enjoyed a nice little resurgence in viewership on Netflix, so it’s a shame to see it go once again. Alongside the series, the movie Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland (2016) is also set for departure on the first of the month.

Picture: IFC

If you’re a fan of hyper-specific comedy, this one is going to sting. Created by Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers, and Rhys Thomas, this IFC series is an absolute masterclass in parody. Hosted by Helen Mirren, each episode meticulously spoofs a famous documentary, from Grey Gardens (the legendary “Sandy Passage” episode) to Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present.

The show was a staple of Netflix throughout the late 2010s, though it left for a brief period in 2022 and was later re-added with the fourth (and final?) season. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you have until the latter half of May to binge through all 28 episodes. Be warned, though, if you have only Netflix’s ad-tier subscription, this is one of the few titles that remain blocked.

Picture Credit: ABC Family

For those looking for a cozy, nostalgic binge, the mid-2000s ABC Family drama Wildfire has been a hidden gem in the Netflix library. Starring Genevieve Cortese (now Padalecki), the series follows a young woman who finds a chance at redemption working on a family-run horse ranch after serving time in a teen detention center.

Shows in the vein of Heartland and Virgin River always perform incredibly well on Netflix, and Wildfire was a great licensed addition to that roster. All four seasons, comprising 51 episodes, will be galloping away from the platform on May 21st, exactly two years after it was added.

Picture Credit: Bounce TV

This multi-cam sitcom originally aired on Bounce TV and made a splash when it first dropped on Netflix. Starring comedic heavyweights Kym Whitley, Tisha Campbell, and Yvette Nicole Brown, the series centers around three successful women in their 50s living their best lives together in the Washington D.C. area.

Netflix has been a great secondary home for the series, helping it reach a much wider audience beyond its original network run. Unfortunately, its licensing window was relatively short, just two years, and it’ll be making its exit alongside the rest of the May 21st departures. The series sadly also never got a season 2 renewal.

Picture Credit: USA Network

Originally airing on Bravo and the USA Network, this true-crime anthology series was a massive hit when it first premiered. The first season stars Connie Britton and Eric Bana, adapting the hit podcast about a charismatic con man who infiltrates a wealthy family. The second season pivots to “The Betty Broderick Story,” starring Amanda Peet and Christian Slater in a gripping retelling of the infamous divorce and double murder.

While Dirty John was branded as a Netflix Original in many international territories, it remained a licensed property in the United States. It was on a long leash, with the series now leaving exactly five years after the second season was added. Much like Documentary Now!, this series is not available on Netlfix’s ad tier.

This is undeniably the biggest loss of the month. Starring Bryan Cranston, this Showtime prestige thriller was a certified monster hit when Netflix licensed it back in the summer of 2024. It dominated the Netflix Top 10s for weeks, proving once again the power of the “Netflix Bump” for premium cable dramas.

Cranston plays a respected New Orleans judge whose life spirals out of control after his teenage son is involved in a hit-and-run that connects to an organized crime family. As is standard with many of these Paramount/Showtime deals, Netflix secured exactly a two-year window. The show touched down on Netflix US on May 31st, 2024, and is scheduled to depart exactly 24 months later.

Which of these series will you be finishing up before they leave Netflix? Let us know in the comments down below.