How the “Netflix Effect” Gave These Shows A Second Life On Streaming
Netflix has been the disruptor in the distribution of television and movies since its founding in 1997. From mailing customers DVDs to becoming the most popular streaming service globally, Netflix has gained loyal consumers over the years. The streamer now is best known for its original series and movies, but when it first started, the majority of its catalog was licensed content from other studios. Without having to buy a pack of DVDs to rewatch an old favorite, many shows seemed to have gained a second life once added to Netflix. Fans got to rediscover an old favorite while a new generation watched for the first time. For some series, they originally premiered on cable tv through a network, but didn’t garner a lot of success until moving to streaming. This phenomenon is largely referred to as the ‘Netflix Effect,” where a show surges in popularity once added to the platform. Pop Culture Planet contributor Jordan Bohan breaks down all of the series that have been resurrected by Netflix.
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad premiered on AMC in 2008 with a five season run. The series follows Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher. He can barely make ends meet and his wife is pregnant while their teenage son is battling cerebral palsy. When he thinks things can’t get any worse, Walter finds out he has cancer. In a desperate attempt to make as much money as he can in the little time he has, he turns an old RV into a meth lab on wheels.
Netflix acquired the license for the first three seasons before the fourth premiered on AMC. This surge in viewership of the early seasons led to even more success on the new network episodes, garnering 16 Primetime Emmy wins across its five seasons.
Gilmore Girls
After airing back in 2000, Gilmore Girls was an instant hit. The small New England town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut felt like it was pulled right out of a storybook. The series followed Rory Gilmore, a high school bookworm, and her mother Lorelai as they grow up and navigate family, friendship, and relationships. The original series aired for seven straight seasons and launched the careers of stars like Alexis Bledel, Milo Ventimiglia, and Melissa McCarthy.
Netflix acquired the series back in 2016 where the show was introduced to a new generation of fans. Five months later, Netflix released a four episode mini reboot that left fans with more questions than answers. This series is a staple in your fall watchlist and stands the test of time, appealing to generations of fans.
Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl is one of the most popular teen dramas that premiered back in 2007 and has taken on a new generation of fans through streaming reruns. The series follows the lives of New York City’s elite teens through fashion, drama. and scandal. Lasting six seasons, the series is responsible for launching the careers of Blake Lively and Penn Badgley. What’s not to love about ridiculously wealthy teens living their scandalous lives through New York City while being taunted by an anonymous blogger? The series continues to grow a fandom year after year of teens discovering the series on streaming.
Riverdale
Riverdale premiered in 2017 on The CW and, while it gained a fanbase, the series didn’t find its true success until it was licensed to Netflix. It led to the cast becoming almost overnight superstars.
In the series, a group of high school friends endure the trials of high school. The series takes a darker turn when the tragic death of a classmate disrupts their daily lives. The show is notably based on the Archie Comics, but diverges from its source material quite a bit. Fans of the series can’t help but laugh at some of the insane and ridiculous plot lines the characters go through in its seven seasons, but the show is one of the most popular series to come out of the late 2010s.
Suits
The legal drama Suits originally aired on USA Network back in 2011. It follows a successful Manhattan corporate lawyer Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) and his team — Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman), Donna Paulsen (Sarah Rafferty), Rachel Zane (Meghan Markle), and Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) — as they welcome new co-worker Michael Ross (Patrick J. Adams) who has a special gift. Along with the drama, secrets, and legal jargon, this show has more to offer than just its intriguing plot lines. It cannot be ignored that the now Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle has a leading role in the series. Meghan’s time on the show came to an end in 2018 when she left her role and acting career to marry Prince Harry.
The nine season series has been available to stream on Peacock and Prime Video for many years, but hadn’t garnered large viewership numbers. But in June of this year, Netflix acquired the streaming rights to the series that boosted its viewership almost overnight. It’s now breaking streaming records by being viewed for over three billion minutes for seven weeks in a row.
You
You originally premiered on Lifetime back in 2018. The series follows Joe Goldberg, a lovestruck and obsessive young man that turns crushes into something much more sinister. He stalks his love interests and is willing to dispose of anything that gets in his way — even people.
After unimpressive ratings from the first season, Lifetime decided not to go through with a previously green-lit second season of the show due to its high production costs. Two months after the show’s original premiere, Netflix acquired the rights to the series. Once the first season was on platform, it blew up and the show started production on its second season. Since then, the series has been a hit for the streamer breaking records and bringing fans back season after season, with its fifth and final season coming soon.
