Netflix is the world’s most popular streaming service, and with good reason. The company offers access to some of television’s most loved series — such as “The Office” and “Mad Men” — and consistently releases well-received original shows, including “Stranger Things,” “The Crown,” and “Orange Is the New Black.”
Not everything available on the platform is gold, however. Among the many series that inspire viewers to throw away countless hours binge-watching are some that subscribers may be happier simply turning off.
24/7 Tempo has identified the worst shows on Netflix based on audience ratings from Rotten Tomatoes and Internet Movie Database. These series are the lowest rated in Netflix’s seemingly endless sea of content.
Viewers don’t necessarily discriminate when it comes to their least favorite shows, having disdain for both shows produced by Netflix and those simply picked up by the company for distribution. Superhero shows “Supergirl” and “Black Lightning” both appear on television network The CW as well as Netflix and have exceptionally poor ratings — especially when considering the overall popularity of superheroes in pop culture. Here are the best superhero movies.
Netflix originals, which generally have built a reputation for quality, are also subject to scorn. While the platform’s worst shows are often canceled after a single season, some are renewed repeatedly. New episodes for some of these series, such as the sci-fi dud “Another Life,” are currently in production. These shows mark a significant drop in quality when compared with the best streaming shows. These are the best original series made for streaming.
Click here to see the worst shows on Netflix.
To determine the worst shows on Netflix, 24/7 Tempo created an index based on each show’s Rotten Tomatoes average audience rating and Internet Movie Database average user rating. To be considered, each show needed to currently be available to stream on Netflix within the U.S. as of Jan. 1, 2020.
20. Supergirl
> Starring: Melissa Benoist, Chyler Leigh, David Harewood
> IMDb user rating: 6.3/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 50%
“Supergirl,” which follows the adventures of Superman’s cousin Kara Danvers, has been on television for five seasons, four of which are available on Netflix. While the series has fairly positive reviews from critics, audiences have been less kind, with many saying it has plunged in quality over the years.
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19. Dear White People
> Starring: Logan Browning, Brandon P Bell, DeRon Horton
> IMDb user rating: 6.2/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 51%
Netflix original “Dear White People” is another series that has received favorable reviews from critics and more negative responses from viewers. Just 51% of audience members rating it on Rotten Tomatoes like the college comedy, and just 33% like the most recent season. Nevertheless, the show’s scheduled to return to Netflix for a fourth and final season.
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18. The Break with Michelle Wolf
> Starring: Michelle Wolf, D.J. Jer-z, Michael Hartney
> IMDb user rating: 5.2/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 61%
Comedian Michelle Wolf landed this topical comedy show following her controversial appearance at the 2018 White House Correspondents’ Dinner 2018. The talk show, which currently has a middling rating of 5.2 out of 10 on IMDb, ran for one season before being canceled by Netflix due to low viewership.
17. Death by Magic
> Starring: Drummond Money-Coutts, Troy Dillinger, L.A. James
> IMDb user rating: 6.0/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 50%
“Death by Magic” follows magician Drummond Money-Coutts (DMC) as he attempts magic tricks that have ended in the deaths of other performers. While fans of magic may want to give the series’ lone season a try, many online reviewers criticize it for being fake and relying on camera tricks.
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16. The Characters
> Starring: John T. Reynolds, Kate Berlant, John Early
> IMDb user rating: 5.2/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 58%
“Netflix Presents: The Characters” is a comedy sketch show featuring a different comedian in each of its eight episodes. The show’s premise led it to being inconsistent from episode to episode, and it was canceled after one season.
15. The Comedy Lineup
> Starring: Aisling Bea, Michelle Buteau, J.R. De Guzman
> IMDb user rating: 5.8/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 50%
“The Comedy Lineup” is a stand-up comedy show that has two seasons available on Netflix. Critics have praised it, though audiences have been much more divided, due in part to the comedians’ political content.
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14. Another Life
> Starring: Katee Sackhoff, Blu Hunt, Samuel Anderson
> IMDb user rating: 4.9/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 61%
The Netflix sci-fi series “Another Life” follows the crew of a spacecraft as they inspect an alien artifact in Earth’s orbit. The cliché-ridden program is unpopular with both critics and audiences, yet it has been renewed for a second season.
13. Black Lightning
> Starring: Cress Williams, China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams
> IMDb user rating: 6.2/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 44%
Like “Supergirl,” “Black Lightning” is a DC Comics-derived superhero series that currently airs on The CW and is also available on Netflix. Ratings of the show have declined with each season, according to Rotten Tomatoes, with the third season being liked by only 33% of reviewers. The series fairs slightly better among IMDb users, with an overall rating of 6.2 out of 10.
12. Follow This
> Starring: Karolina Waclawiak, Scaachi Koul, Bim Adewunmi
> IMDb user rating: 4.8/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 60%
“Follow This” is a series in its third season with 20 episodes so far. The series profiles the writers and reporters at digital media outlet BuzzFeed. The journalists cover stories such as zany internet trends, scooter wars, gangster rap, and the opioid epidemic.
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11. Pinky Malinky
> Starring: Franciska Friede, Danny Jacobs, Colleen Smith
> IMDb user rating: 5.6/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 50%
In this show, life and school are seen through the perspective of a positive-thinking hot dog. The animated program has run for three seasons. According to one critic, the quirky show lacks substance, but the characters are entertaining.
10. The Mist
> Starring: Morgan Spector, Alyssa Sutherland, Gus Birney
> IMDb user rating: 5.4/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 49%
Based on a novella by Stephen King, “The Mist” depicts a Maine town surrounded by a nefarious fog. The show, which Rotten Tomatoes’ Critics Consensus says is suffering from an “uninspired story and performances,” ran for one season on Spike before it was canceled.
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9. Spy Kids: Mission Critical
> Starring: Ashley Bornancin, Carter Hastings, Caitlyn Bairstow
> IMDb user rating: 4.7/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 50%
“Spy Kids: Mission Critical” is the animated version of the successful live action film franchise, which was created by Robert Rodriguez and stars Alexa PenaVega, Daryl Sabara, and Antonio Banderas. The cartoon iteration, now in its third season, focuses on brother and sister Juni and Carmen Cortez as they attend Spy Kids Academy.
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8. Chasing Cameron
> Starring: Trey Schafer, Aaron Carpenter, Cameron Dallas
> IMDb user rating: 3.7/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 62%
The reality television show “Chasing Cameron” follows “social media sensation” Cameron Dallas as he builds his career and travels the world. While Dallas claimed in 2017 that a second season was on its way, there’s been no sign of new episodes since the first season’s release in 2016.
7. Comedians of the World
> Starring: Neal Brennan, Nicole Byer, Urzila Carlson
> IMDb user rating: 6.5/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 25%
The debut season of “Comedians of the World” convenes 47 comedians from 13 geographical areas around the world who do stand-up comedy for a half hour. The show has an overall rating of 6.5 out of 10 on IMDb, but Rotten Tomatoes audiences have not warmed up to the show yet, some of whom chide it for its political bias.
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6. Haunted
> Starring: Vanda Chaloupková, Hana Baronová, Vojtech Hýzdal
> IMDb user rating: 4.5/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 47%
“Haunted” is a two-season horror series whose episodes are based on true events from first-person encounters with unexplained phenomena. Audiences on Rotten Tomatoes are skeptical of the premise, with some viewers saying the episodes do not seem genuine.
5. Made in Mexico
> Starring: Shanik Aspe, Roby Checa, Columba Diaz
> IMDb user rating: 4.0/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 45%
This one-season reality series with a Real Housewives vibe focused on lifestyles of rich Mexican socialites and expats. While some reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes found the cast members endearing and full of emotion, one viewer said, “as a Mexican you will despise this.”
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4. The I-Land
> Starring: Natalie Martinez, Kate Bosworth, Ronald Peet
> IMDb user rating: 4.4/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 34%
“The I-Land” is about 10 people who wake up on a mysterious island without any memories and must learn to survive. The one-season series has been pilloried by Rotten Tomatoes critics, among them Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com, who called the seven-episode show a “bafflingly horrible sci-fi show.”
3. Richie Rich
> Starring: Jake Brennan, Lauren Taylor, Joshua Carlon
> IMDb user rating: 3.3/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 43%
“Richie Rich,” a live action reboot of the 1980s animation series about the adventures of a rich boy, managed an overall rating of just 3.3 out of 10 in IMDb. One critic scolded the show for celebrating materialism.
2. Bill Nye Saves the World
> Starring: Bill Nye, Karlie Kloss, Rachel Bloom
> IMDb user rating: 3.6/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 38%
Bill Nye, who first made a name for himself as the host of children’s show “Bill Nye, the Science Guy” in the 1990s, returns as host of this adult-oriented Netflix original. Audiences have criticized the show for its controversial — and embarrassing for some — moments, such as its “My Sex Junk” skit. Netflix, however, has produced three seasons to date.
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1. Troy: Fall of a City
> Starring: Louis Hunter, Christiaan Schoombie, Bella Dayne
> IMDb user rating: 3.8/10
> Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 24%
This British-American co-production from BBC One and Netflix tells the story of the 10-year siege of Troy and the relationship between Paris and Helen. Only 24% of fans on Rotten Tomatoes liked the single-season series, and IMDb users rated it 3.8 out of 10. Some critics also disliked the show, calling it unimaginative accompanied by dull dialogue.
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