According to data gathered by Netflix & Chiffres, Netflix released 23 original movies to its service in the first quarter of 2026. While that may sound like a lot, it marks the lowest number of films released by the streaming giant since 2018.
Furthermore, out of those released, only a meagre four of them were from the US, with the majority made in Asian territories. It’s a stark contrast from just a few years ago, when in 2022 the streaming service released 50 new movies in its first quarter. To put that into context, in 2018, a Netflix account cost $13.99 a month for their top subscription. Eight years later, in 2026, the cost of the top subscription in Australia is a whopping $28.99 a month.
Prices rose in Australia last year, sparking backlash from viewers across the country. In recent years, Netflix has also focused efforts on cracking down on password sharing between households. Netflix started sending out emails in May of 2023 to Australian users who were sharing their Netflix account with people outside their household. “Your Netflix account is for you and the people you live with – your household,” the streamer warned at the time.
Meanwhile, Netflix viewers were left fuming this week when the streaming giant announced that beloved comedy Emily in Paris had been cancelled. The streaming giant officially confirmed that its hit romantic comedy series starring Lily Collins will conclude after its upcoming sixth season, finally dropping the curtain on the globetrotting adventures of beloved Chicago marketing executive, Emily Cooper. Netflix’s announcement coincided with the first day of production for the final episodes in Greece, ensuring fans will get a planned and satisfying farewell to the series that became a global sensation upon its debut in 2020. Elsewhere, Netflix faced backlash this week as it gears up for the release of its new tell-all documentary on Michael Jackson’s child abuse trial.
Jackson, one of the most famous and beloved figures in pop culture of all time, was charged with multiple counts of child molestation in 2003. Netflix’s new doco, Michael Jackson: The Verdict, revisits the case and features numerous key individuals who were inside the courtroom, including jurors, eyewitnesses, accusers and defenders alike. Fans of the star have taken to social media to criticise Netflix over the timing of the doco’s release, which is coming just weeks after the release of his critically panned but highly profitable biopic.