Disney is slowly removing its library from Netflix as it beefs up its own libraries both on Disney+ and Hulu in the United States. Below will serve as a Disney removal guide from 2021 to the future and look at when the last remaining Disney properties will leave the service.
Editor’s note: This article includes speculation. Removal dates are subject to contracts and to change. This list only applies to the United States of America and other regions will vary. We’ve contacted Drew Ryan at DejaView News, an expert in Disney licensing and streaming to walk us through.
UPDATES:
- August 26th, 2021 – Many titles have since left on schedule and additional dates have come to be known.
- February 11th, 2022 – Disney has bought out most of their remaining deals and most titles are leaving February 28th, in some cases 2 years early.
With the recent news that Liv & Maddie is leaving American Netflix on April 23rd, Disney’s presence continues to dwindle as they pull their content for exclusive streaming on Disney+. The purpose of this article will be to list all the content remaining on Netflix that is distributed by Walt Disney Company along with estimated removal dates.
Most of the remaining Disney titles licensed to Netflix are under legacy contracts and their estimated date of removal can be guessed with decent accuracy.
If you search “Disney” on Netflix it returns 30 results. However, there are more than 30 titles still on the service. Additionally, 10 of the titles listed as “Disney” are not Disney owned and thus irrelevant to this article. I will mention those at the end.
Without further ado, here are the remaining titles organized by category.
ABC Series
| Title | Date Final Season Added | Estimated Removal Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Crime | May 30th, 2017 | May 30th, 2021 (Left) |
| Grey’s Anatomy | 4 years after final season is added | |
| How to Get Away with Murder | June 13th, 2020 | June 13th, 2024 |
| Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD | October 30th, 2020 | February 28th, 2022 (Left) |
| Private Practice | December 22nd, 2019 | December 22nd, 2021 (Left) |
| Quantico | September 2nd, 2018 | September 2nd, 2022 (Left) |
ABC-produced shows tend to leave 2 years after the addition of the final season as exhibited by Scandal in May 2020 and Once Upon a Time in September 2020. However, some leave 4 years after the final season such as Galavant in September 2020 and the now-confirmed to be leaving May 31 – American Crime. Since Private Practice was previously removed in June 2017, we can predict its return in December 2019 was on 2-year special contract. This is now confirmed.
It’s also worth noting Shonda Rhimes has an output deal with Netflix and therefore just like some of the FOX shows we’ll come onto separately in a second, may have other external factors at play.
Freeform Series
| Title | Date Final Season Added | Estimated Removal Date |
|---|---|---|
| Young & Hungry | June 22nd, 2017 | June 22th, 2022 (Left) |
Back in 2019, Switched at Birth left Netflix 2 years after its final season was added. Young & Hungry appears to be under a 5-year after final season contract, similar to the CW shows.
20th Century Fox Series (Owned by Disney)
| Title | Date Final Season Added | Estimated Removal Date |
|---|---|---|
| Arrested Development | March 15th, 2019 | March 15th, 2023 |
| Glee (Seasons 1-6) | December 1st, 2018 | December 1st, 2021 (Left) |
| New Girl (Seasons 1-7) | April 10th, 2019 | April 10th, 2023 |
| The Politician | June 19, 2020 | June 19, 2025 |
| Ratched Seven Seconds |
September 18, 2020 February 23, 2018 |
September 18, 2025 February 23, 2023 |
Fox’s television series contracts are complicated and difficult to predict due to unique circumstances. For example, 3 of the shows listed above are branded as Netflix Originals. Arrested Development seasons 4 and 5 were produced by Netflix, but Fox retains distribution rights to seasons 1-3 which are also streaming on Hulu. Internationally, Disney+ Star features the first 3 seasons. It is believed Netflix’s distribution rights to Arrested Development are not in perpetuity and will expire at some point. Usually, these sorts of deals last 3-10 years after the final season.
There is precedent to a Fox-produced Netflix Original leaving Netflix, and it involves 2011 – 2014’s The Killing. Netflix saved the series after it was canceled and produced the 4th season. Four years later, all 4 seasons left Netflix and are now streaming on Hulu. While we can’t be certain the same will happen for Arrested Development if it does follow that trend, it will leave Netflix 4 years after its final season which would place it as a 2023 removal.
Due to Ryan Murphy’s pact with Netflix, predicting the removal dates for his 3 series listed above are difficult because of his involvement and likely influence on where they continue to stream.
Glee is now confirmed to leave December 1st, 2021 after 3 years of streaming. Perhaps this indicates New Girl will similarly leave 3 years after its final season added which would place it as an April 2022 removal. Update: Nope! So we’re banking on 4 years.
In the case of The Politician, Ratched, and Seven Seconds, all three are branded as Netflix Originals which makes the removal more of a question of if rather than when. We will go with a 5 year contract (after the final season) for now. We also predict that Ratched and The Politician were cancelled. Even though Ratched was supposedly renewed, it appears they “undid” that.
FX Series
| Title | Date Final Season Added | Estimated Removal Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Crime Story – The People vs OJ Simpson | February 2nd, 2017 | February 28th, 2022 (Left) |
| American Crime Story – The Assassination of Versace | March 5th, 2019 | February 28th, 2022 (Left) |
| American Horror Story | Deal ended early. | February 28th, 2022 (Left) |
| Pose | Deal ended early. | February 28th, 2022 (Left) |
Like with Glee earlier, Ryan Murphy’s contract with Netflix makes it impossible to predict the removal date for his FX series. American Horror Story appears to be licensed on a season-to-season basis. Three times now over the past 4 years, individual seasons began to expire and last year one even left, only to have returned about a week later along with the addition of the most recent season. The full series is also available on Hulu so Disney appears in no rush to convert it to an exclusive. Or we come back to Murphy’s Netflix pact having some role in keeping the shows available as we mentioned above.
Further complicating this situation is that American Crime Story’s 1st and 2nd seasons are listed as separate titles on Netflix. The first season, The People vs OJ Simpson has already been streaming for over 4 years.
As of February 11th, 2022 all remaining FX shows are leaving February 28th, 2022 after Disney bought out their remaining deals.
Disney Branded Television Series
| Title | Date Final Season Added | Estimated Removal Date |
|---|---|---|
| Bunk’d (Disney Channel) | 4 years after final season is added. | |
| Sofia the First (Disney Junior) | October 8th, 2018 | October 8th, 2022 (Left) |
Liv and Maddie left Netflix on April 23, 2021. That’s 4 years after the final season was added. Goldie & Bear left 2 years after the final season November 2020. Keeping that in mind, Sofia the First looks to be a 4-year contract as it has passed the 2-year mark. Once it is canceled, Bunk’d will likely stream for 4 years after its final season is added as well. Since the 5th season premieres on Netflix September 5th and Bunk’d is already the only Disney Channel show to ever hit 5 seasons, this is likely the end.
Walt Disney Studios Films
| Title | Date Added | Estimated Removal Date |
|---|---|---|
| The BFG (2016) | March 15th, 2021 | February 28th, 2022 (Left) |
| Expedition China (2017) | March 8th, 2018 | February 28th, 2022 (Left) |
| Ghost of the Mountains (2017) | September 13th, 2017 | February 28th, 2022 (Left) |
| Growing Up Wild (2016) | February 20th, 2017 | February 28th, 2022 (Left) |
Walt Disney Studios Films Recently Departed
| Title | Date Added | Dated Removed |
|---|---|---|
| The Help (2011) | May 31st, 2020 | May 31st, 2021 |
| Miracle (2004) | May 31st, 2018 | May 31st, 2021 |
| The Muppets (2011) | September 1st, 2020 | September 1st, 2021 |
| Muppets Most Wanted (2014) | September 1st, 2020 | September 1st, 2021 |
| The Pixar Story (2007) | November 18th, 2018 | November 19th, 2021 |
| Princess & the Frog (2009) | July 16th, 2019 | July 16th, 2021 |
| Real Steel (2011) | September 24th, 2020 | October 7th, 2021 |
| Tinker Bell and the Legend of the Neverbeast (2014) | May 17th, 2015 | May 17th, 2021 |
| Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Film Collection (2015) | October 25th, 2015 | October 25th, 2021 |
| War Horse | May 4th, 2019 | May 4th, 2021 |
Most Disney films under these legacy contracts appear to stream for 2 years such as Bolt (removed July 2020) and Saving Mr. Banks (removed March 2021). Princess and the Frog followed this pattern while the Muppets films only streamed for 1 year. Miracle is an exception, now confirmed to be leaving May 31st after 3 years.
Tinker Bell left May 17th. Disney’s Direct-to-Video films appear to be just shy of 6-year contracts. This was seen with all previous DTV removals including 2020’s removal of Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United, Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United, and The Pirate Fairy in addition to 2019’s removal of Mickey’s House of Villains and Snowed In at the House Of Mouse. The 3 ‘DisneyNature’ films still streaming are also DTV releases.
The Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Film Collection presence on Netflix is why the shorts contained within are streaming on Disney+ in every country except America. After its 6-year contract ends in October, classic shorts like Tangled Ever After, Frozen Fever, and Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa will move to Disney+.
The BFG, The Help, Real Steel, and War Horse are part of Disney’s 14-film distribution deal with Dreamworks. As a result, these films are co-productions and follow a different path than most Disney films. Eventually, they will complete their pre-existing contracts and settle onto Disney+ as they are in some international countries. Some Dreamworks/Disney collabs have streamed for 2 years such as The Hundred-Foot Journey which left January 2021, War Horse, which is leaving May 3rd, 2021, and Real Steel which leaves in 2022. Meanwhile, The Help, only streamed 1 year before its removal May 31st, 2021. The reason for this shorter stay is unknown.
ESPN Titles
The Last Dance, ESPN’s award-winning docuseries on the ending of the Chicago Bulls 1990s championship dynasty, will someday leave. It was added July 17, 2020. We predict it leaves July 17, 2022.
Walt Disney Studios International
| Title | Date Added | Estimated Removal Date |
|---|---|---|
| ABCD 2 (2015) (Disney India) | November 1st, 2018 | November 1st, 2024 (Left, then renewed) |
| Arjun: Warrior Prince (2011) (Disney India) | November 1st, 2018 | November 1st, 2024 (Left) |
| Dangal (Disney India) | June 21st, 2017 | June 21st, 2023 (Left) |
| Jagga Jasoos (Disney India) | October 1st, 2018 | October 1st, 2024 (Left, then renewed) |
| Khoobsurat (Disney India) | October 1st, 2018 | October 1st, 2024 (Left, then renewed) |
| Tini: The New Life of Violetta (Disney Spain) | February 19th, 2017 | February 28th, 2022 (Left) |
Tini appears to be under Disney’s 6-year DTV contract. Tini is now leaving with most Disney content on February 28th, 2022. The 5 Disney India films are unknown but are expected to be on similar timelines.
Marvel Animation
| Title | Date Added | Estimated Removal Date |
|---|---|---|
| Marvel Superhero Adventures: Frost Fight | February 24th, 2016 | February 24th, 2022 (Left) |
| Hulk: Where Monsters Dwell | January 4th, 2017 | February 28th, 2022 (Left) |
Marvel’s DTV animated films follow the same 6-year contract as other Direct-To-Video films. Hulk: Where Monsters Dwell is now leaving with most Disney content on Februarry 28th, 2022.
What about Marvel’s The Defenders leaving Netflix?
There is a belief that Netflix’s distribution rights to these Marvel shows is only temporary. This is because of a statement made by Disney’s then-CEO Bob Iger back in 2013 to Bloomberg. “ This gives us an opportunity to create and own four new series that Netflix will have exclusivity [on] for a period of time, starting in 2016, when the series are made available to them .“
As mentioned before, some of Netflix’s earlier originals were on similar contracts and have already left. It seems unlikely that Disney, as notorious as it is for copyright control and keeping power over its creations would allow Netflix permanent access to shows they produced. They likely leave 4-10 years after their final season. However, Bob’s use of the word “exclusivity” could also mean Netflix has the option to keep them streaming on Netflix even if they go to Hulu as well.
All Marvel Netflix series are now confirmed to leave February 28th, 2022. This includes: Daredevil, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, The Punisher, and The Defenders. Since this article was originally posted, all have left worldwide and now stream on Disney+ everywhere.
Titles Often Mistaken as Disney Titles
Two films that aired as Disney Channel Original Movies are actually produced and distributed by MarVista. Those titles are Radio Rebel and Zapped. While MarVista and Disney worked out a deal to get Zapped on Disney+, no such deal has been made for Radio Rebel. Whether it someday streams on Disney+ is anybody’s guess. Their expirations are also impossible to predict as Zapped has already been streaming for a whopping 7 years. Meanwhile, Radio Rebel has been added, removed, and is currently streaming on Prime Video and Peacock at the same time as Netflix. Why can’t Disney+ get their hands on their “90th DCOM” but numerous other services have it? Nobody knows! Well, someone at Disney and MarVista’s licensing departments knows, but they aren’t telling! Update: Radio Rebel is leaving February 28th, 2022 and Zapped left January 31st, 2022.
The Lego Marvel films remain a mystery. Maximum Overdrive was added in September 2014, removed in November 2016, and then re-added in January 2017. With all 4 films being added relatively recently, it suggests Lego is calling the shots. Sorry, Disney+ subscribers. These films are not going anywhere anytime soon.
The remaining Lego Marvel titles on Netflix include:
- Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled (Added to Netflix on August 6th, 2017)
- Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Black Panther (Added to Netflix on February 1st, 2019)
- Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Guardians of the Galaxy (Added to Netflix on February 1st, 2019)
- Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload (Added to Netflix on January 18th, 2017)
- Lego Marvel Spider-Man: Vexed by Venom (Added to Netflix on March 1st, 2021)
- Lego Marvel Avengers: Climate Conundrum (Added to Netflix on June 15th, 2021)
Netflix also houses the series Miraculous Ladybug, PJ Masks, and Giganotosaurus. The latter 2 are already on Disney+. Miraculous Ladybug will head there once it leaves Netflix. This exit is now confirmed as February 1st, 2023. These are not Disney-owned titles but Disney has obtained temporary licenses for them. Predicting when they will leave Netflix is impossible as I have no knowledge of these sorts of contracts, though I suspect they will all leave in the next 2 years.
Another show that aired on Disney Channel is Hotel Transylvania. This show is owned and distributed by Sony and its removal from Netflix is unrelated to Disney as it will never stream on Disney+ and was actually removed from DisneyNow (Disney’s VOD streaming service) on April 1st. UPDATE: April 21st, 2021 – due to the new Sony / Disney library deal the show’s streaming future is surprisingly less clear.
Finally, the shows Octonauts, Oddbods, Ghost Patrol, Fangbone!, Atomic Puppet, and P. King Duckling (the last two are currently listed to be removed in May 2021), show up under the “Disney” search term, but Disney has no ownership or distribution rights to them. They aired on Disney XD or Disney Junior in years past but are no longer associated with Disney and should be removed from the search results and replaced with more relevant title from the preceding list. Since this article was posted, Fangbone!, Ghost Patrol, Atomic Puppet, and P. King Duckling have left.
