For those of you who are looking forward to resting your feet on the sofa and recovering from last night’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, we’re sorry to break the news that a beloved film franchise has left Netflix.
Following on from the news that Friends has also left the streaming platform, which led to a full blown panic amongst its fanbase, viewers have been dealt a blow.
As of January 1, all eight Harry Potter films and the three Fantastic Beasts spin-offs have officially been removed from Netflix as well.
The beloved franchises have become a staple for binge-watching on a day such as today.
Their absence, which have arrived amid a wave of license expirations impacting Netflix’s catalogue, leaving fans scrambling for alternatives.
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It could also potentially signal a bigger shift as studios reassess where they want their most popular titles to be available.
Where can I watch Harry Potter movies in the UK?
Taking to social media, fans were not happy with the news, as @grandebyhoran wrote: ‘I hope @NetflixUK knows that they are the cause of my sadness and depression because they are removing my comfort tv show friends and films Harry Potter @netflix.’
@nabokovology also argued that the removal of the films could be in preparation for the new HBO series to be ‘shoved down our throats’.
Need something else to binge on New Year's Day?
Meanwhile, @nychtae screamed: ‘THEY’RE TAKING HARRY POTTER OFF NETFLIX.’
But if you want to watch the Harry Potter movies now, unfortunately they are only available to rent or purchase online.
This may change, however, following the launch of HBO Max later this year.
What else has Netflix removed?
The Harry Potter films are not the only high profile casualty on Netflix for the New Year.
Among the other TV shows leaving, Friends and Mad Men were the two biggest losses.
Meanwhile, Baby Driver, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Goonies, Aquaman and the Kung Fu Panda trilogy will also all be leaving.
The loss of such big titles means viewers should prepare to expert more turbulence in the months ahead.
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