The Reason Why Netflix Cancelled Original Series ‘Girlboss’

Netflix has cancelled a few original series over the last year, but there’s one that stands out among the rest. The decision to axe Girlboss is a bit of a head-scratcher.

The streaming service has been abundantly clear that it wants to spend less money on original programs, and the cancellations of expensive programs like Sense8, The Get Down, and Bloodline. However, Girlboss wasn’t nearly as expensive as those other programs. In fact, it seemed more along the lines of success stories like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Orange is the New Black.

Girlboss was also fueled by plenty of hype over social media. According to insights from Decider.com, the series generated more buzz than Kimmy Schmidt and Santa Clarita Diet – both of which were renewed.

So, why the cancellation? Let’s break it down.

Girlboss Followed A Formula

On the surface, Girlboss seemed like a safe bet for Netflix. In fact, it shared a lot in common with some of the service’s most popular productions.

The series wasn’t too extravagant, or over-the-top. Like Master of None and Love, Girlboss focused time and energy into the characters and story of the show. Smart drama was the driving force.

Netflix also had a history of renewing shows just like Girlboss. Despite underwhelming reviews, the streaming service had renewed programs like Flaked, Real Rob, and Fuller House. All-in-all, there have been around 20 low-budget comedies renewed at Netflix ahead of Girlboss.

The new series fit the Netflix formula – and that was precisely the problem.

Innovation Is Key

As of late, Netflix has been trying to push the envelope when it comes to original content. 

CEO Reed Hastings recently told CNBC that the company needed to take more risks with its original programming.

“I’m always trying to push the content team,” he said. “We have to take more risks. You have to try more crazy things because we should have a higher cancel rate overall.”

Some of the recent projects from the streaming service seem to echo this thought process. 13 Reasons Why has become a controversial hit on social media, while Okja – a film about a giant pig – is one of the sleeper movies of the summer. 

Netflix wants to become the source of truly original programs, and Girlboss just wasn’t original enough to keep up. 

Shows like Girlboss and Sense8 might be cancelled, but Netflix has a massive slate of titles being added in the next month.

Check out the full list of July additions below!

Coming July 1-8

Avail. 7/1/17

Titanic

The Originals: Season 4

Free Willy

Disney’s The Mighty Ducks

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Capo “El amo del tunel”: Season 1

El Barco: Season 1

The Truth Is in the Stars

Deep Water: Season 1

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Hostages (Israel): Season 2

Zip & Zap and the Marble Gang

The Invisible Guest (Contratiempo)

Albion: The Enchanted Stallion

Liar’s Dice

Offspring: Season 6

Boat Trip

Mixed Signals

Delicatessen

Caramel

Yours Fatefully: Season 1

The Ultimatum: Season 1

Unriddle II

Unriddle

Yes We Can!: Season 1

Spice Up: Season 1

World at Your Feet: Season 1

Emma

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Last Night

Out of Thin Air

Witnesses: Season 2

The Longest Yard

Jackass: Number Two

Punch-Drunk Love

Are We There Yet?

Are We Done Yet?

The Land Before Time

Dad

The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure

The Land Before Time III: The Time of the Great Giving

Here Alone

Spawn: The Movie

Code Name: The Cleaner

The Astronaut Farmer

Best in Show

Proof of Life

Matchstick Men

Taking Lives

Police Academy

Avail. 7/2/17

El Chema: Season 1

Avail. 7/3/17

Diamond Cartel

Extraordinary: The Stan Romanek Story

Update on Netflix’s business model

Avail. 7/4/17

The Standups: Season 1–NETFLIX ORIGINAL 

Avail. 7/5/17

iZombie: Season 3

Avail. 7/6/17

Speech & Debate

The Void

Butter

Avail. 7/7/17

Castlevania: Season 1–NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Dawn of the Croods: Season 4–NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Degrassi: Next Class: Season 4–NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Luna Petunia: Season 2–NETFLIX ORIGINAL

1 Mile to You (Life At These Speeds)

Avail. 7/8/17

Bad Santa 2

Horse Dancer

Coming July 9-31

Avail. 7/9/17

Lion

Avail. 7/11/17

Gabriel Iglesias Presents The Gentleman Jerry Rocha

Avail. 7/14/17

Friends From College: Season 1–NETFLIX ORIGINAL

To the Bone–NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Chasing Coral–NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Buddy Thunderstruck: The Maybe Pile–NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Avail. 7/15/17

Rake: Season 4

West Coast Customs: Season 4

Avail. 7/17/17

Uncertain Glory

Fittest on Earth: A Decade of Fitness

A Cowgirl’s Story

Avail. 7/18/17

Aditi Mittal: Things They Wouldn’t Let Me Say–NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Ari Shaffir: Double Negative: Collection–NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce: Season 3

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Avail. 7/20/17

Pretty Little Liars: Season 7B

Avail. 7/21/17

Ozark: Season 1–NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Last Chance U: Season 2–NETFLIX ORIGINAL

The Worst Witch: Season 1–NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Avail. 7/22/17

Railroad Tigers

Avail. 7/24/17

Victor

Avail. 7/25/17

Joe Mande’s Award-Winning Comedy Special–NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Munroe Island

Avail. 7/28/17

The Incredible Jessica James–NETFLIX ORIGINAL 

Daughters of Destiny: Season 1–NETFLIX ORIGINAL

The Adventures of Puss in Boots: Season 5–NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Avail. 7/31/17

After The Reality

Checkpoint

Dark Night

Taking Earth

Being Mary Jane: The Series: Season 4 — Date TBD

Leaving In July

Leaving 7/1/2017

Blazing Saddles

American Pie Presents: Band Camp

Flicka 2

9/11: Stories in Fragments

Secrets: The Sphinx

Batman

Working Girl

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

An Unmarried Woman

Hello, Dolly!

MacGyver: Seasons 1 – 7

Ghost Whisperer: Seasons 1 – 5

Futurama: Season 6

Day of the Kamikaze

Mystery Files: Hitler

Mystery Files: Leonardo da Vinci

Nazi Temple of Doom

The Hunt for Bin Laden

The Incredible Bionic Man

History in HD: The Last Bomb

Secrets: A Viking Map?

Secrets: Richard III Revealed

Shuttle Discovery’s Last Mission

Titanic’s Final Mystery

Samurai Headhunters

America’s Secret D-Day Disaster

Black Wings

Blondie’s New York

Bombs, Bullets and Fraud

Death Beach

Hip Hop: The Furious Force of Rhymes

American Pie Presents: Beta House

Hugo

American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile

Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging

While You Were Sleeping

Kate & Leopold

El Dorado

Leaving 7/3/17

The Last Samurai

Two Weeks Notice

Leaving 7/6/17

Los Heroes del Norte: Seasons 1 – 2

Leaving 7/11/17

Opposite Field

Leaving 7/12/17

Sleeping Beauty

Adventures of Pepper and Paula

In the Basement

Leaving 7/13/17

Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain

Leaving 7/15/17

Lessons for a Kiss

All That Glitters