For millions of subscribers, Netflix and other streaming services are less about discovering new movies and more about rewatching beloved shows viewed as comfort television. However, a big shift is coming for viewers in five major countries that could impact how they use the platform. As part of a content shakeup that features movies and television shows leaving the platform as 2025 winds down, Netflix is slated to lose two of the most popular shows in television history. By the end of 2025, subscribers in the five regions will have to say goodbye to both Friends and The Big Bang Theory.
The End of an Era: The 2 Iconic Shows Leaving Netflix
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While Netflix subscribers in some countries have already lost access to The Big Bang Theory and Friends due to expiring licensing agreements, five more regions are being added to the list. According to What’s on Netflix, viewers in the United Kingdom will lose Friends and The Big Bang Theory on Netflix as of Dec. 31, 2025.
As for the other four regions, the shows will reportedly depart from the popular streaming service one day earlier, on Dec. 30, 2025. Here’s a look at the list of areas losing Friends and The Big Bang Theory, according to What’s on Netflix.
- United Kingdom (Dec. 31)
- Germany (Dec. 30)
- Italy (Dec. 30)
- South Africa (Dec. 30)
- Switzerland (Dec. 30)
Many countries have already lost both series on Netflix, while others, including the United States, never had The Big Bang Theory available to stream. Friends ran on Netflix in the United States for several years, first joining the service in 2015 but departing at the end of 2019.
There have also been reports, as of roughly October, that The Big Bang Theory had already been removed in several regions.
Where to Stream ‘Friends’ and ‘The Big Bang Theory’
The Big Bang Theory, which initially aired on CBS, debuted in Sept. 2007 and ran for 12 seasons and 279 episodes. Its finale was on May 16, 2019. It quickly became a fan favorite and has earned a 91 percent rating on JustWatch.
Friends, which was televised on NBC from 1994 to 2004, was one of the most beloved comedies over its 10-year run. You’d be hard-pressed to find many people who wouldn’t admit that the theme song “I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts doesn’t immediately bring the hit series to mind. Friends checked in slightly above The Big Bang Theory on JustWatch, earning a 92 percent rating.
In the countries where Netflix had licensing agreements for Friends and The Big Bang Theory, each began in 2015. The two sitcoms will join HBO Max for those in the five regions above (if they haven’t already), which is where they can be found in most other areas. Following Friends’ departure from Netflix at the end of 2019, it moved exclusively to HBO Max for United States viewers. In the U.S., The Big Bang Theory has been streaming on HBO Max, while in some regions, it can be viewed on Disney+.
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