One of the Best Comedy Series of the 21st Century Will Soon Leave Streaming After Netflix Saved It

Throughout the 21st century, many comedies have come, made an impact, and left with a great reputation, from recent hits like the vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows and Apple TV’s soccer comedy/drama Ted Lasso to noughties favorites such as the British political satire The Thick of It and the star-studded Parks and Recreation. However, above this threshold are a few titles that have proved groundbreaking and have defined this century’s small-screen comedy so far.

From Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant‘s The Office and its U.S. remake to perhaps the most popular animated TV show of the 21st century, Rick and Morty, only a few series can be discussed among the truly great comedies of the 21st century. Sadly, one of these, the genius Arrested Development, is soon to leave Netflix after many years on the platform, following rumors of the show’s exit back in 2023. The series will leave the streamer on March 15, 2026, joining several other notable titles departing Netflix.

‘Arrested Development’ Had Revivals in 2013 and 2018

Created by Mitchell Hurwitz, Arrested Development ran for three years between 2003 and 2006, before being cancelled due to low ratings despite much critical acclaim and six Primetime Emmys to its name. In 2011, Netflix acquired the show’s rights and greenlit new episodes, which were eventually released in May 2013 and stand as some of the very first of the streamer’s original programming. Sadly, this fourth season, and a disastrous fifth in 2018, were met with enormous backlash from fans and critics, leading to the series’ eventual retirement in what seems like a permanent move.

“It’s never a waste to follow the stories of these characters, but the experience is becoming increasingly hollow,” Collider’s Allison Keene wrote about the fifth season in her review at the time. She also said,

“Arrested Development was always at its best when it focused in on the weird world it created, and the same is true for the new season, especially when it comes to wordplay, miscommunication, and mistaken meanings. But those are few and far between this time around, in a season that feels like a mix of nostalgia and a desire to make us laugh at the same Bush-era jokes that exist in a completely different context under Trump.”

Arrested Development will leave Netflix in March 2026. Stay tuned to Collider for the latest streaming stories.