If you are a fan of the best television show ever made aka Friends, I’m sure you are aware of what happened on January 1st, 2020. If you haven’t heard the news yet, let me be the first to tell you… Friends will no longer be available on Netflix. So, why did Friends leave Netflix and are they gone for good?
It literally hurt my soul not to see Friends as an option while browsing what I was going to binge-watch next on Netflix.
It all started back in 2018. Remember that brief scare when Netflix announced they would no longer continue streaming Friends after 2018. They quickly updated that statement after the internet freaked out.
Netflix spent 100 million for Friends to stay on throughout 2019. Who knows, maybe “they needed a break”?
I don’t know about you, but I personally took advantage of the situation and watch all 10 seasons about 5 times last year. WOW! That sounds a little sad when I say it out loud but, I am a true Friends fan so ain’t no shame here!
Even though Netflix gave us more than a year’s notice, it still felt like brand new information. Or at least I was so caught up in all of the hilarious episodes that I forgot about the inevitable.
Fast-forward to January 2020
After 5 years, Friends will no longer “Be there for you” in starting in 2020 or at least on Netflix anyways.
Why?
Netflix vs Warner Media… Guess who won?
Yup!
Unfortunately, Netflix lost a bidding war against Warner Media and 425 MILLION DOLLARS later, bye-bye Netflix.
I get it, money talks but is there such thing as loyalty anymore? I mean, after 5 years, this is what you do?
The good news is, we can still watch Friends on HBO Max this spring when this new streaming service launches for the first time.
What is HBO Max?
HBO Max will cost you $14.99 a month which currently makes them the most expensive streaming platform so far (excluding YouTV).
If you decide to subscribe to HBO Max, you will get a pretty good selection of movies and shows. Along with Friends, you will also get:
About 10,000 hours of programming from the biggest brands under WarnerMedia, which is also CNN’s parent company. Subscribers will have on-demand access to a human-curated lineup from HBO, Warner Bros, Cartoon Network, CNN, TNT and TBS, among others.
After seeing what all will be available on HBO Max, I guess Friends selling out, I mean, switching over isn’t so bad. I will probably be switching over to HBO Max myself. I have to admit, the service looks very impressive.
So from now on, if you want to hear Joey say “How you doin'”, Chandler’s awkward jokes, or see Rachels fabulous hair, you will need to “PIVOT” on over to HBO Max this spring.
Another option is to purchase the complete DVD set for less than $120 bucks. If you live in Georgia, you could always search the Goodwill in Kennesaw where I donated mine three years ago because I was acting like an impulsive weirdo.
5 Comments
I was wondering what happened to friends on Netflix! Thanks for answering this question that so many people have been wondering about.
I loved Friends but I could never keep up. They didn’t play the episodes in order! But I will never forget Smelly Cats!
In full honesty I have never watched the show ! I have recently started from season one, so I am excited to finally catch up and understand what everyone is talking about all the time
Oh man! I didn’t realize it would be gone in 2020!
Yep! You can still watch it but you would need to get another streaming service.