Rachel Green voice: It’s the end of an era!
It’s a dark day, my friends, because news just broke that Friends is officially leaving Netflix in 2020. No, this isn’t a joke. This isn’t a prank. Friends really is going off Netflix streaming next year.
Starting in the spring of 2020, Friends will be available to stream exclusively on HBO Max, WarnerMedia’s new streaming service.
“HBO Max will bring together the diverse riches of WarnerMedia to create programming and user experiences not seen before in a streaming platform,” WarnerMedia Entertainment and direct-to-consumer chairman Robert Greenblatt said about the acquisition. “HBO’s world-class programming leads the way, the quality of which will be the guiding principle for our new array of Max Originals, our exciting acquisitions, and the very best of the Warner Bros. libraries, starting with the phenomenon that is Friends. Under the leadership of two of the strongest creative visionaries—Casey Bloys (HBO) and Kevin Reilly (original content and acquisitions)—and two of the most experienced digital experts, Tony Goncalves and Andy Forssell, I have no doubt they and their dedicated teams will deliver the world’s best storytelling to audiences of all ages wherever and whenever they want it.”
So many of your other favorite shows will start streaming exclusively on HBO Max, as well, like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Pretty Little Liars. HBO Max will also be the official house for The CW’s content, which means Riverdale is eventually leaving Netflix too. According to The Hollywood Reporter, shows from The CW that are still on Netflix will stay there until they finish their runs. And get this: All of Game of Thrones will also stream on HBO Max.
THR reports Netflix paid Warners between $80 and $100 million to keep Friends on its platform in 2019. That contract ends at the beginning of 2020, though, at which point Friends will move to HBO Max.
Fans, understandably, are devastated by this news. Check out just a few reactions, below.
Better save up those coins for an HBO Max subscription, people. With so many shows heading there, it will be worth it.