(Credit: Raph PH)

So Netflix is starting 2026 by taking away a solid chunk of our childhood. The Maze Runner trilogy is saying goodbye. And remember the Captain Underpants show, that one kid in your house won’t stop rewatching? Also leaving. It’s weird how that wave of nostalgia hits you all of a sudden.

But it’s not just the big names. There are a bunch of indie gems leaving too, including international dramas like Mars One, The Alleys, and Leligar (For Rent).

A few Netflix Originals are also getting axed, which always feels extra sad. Like… you made this, and now you are breaking up with it?

Starting with January 5th, taking things off with Leligar (For Rent), a Gulf drama that never got its due. The 2021 film paints the picture of a working woman in a conservative setting, dealing with survival and heartbreak. Alongside it, The Alleys (2021) offers a darker, grittier portrait of life in Amman’s backstreets, and Mars One (2022), one of Brazil’s most poignant family dramas in recent years, signs off. These are the kinds of films that barely got promo and now won’t even get a second chance.

All of this is followed on January 6th, which wipes out season one of #ABtalks. It’s a rare interview series where celebrities actually speak like humans. If you like hearing public figures talk about pain and purpose and their real life without the usual PR polish, this was your shot. Beyonce Bowl (2024), a short-lived Netflix Original, also exits stage left. No surprise there, but still. Netflix axing its own shows is something hard to digest.

Now, January 9th is the big one. The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, and The Death Cure are all out. The entire trilogy, gone in one clean sweep. Even if you were never into teens running from bio-dystopian doom, you probably remember the hype of these films. And for those planning a nostalgia rewatch? The clock’s ticking.

But this removal massacre doesn’t stop there. The Captain Underpants universe is getting wiped clean, too. The 2020 holiday special, Mega Blissmas, is out. The three-season Epic Tales is out. Even Captain Underpants in Space (2020) is being launched into orbit. For a generation that grew up on potty jokes and prank wars, this one stings more than it should.

Finally, January 11th closes the week with an odd trio. Dear Mother (2021), a French absurdist comedy where a man discovers his heart has literally stopped beating. Sounds interesting, right? So hurry! Also, Shark Night (2011) and The Peasants (2023), a hauntingly animated Polish drama, might be the most visually stunning exits of the lot.

So that’s the week. A bunch of nostalgic watches are all getting cleared out like Netflix is Marie Kondo-ing your queue. Watch them now, or just sigh dramatically and tell people you almost did.