(Credits: Netflix)

Netflix has been busy lately, trailblazing in the streaming landscape with renewal arcs and new releases. But amid the anticipation and speculation of what’s to come, the streaming giant recently pulled a rug from under with the cancellation of The Waterfront after its first season.

According to an exclusive Deadline report, Netflix has no intention to renew Kevin Williamson’s crime drama series, The Waterfront, for a second season. As per industry insiders, the creator has already informed the cast and crew that there will be no season two for this chart-topping Netflix show. In a June interview with Variety, the creator also discussed his plans for a potential follow-up season. But now, the door seems closed forever.

The Waterfront was released on Netflix on June 19th and spent five total weeks on the streamer’s top ten global charts. It was also the number one title for three weeks, having amassed 11.6million views just within the first full week of release. Consequently, the cancellation comes as quite a shock.

Comparatively, Ransom Canyon, which spent four weeks on the top ten global charts, reaching number two with 9.4million views in its first week of release, was recently renewed by Netflix. Even Forever, another Netflix freshman drama, was renewed for a second season, despite peaking at number three with 6.7million views, having spent four weeks on the global charts.

It’s also important to note that The Waterfront performed way better than the two other drama series that Netflix cancelled in 2025, The Residence and Pulse. Although they spent four weeks on the charts, they could only peak at ranks two and three with 8.8m and 8.5m views, respectively. Netflix executives typically rely on factors such as performance, cost, budget, social media response, and award season potential to renew their projects.

While, of course, the number of views matters, what they also count on is the completion rate, which isn’t made public. Deadline sources revealed earlier in August that the completion rate for The Waterfront was significantly good. However, the viewership and completion rate were probably not up to par for a renewal.

It’s also possible that the benchmark of reception and renewal is higher for non-Netflix productions. Universal Television is the studio behind The Waterfront, whereas Netflix backs up Ransom Canyon and Forever. But as it is, it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly made the streamer bow out. However, considering Netflix’s latest spree of renewals, including the Warner Bros TV-produced UNTAMED and Running Point, and 20th Television-produced Nobody Wants This, and Dept Q, The Waterfront news is surely going to break hearts.