This Critically Acclaimed Animated Sci-Fi Series Is Leaving Netflix

Picture Credit: HBO Max

The clock is ticking on one of the most imaginative animated series in recent memory. Scavengers Reign will soon depart Netflix in both the United States and the United Kingdom, ending its co-exclusive licensing window and returning to being a HBO Max exclusive beginning May 31st.

If you haven’t yet embarked on this breathtaking journey, Scavengers Reign is widely regarded as one of the very best adult animated series of the decade. Created by Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner, the gripping sci-fi survival story follows the scattered, surviving crew members of a damaged deep-space freighter who are left stranded on Vesta—a visually stunning but ruthlessly unforgiving alien planet.

The series has had a fascinating, and somewhat bumpy, road in the streaming world. Originally commissioned and released as a Max Original, the show was part of a major wave of Warner Bros. Discovery properties that were licensed out to Netflix to boost viewership and generate revenue. As we covered back when Netflix first announced it would stream the series, its arrival on the platform in the US and UK brought a massive, much-deserved wave of new fans to the alien world of Vesta.

When the 12-episode first season dropped on Netflix, it wasn’t just a standard licensing arrangement—there was genuine hope that a massive surge in viewership could actively save the show. We even sat down for an exclusive interview with the Scavengers Reign team prior to its Netflix debut, where they were incredibly optimistic about finding a broader audience and openly discussed the exciting potential of Netflix picking up the baton for a Season 2.

Picture Credit: HBO Max

Sadly, despite an incredibly passionate fan campaign and stellar critical reviews, the viewership numbers ultimately didn’t hit the threshold the streamer was looking for. As we reported later, Netflix officially decided against renewing Scavengers Reign for a second season. We did get some footage from the creators following the confirmation. 

Taking a look at Netflix’s official global engagement data gives us a much clearer picture of exactly how the show performed during its run. Across 2024, Scavengers Reign pulled in 5.4 million hours viewed, equating to roughly 1.1 million total views (completed equivalent views). The momentum carried slightly into 2025, adding another 2.8 million hours viewed (600,000 views) to its tally. Altogether, the series amassed 8.2 million hours viewed and 1.7 million total views globally on the platform—respectable numbers for a niche adult animated property, but evidently not quite the blockbuster smash hit required to justify the costs of a sophomore season for the streaming giant.

Now, the shared streaming window has run its course. Removal notices are beginning to populate on the Netflix platform for users in the US and the UK, indicating that your last full day to watch is May 30th. The title will officially depart the library on May 31st.

Once it leaves Netflix, the series will revert to being an exclusive title on HBO Max, which is now available in the UK alongside the US. So, for Netflix subscribers who don’t currently have a Max subscription, you have just a few short weeks left to binge this sci-fi masterpiece before it blasts off the platform for good.

Will you be sad to see Scavengers Reign leave Netflix? Did you discover the show during its run on the service? Let us know in the comments down below!