Kevin Bacon's Hit Thriller Returns to Netflix After an 8-Year Absence

Kevin Bacons gripping television role is making a comeback on streaming platforms. After vanishing from Netflix in 2018, the suspenseful series The Following is set to reappear on the service on January 3, 2026.

The show, which aired for three seasons between 2013 and 2015, features Bacon as Ryan Hardy, a former FBI agent drawn back into a dangerous pursuit of a magnetic serial killer and his loyal network of copycats. Known for its dark atmosphere, unpredictable plot twists, and James Purefoys standout performance as cult leader Joe Carroll, The Following became a cult favorite among thriller fans.

Originally, the series reached Netflix U.S. in 2015 after its broadcast ended. However, like many licensed programs, it quietly disappeared from the platform in September 2018 when Warner Bros. Televisions streaming agreement concluded. Since then, it had sporadic availability on other services, including a period on The Roku Channel, but widespread access had been limited.

This return is the result of a new content licensing arrangement between Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix, reflecting the studios approach to leveraging existing library titles. In 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery licensed several HBO Originals such as Insecure, Band of Brothers, and Six Feet Under to Netflix while retaining them on Max. The agreement has expanded in 2025 to include The Following as well as The West Wing, another series produced by Warner Bros. that left Netflix in 2020.

For Warner Bros. Discovery, licensing older shows supports a broader strategy under CEO David Zaslav to focus on profitability over exclusivity, moving away from the walled garden approach of restricting content to proprietary platforms. For Netflix, acquiring series like The Following is a straightforward win: the show is ready-to-watch, comes with an established audience, and requires no new production budget. Fans will now have the opportunity to revisit one of the most suspenseful crime dramas of the past decade.

All 45 episodes of The Following will be accessible for streaming on Netflix U.S. starting January 3, 2026.

Author: Benjamin Carter