'Friends' Has Left Netflix and Fans Are Not Happy About It

It's been a long time coming, but 'Friends' has finally left Netflix as of Jan. 1, 2020.

Friends
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Image via Getty/Jeffrey Mayer

Friends

It's been a long time coming, but Friends has finally left Netflix on Jan. 1, 2020.

The immensely popular '90s sitcom was originally scheduled to leave Netflix at the start of 2019, but Netflix reportedly paid $100 million to keep it around for another year. No such deal was made this time around, and now the show is not available on any streaming service in the United States. Friends is still available on Netflix in other territories, though.

Friends will not be available to stream again until WarnerMedia launches HBO Max in May 2020. It will assumedly be part of the launch, which will also include HBO programming, a range of original content, and licensed TV shows and movies. WarnerMedia reportedly secured the exclusive domestic streamings rights to all 10 seasons of the sitcom for five years, which came with a hefty price tag of around $425 million. 

The One Where We Have To Say Goodbye.

We’re sorry to see Friends go to Warner's streaming service at the beginning of 2020 (in The US). Thanks for the memories, gang ☕

— Netflix (@netflix) July 9, 2019

Seasons of the show are still available to buy on digital retailers, but needless to say, fans are not too happy about the Netflix departure even if there was plenty of warning.

really bad start to 2020 when i woke up at 5:42am and they already took friends off of netflix. frick.

— soph (@legitsophtemp) January 1, 2020

FRIENDS is no longer on Netflix.... crappy new year.

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) January 1, 2020

I’m over 2020 already. They ripped #Friends right off of #Netflix mid episode and this is the rudest way to start the new year pic.twitter.com/wj9VW1MIZt

— Dee Zayed (@DeeZayed) January 1, 2020

Starting off the new year badly because @netflix wants to decide to remove Friends, specifically as I’m in the middle of watching... 😪

— Daisy (@Daisyy_Michelle) January 1, 2020

Friends is off Netflix. 2020 is canceled

— Sydney (@sydneypdaniel) January 1, 2020

@netflix why would you do this to us. We need Friends. It was the show to turn on when going to bed or the fallback show when you couldn’t find anything to watch. Friends is one of the best shows....ever.

— PNUTASSASSIN437 (@ehbkg1) January 1, 2020

Happy New Year to everyone except the person who had the idea to take Friends off of Netflix

— Molly O’Connor (@mol_oconnor) January 1, 2020

Me waking up to see that The Office has outlasted Friends on Netflix pic.twitter.com/Djx0A69WaG

— Shaun From TKW (@iHateShaun) January 1, 2020

At least The Office is still here. The classic will be making its way to NBCUniversal's streaming service on Jan. 1, 2021, but until then it will be available to stream on Netflix.

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