Netflix struggles to turn its biggest shows into franchises

At a glance:

• Netflix released Tales From ’85, an animated spinoff of Stranger Things.
• Critics say the spinoff lacks stakes and feels like a watered‑down cartoon.
• The streamer continues its franchise push with a Wednesday spinoff and multiple One Piece projects.

What happened

Netflix’s latest attempt to extend its flagship series Stranger Things arrived as Tales From ’85, an animated short set between seasons 2 and 3. The show adopts a Saturday‑morning cartoon aesthetic, bright colors, and a markedly lower violence level than the live‑action series. Plotwise, the kids battle plant‑like monsters infused with the Upside Down’s influence and a mysterious green goo. Nostalgia runs deep: the characters reference She‑Ra: Princess of Power, scenes echo Stephen King’s It, the goo feels straight out of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and a Ghostbusters‑style weapon appears near the finale.

While the visual throwback is clear, the narrative suffers from a lack of tension. Aside from a new tinkerer named Nikki who supplies homemade weapons, the episode never presents genuine danger because the main cast has already survived far worse in later seasons. This “nothing can really go wrong” vibe makes the story feel inconsequential, leaving fans who crave more Stranger Things content disappointed.

Why it matters

Netflix has a well‑documented pattern of turning hit series into broader franchises, but the results are mixed. Squid Game spawned a reality‑show tie‑in and a mobile game that clashed with its bleak tone. The Witcher’s prequel Blood Origin failed to capture audience interest despite Michelle Yeoh’s involvement. The only notable success among recent spin‑offs is Queen Charlotte, a Bridgerton prequel that earned praise. Tales From ’85 joins this list of underwhelming extensions, highlighting a strategic gap: the streamer often replicates surface aesthetics without preserving the core dramatic stakes that made the originals compelling.

From a business standpoint, leveraging an existing hit seems logical—creating a new series from scratch carries higher risk. Yet Netflix’s track record shows that simply attaching a brand name does not guarantee viewership. Watered‑down spin‑offs can dilute brand equity and risk audience fatigue, especially when the original series has already concluded its narrative arc.

History of Netflix’s franchise attempts

• Stranger Things → Tales From ’85 (animated, 2024)
• Squid Game → reality series, mobile game (2022‑2023)
• The Witcher → Blood Origin (2022)
• Bridgerton → Queen Charlotte (2023, well‑received)
• One Piece → third live‑action season, animated Lego special, new anime series (announced 2024)
• Wednesday → spinoff in development (announced 2024)

These efforts illustrate Netflix’s “universe‑building” mantra, yet the execution varies widely. Successful expansions tend to explore fresh narrative angles while preserving the tonal DNA of the parent property, as seen with Queen Charlotte. In contrast, Tales From ’85 and Blood Origin lean heavily on visual nostalgia without delivering the emotional weight fans expect.

Looking ahead

Netflix executives continue to describe their approach as “building a universe,” but the challenge remains: creating extensions that viewers actually want to explore. Upcoming projects like the Wednesday spinoff and the multi‑format One Piece rollout suggest the company is doubling down on franchise development. Whether these will learn from the missteps of Tales From ’85 or repeat the same formula remains to be seen. Industry observers will be watching subscriber metrics, critical reception, and social‑media chatter closely as Netflix tests the limits of its franchise strategy.