Netflix is known for continuously adding new content – new movies and TV shows – to their service every month, but in order to keep that constant stream of content rolling in, they also need to offset the balance by removing a bunch of movies and TV shows.
This is the unfortunate reality of streaming services; Netflix’s library isn’t permanent, and users tend to see some of their favorite movies and TV shows leave the service as soon as something bigger (or perhaps even cheaper to license) rolls along – and 2019 isn’t going to be any different.
Related: Here Are The Best TV Shows And Movies Coming To Netflix In January 2019
So, to start off 2019, Netflix users are going to have to say goodbye to superheroes, martial artist pandas, vampires, and mobsters this month, with these 15 great movies that are disappearing from the streaming service in January 2019.
15. Blade/Blade II
Long before we entered the golden age of superhero movies, Blade was one of the best – an adaptation of the Marvel comics character of the same name. The vampire hunter (played by Wesley Snipes) spends these two films protecting humanity from the undead, and while there’s no denying that the VFX really don’t stand the test of time, they are still fan-favorites for a reason. The third film in the franchise (Blade: Trinity) is also not available on Netflix, but thankfully, plenty of MCU movies are.
Leaving: Jan 1
14. Catwoman
Another superhero movie from the early 2000s, Catwoman is routinely trotted out as an example of one of the worst superhero movies ever made – and with good reason. Despite Halle Berry in the starring role, the film is definitely not the best adaptation of the famous DC comics character. Terrible costumes aside, though, it may be worth a re-watch as an example of just how far we’ve come.
Leaving: Jan 1
13. Interview With The Vampire
Blade isn’t the only vampire movie leaving Netflix at the start of this month – Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire is also being axed from the catalog on the first of January. No superheroes here, though, only Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise as the dashing undead, partying their way around New Orleans, sucking blood and turning a teeny-tiny Kirsten Dunst. It may be a couple of decades old, but this is still a phenomenal film – and a TV series is still in development.
Leaving: Jan 1
12. Kung Fu Panda
The kids will be disappointed to hear that Netflix is bidding farewell to Kung Fu Panda this month, as the original Dreamworks film about a martial-arts Panda (the title really gives it away) disappears. The second and third films in the franchise are also unavailable. However, there are still several other films in the franchise available for streaming, including Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll, Kung Fu Panda: Awesome Secrets Collection, and Kung Fu Panda: Holiday.
Leaving: Jan 1
11. Law & Order: SVU
Fans of crime procedurals are out of luck this month, as the 15th, 16th, and 17th years are disappearing from Netflix at the start of the month. This long-running series (now on the 20th season) centers on sexual crimes in New York City, following them from the original crime scene to the criminal prosecution. We wouldn’t necessarily recommend trying to binge it all before it goes, though, because things can get dark in this show – and there’s only so much Ice-T we can watch in one sitting!
Leaving: Jan 1
10. Love Actually
Christmas is over, so we don’t need to be too sad Love, Actually is headed off Netflix in January. Really, it’s time to put Christmas movies away, especially movies that have become increasingly divisive as they age and fans start wondering if that whole sign-at-the-door scene was ever charming, or if it was always just a little bit creepy. Still, plenty love to re-watch it over the holiday season, so Netflix is just making sure that we all know when to stop.
Leaving: Jan 1
9. Meet the Fockers/Meet the Parents
Indulge in a little old-school silly comedy before the end of the year, with this 2000 Ben Stiller comedy about a boyfriend meeting his girlfriend’s parents for the first time. Meet the Parents was followed up a few years later by Meet The Fockers, as the two families were introduced, and then by Little Fockers about the couple’s kids. The first two films will stick around until January 1, but the third isn’t currently available to stream.
Leaving: Jan 1
Page 2 of 2: Sharknado, Lord of the Rings, and More Leaving Netflix in January 2019
8. Million Dollar Baby
If you are looking for something a little more dramatic than the films we’ve covered so far, try and squeeze in Million Dollar Baby before it disappears on January 1. The film won Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actor, and while it may look like a typical underdog sports drama, it will absolutely break your heart. Reach for the tissues as you watch Clint Eastwood as a grizzled old trainer, working with the spunky Maggie (Hilary Swank) to become a champion boxer.
Leaving: Jan 1
7. Sharknado
Of course, if tear-jerking dramas are the last thing that you want to watch, you can’t go wrong with a whole bunch of Sharknado movies. Sharknado, Sharknado 2: The Second One, Sharknado 3, Sharknado 5, and Sharknado: The 4th Awakens are all leaving Netflix this month, so it’s the perfect time for a day-long end of year binge of some truly ridiculous horror. It’s a franchise about tornados filled with sharks. What more could you ask for?
Leaving: Jan 1
6. The Godfather Trilogy
All three films in the Godfather trilogy are leaving at the start of the year, so mobster-movie aficionados should squeeze in a move marathon while they still can. Even if you’ve already seen the rise and fall of the Corleone family a hundred times, it’s still good for a re-watch… if you have a whole lot of time, of course. This is definitely not a quick trilogy to binge, but it’s oh so worth it.
Leaving: Jan 1
5. The Green Mile
Another tear-jerker (although unlike Million Dollar Baby, The Green Mile is Oscar nominated, but not an Oscar winner), this film introduces a little magic to Death Row. Starring Tom Hanks as a prison guard, and Michael Clarke Duncan as a man accused of a terrible crime, the film takes us through an incredible relationship and a man’s extraordinary power. Be warned, though, The Green Mile is not a movie with a happy ending.
Leaving: Jan 1
4. The Princess Diaries
If all those mobsters and Oscar-winning heartbreakers are a little too much for you, take advantage of your last chance to catch The Princess Diaries – pure lighthearted goodness. Anne Hathaway stars in this teen transformation flick as a dorky girl who discovers that she is actually a princess and has to learn how this will change the way she lives her life, how she sees herself, and how it changes the boys that may be interested in her.
Leaving: Jan 1
3. The Shining
Halloween is far behind us, but for horror lovers, it’s never a bad time to watch The Shining. Besides, this Stephen King adaptation takes place in the winter, so clearly, it’s a seasonal film. Watch Jack Nicholson pull his iconic “Here’s Johnny!,” as he plays the insane Jack Torrance, terrorizing his family in a remote hotel where they are staying for the winter.
Leaving: Jan 1
2. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
For the first time in a few years, there wasn’t a Star Wars movie release in December, thanks to Solo: A Star Wars Story hitting the big screen in the spring – and now, Netflix is losing Rogue One: A Star Wars Story this month as well! Fans of the franchise will just have to wait until the next installment hits theaters in 2019, or watch Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which is still available to stream.
Leaving: Jan 18
1. The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring
Mid-month, the original Peter Jackson adaptation of The Lord Of The Rings leaves the streaming service, but fans who are sad at the idea of being unable to watch Frodo and friends set out on the journey can look forward to the upcoming TV series instead. There’s still no set release date for the prequel series, but it promises to be an interesting new look at Middle-earth for fans of the Tolkein world.
Leaving: January 19
