Netflix viewers have expressed significant disappointment following the departure of "Gilmore Girls" from the streaming platform after a 12-year presence. As of July 1, 2026, the popular series is no longer available on Netflix and can only be streamed on Amazon Prime Video and Hulu.
The show, which originally aired for seven seasons on The WB from 2000 to 2008, centers on the relationship between Lorelai Gilmore and her teenage daughter Rory in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. The cast included Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Melissa McCarthy, Milo Ventimiglia, and Kelly Bishop.
"Gilmore Girls" experienced a resurgence in popularity when all seven seasons were added to Netflix in 2014. For over a decade, the series has been a consistent performer in streaming charts, particularly during fall and winter months. In the week of September 1 to September 7, 2025, the show reportedly garnered 534 million minutes in viewership across Netflix and Hulu, with whom Netflix had shared streaming rights since 2024. Nielsen ratings data from September 8 to September 14, 2025, indicated that 35% of its viewership came from adults aged 18 to 34.
The show's success on Netflix paved the way for a sequel series, "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life," which premiered in 2016 as a four-part miniseries. This revival, set nearly a decade after the original series finale, featured the return of Graham, Bledel, and other original cast members. It famously concluded with a cliffhanger, revealing Rory's pregnancy in its final moments.
While the original "Gilmore Girls" series has now left Netflix, the "A Year in the Life" miniseries remains exclusively available on the platform. The departure has led to strong reactions from fans, with some vowing to cancel their subscriptions and describing the move as "horrible" and a "tragedy."
Rumors of a potential second reboot surfaced in November 2024 when cast members, including Scott Patterson, Sean Gunn, and Lauren Graham, shared social media posts hinting at "something special." These posts, which included images of iconic show elements like Luke's Diner and the Stars Hollow gazebo, were eventually revealed to be part of a Walmart holiday advertisement campaign, confirmed by the retailer.
