Romance fans, brace yourselves — the first installment of the popular After film series is officially leaving Netflix in October 2022. The adaptation of Anna Todd’s bestselling novel has been a streaming favorite since its release, serving as the perfect introduction to the passionate and dramatic love story between Hardin Scott and Tessa Young. But like many licensed titles, its time on Netflix is coming to an end.
A Quick Recap of After
Released in 2019, After quickly built a global fanbase thanks to its origins as a Wattpad phenomenon. The story follows Tessa, a bright and determined college student, whose life is turned upside down when she meets the mysterious and brooding Hardin. Their intense, often turbulent romance captured the hearts of audiences, sparking multiple sequels and a dedicated fandom.
On Netflix, the movie gained even more momentum, reaching viewers who may not have caught it in theaters. Its mix of romance, drama, and youthful angst made it an easy binge-watch, especially for fans of coming-of-age love stories.
Why Is After Leaving Netflix?
Netflix regularly rotates its content library due to licensing agreements with studios and distributors. Once those contracts expire, titles are either renewed or removed. Unfortunately for After fans, the licensing deal for the first film is set to expire in October 2022.
This removal does not mean the end of the franchise on streaming platforms, but it does mark the end of easy access to the movie on Netflix for many subscribers worldwide.
Where Can You Watch After Next?
Once After exits Netflix, viewers will need to turn to other platforms to watch it. In many regions, the film is available to rent or purchase digitally on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube Movies. It may also reappear on another subscription streaming service depending on future licensing deals. For fans who want to own the film permanently, buying or renting digitally is the safest bet. The DVD and Blu-ray versions are also widely available.
The Future of the After Franchise
The departure of the first After movie doesn’t mean fans will be left without new content. The series has already released several sequels, including After We Collided (2020), After We Fell (2021), and After Ever Happy (2022). A fifth installment, After Everything, has also been announced, positioning itself as the final chapter in Hardin and Tessa’s love story. As long as the fandom continues to thrive, the After universe is likely to remain accessible in some form across various streaming and digital platforms.
The exit of After from Netflix in October 2022 is bittersweet. While it signals the end of a convenient streaming era for one of the most beloved modern romance stories, it also highlights the importance of film ownership in the age of shifting licenses. Fans who have followed Hardin and Tessa from the beginning may want to secure their own copies before the movie disappears from Netflix. For now, if you’ve been meaning to rewatch the first sparks of Hardin and Tessa’s complicated romance, you’ll want to stream it on Netflix before it officially leaves in October 2022.
