Netflix explains why original movie The Power of the Dog is being removed amid confusion
Users have just one week left to watch the film
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Netflix has cleared up confusion surrounding the removal of one of its most acclaimed movies.
The streaming service takes down titles from its library every month – but users have been led to believe that films and shows released under the “Netflix Original” label would remain on the service indefinitely.
However, it has become clear in the last year that this is not the case. Hemlock Grove and the Netflix-produced season of Arrested Development were two such casualties, which sparked an outcry at the time they were taken down.
Now, in what will be one of Netflix’s highest-profile removals, Oscar-winning drama The Power of the Dog (2021) will be leaving the service in the UK in August.
Netflix tells The Independent that this was always the plan, and the film’s removal is part of the original deal that will see the BBC have an exclusive window for one year. This time next August, The Power of the Dog will return to Netflix.
Unlike other shows to be removed, The Power of the Dog is also available to watch elsewhere – whether to download or to buy on DVD and Blu-ray.
But Netflix users have until 19 August to stream the film, which won Jane Campion the Best Director Oscar. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee.
The Power of the Dog is not the only acclaimed original Netflix film to be removed in August: the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry adaptation, The Little Prince (2015), will also be taken down.
Users have been left bewildered by the removal, with many urging others to buy physical copies of the films they want to own. “What. The. F***?” one person wrote in response to the news, with another adding: “Please tell me it’s not true.”
Find the full list of every movie and TV series being taken off of Netflix this month here. The streaming service recently announced that a beloved series will come to an unexpected end in September.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments