Coming Out Colton wants to tell a story of courage, but feels more like image repair than revelation. The series skips real accountability for Colton Underwood’s past and smooths over uncomfortable truths with polished emotional scenes. Instead of an honest exploration of identity and redemption, it comes off as a carefully managed PR campaign wrapped in the language of self-discovery. | © Netflix
Hao Wu’s short documentary is heartfelt but leans too heavily on advocacy over exploration. It frames his family’s traditional values as the clear obstacle without really giving them depth or voice. The result is an emotional but narrow story that feels more like persuasion than a genuine look at how different generations try and fail to understand each other. | © Netflix
Bradley Cooper’s Maestro tries to celebrate Leonard Bernstein but ends up trapped in its own idea of what matters most. The focus leans heavily on sexuality and emotional angst, while the brilliance and contradictions of his music take a back seat. Instead of a raw look at a complicated artist, it feels like a carefully staged performance built to impress rather than reveal. | © Netflix
This short documentary about Hiyori Kon turns a personal story into a clear-cut battle between progress and tradition. It champions gender equality but skips over the deeper cultural and religious roots behind sumo’s male-only rules. With its activist tone and lack of balance, the film ends up feeling more like a campaign than a true exploration of Japan’s wrestling world. | © Netflix
Ava DuVernay’s 13th is powerful but far from balanced. It tries to link America’s prison system directly to slavery, yet skips over nuance, context, and inconvenient counterpoints. The result feels more like a lecture than a documentary: emotionally charged, politically one-sided, and determined to convince rather than explore. | © Netflix
Chelsea Handler’s documentary starts with an interesting premise but quickly collapses into awkward self-reflection. Instead of a deep look at privilege, it becomes a shallow mix of guilt, virtue signaling, and celebrity cameos. Viewers expecting honest dialogue about race get a meandering vanity project that says little and repeats itself a lot. | © Netflix
What could have been an honest portrait of a legendary Brazilian cartoonist instead feels like a checklist of identity politics. The documentary focuses so heavily on Laerte’s gender transition that it barely explores her art or cultural impact. Viewers looking for insight into her creativity or legacy are left with a shallow, self-conscious film that preaches more than it tells a story. | © Netflix
The documentary tries to bring Ibram X. Kendi’s ideas to life but ends up burying them under chaotic editing and zero context. Scenes jump wildly between eras and styles, leaving viewers unsure what they’re even looking at. Instead of clarifying Kendi’s message, the film turns his clear arguments into a confusing, overproduced montage that frustrates more than it informs. | © Netflix
Rustin tries to shine a light on an important Civil Rights leader but fumbles the execution. Colman Domingo gives it his all, yet the story feels uneven, the pacing is off, and the supporting characters are barely developed. It’s a well-meaning film that never quite captures the depth or impact of Bayard Rustin’s legacy. | © Netflix
When They See Us was praised for its emotional storytelling, but critics say it twisted real events into political theater. The show paints the convicted teens as pure victims while brushing aside key evidence and confessions that tell a more complicated story. For many viewers, it felt less like truth-seeking and more like a carefully crafted piece of propaganda. | © Netflix
What was meant to be a bold, genre-blending musical turned into a tone-deaf experiment in cultural misfire. The French director skipped real research, dismissed Mexican talent, and delivered a film that feels detached from its own setting. Despite strong performances from Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón, the story drags, the songs fall flat, and the praise feels completely unearned. | © Netflix
Netflix’s attempt to retell Homer’s Iliad ended up feeling like a parody of the original epic. The casting, tone, and dialogue miss every emotional note, turning legendary figures into awkward, modern caricatures. What was meant to be timeless passion and tragedy became a dull, confused mess that managed to offend both fans of history and good storytelling. | © Netflix
This spinoff traded the grit and depth of the original Vikings for sloppy writing and historical chaos. Characters swing swords without purpose, plots vanish mid-episode, and the show expects viewers to fill in the gaps themselves. Fans who came for world-building and authenticity got a loud, confused version of history that felt more like fan fiction than legend. | © Netflix
What started as a charming, escapist period romance has turned into a confusing mix of rushed plots and forced “modern twists.” Season 3 abandoned the emotional buildup fans loved, swapping real chemistry for shallow storylines and awkward character changes. By the finale, even loyal viewers felt cheated, more frustrated than enchanted. | © Netflix
Queen Cleopatra tried to make history “relatable” and ended up rewriting it instead. The series blurred the line between documentary and fiction, leaning into modern identity politics rather than historical accuracy. Viewers called it tone-deaf and misleading, and even Egyptologists dismissed it as a self-righteous mess dressed up as empowerment. | © Netflix
Netflix has built its empire on bold ideas, but sometimes those ideas backfire. Over the years, several shows and films have been accused of pushing ideology over storytelling, losing audiences along the way. Here are 15 times Netflix went “woke” and viewers simply tuned out.
