Netflix has quietly rolled out something subscribers have been asking for since forever – a proper category that shows everything leaving the service soon.
We’ve all been there – you’ve had a film sat in your mental watchlist for months, and the one weekend you finally decide to watch it, it’s gone. Not to mention a TV series disappearing mid-binge.
Netflix has always shown a little “Leaving Soon” thumbnail label about 30 days before titles leave, and there’s a notice on the title page itself, but until now, there’s been no way to actually see them all in one place.
But now, as first reported by What’s on Netflix, the streaming giant has introduced a “Last Chance to Watch” category. It’s not perfect (more on that in a moment), but at least you can see what’s disappearing before it vanishes into the streaming void.
Netflix Codes – The Not-So-Secret Menu
Before we get into the leaving soon category, here’s something you might not know about Netflix: the entire service is organised using thousands of numbered codes.
You know when you’re browsing Netflix and see rows like “Emotional Dramas” or “Award-Winning Directors”? Each of those has a specific code.
In fact, there are over 4,000 categories hidden away in Netflix’s system – some broad, others incredibly specific (there’s genuinely one called “Gentle British Reality TV”).
Here’s how it works: type netflix.com/browse/genre/ into your web browser, then add whatever code you want at the end. Fancy browsing British crime dramas? That’s code 2763. Want 90-minute films? Code 81466194.
Netflix creates these categories through a mix of human curation and AI. They’ve got actual people employed to watch content, tag it, and create all this metadata.
The system’s been around since Netflix’s early days and keeps growing based on what people are watching and what’s happening culturally.
There’s just one snag – these codes only work on Netflix’s website. You can’t use them on your telly’s Netflix app, your phone app, or any streaming device.
You’ll need to fire up a web browser on your laptop or phone, find what you’re looking for – and add it to your watchlist (or watch on your desktop).
What’s This New ‘Leaving Soon’ Category Then?
Right, back to the main event. Netflix’s “Last Chance to Watch” category uses code 82120713.
That means you can get to it by visiting netflix.com/browse/genre/82120713 in your browser – or simply use this link (from a web browser).
For the best view, click the four boxes in the top-right corner (not the list view) and switch the sorting to A-Z. Makes it much easier to scan through everything.
Other than that, you can sort by “Suggestions for you” (where you see things that are leaving soon – and Netflix things YOU’re going to like), Year Released, A-Z, or if you really want to go crazy, Z-A.
Before this category popped up, you’d only know something was leaving if you happened to spot the removal notice. Netflix would stick little labels on tiles and show warnings on title pages, but you had to actively go looking.
To make matters worse, Netflix’s libraries are different in each country – so even if you check “What’s Leaving Netflix” articles on some publications and websites, those may not necessarily fit the country you’re watching from.
The Problems (Because Of Course There Are Problems)
As welcome as this is, it’s far from ideal.
First up – you can’t sort by removal date. There’s no way to see what’s leaving tomorrow versus what’s got another month. You have to click into each title individually to find out when it’s going. Not exactly convenient.
But the bigger issue? Same problem as all Netflix codes – it only works on the web version. If you’re browsing on your TV (like most people do), you’re out of luck. Want to check on your phone? You’ll need to use the browser, not the app.
This is genuinely annoying. Most of us watch Netflix on our tellies or through the mobile app. Having to specifically go to a web browser just to see what’s leaving feels like an unnecessary faff.
Plus, as What’s on Netflix mentions, the new list is far from complete, with some soon-to-be-removed titles missing from it, along with some false positives (titles that are NOT leaving soon).
What About Prime Video, Disney+ and NOW?
Netflix isn’t the only one playing musical chairs with its content library. Amazon’s Prime Video, Disney+, Sky’s NOW, and the rest of the streaming services all regularly shuffle their catalogues as licensing deals expire.
The thing is, they all handle it pretty much the same way Netflix used to. They’ll show you a notice that something’s leaving (IF that) – but only if you actually click on that specific title.
There’s no “leaving soon” category to browse through on any of them.
So whilst Netflix’s new category is limited, it’s actually ahead of what the competition offers in the UK. That’s not exactly high praise in this case, mind you.
Should You Bother With It?
If you’re someone who keeps a mental note of things to watch “at some point”, this category gives you a nudge to actually watch them before they disappear. Just bookmark the page and check it every week or so.
The web browser requirement is annoying, but it’s not the end of the world. Pop it open on your laptop once a week, add anything interesting to your list, then watch it later on your TV.
What would make this genuinely brilliant? If Netflix:
- Built it into the actual apps we all use
- Let us sort by removal date
- Sent notifications about titles on our list that are leaving soon
But we’ve got what we’ve got. And honestly? It’s better than the absolutely nothing we had before.
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