Prison Break is set to leave Netflix U.S. on January 29, 2026. The global streaming rights are in flux, so fans have about 18 months left to binge before the iconic series shifts platforms again.
When is Prison Break Leaving Netflix?
Prison Break, the hit series that originally aired in 2005, made a surprise return to Netflix U.S. on July 29, 2024. Fans rejoiced, hoping to binge the entire series, including all five seasons and the 2017 revival. However, this return comes with an expiration date. The complete series will be removed from Netflix U.S. on January 29, 2026, just 18 months after its return.
On X, @fangswil expressed their emotional reaction to Prison Break leaving Netflix, saying they’re “gonna cry.” The post echoed the sentiment of many fans who are saddened by the departure of the beloved series from the streaming service.
For international fans, the situation is different. Prison Break was already removed from Netflix libraries outside the U.S. in January 2022, and it remains absent from Netflix globally. Instead, international viewers can find the show on Disney+ (or Star on Disney+, depending on their region) starting in 2022, where it will continue to stream.
Why is Prison Break Leaving Netflix?
It mostly comes down to who controls the rights. After Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, it got the keys to Prison Break and other Fox classics. Disney wants these shows for its own services, like Hulu and Disney+, where it can rake in subscription bucks directly. For a while, Prison Break was removed from Netflix globally, and only U.S. users got a last-minute reprieve thanks to a 2024 short-term licensing deal between Disney and Netflix. That deal’s got an expiration: 18 months, then it’s done, unless something changes.
On X, @tundemoore_xx shared a bittersweet moment, revealing that they are watching Prison Break for the last time as it prepares to leave Netflix. This post resonated with fans of the iconic series who are also saying goodbye to the show on the streaming platform.
What Will Be Available on Netflix Before It Leaves?
If you’re in the U.S., you still get access to the entire run, which includes all five main seasons (2005–2009) plus the 2017 revival. You’ve got the full storyline: Michael’s first Fox River break, the Panama detour, conspiracies, deaths, resurrections, everything. Netflix kept it all, so nothing’s missing. Even most of the ancillary “The Final Break” movie is available if you want to see every plot thread resolved.
Why is Prison Break Only Available in the U.S.?
Simple answer: licensing. After January 2022, Prison Break vanished from Netflix in every country except the U.S. Disney wants international fans on Disney+ (or Star, depending where you live), not Netflix, so they yanked it globally. Disney’s U.S. content deals are a bit looser, so Netflix could get Prison Break back temporarily for American viewers—but nowhere else.
Even that is ending soon. On September 4, 2025, it will be removed from Netflix in any region where it’s still available, except the U.S., which keeps it until January 2026.
What About Prison Break Season 6?
There’s no Season 6 coming. The 2017 revival tied up most of the original storylines, but then both lead stars—Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell—said they were done. Miller, especially, voiced publicly he’s moved on from playing straight characters, which lines up with his real-life advocacy. There was some chatter about another season, but Fox dropped interest and that door is shut for good.
Instead, Hulu’s developing a reboot set in the same universe but with new characters and stories. So, the world of Prison Break continues—but without Michael, Lincoln, or the original squad.
Why Was Prison Break Added Back to Netflix in 2024?
The surge of old Fox favorites on Netflix was actually a result of Disney testing out short-term licensing deals to boost revenue and eyeballs. For Netflix, adding binge-worthy classics fills up the catalog and spikes viewership (and social chatter). Disney doesn’t lose much, since their original shows stay on Hulu/Disney+ at the same time. That little cross-platform window ends January 2026 in the U.S.
Where Can You Watch Prison Break After It Leaves Netflix?
For U.S. fans: Hulu will be the only major streamer with the full series once Netflix’s license runs out, since Disney owns Hulu outright now. International folks can only use Disney+—it’s not coming back to Netflix in other regions any time soon. To watch on U.S. Hulu from abroad, you’d need a VPN, and same goes for Disney+ if it’s not yet in your country.
Physical media—DVD and Blu-ray—is still an option, or you can purchase digital episodes on Amazon, Apple TV, Google TV, or Vudu.
Prison Break Series’ Success
Even after its original run ended, Prison Break stayed popular. When it landed back on Netflix in July 2024, it soared up the charts, actually seeing over 2 billion hours watched since its return. According to multiple streaming reports, the show has found new audiences and dominated time spent on Netflix throughout late 2024. Season 1, especially, drove a huge spike, pulling in long-time fans and first-timers alike.
The show’s simple but wild premise—brilliant engineer gets himself locked up to bust out his doomed brother—still hooks people. Fox never got Season 6 off the ground, but the reboot buzz and the ongoing fun “what if?” discussions keep Prison Break alive for binge-watchers everywhere.
If you want to relive the drama, outsmart the guards, and marvel at tattooed escape plans, don’t wait. The escape route through Netflix is almost closed. After January 29, 2026, it’s Hulu or Disney+ only. For a show about running out of time, that feels kinda fitting
