Apple TV+ Cancels Time Bandits After One Season Amid Struggles in the Streaming Market

Time Bandits Canceled After Just One Season

The live-action adaptation of Terry Gilliam's iconic 1981 cult classic, Time Bandits, has been canceled by Apple TV+ after only one season. Led by Taika Waititi and starring Lisa Kudrow as Penelope, the series told the adventurous tale of a group of expert thieves who, along with a young boy named Kevin, traveled through time and space, manipulating history at their will. The continuation of this intriguing storyline, however, will not be developed into a second season.

Performance Details and Broadcast Schedule

The series, consisting of 10 episodes, aired its first two installments on Apple TV+ on July 24, with subsequent pairs of episodes released weekly until August 21. Despite delivering some innovative and exciting storytelling, Time Bandits struggled to capture a substantial audience. The reviews by publications gave the show meager ratings, criticizing it for smoothing out the original film's edgy humor. The lack of viewer engagement ultimately led to the series' premature ending.

Challenges in the Streaming Wars

In comparison to streaming giants such as Netflix and Prime Video, Apple TV+ faces the tough challenge of maintaining high-quality, high-budget productions without attracting equivalent viewership. A recent price increase saw a monthly subscription rise from $6.99 to $9.99 in late 2023, suggesting an attempt to counterbalance the financial pressures of the escalating streaming conflicts. Bloomberg reported in March that Apple is spending billions on original productions annually which have garnered critical acclaim and multiple awards nominations. However, this has not translated into substantial viewership, with Apple TV+ taking up only 0.2% of US TV viewing. The service generates less viewing in a month than its competitor, Netflix, achieves in a single day.