A fantasy series that was initially canceled after only one season is now a huge success on streaming platforms. It joins other popular fantasy shows like Netflix’s The Witcher and Prime Video’s The Legend of Vox Machina, which have also gained a large following.
Despite good reviews from critics, the historical drama The Winter King didn’t find a large audience when it streamed on MGM+. The show is based on Bernard Cornwell’s The Warlord Chronicles trilogy and offers a fresh take on the Arthurian legends, focusing on Arthur (played by Iain de Caestecker) as he’s forced into exile during a Saxon invasion.
You know, it’s amazing to see how well The Winter King is doing! Even though it originally aired three years ago, it’s become a huge hit on streaming. As of January 22nd, 2026, FlixPatrol says it’s the 7th most-watched show on HBO Max, which is incredible. And it wasn’t just popular in a few places – it hit the top 10 in 14 different countries, consistently ranking as either number 2 or 3! I was really happy to see it doing so well in places like Bulgaria, Poland, Serbia, and Romania too.
The show has become popular just over a year after being cancelled by its original UK channel, ITVX, in September 2024. Although viewership played a part, the show’s mixed reception likely contributed to the cancellation. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave it a 74% rating, but audiences only gave it 41%, showing a significant difference in opinion.
Even though a second season of The Winter King won’t be made, the show’s popularity on streaming proves people are still interested in stories about King Arthur. However, The Winter King isn’t the only recent Arthurian project that hasn’t found a large audience. The 2017 film King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, which was intended to start a series of movies, was a box office failure.
The TV series is gaining popularity with HBO Max viewers in Europe. While it’s only available on MGM+ in the US, its availability on different platforms elsewhere is helping it reach a broad international audience, despite limited access in North America.
While The Winter King‘s popularity on streaming probably won’t lead to a continuation of the series, it shows there’s a real desire for fantasy stories based on Arthurian legends. It’s uncertain if it will stay popular, but its current spot in HBO Max’s Top 10 suggests many people are finding it engaging.
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2026-01-22 18:28