Kapil Show Dropped From Netflix Global Top 10: Ratings Decline Signals Trouble
Explore why The Great Indian Kapil Show failed to sustain its Netflix success—analyzing declining global rankings, viewer feedback, and format fatigue despite star-studded episodes.
Netflix’s The Great Indian Kapil Show, hosted by Kapil Sharma, made a highly anticipated transition from Indian television to the OTT platform in March 2024. But despite an explosive start, its popularity has nosedived—culminating in it being dropped from Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non‑English Shows list by mid‑2025. Reddit+15The Indian Express+15The Indian Express+15The Economic Times
Viewership Trends & Rankings
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The Season 3 premiere (June 21, 2025) featuring Salman Khan generated 1.6 million views and 1.9 million watch hours, but that fell well short of the 2.4 million views earned by the Season 1 opener with Ranbir Kapoor. mint+7The Economic Times+7Indiatimes+7
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Episodes 4 and 5, featuring guests from Son of Sardaar 2 and Metro In Dino, failed to appear in Global Top 10, indicating a sharp, continued drop-off. Indiatimes+3The Indian Express+3The Economic Times+3
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This pattern mirrors prior seasons—initial popularity followed by rapid decline after early episodes. Reddit+13The Indian Express+13The Economic Times+13
Audience Backlash & Feedback
Feedback from viewers, including long‑time fans, highlights serious format fatigue and stale content:
“Moving to Netflix was their biggest mistake… The show is suited for TV more than OTT.” The Indian Express+1Reddit+1mint+3Reddit+3Reddit+3
“Jokes seem stale and laughter seems forced.” Reddit+7Reddit+7Reddit+7
“The Netflix edition is seriously unfunny and forced. Really bad writing.” Reddit
The common criticisms include:
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Overused slapstick and cross‑dressing gags
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Forced audience laughter and lack of authenticity
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Heavy reliance on celebrity guests rather than original skits
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Absence of viewer interaction that earlier seasons embraced
Why Did Netflix Viewers Lose Interest?
| Factor | Impact on Viewership |
|---|---|
| Format Stagnation | Comedic style felt dated, lacking fresh ideas or variation |
| Platform Misalignment | Television‐style family humour didn’t resonate with Netflix’s younger users |
| Guest-Focused Structure | Celebrity interviews overshadowed comedic content |
| Poor Writing & Editing | Users reported awkward pacing and inorganic scripting |
???? What Netflix & Producers Should Rethink
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Revamp the format: Reinforce actual sketches and reduce overconsumption of celebrity promotions.
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Invest in writing: Stronger scripts that reflect modern sensitivities and avoid outdated stereotypes.
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Engage younger audiences: Introduce timely humour over nostalgia-driven bits.
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Restore creative freedom: Give the Kapil team flexibility in editing and pacing.
