Top Fan-Driven Victories: The Ultimate List of 11 Movies & Shows Rescued

Content has been saved from cancelation due to fan campaigns and public outcry. Some shows continued for a few more seasons, while others exceeded expectations. In certain cases, TV shows even transitioned into their own feature films or film series. Audience participation in the world of movies and television has become a significant phenomenon, rescuing productions that may have been disregarded by studios.

Social media has greatly amplified the voices of viewers, shaping the longevity of television shows and even motivating long-awaited sequels through fan pressure. Fan campaigns have taken various forms over the years, ranging from petitions to crowdfunding efforts and even aerial displays with banners calling for the rescue of a show. It is undeniable that studios now pay much closer attention to the desires of their audiences, resulting in the salvation of these movies and TV shows.

11 Warrior Nun (2020 - 2022)

10 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013 - 2021)

Warrior Nun, Netflix's series, faced cancellation before its third season. However, devoted fans launched a formidable social media campaign, #SaveWarriorNun, to rescue the show. In December 2022, Netflix confirmed the series' end, prompting immediate audience action. Months later, showrunner Simon Barry took to Twitter in June 2023 to announce the successful outcome of the fan campaign, leading to the continuation of Warrior Nun. A thrilling update arrived in August 2023, as Netflix declared that Warrior Nun would be transformed into a captivating movie trilogy instead of receiving additional seasons. This trilogy would provide a satisfying conclusion to Ava's journey as the chosen Halo Bearer.

Fortunately, the comedy police procedural series Brooklyn Nine-Nine was quickly saved by another studio after fans launched a campaign to keep it alive. After five seasons of following the diverse precinct as they worked the tough streets of Brooklyn, Fox made the decision to cancel the show, unaware of the massive social media backlash that would ensue. The hashtag #SaveBrooklyn99 took off, with even celebrities like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Hamill, and Guillermo Del Toro expressing their disappointment at its cancellation. Miraculously, NBC stepped in the following day and picked up Brooklyn Nine-Nine, giving it another season to entertain audiences before its eventual conclusion.

9 Community (2009 - 2015)

One of the most renowned instances of a fan movement successfully rescuing a television show is Community, which is at last receiving a film adaptation. The catchphrase "six seasons and a movie" was ingrained in the minds of the audience ever since Abed (Danny Pudi) uttered it in the season 2 episode titled "Paradigms of Human Memory." As a result, when NBC considered canceling Community after its fifth season, viewers grew anxious. Fan campaigns quickly gained momentum, leading to initiatives such as a Community-themed art gallery in Los Angeles and even a Community convention known as Communicon (via People). Eventually, Yahoo screens stepped in and acquired the series for its sixth and final seasons, and now, the highly anticipated movie is becoming a reality.

8 The Expanse (2015 - 2022)

The Expanse, a beloved series, faced premature cancellation by the SyFy channel but was ultimately saved by Amazon. After season 3, SyFy pulled the plug, prompting an extraordinary fan campaign. Viewers directed their efforts towards Amazon, leaving an indelible mark with the hashtag #SaveTheExpanse. In a display of unwavering support, fans even contributed funds for a plane to carry a banner featuring the hashtag over the studio (via Gizmodo). Jennifer Salke, the CEO, revealed how influential this movement was, stating, "Jeff Bezos received emails from prominent figures like George R.R. Martin and even captains of industry, such as the founder of Craigslist."

7 Friday Night Lights (2006 - 2011)

Unfortunately, the television series Friday Night Lights, based on a true story and rooted in sports drama, did not garner enough viewership for NBC to justify renewing it after a disappointing second season. However, the show had a larger and more devoted fanbase than initially perceived by the network. When the cancellation of the series was announced, the audience responded in a unique manner. Since social media hashtags were not prevalent during that time, viewers resorted to the traditional postal service to convey their wishes. They sent light bulbs to NBC with the words "Light's Out" written on them, miniature footballs, and even eye drops (according to Vulture). Fortunately, NBC struck a deal with DirecTV, resulting in three additional seasons for Friday Night Lights.

6 Arrested Development (2003 - 2019)

Arrested Development, a comedy known for its frequent cancellations and renewals, faced a similar fate. Despite being highly praised by critics, the show struggled to attract a large audience while airing on Fox and faced the possibility of cancellation before its third season. In a bid to save the show, devoted fans took to sending bananas and letters to Fox and launched the SaveOurBluths.com website, pleading for another season. Eventually, Arrested Development was granted a third season, only to be swiftly canceled once again. However, several years later, the show found a new lease on life when Netflix brought it back for a fourth season in 2013 and a fifth season in 2018.

5 Veronica Mars (2004 - 2019)

While The Expanse fans made a daring move by organizing a plane to promote their favorite show, it was the viewers of Veronica Mars who first pioneered this tactic. After the CW cancelled Veronica Mars following its second season, fans rallied together and raised $7,000 to fly a plane over the studio with a banner that read "Renew Veronica Mars CW 2006" (via CheatSheet). This clever stunt worked, resulting in another season for Veronica Mars, although it was eventually cancelled once again. Speculations about a feature film were rampant, but it wasn't until creator Rob Thomas and star Kristen Bell launched a Kickstarter campaign and successfully raised $2 million (via EW). The film premiered in 2014, and later on, Veronica Mars received a revival season thanks to Hulu in 2019.

4 Firefly (2002 - 2003)

Despite its cult following and loyal fanbase, Joss Whedon's beloved TV show, Firefly, faced an unfortunate cancellation after just one season. The unconventional decision made by Fox to air the episodes out of order only added to the disappointment. However, when the show was later released on DVD, avid viewers finally had the chance to experience Firefly as intended. It quickly became evident that the series possessed a rare brilliance, captivating audiences and prompting a fervent outcry for its revival on a different network. Fans expressed their support through emails, letters, and online campaigns, but Fox remained adamant in their decision. Instead, it was Universal who recognized the untapped potential of Firefly and decided to create a movie adaptation titled Serenity.

3 Family Guy (1999 - )

The animated sitcom Family Guy faced cancellation by Fox after only its third season. Surprisingly, the series emerged as the most successful fan-rescued show, thanks to its extraordinary DVD sales. Despite initially suffering from low ratings, the overwhelming demand for DVDs and the proven success of reruns on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block compelled Fox to reconsider its decision. Moreover, when Gary Newman, the CEO and president of 20th Century Fox at the time, delivered a speech at Yale University, numerous fans confronted him about Family Guy during the Q&A session (via Baltimore Sun).

2 Star Trek: The Original Series (1966 - 1969)

Star Trek: The Original Series, which premiered in 1966, faced initial rejection from NBC, leading to its cancellation after season 2. However, the dedicated efforts of sci-fi writer Betty JoAnne Trimble and her husband John, who organized one of the earliest fan campaigns, resulted in over 110,000 letters and notes being delivered to the network, imploring them to save the show (via Vox). Consequently, NBC did grant a third season to Star Trek, yet it faced cancellation once again. Nevertheless, Paramount Studios recognized its potential, and in 1979, they released Star Trek: The Motion Picture, effectively launching the franchise as we recognize it today.

1 Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

Paul Rudd's urging of fans to campaign for it was instrumental in the making of Ant-Man 3 (via ComicBook). Despite the moderate success of the first two Ant-Man movies, the franchise was not a top performer within the vast MCU. The campaign for what eventually became Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania began after Rudd and co-star Michael Peña appeared in a Pepsi MAX commercial. When asked about the possibility of Ant-Man 3 by Yahoo!, Rudd responded, "You need to reach out to the top brass and start a campaign to make it happen." Thanks to the efforts of both audiences and Rudd, their wish came true, and Quantumania hit theaters four years later.