Is Chernobyl on Netflix?

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Chernobyl – Season 1 HBO

Chernobyl is HBO’s latest massive miniseries to grace the channel and as its popularity soars, many will be wondering if season 1 of Chernobyl will ever be coming to Netflix. Here’s what we know:

With hits like Band of Brothers and The Pacific, HBO has crafted itself at being some of the best producers of miniseries. That’s been solidified by the release of Chernobyl.

The five-episode sees an accurate recreation of the 1986 nuclear disaster and the clean-up efforts that followed. It’s quickly become the highest ranked TV show on IMDb beating out the likes of Game of Thrones and even Band of Brothers.

Why Chernobyl won’t be on Netflix anywhere in the world

Chernobyl isn’t likely going to be coming to Netflix.

Despite HBO not operating in every region of the world, it still rarely licenses its content to Netflix. In the past, we’ve seen a handful of HBO documentaries come to Netflix but never its TV series. There was a stage when it licensed some of its older show to Prime but that’s no longer the case.

Jared Harris in Chernobyl (2019) – HBO

In the United States, you’ll need an HBO subscription or HBO Go to watch the show and that will be your only option. The series will likely release on boxset which you’ll be able to rent using Netflix’s DVD service that’s still in operation.

Elsewhere, you’ll need to find alternative arrangements to watch Chernobyl as HBO has expressed no interest in ever licensing its shows to Netflix.

Are there any Chernobyl documentaries on Netflix?

There are a couple of documentaries either directly related to Chernobyl on Netflix or circumstances similar.

City 40 is a 2016 documentary that looks into a secretive town with a strange nuclear arrangement although it doesn’t have much connection with Chernobyl.

Fukushima is a more recent nuclear disaster often compared to Chernobyl although they happened in substantially different circumstances. Netflix is currently carrying NOVA: The Nuclear Option from PBS on the subject.

The closest you’ll get to Chernobyl on Netflix is the 2012 horror movie that sees a group of teens travel to the region affected by the Chernobyl disaster. It’s shot on location but is entirely fictionalized as they’re chased down by radiated beings. Chernobyl Diaries is now streaming on Netflix.

Would you have liked to have seen Chernobyl on Netflix? Let us know in the comments.

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Founder of What's on Netflix and based in Norwich in the United Kingdom, Kasey has been tracking the comings and goings of the Netflix library for a decade having started the site in 2013. Kasey maintains the what's new library, keeps the coming soon lists up-to-date and writes about new and upcoming Netflix movies, series and games.