The Witcher Season 4 Stumbles: Viewership Plunges Over 50% From Season 3 To Just 7.3 Million On Netflix
The Witcher returned with a whimper on Netflix, as its latest season premiered to the lowest viewing figures in the show’s history.
So, The Witcher season 4 finally showed up with a new Geralt and... the audience did not, at least not yet. The first-week numbers are the lowest the main series has seen since it launched, which is not the headline Netflix was hoping for in Liam Hemsworth's debut.
The numbers in context
Per What's on Netflix, season 4 pulled 7.3 million views in its first week after all eight episodes dropped on October 30. Netflix's Top 10 uses the platform's own views metric, so we're comparing like for like with recent seasons. Here's how that stacks up:
- Season 4: 7.3 million views (week 1)
- Season 3: 15.2 million views (week 1)
- Season 2: 18.5 million views (week 1)
- Season 1: no comparable data, since it premiered in 2019 before Netflix's current Top 10 format
- Prequel The Witcher: Blood Origin (2022): 4.6 million views (week 1) — the only Witcher title to debut lower
Blood Origin also struggled with critics (28% on Rotten Tomatoes). Season 4 is doing better than that at 58% with critics, but it's still the lowest-scored season of the main show so far. Interestingly, not everyone is down on it: at least one review went four stars, calling this run more focused, more fun, and the best season yet. So the reception is split — the viewership more than anything.
About the Geralt handoff
The big change this year, of course, is Liam Hemsworth taking over from Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia. Showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich kept the explanation pretty straightforward:
"He had plans for other roles that he really wanted to commit himself to," showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich said of Cavill's departure. "And for us, you don't want to hold someone and force them to be doing something that they don't want to do. I think that's why it felt like a really symbiotic decision."
Translation: Cavill wanted out, the show let him go, and they tried to keep it amicable. Whether the recast spooked viewers or this is just a slower start, we will see in the coming weeks.
The Witcher season 4 is streaming now on Netflix.