Honestly, trying to track down the Bluth family is almost as chaotic as one of GOB’s “illusions.” You’d think a show that literally helped define the era of streaming would have a permanent home, but in 2026, the situation is getting kinda messy. If you've been searching for where is arrested development streaming, the short answer is Netflix—but there is a massive "for now" attached to that.
For years, we all just assumed the show would live on Netflix forever. They saved it from cancellation hell after Fox gave up on it, after all. But rights deals in the streaming world are never as simple as they look on the surface. Right now, as of early 2026, you can still find all five seasons sitting there.
That might not be the case for much longer.
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The Netflix Countdown: March 2026 is the Big Date
Here is the deal. Back in 2023, there was a huge panic because Netflix actually posted a "leaving soon" notice for the show. Everyone freaked out. It was one of the first times people realized that "Netflix Originals" aren't always owned by Netflix. In a last-minute scramble, Netflix and Disney (who owns the rights through 20th Television) inked a deal to keep the show on the platform for a few more years.
That deal is expiring.
Multiple reports from industry insiders like What’s on Netflix and Collider have pointed to March 15, 2026, as the final day the Bluths will spend on the platform. If you haven't finished your eleventh rewatch, you might want to pick up the pace.
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It’s weird to think about. Netflix funded Seasons 4 and 5. They marketed them. They even recut Season 4 into the "Fateful Consequences" remix because the original format was... let's just say, polarizing. Yet, because Disney holds the underlying intellectual property, Netflix's "original" status doesn't mean they own the show's soul.
Is it on Hulu or Disney Plus?
This is where things get even more confusing for fans. Depending on where you live, the answer to where is arrested development streaming changes completely.
- In the United States: Netflix currently has the exclusive rights to all five seasons. Hulu actually lost the rights to the first three seasons back in late 2023 as part of that "save the show" deal. So, if you're in the US, it’s Netflix or bust for the digital version.
- International Markets (UK, Canada, Australia): In many territories outside the US, Disney+ has been hosting the original Fox seasons (1–3) for a while now. Some regions have a split where Netflix has the revivals and Disney has the classics.
- The VPN Workaround: Some people use VPNs to hop over to different regions, but even that is getting harder as streaming services get better at blocking those IPs.
The Physical Media Dilemma
If you’re a purist, you probably already know that the streaming versions of Arrested Development have some quirks. For instance, the Season 1 episode order on Netflix is actually the broadcast order, not the "intended" order. This causes some weird continuity glitches that only the most obsessed fans (guilty) will notice.
The DVDs for Seasons 1 through 3 are the gold standard because they fix those order issues and include commentaries that are genuinely funnier than most other sitcoms. But there is a huge catch.
Season 5 has never received an official, wide-release physical media launch.
If the show leaves Netflix in March 2026 and Disney doesn't immediately put it on Hulu or Disney+, Season 5 could effectively become "lost media" for a while. You can find bootlegs on eBay, but they're sketchy at best. Honestly, if you love the show, owning the first three seasons on DVD is the only way to ensure you aren't at the mercy of a licensing lawyer's mood.
Why Does This Keep Happening?
It basically comes down to how the industry was built. When Mitchell Hurwitz created the show, it was a 20th Century Fox production airing on the Fox network. When Netflix "saved" it in 2013, they didn't buy the brand; they just leased it.
Now that Disney owns Fox, they want their content back. We saw this happen with the Marvel "Defenders" shows like Daredevil and The Punisher. They were Netflix Originals until they suddenly weren't. One day they were on Netflix, the next they were on Disney+.
The expectation is that once the Netflix clock runs out in March, the show will eventually migrate to Hulu or the Disney+ "Hulu on Disney" hub. But there hasn't been a formal announcement yet. Disney could technically sit on it, or even license it out to someone else like Prime Video if the price is right.
Things to do before the 2026 deadline:
- Watch the Season 4 "Original Cut": Most people don't realize the original, non-chronological cut of Season 4 is still hidden in the "Trailers & More" section on Netflix. It's much better than the remix.
- Check your local library: Believe it or not, many libraries still have the original DVD box sets. It’s free and doesn’t require a subscription.
- Download for offline viewing: If you're traveling, make sure to sync the episodes now. Once that license expires, those downloads will vanish from your device the next time the app pings the server.
The clock is ticking on the most dysfunctional family in television history. We’ve been here before with the 2023 scare, but this time, the "March 2026" date feels a lot more final.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the "Leaving Soon" tab on your Netflix profile starting in February. Once that date hits, the only way to see a Bluth might be to find a banana stand in the wild.
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The best move right now is to finish your binge-watch by the end of February 2026. After that, you'll likely need a Hulu or Disney+ subscription to keep the tradition alive, assuming the Mouse House plays fair with the licensing transition.