Netflix is preparing to remove several major cinematic titles from its library throughout August. Among the most notable departures is the drama Boy Erased, featuring Russell Crowe, which will leave the service on August 17.
August 17 marks the exit of Boy Erased and the Spider-Man trilogy
The upcoming content shuffle at Netflix involves a variety of genres, ranging from superhero blockbusters to intimate dramas . According to the report, Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy and Venom: The Last Dance are scheduled to depart the platform alongside Boy Erased. Other titles leaving the service include Ex Machina, 27 Dresses, and 48 Hrs.
The timing of these removals varies by title. As the source reported, Russell Crowe's role in American Gangster will exit the platform first on August 1, preceding the departure of Boy Erased by more than two weeks. This suggests a staggered expiration of licensing agreements rather than a single bulk removal of the actor's catalog.
A $12 million global return for Garrard Conley's story
Boy Erased, written and directed by Joel Egerton, is based on the memoir by Garrard Conley. The 115-minute film stars Lucas Hedges as Jared Eamons, a young man forced into a conversion therapy program by his Baptist parents, played by Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman. The film serves as a stark exploration of religious trauma and identity , with Egerton also appearing as the chief therapist, Victor Sykes.
Despite earning three AACTA Awards,a GLAAD Media Award, and two Golden Globe nominations, the film struggled to find a massive audience at the box office. The report notes that Boy Erased generated $12 million globally against a reported production budget of $11 million. This narrow margin between cost and revenue often makes such prestige dramas reliant on streaming licenses to maintain their visibility and cultural relevance.
From Maximus in Gladiator to the upcoming 2026 release of The Weight
The removal of these films comes at a transitional period in Russell Crowe's prolific career. Since his early breakthroughs in L.A. Confidential and The Insider, Crowe has anchored some of the most successful films of the early 2000s, including the Oscar-winning Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind. While Boy Erased and American Gangster are leaving Netflix, the streaming service will continue to host Nuremberg, in which Crowe portrays Nazi war criminal Hermann Göring.
Looking toward the future, Russell Crowe has a dense slate of projects in development. His upcoming 2026 releases include The Weight and a directorial documentary titled What Love Builds. Additionally, the actor is attached to several other high-profile porjects, including Unabomber, Billion Dollar Spy, The Last Druid, and a reboot of Highlander.
Where will Boy Erased stream after the Netflix window closes?
While the departure date of August 17 is confirmed, it remains unclear which platform, if any, will pick up the streaming rights for Boy Erased. The source does not specify if the film is moving to a competitor or returning to a digital purchase-only model. Furthermore, there is no information regarding whether the removal of the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy is a precursor to a broader shift in how Sony Pictures manages its Marvel licenses on streaming platforms.
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