Netflix ruined these shows with harsh lighting and bright visuals, but here’s the reason why

There’s no denying that Netflix has ramped up its amount of content over the last years, but it’s impossible to ignore how quality has gone downhill in the process.

One of the most noticeable changes is how simple visual storytelling has become. In earlier films and shows on the platform, we saw cinematic lighting – effects that made shows visually interesting to look at, regardless of the plot or storyline. But recent drops of shows like Stranger Things, Ozark and The Witcher look different to their earlier seasons. And not in a good way. 

Netflix seems to be favouring brighter scenes across the board, even in shows like Wednesday where we’d expect a moody, more glum lighting in theme with the show. Other shows like Black Doves, You and Mindhunter are the same. 

A lot of these changes have been made to make shows more accessible. The average attention span is getting shorter and film and TV is losing its grip on audiences. It’s become the norm to stick something on in the background during mundane tasks, or even scroll during the evenings in front of the screen. 

Where many people were once locked into their favourite shows on streaming platforms like Netflix, the way we’ve watched things has changed – so the production has too.

If a huge portion of people are casually viewing, watching on tablets or phones, perhaps during in the middle of the day or while multitasking, clarity quickly becomes prioritised over mood. The result is that we lose atmosphere. We lose distinct, characterised scenes and everything almost blends into one.

This topic was finally noticed on a wide scale due to the messed up lighting in Stranger Things season five. Early episodes had a high contrast aesthetic that leaned into suspense and nostalgia. 

In later seasons, while production values (and costs) remain high, some people noticed brighter and more evenly exposed scenes. We got less of the the moody, cinematic edge that the series was initially recognised for, and some parts could’ve been mistaken for a GCSE film project which I’d struggle to give more than a D.

The same thing was said about Ozark when we lost eerily dark shots and were instead given bleak, pasty scenes. Like, what happened?

While it’s annoying and arguably takes you out of the moment, it’s not just the lighting that people have an issue with – it’s the intent. The wider conversation about shows being “dumbed down” is all down to second-screen viewing. Big studios and streamers like Netflix know the viewer’s attention is divided. 

Changes are made for this distracted audience instead, which is great if you’re trying to get your ironing done or pass time on a long flight. But for the rest of us who regard cinema and TV as something to lock into, it’s severely impacting the viewer experience. And it’s not even just the lighting; this is changing everything from pacing to repeated dialogue. 

Netflix is also known to makes its creators use certain types of cameras, which makes it hard to do anything bold. That, on top of tight filming schedules, means it’s just a whole lot easier to go with a less risky lighting set up and make everything look kind of the same.

It’s not just bugging viewers, but it’s a topic that’s also sparked comments from actors too. Matt Damon previously spoke at length about how streaming has changed the way projects are written and structured, with more awareness that audiences may be distracted or watching in shorter bursts.

when the show didn’t have netflix lighting🚬 pic.twitter.com/ql5hLXj6hF

— sarah | RAWN CEO❤️💚 (@greenie2457) April 11, 2026

His point explains how writers and producers are now more conscious of clarity and repetition than they used to be in traditional cinema. Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, he suggested that Netflix prefers a film’s script to include reminders of the plot for viewers on their phones.

According to Matt, Netflix believes “it wouldn’t be terrible if you reiterated the plot three or four times in the dialogue because people are on their phones while they’re watching.”

He added: “It’s going to really start to infringe on how we’re telling these stories.”

Taken together, the result is this cheap looking replica of once powerful cinematography. For some, Netflix’s new lighting is just a tinny take on new production, but for others it’s a huge fumble of trust in the audience’s attention. And in the meantime, we’re left with glossy, artificially lit episodes that are more recognisable as high end TV adverts than the dynamic shows Netflix was once recognised for. 

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Featured image credit: Netflix