20 Years Later, An Iconic Sci-Fi Series That Defined the 2000s Makes a Comeback on Digital Streaming

The popular sci-fi series Heroes, which captivated audiences in the 2000s, is returning with new episodes! Created by Tim Kring and first airing in 2006, the show gained a dedicated following, though it didn’t reach the same level of mainstream success as Lost. It’s best remembered for its catchy phrase, “Save the cheerleader, save the world,” and will be back on digital streaming in 2026.

You can currently buy episodes of Heroes digitally on Amazon, along with most other digital stores, and it seems like a lot of people are revisiting the show two decades after it first aired. As of today, it’s the 20th most popular series on Amazon’s digital platform. However, it’s not available on any of the usual streaming services with a monthly subscription in the US.

The show Heroes, which aired for four seasons, centers around a diverse group of people who unexpectedly develop superpowers. However, things are more complicated than they seem. These ordinary individuals soon discover they’re crucial to preventing a global catastrophe. True to its name, they must learn to work together as heroes. As a typical American series from the 2000s, the storyline also involves a cheerleader playing a key role in saving the world – the reasons for which are… complicated. Here’s the official description:

Across the globe, everyday people suddenly begin developing superpowers. As their lives connect, they must unite to avert a devastating future.

‘Heroes’ Fell Off… Hard!


NBC Universal Television Studio
Universal Media Studios

The first season of Heroes was a huge hit in the 2000s. While it currently has an 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s important to remember that the site wasn’t as widely used when the show first aired. Luckily, audience ratings are very positive, averaging 93%.

Unfortunately, the initial promise of Heroes faded quickly, mirroring the later struggles of Game of Thrones – and it happened even before Game of Thrones faced its own challenges. The show started strong, but the second season saw a significant drop in quality, earning a 50% rating from critics and 66% from viewers. By the fourth and final season, ratings plummeted, with a dismal 29% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a mixed 52% audience rating.

Subscribe for smart coverage of streaming revivals

Join the newsletter to unpack streaming comebacks like Heroes. Get curated analysis and context on why revivals succeed or falter, plus focused coverage of which classic series are worth rediscovery.

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s
Terms of Use
and
Privacy Policy
. You can unsubscribe anytime.

What caused the decline of Heroes? It wasn’t solely the writers’ or creators’ fault. The 2007 Writers Guild of America strike happened right before the second season, forcing it to be shortened to only 11 episodes. This meant the original plans for the season had to be changed significantly. While not the only reason the show struggled, Heroes never regained its footing after that reworked second season, and ratings dropped considerably.

Read More

2026-01-20 16:23