Netflix's THE WITCHER Season 4 Loses Half Its Audience Without Henry Cavill

When The Witcher first launched on Netflix, Henry Cavill’s brooding and battle-worn portrayal of Geralt of Rivia became one of the show’s biggest draws. Fans loved him, critics praised him, and the series became one of Netflix’s flagship fantasy hits.

But when Cavill announced he was stepping away from the role before Season 3 even premiered, it sent shockwaves through the fandom, and now, Netflix’s latest data confirms what many suspected.

The numbers are in, and The Witcher Season 4, the first without Cavill and the debut of Liam Hemsworth as the monster-slaying witcher has taken a serious hit in viewership.

According to Netflix’s official stats, Season 4 pulled in 53.2 million hours viewed in its first four days, translating to 7.4 million views worldwide. That’s a steep drop compared to previous seasons.

When Season 2 premiered back in 2021, it clocked 142.43 million hours viewed and 18.8 million views in its opening weekend. Even Season 3, which was released in two volumes, managed to hold on stronger.

The first half alone drew 73 million hours viewed and 15.92 million views in its first four days—numbers that already looked smaller but still healthy compared to what’s come next.

To put it plainly, here’s the breakdown:

The Witcher Season 2: 18.8 million views

The Witcher Season 3 (Volume 1): 15.92 million views

The Witcher Season 4: 7.4 million views

That’s roughly a 50% decline in viewership season over season since Cavill’s exit.

But the decline looks even harsher when compared to other Netflix series released around the same time. The comedy Nobody Wants This pulled 8.6 million views in its debut week, actually outperforming The Witcher, and even saw an increase to 9.4 million in its second week.

Meanwhile, a heavyweight like Wednesday Season 2 shattered records earlier this year with 50 million views in its first week alone.

While The Witcher still has a passionate fanbase, it’s clear that the absence of Cavill has taken a toll on the show’s ability to keep its audience engaged. His departure altered the show’s energy and fractured a loyal fan following that had been built around his take on the character.

Still, there’s a glimmer of hope for those who’ve stuck with it. Season 5 has already been filmed and will close out the series on Netflix. Time will tell whether fans will warm up to Hemsworth’s Geralt, or if many have already hung up their silver swords for good.

One thing’s for sure: The Witcher without Henry Cavill just isn’t casting the same spell it used to.