Amazon Prime Video has decided to pull the plug on Cruel Intentions after just one season, marking the end of the show’s brief run on the streaming platform. The series, which debuted in November 2024, was a modern reimagining of the 1999 film of the same name, which itself was inspired by the classic novel Dangerous Liaisons.
Originally developed for IMDb TV (now Freevee) in 2021, the series was later picked up by Amazon Prime Video and officially ordered in late 2023. The show featured a cast led by Sarah Catherine Hook, Zac Burgess, Savannah Lee Smith, Sara Silva, John Harlan Kim, Khobe Clarke, Sean Patrick Thomas, and Brooke Lena Johnson.
Behind the Scenes and Plot Details
The series was executive produced by Sara Goodman and Phoebe Fisher, who also served as showrunners. Other executive producers included Neal H. Moritz and Pavun Shetty of Original Film, alongside Roger Kumble, who wrote and directed the original film. Bruce Mellon, Andrea Iervolino, and Monika Bacardi of Iervolino & Bacardi Entertainment also contributed to the production, which was backed by Sony Pictures Television, Amazon MGM Studios, and Original Film.
Set at the elite Manchester College near Washington, D.C., the show followed step-siblings Caroline Merteuil (Hook) and Lucien Belmont (Burgess) as they navigated the ruthless world of Greek life. When a hazing scandal threatened the entire fraternity and sorority system, the duo schemed to maintain their social dominance—going so far as to manipulate Annie Grover (Smith), the Vice President’s daughter, to protect their power. The drama promised betrayal, secrets, and high-stakes mind games in a modern collegiate setting.
Low Ratings and Critical Reception
Amazon does not typically disclose viewership statistics, but Cruel Intentions failed to appear on the Nielsen Top 10 streaming charts during its run. Critical reception was also tepid, with the series earning a mere 24% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on early reviews.
This marks yet another failed attempt at bringing Cruel Intentions to television. In 2016, NBC developed a sequel pilot starring original film actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, but it was ultimately shelved. Prior to that, Fox attempted a prequel series, which was canceled before airing. The unaired episodes were later repackaged as Cruel Intentions 2, a direct-to-video release in 2001. A third installment, Cruel Intentions 3, followed in 2004.
With Amazon’s latest adaptation now scrapped, the Cruel Intentions franchise once again struggles to establish itself on the small screen.