Sony will remove access to 551 digital movies produced by Studio Canal from PlayStation users' libraries around the world starting September 1, 2026, due to the expiration of licensing agreements [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The titles affected include notable films such as Terminator 2, Evil Dead, Total Recall, Alan Partridge, Apocalypse Now: The Final Cut, Attack the Block, Highlander, Hot Fuzz, Paddington, Rambo: First Blood, RoboCop (2014), Sharknado, and select TV shows like American Gods Season 1 [1, 2, 3, 5].
Sony began notifying affected users by email on June 25, 2026, explaining the removal and explicitly stating that no refunds or compensation will be provided for the loss of access [1, 2, 6]. One message read, "From September 1, 2026, due to our content licensing agreements, you will no longer be able to access your previously purchased content from Studio Canal, and it will be removed from your video library" [2].
PlayStation's terms and conditions clarify that users who purchased these digital copies only obtained a limited license to view the content, not permanent ownership. This means the content can be removed when licensing agreements end [3, 4, 5]. Previous removals have stirred backlash, including a 2023 plan to delete Discovery content that Sony later reversed after updating licensing agreements and user feedback [2, 6].
The current removal impacts users in multiple regions, including Europe and other global markets, highlighting the risks of digital content ownership through streaming platforms [1, 2, 6]. Consumer dissatisfaction with such removals is driving some to prefer physical media, like discs, due to guaranteed ownership and access [3, 4, 5].
Sony’s PlayStation video-on-demand service ended in 2021 amid declining digital movie sales and shifting user habits. At that time, Sony promised that purchased content would remain accessible, but licensed content like these Studio Canal movies is now being withdrawn [5].
The removal will take effect on September 1, 2026, when the 551 Studio Canal movies will disappear from users’ PlayStation libraries worldwide [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
