Netflix has brought back a ton of Nickelodeon classic shows for summer 2022, allowing all fans to revel in the nostalgia. With the rapid increase in competition between streaming services, titles are being acquired left and right. And now, Nickelodeon gets to enjoy a bit of the Netflix spotlight with these series added to their roster.
These days, it seems that nobody can get quite enough nostalgia, and many seek media from a simpler time, including the movies and TV shows that shaped them into who they are today. These Netflix additions feature some of the most beloved Nickelodeon shows of the past decades and others tie up a few loose ends in some old classics.
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide (2004)
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide is a favorite among many cusp-millennials and Gen Z kids. Starring Devon Werkheiser, Lindsey Shaw, Daniel Curtis Lee, and Daran Norris, the show was told from the perspective of Ned as he provided the viewers with his guidelines for surviving middle school.
Each season followed a different year of middle school as the kids struggled their ways through 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, absurd and realistic antics in tow. The show came to its natural conclusion in 2007 as the students finished off their last year of middle school and prepared to move on to high school. The first two seasons of the show were added to Netflix just last month.
Kenan & Kel (1996)
Kenan & Kel, a spinoff series to the 1994 sketch show All That, is the show that actors Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell each attribute much of their success. Though the two have only worked together a handful of times since then, their brotherhood and antics are something that will keep them together for eternity in the minds of all nostalgic '90s-Nickelodeon kids.
A staple of Nickelodeon's prime era, Kenan & Kel is a delightful addition to Netflix's Nickelodeon lineup. The first two of the show's four seasons are now available to stream and should be sticking around for quite a while.
The Fairly OddParents (2001)
The Fairly OddParents was a Nickelodeon icon for the 16 years and 10 seasons it was on the air. The show's pilot that actually aired in 1998 as a series of seven-minute shorts on an older Nicktoon, Oh Yeah! Cartoons, allowed the story and characters to be worked out before it was given its own spot on the network in 2001.
The story was taken many places in its later seasons, but The Fairly OddParents at its core revolved around 10-year-old Timmy Turner and his magical fairies that granted any wish so long as it fell within the fairy code of conduct, "Da Rules." It was a highly acclaimed show for the majority of its run, and the first three seasons can now be found on Netflix.
Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie (2017)
Though The Jungle Movie was originally planned as the finale to the hit 1996 show Hey Arnold!, a falling out between the studio and creator Craig Bartlett caused it to be scrapped and the show to end abruptly in 2004. After over a decade of petitions and uproar from dedicated fans, agreements were made between original crew members and the network, and the movie was back on once more.
The film aired on Nickelodeon in 2017 and has recently been added to Netflix for continued viewing, having been met with wild applause and a few demands for a full continuation of the series. The movie not only satisfied fans by answering burning questions and flawlessly incorporating modern touches with the classic aspects of the show but also allowed old fans of the show to be a part of creating this final addition.
iCarly (2007)
A smash hit of the 2000s, iCarly followed teenager Carly's rise to internet stardom alongside her best friends, Sam and Freddie, through their quirky titular web series, iCarly. The show made an impressive prediction about the workings of internet fame well before it became the norm, and the show became a staple of television in the minds of all 2000s-Nick kids.
Starring Miranda Cosgrove, Nathan Kress, Jennette McCurdy, and Jerry Trainor, the show has since been rebooted into an iCarly adult sitcom on Paramount+ intended for the original fans, and the first two seasons of the original show are available on Netflix.
Invader Zim: Enter The Florpus (2019)
Invader Zim originally aired in 2001 and quickly became a trademark of Nickelodeon's lineup over its five years on the network. The show followed alien Zim in his attempts to infiltrate Earth and plot the planet's downfall, much to the chagrin of his planet's leaders who had merely sent him on the mission as busywork.
Though Zim was canceled due to poor ratings, the show gained popularity as reruns aired in the decade following, and in 2017, a Netflix-Nickelodeon collaboration was officially announced. The TV movie was released in 2019 and was highly praised by critics and original fans alike. The movie made for great entertainment, not only in details for original Invader Zim fans to notice, but through plot, execution, and performance for new fans, as well.
Zoey 101 (2005)
Starring a young Jamie Lynn Spears, Zoey 101 was the story of teenager Zoey and her friends in their attempts to navigate life at California boarding high school, Pacific Coast Academy. The show in its classic early-2000s Nickelodeon style made a huge impact on its viewers, burning its humor into everyone's minds and creating the ideal vision of boarding schools for years following.
The show lasted three years and four seasons, ending in 2008 with a big prom finale. The first two seasons of the show were added to Netflix this June and have been consistently trending since.
All That (1994)
All That introduced a whole new genre of comedy to children's television programming, Nickelodeon's own "SNL for kids." The show launched many children and teen actors into the spotlight and created lifelong careers for people including Kenan Thompson and Amanda Bynes, and featured many other notable names and faces along the way.
The show ran from 1994 until 2000, was relaunched from 2002 until 2005, and was rebooted again very recently from 2019 to late 2020. The first two seasons of the original airing are currently on Netflix.
Big Time Rush (2009)
Big Time Rush began in 2009 and subsequently launched the incredibly successful collaborative careers of actor-singers, Kendall, Logan, James, and Carlos. The sitcom's plot centered around the four boys as they discovered their place as an L.A. boy band and ended as the guys broke up to each pursue independent careers. In its entirety, all four seasons are currently available for streaming.
In addition to the entire cast each having successful individual careers post-Big Time Rush, the guys have since gotten back together to make music once more. They've released new singles met with all the applause of their old audience, and have since begun touring, making their rounds as the boy band they were over 10 years ago. Big Time Movie (2012) can be found on Netflix as well.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005)
One of the few cartoons able to withstand the test of time, Avatar: The Last Airbender made big waves when it was added to Netflix in May 2020. With a score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, it's a show that is beloved by both the children who grew up on it and the adults who watched alongside them. Dealing with heavy themes but friendly to all, A:TLA is universally considered to be one of the greatest television shows of all time.
Since premiering in 2005, the show has since inspired a spinoff series titled The Legend of Korra, an Avatar Kyoshi book series, a Republic City web series, multiple live-action takes on the story, graphic novel continuations, and a whole lot of buzz. All three seasons, along with The Legend of Korra, are available (and often trending) on Netflix.
Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling (2019)
After the show ended in 1996, Rocko's Modern Life got an even more modern reboot in 2017. Meant as an addition to the storyline and a conclusion to the series, the television film gave a perfect update to the life of everyone's favorite animated wallaby and friends.
With a great and hilarious moral, Static Cling not only tied up loose ends but provided the audience with the flawless conclusion they never knew they needed, developed characters well beyond belief, and made fun of its own existence as an overdue addition to a 20-year-old show. Though the series stands the test of time without this addition, this Netflix-Nickelodeon original movie only enhanced what the show always was.