Two decades after its original run, Xena: Warrior Princess is pulling major attention again—climbing to #2 on the Apple TV Store chart in the U.S. and Canada—while comparisons to Netflix’s The Witcher and the timing of Masters of the Universe point to a broade
For a certain kind of fantasy fan, the nostalgia isn’t a soft glow—it’s a purchase button.
When The Witcher premiered on Netflix in 2019. critics and audiences were calling it the next Game of Thrones: a prestige fantasy epic with a charismatic lead and a rich mythological world to explore. But as the series went on. the writing went off the rails. and Geralt (Henry Cavill) was gradually pushed to the sidelines of his own show. Cavill eventually walked away from the role, and with him went most of the goodwill.
Now, judging by the numbers, it’s looking like those Witcher fans have found a different fantasy series worth their attention.
One factor seems to be timing. The recent release of Masters of the Universe brings the world of He-Man and Eternia to the big screen, and nostalgia has a way of snowballing. Once one beloved franchise returns, audiences often start looking back at everything else they grew up with.
That nostalgia trail has led directly to Xena: Warrior Princess. According to FlixPatrol. the series is currently sitting at #2 on the Apple TV Store chart in both the United States and Canada. The detail that makes the ranking hit harder: the chart tracks digital rentals and purchases, not regular subscription streaming. In other words, viewers aren’t just watching—they’re actively paying to do it.
Xena itself has a built-in origin story for fans who love their superhero mythology with a side of myth. The series began when Xena was first introduced as a villain in a three-episode arc on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. The response was so impressive that the spin-off was greenlit before those episodes had even finished airing.
The show follows Xena. a powerful warrior princess who dedicates herself to protecting the vulnerable as a form of atonement for her past as a feared warlord. She’s accompanied by a bard named Gabrielle (Renée O’Connor). and together. they take on warlords. gods. and corrupt rulers across the world—setting the stage for those Witcher comparisons.
Xena: Warrior Princess ran for six seasons and. in the view of many fans. struck a balance between Looney Tunes-esque goofy episodes and dark. psychologically brutal. dramatic ones. The series is campy, but it’s that nostalgic ’90s camp that still lands as charming rather than weightless. It also had several crossover episodes with the Hercules series. giving it a feel that was bigger and more ambitious than most TV shows of the time.
At the same time, the title has always carried a clear emotional through-line: Xena’s choices aren’t just battles fought in public—they’re about who she’s trying to become. That structure is part of why the show still draws viewers who want their fantasy to come with momentum and stakes.
Xena: Warrior Princess is available to rent or purchase on the Apple TV Store. The series ran from 1995 to 2001 on the Syndication network. The show lists directors including Garth Maxwell, Rick Jacobson, Mark Beesley, Josh Becker, Charles Siebert, T.J. Scott. John Fawcett. Michael Hurst. Michael Levine. Oley Sassone. Charlie Haskell. Doug Lefler. Gary Jones. John Laing. Bruce Campbell. Jace Alexander. John T. Kretchmer, Paul Lynch, and Renee O’Connor, along with Stephen L. Posey, Chris Martin-Jones, Christopher Graves, Allison Liddi-Brown, and Anson Williams. Writers include R.J. Stewart. Adam Armus. Nora Kay Foster. Emily Skopov. George Strayton. Hilary Bader. Terence Winter. Tom O’Neill. Carl Ellsworth. Chris Black. Peter Allan Fields. Jeff Vlaming. Alan Jay Glueckman. Eric Morris. Gene O’Neill. Gillian Horvath. Katherine Fugate. Linda McGibney. Melissa Blake. Noreen Tobin. Ashley Gable. Brenda Lilly. James Kahn.
The question now isn’t whether Xena still has an audience. The chart placement suggests it does. The real surprise is how quickly a modern viewing moment can yank an old fantasy favorite back into focus—right alongside a fresh wave of mythology on screens.
Xena: Warrior Princess Apple TV Store FlixPatrol Masters of the Universe Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Lucy Lawless Renée O’Connor Henry Cavill The Witcher
Wait so Xena is #2 now?? Netflix really is cooked.
I didn’t even realize you could buy/rent Xena on Apple TV like that. If Witcher fans are jumping ship that makes sense I guess… the show went downhill.
The article says it’s not subscription streaming but rentals/purchases, so basically people are paying twice? Like they’re getting ads and then paying? Not sure how Apple charts work tbh. Either way, that timeline with Witcher and Masters of the Universe feels suspiciously convenient.
Xena coming back makes me laugh because I swear it’s been trending forever on TikTok or something. I also saw a clip where she’s like, a villain first? So maybe people are finally realizing it’s actually good and not just “90s nostalgia.” But if it’s #2 does that mean Apple is pushing it… or is it real demand? Either way I might rewatch, whatever.