Sex and the City was a television staple of the late 90s and early 2000s, but there are still questions about why it ended after season 6. Throughout its impressive run, Sex and the City brought together a wide audience who loved the snarky sex-related drama and romantic elements, making it one of the most popular HBO shows of its time. The show chronicled the many sexual escapades and relationships that the main characters had while living in Manhattan, and the winning formula proved such a hit that it led to multiple movies and a sequel series, And Just Like That.
Carrie Bradshaw (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) narrated and lead the cast of Sex and the City, and the show’s modern take on femininity and sexual empowerment was refreshing, garnering a loyal fan base. It became iconic due to the seemingly never-ending New York City drama and the fashion choices, which went on to influence lots of adoring fans of the show. Sex and the City came to an end in 2004 after airing on HBO for six seasons. There is no evidence of the show being canceled. However, some speculate that it was cut short instead of ending naturally.
It’s been rumored that the show came to an end because of Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall’s money-related SATC feud. They were wrapped up in gossip columns and publications discussing their friendship; allegedly, they would not talk to each other while on set. According to Kim Cattrall, battles over money played a large part in the show coming to an end. She described that it was time for all the actors on the show to “participate in the financial windfall of Sex and the City.”; it seems HBO executives didn’t agree.
When Sex and the City ended in 2004, a movie based on the show was already in the works. However, production was put to a halt when Cattrall did not want to be a part of it. In 2008, her demands were met and production started up again; two years later, a sequel was released. There was a third film in the making, but it was canceled due to Warner Brothers not being able to meet Kim Cattrall’s demands. It was easier to cancel the project than to make the movie without a vital character, but previously, it had been easier to make a movie than to continue with the show.
Sex and the City is one of the most well-known shows to have ever graced television. The reason for its abrupt ending is certainly odd, but with all the follow-ups and spinoffs that have been made throughout the years, it’s clear that the show has not lost its spark.
While Sex and the City ended after season 6 and the movies didn’t become a trilogy as intended, the franchise managed to live on when, in 2021, Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte returned for the sequel spinoff And Just Like That (although Kim Catrall’s Samantha was notably absent). The second show in the Sex and the City franchise was set 11 years after 2010’s Sex and the City 2 movie, and was a refreshing take on the central characters.
Rather than being single women in their 30s as they were in Sex and the City, And Just Like That chronicles how Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and the rest of the remaining characters navigated the ups-and-downs of relationships and friendships while middle-aged. Seeing them in their 50s opened up a wealth of new stories to tell and dynamics to explore, and the anticipation was clearly high, as it became Max’s most-watched series debut.
And Just Like That wasn’t without its controversies, however. In addition to the absence of Samantha in the first season, which some fans felt disrupted the chemistry of the core cast, decisions like the death of Mr. Big struck a chord with viewers — and not always positively. While this certaintly created conversations, it didn’t impede the success of the spinoff, as evidenced by the fact that And Just Like That season 3 is confirmed and on the way after season 2 arrived in 2023. While Sex and the City ended on season 6, the franchise is still far from dead.
