The Equalizer canceled after 5 Seasons as ratings take a hit

The Equalizer is among the successful crime dramas that introduced viewers to Robyn McCall, a strong and sharp woman who once worked for the CIA. Since her journey is central to the show, Queen Latifah, a proud and renowned black actress, plays this titular role.

As the show begins, it's revealed that Robyn has now transformed into a modern-day savior, helping people who have no one else in their corner. While carrying out this challenge, she's also a single mother trying to fix her past and raise her teenage daughter right.

So, The Equalizer shows Robyn juggling fire. She's handling dangerous missions on one side and emotional family matters on the other. The story was well-received by drama lovers, and the success led to five chapters.

However, CBS has now officially brought The Equalizer to an end after five seasons, and the decision wasn’t based on just one reason. It came down to a mix of lower ratings, budget challenges, and internal shifts in the network’s programming plans.

One of the main reasons behind the cancellation seems to be a noticeable drop in viewership. The show was shifted to air on Sunday nights, which likely affected its audience numbers.

On average, it brought in just under 6 million viewers per episode when counting delayed viewing measured by Nielsen (this number does not include people who watched the show via streaming platforms).

Keep reading to learn more about the show's cancellation.

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CBS canceled The Equalizer as ratings declined significantly

Queen Latifah's The Equalizer will no longer continue after season 5, and this cancellation might disappoint long-time fans of the crime drama. As previously explained, the hit in the viewership played a big role in CBS's decision to conclude Robyn's story.

Compared to its fourth season, the show lost about 25% of its audience in season 5. While it still averaged around 6.1 million viewers per episode, that was a noticeable fall from nearly 7.9 million in the previous season.

At the same time, it was pushed to later hours on Sunday nights, which made it harder for the show to hold on to its audience. Because of this decline, The Equalizer ended up ranking lower among CBS’s Sunday night dramas, ultimately leading to the cancellation.

Financial concerns were just as important. Unlike many of CBS’s newer shows, The Equalizer wasn’t produced entirely by CBS itself. It was a co-production between CBS Studios and Universal Television, an outside studio.

This meant CBS didn’t have full ownership, which usually reduces how profitable a show can be for a network.

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Queen Latifah ensures her return in "something new" after The Equalizer's cancellation

After the cancellation was announced, Queen Latifah shared her appreciation for the fans and the people who worked behind the scenes. The actress mentioned that she experienced a surreal and rewarding experience playing Robyn, all thanks to the support she received.

Per TVLine, Latifah said:

"Thank you to our amazing cast, crew, and producers and writers! And I can’t say enough about the FANS! Y’all have been so loyal, so loud, and so ride-or-die — and that’s exactly why we keep doing this."

The actress continued:

"We can’t thank you enough. It means the world to us. And don’t worry — I’ll be back kicking ass in something new real soon. Can’t wait to share it with you."

So, fans must gear up for The Equalizer finale on May 4, 2025, as it has been crafted in a way that could give the story a proper ending. Even if Robyn's journey comes to an end, the character will always be remembered for her strength and thirst to seek justice.

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