Fantasy fans, mark your calendars: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is making its way back to Netflix in August 2026. The 2013 film, based on Cassandra Clare's beloved novel, may have flopped at the box office, but it's found new life on streaming—and this return gives viewers a chance to revisit (or discover) its flawed yet fascinating take on the Shadowhunters universe.
For the uninitiated, City of Bones introduces us to Clary Fray (Lily Collins), a Brooklyn teen who discovers she's a Shadowhunter—a half-angel warrior tasked with protecting humanity from demons and other supernatural threats. The film follows her as she teams up with the enigmatic Jace (Jamie Campbell Bower) and a band of fellow hunters to find the Mortal Cup, a powerful artifact that could tip the balance between good and evil.
The movie was intended to launch a franchise, but it stumbled out of the gate. Critics panned it—it holds a dismal 14% on Rotten Tomatoes—and audiences were lukewarm, giving it a 58% score. Plans for a sequel were scrapped, and the franchise was rebooted as the TV series Shadowhunters, which ran for three seasons on Freeform and earned a devoted following.
So why did City of Bones fail while Shadowhunters thrived? The answer lies in the medium. The film had just over two hours to cram in Clare's intricate mythology, leaving little room for the supporting characters who became fan favorites on TV—like the lovable werewolf Simon (Robert Sheehan) or the warlock Magnus Bane (played by Harry Shum Jr. in the series). Instead, the movie zeroed in on the romance between Clary and Jace, which felt rushed and unconvincing. As Collider's Matt Goldberg wrote at the time, it was "an interminable slog filled with thinly drawn characters, a ramshackle plot, a laughable love story, and perfunctory mythology that never feels magical."
Despite its flaws, City of Bones has its charms. The cast is stacked with talent, including Lena Headey as Clary's mother, Jocelyn, and Kevin Zegers as Alec. The visual effects, while dated, capture the gothic aesthetic of Clare's world. And for fans of the books, it's a fascinating time capsule of what could have been.
If you're new to the Shadowhunters universe, this film is a decent starting point—but for a more satisfying experience, check out Shadowhunters, which is currently streaming on Hulu. The series expands the story in ways the movie never could, giving characters like Magnus and Simon the depth they deserve.
Netflix has been adding a mix of new and returning titles this August, from Jake Gyllenhaal's Nightcrawler to Mark Wahlberg's Mile 22. But for fantasy enthusiasts, City of Bones is a must-watch—a flawed gem that deserves a second look.
So, whether you're a longtime fan or a curious newcomer, add The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones to your August watchlist. It's a reminder that even the most maligned films can find redemption in the streaming era.
