What Happened to Sex and the City?
Sex and the City began as a groundbreaking HBO series in 1998, following the lives and loves of four women in New York City. It expanded into two feature films and a prequel series before being revived in 2021 as 'And Just Like That...', which explores the characters' lives in their 50s and is set to conclude with its third season in August 2025.
Quick Answer
The 'Sex and the City' franchise, which originated as an iconic HBO series (1998-2004), continued with two feature films (2008, 2010) and a prequel show, 'The Carrie Diaries' (2013-2014). It was revived in 2021 with 'And Just Like That...', focusing on Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte in their 50s. The revival's third season premiered in May 2025 and has been announced as its final season, concluding the entire franchise in August 2025.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Sex and the City Premieres on HBO
The groundbreaking romantic comedy-drama series, created by Darren Star and based on Candace Bushnell's book, debuts, introducing Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda.
Original Series Finale
After six seasons and 94 episodes, the original 'Sex and the City' series concludes, leaving a significant cultural impact.
First Feature Film Released
The first 'Sex and the City' movie, continuing the story of the four friends, premieres in theaters, becoming a commercial success.
Second Feature Film Released
The sequel, 'Sex and the City 2', is released, with the main cast reprising their roles.
The Carrie Diaries Prequel Series Airs
A prequel series, 'The Carrie Diaries', exploring Carrie Bradshaw's teenage years, airs for two seasons on The CW.
And Just Like That... Season 1 Premieres
The sequel series 'And Just Like That...' reunites Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda, exploring their lives in their 50s, premiering on HBO Max.
And Just Like That... Season 2 Premieres
The second season of the revival series begins, continuing the storylines of the main characters.
Kim Cattrall's Cameo in AJLT Season 2 Finale
Kim Cattrall reprises her role as Samantha Jones for a brief, highly anticipated phone call cameo in the 'And Just Like That...' Season 2 finale.
And Just Like That... Renewed for Season 3
Max announces the renewal of 'And Just Like That...' for a third season, citing its success as the platform's top original series.
AJLT Season 3 Table Read
Sarah Jessica Parker shares news of the first table read for 'And Just Like That...' Season 3, indicating the start of production.
And Just Like That... Season 3 Premieres
The third season of 'And Just Like That...' debuts on Max, with new episodes released weekly.
AJLT Season 3 Announced as Final Season
Showrunner Michael Patrick King announces that the third season of 'And Just Like That...' will be its last, concluding the 'Sex and the City' franchise.
And Just Like That... Season 3 Finale
The final episode of 'And Just Like That...' Season 3 airs, marking the conclusion of the entire 'Sex and the City' franchise.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The 'Sex and the City' phenomenon began with its HBO premiere on June 6, 1998, quickly becoming a cultural touchstone that redefined conversations around female friendships, sex, and independence. The series, based on Candace Bushnell's book, followed columnist Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her friends Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte York (Kristin Davis), and Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) through their lives in New York City. It ran for six seasons, concluding on February 22, 2004, with 94 episodes.
Following the series' immense popularity, the story continued on the big screen with 'Sex and the City' (2008) and 'Sex and the City 2' (2010). Both films saw the original cast reprise their roles, with the first film being a significant commercial success despite mixed reviews. A prequel series, 'The Carrie Diaries,' aired from 2013 to 2014, exploring Carrie Bradshaw's high school years in the 1980s.
Despite its groundbreaking nature, 'Sex and the City' faced criticism over the years for its lack of diversity, problematic portrayals of bisexuality and transgender individuals, and its focus on affluent white women. These critiques became more pronounced in the lead-up to and during the run of its revival.
The franchise was revived with 'And Just Like That...' which premiered on HBO Max (now Max) on December 9, 2021. This sequel series reunited Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon, exploring their characters' lives in their 50s. Notably, Kim Cattrall did not return as Samantha Jones due to a public feud with Sarah Jessica Parker, though she made a highly anticipated cameo in the Season 2 finale in August 2023.
'And Just Like That...' was renewed for a second season, which premiered on June 22, 2023, and a third season was announced in August 2023. Production for Season 3 began with a table read in May 2024, and filming took place throughout summer and fall 2024. The third season of 'And Just Like That...' premiered on May 29, 2025, with new episodes airing weekly. In August 2025, it was announced that the third season would be the final season of 'And Just Like That...', expanding from 10 to 12 episodes and concluding the entire 'Sex and the City' franchise on August 14, 2025.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Sex and the City made different choices?