It is a weird time to be a fan of "anti-historical" dramedies. If you’ve been hunting around trying to figure out where can I watch The Great, you’ve probably noticed that the streaming landscape feels like a game of musical chairs where the chairs are made of expensive monthly subscriptions.
Tony McNamara’s chaotic, vulgar, and strangely touching masterpiece about Catherine the Great isn't just sitting on one shelf anymore. It’s scattered. You want to see Elle Fanning throw a drink or Nicholas Hoult yell "Huzzah!" but instead, you're staring at a "Content Unavailable" screen or a "Buy for $2.99" button. That's annoying.
Honestly, the show is worth the hunt. It’s one of those rare series that manages to be historically illiterate on purpose while being emotionally accurate by accident. But let's get into the weeds of where it actually lives right now.
The Streaming Giant That Still Holds the Keys
Hulu is the primary answer. Since The Great was a Hulu Original, it remains the most stable home for all three seasons in the United States. If you have a basic Hulu subscription or the Disney Bundle, you’re golden. You just type it in, hit play, and watch Peter III try to figure out how science works.
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But there’s a catch.
Streaming deals change. In 2023, we saw a massive "content purge" across several platforms. While The Great survived the initial culling that took down shows like Willow or The Mysterious Benedict Society, the industry is currently obsessed with licensing. This means that while Hulu is the "home," you might start seeing the show pop up in unexpected places as Disney looks to claw back some revenue.
If you are outside the US, the map changes completely. In the UK, for example, the show has historically bounced between Channel 4 (via their streaming service) and Lionsgate+. With Lionsgate+ shutting down its UK operations recently, most viewers are being redirected to MGM+ or Prime Video channels.
Where Can I Watch The Great if I Don't Have Hulu?
Maybe you're over the subscription model. I get it. Total "subscription fatigue" is real.
If you want to own it—like, actually own it so a CEO can’t delete it for a tax write-off—you have the VOD (Video on Demand) options. This is the "old school" digital way.
- Apple TV (formerly iTunes): Usually the best video quality. They offer season passes.
- Amazon Prime Video: You can buy individual episodes or full seasons. Sometimes they have sales where a full season drops to $9.99.
- Google Play / YouTube TV: Good for Android users, but the interface for watching long-form series on YouTube can be a bit clunky compared to a dedicated streamer.
- Vudu (Fandango at Home): Often overlooked, but they frequently bundle seasons at a discount.
Wait. There is a "free" way, sort of.
If you have a local library card, check Hoopla or Kanopy. While these services are usually more focused on documentaries or indie films, they occasionally snag the rights to major series through their partnerships with distributors like Lionsgate. It’s hit or miss, but it's free.
Why the Show Was Cancelled (and Why That Matters for Streamers)
It’s still a sore spot for fans. Hulu cancelled the show after Season 3.
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Why does this matter for where you watch it? Because when a show is "dead," the parent company is much more likely to license it out to FAST channels. FAST stands for Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television. Think Pluto TV, Tubi, or The Roku Channel.
Right now, The Great isn't on a free-with-ads "live" channel yet. But keep an eye on the Roku Channel. They have been buying up "dead" premium content at a rapid clip. We saw it happen with Westworld moving to Tubi and Roku. It wouldn't be shocking to see Catherine and Peter's exploits showing up on a dedicated 24/7 loop on a free platform by the end of the year.
The Physical Media Loophole
Don't laugh.
The most reliable way to watch The Great is on DVD. Yes, they still make them. Specifically, the MOD (Manufacture on Demand) sets. These are great because you don't need an internet connection, and you don't have to worry about "where can I watch The Great" when your favorite streamer decides to pivot to unscripted reality shows about people selling real estate in hell.
International Workarounds
If you're traveling, your access changes. This is the part where people usually talk about VPNs, but let's talk about the actual platforms first.
- Australia: Stan is usually the go-to.
- Canada: It’s been on StackTV (through Prime Video) and occasionally on Global.
- India: Lionsgate Play has been the consistent provider.
The complexity of these deals is why people get so frustrated. One day it's on a service you pay for, the next day that service doesn't exist in your country.
What You Need to Know Before You Binge
If you finally find it, be prepared. The show is not a history lesson. It is an "occasionally true story."
The show starts with Catherine (Elle Fanning) as a naive romantic and ends—well, I won't spoil the Season 3 finale—but the character arc is massive. It deals with smallpox, enlightenment, the absurdity of the Russian court, and a lot of lemons.
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Specifically, Season 2 is often cited by critics as the peak. According to Rotten Tomatoes data, Season 2 holds a near-perfect score because it balances the comedy with the high stakes of actually running a country. If you're watching on a platform that charges per season, and you can only afford one, Season 2 is arguably the strongest.
Is it on Netflix?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Likely never.
Netflix and Disney (who owns Hulu) are the biggest rivals in the space. Disney isn't going to hand over a prestige Emmy-winning comedy to their biggest competitor unless things get really dire. If you see a site claiming it's on Netflix, they’re likely looking at a different region or using outdated info from a very brief, specific licensing window in a non-US territory.
Actionable Steps for the Budget-Conscious Viewer
Don't just blindly subscribe to a new service. Do this instead:
- Check the "JustWatch" or "Reelgood" apps first. These are aggregators. They track daily changes in streaming libraries. Type in "The Great" and it will tell you if it's currently on a service you already pay for.
- The "Cancel Strategy": If you only want The Great, wait for a Hulu "Black Friday" or "Student" deal. They often run $0.99 or $1.99 per month promos. Subscribe, binge all 30 episodes, and cancel before the price jumps.
- Digital Sales Tracking: Use a site like CheapCharts. It tracks the price of TV seasons on iTunes and Amazon. You can set an alert so you get an email when The Great Season 1-3 bundle hits its lowest price.
- The Library Hack: Seriously, go to your local library’s website. If they don't have the DVD, they can often do an "Inter-Library Loan" and get it shipped from another branch for you to borrow for free.
Watching The Great shouldn't be a chore, but in the current era of fragmented media, it requires a little bit of strategy. Stick to the major VOD platforms or Hulu for the most consistent experience.
Next Steps for Your Binge-Watch
- Verify your current subscriptions: Check if you have the Disney+ "Hulu integration" tile, which now allows you to watch Hulu content directly inside the Disney+ app.
- Search for "The Great Season 1-3 Bundle": On Amazon or Vudu, purchasing the bundle is almost always 30% cheaper than buying seasons individually.
- Check your local library's digital catalog: Look for the "Hoopla" app integration to see if they have digital lending rights for the series in your zip code.