Ben Matlock is a legend of the courtroom. If you grew up in the late eighties or early nineties, you probably remember that gray suit, the hot dog cravings, and the way Andy Griffith could make a witness crumble just by leaning back in his chair. But things are a bit confusing lately because there are actually two "Matlocks" floating around. You have the original classic that ran from 1986 to 1995, and then there’s the brand-new 2024/2025 reimagining starring Kathy Bates.
Finding where to stream Matlock depends entirely on which version of the legal drama you’re actually looking for.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a scavenger hunt. Streaming rights for older shows shift like sand. One month a show is on Netflix, the next it’s buried in the library of a niche service you’ve never heard of. For the original series, your best bet currently sits with Pluto TV and MeTV, though certain seasons pop up on Amazon Freevee or Paramount+ depending on licensing deals. If you're hunting for the Kathy Bates version, that's a whole different animal mostly tethered to CBS and Paramount+.
The Original Ben Matlock: Where the Hot Dogs Are Always Free
Andy Griffith’s portrayal of the Georgia-based defense attorney is a masterclass in "folksy intelligence." People loved it because it wasn't Law & Order. It was slower. It was comfort food.
If you want the OG experience, Pluto TV is currently the champion of the "no-cost" option. They have a dedicated channel that often runs loops of classic procedural dramas. It’s great because it’s free, but the downside is you’re at the mercy of their broadcast schedule unless you dig into their On-Demand section, which is sometimes hit or miss with specific seasons. Amazon Freevee (formerly IMDb TV) also carries a significant chunk of the original run. You'll have to sit through some ads, but it beats paying a monthly subscription fee just to see Ben outsmart a prosecutor in a seersucker suit.
Now, for the "no-commercials" crowd, Paramount+ often holds the keys. Because Matlock was a CBS and later an NBC show, the corporate lineage usually leads back to Paramount. However, they don't always keep all nine seasons available at once. It’s frustrating. You might find seasons 1 through 5, only to realize season 6 is missing because of some archaic licensing agreement with a regional distributor.
The show's longevity is actually wild when you think about it. It survived a network jump from NBC to ABC in 1992. That’s almost unheard of for a top-tier drama back then. Usually, when a network drops a show, it’s dead. But Matlock was so consistent—basically the "Blue Bloods" of its era—that ABC snatched it up to anchor their own schedule.
Finding the New Matlock (2024-2025)
The Kathy Bates reboot is a different beast. It’s not a "reboot" in the sense that she’s playing Ben Matlock’s daughter or anything like that. Well, the show actually plays with that meta-commentary in a very clever way. Since this is a current CBS production, your primary destination for where to stream Matlock (the 2024 version) is Paramount+.
If you have a live TV subscription—think YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Fubo—you can watch it as it airs or catch it on the DVR. CBS also puts the most recent episodes on their website and app for free for a limited time after they air. Usually, you get a rolling window of the last five episodes before they go behind the paywall.
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Why the New Version is Trending
- It stars Kathy Bates as Madeline "Matty" Matlock.
- The pilot episode features a massive "twist" that recontextualizes the whole show.
- It leans into the "invisible older woman" trope to win cases.
- It’s set in a high-powered corporate law firm rather than a cozy Georgia office.
The ratings for the new version have been surprisingly strong. It’s one of the few instances where a classic brand has been successfully revived for a modern audience without losing the "case-of-the-week" charm that made the original work.
The Physical Media Dilemma
Sometimes streaming just isn't enough. If you’re a die-hard fan, you’ve probably noticed that some episodes of the original Matlock are missing from streaming services due to music licensing issues. This happens all the time with shows from the 80s. A song plays in the background of a diner scene, the rights expire, and suddenly the streaming service can't show that episode without paying a fortune or editing the scene.
This is why many collectors still swear by the DVD box sets. You can usually find the "Complete Series" at places like Walmart or on Amazon. It’s a one-time cost, and you never have to worry about whether a show is leaving a platform. Plus, you get the original broadcast versions, which are often clearer than the compressed files you find on free streaming sites.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Show
There’s a common misconception that Matlock was just for "old people." That’s a lazy take. The show was actually quite rigorous with its legal puzzles. Unlike many modern shows that rely on "magic forensic tech," Ben Matlock usually won his cases through old-fashioned logic and finding the one inconsistency in a witness's story. It was a "whodunnit" in the style of Agatha Christie but with a Southern accent.
Also, people forget how expensive Ben Matlock was! In the show, his standard fee was $100,000. In 1986 money, that was an astronomical sum. He played the "poor country lawyer" part to perfection, but he was actually one of the wealthiest fictional characters on TV at the time. He drove a Ford Crown Victoria not because he couldn't afford a Mercedes, but because he liked the car. That kind of character depth is what kept people watching for nearly a decade.
If you’re trying to figure out where to stream Matlock, check your local listings too. Diginet channels like MeTV or FETV (Family Entertainment Television) run the show daily. If you have an over-the-air antenna, you can probably watch it for free every single afternoon. It’s the ultimate "afternoon nap" TV, and I mean that as a compliment.
Actionable Steps for the Ultimate Matlock Marathon
To get started right now, follow this simple checklist to save money and time:
Check Pluto TV first. It is the easiest way to see if the original show clicks with you without spending a dime. Just search for the "Classic TV" category or use the search bar for "Matlock."
If you want the new Kathy Bates series, sign up for a Paramount+ trial. They usually offer a week for free, which is enough time to binge the first few episodes and see if the "twist" works for you.
Verify your local MeTV schedule. If you own an antenna, this is the most reliable way to watch the original series in its intended episodic format without worrying about internet speeds or data caps.
Invest in the DVD Complete Collection if you plan on rewatching it multiple times. Streaming libraries are volatile. Having the physical discs ensures that Ben Matlock is always available, regardless of which corporate giant owns the rights this week.
Avoid the "scam" streaming sites. You’ll see a lot of random websites claiming to have every episode for free. These are usually full of malware. Stick to the legitimate big-name apps like Amazon, Pluto, and Paramount. It’s not worth risking your computer just to see Ben eat a hot dog in a courtroom parking lot.
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The legal drama landscape has changed a lot since 1986, but the core appeal of a smart person solving a difficult puzzle remains universal. Whether you're watching Andy Griffith's legendary performance or Kathy Bates's modern take, you're getting some of the best procedural writing in television history. Keep an eye on the licensing, grab some snacks, and enjoy the show.