Finding exactly where to watch Beavis and Butt-Head is honestly way more complicated than it should be. You’d think two of the most iconic slackers in television history would be easy to track down, but the streaming rights for this show are a total mess of legal red tape, music licensing nightmares, and different eras of production.
They’re back. Mike Judge’s creation has seen a massive resurgence lately, but if you’re looking for those classic 90s episodes you remember from MTV, you might be in for a rude awakening.
The Paramount+ Factor
Right now, the primary home for the duo is Paramount+. This makes sense. Paramount Global owns MTV, and they’ve leaned heavily into the nostalgia factor to drive subscriptions.
If you want the brand-new stuff, this is your only stop. The 2022 revival—officially titled Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head—is a Paramount+ original. It’s actually good. Like, surprisingly good. They’ve traded the old CRT music videos for TikTok clips and ASMR videos, which sounds like it would be terrible, but watching Beavis get mesmerized by a college girl’s dorm room tour is genuinely some of the funniest satire produced in the last decade.
But here is the catch.
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When you look for the classic episodes on Paramount+, you aren't getting the full experience. You've probably heard about the music license issue. Back in the 90s, MTV cleared the rights for the music videos for broadcast, but not for "home video" or future streaming services. Because of that, the versions on Paramount+ are often stripped of the music video segments.
It’s just the cartoons. For some, that’s fine. For purists, it’s like eating a burger without the patty.
What About the Movies?
You can’t talk about where to watch Beavis and Butt-Head without mentioning the films.
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996) is a certified masterpiece of low-brow cinema. It usually rotates through various streaming services, but it currently lives on Paramount+ alongside the newer movie, Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe.
The 2022 movie is basically the bridge between the old show and the new series. It involves a black hole, space travel, and the duo being transported from 1998 to the present day. It’s the easiest way to explain why they haven’t aged, though the new series also features "Old Beavis and Old Butt-Head" segments that are painfully relatable if you’re now in the age bracket that actually watched the original run.
The Struggle for the "Original" Experience
If you want the show exactly as it aired on MTV—warts, music videos, and all—you are going to have a hard time.
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Digital storefronts like Apple TV (formerly iTunes) and Amazon Prime Video allow you to buy individual seasons. However, these are frequently the "Mike Judge Collection" versions. Mike Judge famously hand-picked his favorite episodes for these collections, meaning a huge chunk of the original run is essentially "lost" to official digital platforms.
The music industry is greedy. Licensing a three-minute White Zombie or GWAR video for a streaming re-release costs more than the episode is often worth to the studio.
Consequently, the only way to see many of these "lost" segments is through physical media or... less official means. There is a legendary fan project called the "King Turd Collection" that collectors hunt for. It’s a bootleg, obviously, but it’s the only place where the archival footage is preserved in its original broadcast glory. We can’t link you there, but a quick dive into Reddit’s archives will tell you everything you need to know about that subculture.
Hulu and the Great Migration
A few years ago, you could find the show on Hulu. That’s mostly gone now.
The 2011 "Season 8" revival, which saw the boys return for a single season to mock Jersey Shore and Teen Mom, occasionally pops up on various services like Pluto TV (which is free and owned by Paramount) or Philo.
Pluto TV actually has an "MTV Guy Code" channel and similar blocks where they cycle through old animation. It’s hit or miss. You might turn it on and see Daria, or you might get lucky and catch a block of the boys. It’s free, though, so it’s hard to complain about the price of entry.
Why You Should Care About the New Stuff
There’s a lot of skepticism when an old show comes back. We’ve seen it fail a dozen times.
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But the new episodes of where to watch Beavis and Butt-Head on Paramount+ are different. Mike Judge is still doing the voices. He’s still writing. The humor has evolved from just "fire and frogs" to a really biting look at modern stupidity.
In one episode, the boys join a "support group" that they mistake for a cult, and the way they interact with modern technology is genuinely clever. They haven't become "soft." If anything, the world has just become weird enough that their brand of idiocy feels like a sane reaction to reality.
Quick Checklist for Streaming
If you are ready to binge right now, here is the breakdown of your best bets:
- Paramount+: The definitive home for the 2022 series, the 2022 movie, and a curated selection of "Classic" episodes (mostly without music videos).
- VOD (Amazon/Apple/Google Play): Good for buying specific seasons to own, but check the descriptions carefully to see if they are the "Collection" edits.
- Pluto TV: The best "budget" option. It’s free with ads. You just have to wait for the show to cycle through their linear channels.
- DVD/Blu-ray: Seriously. If you want the music videos, look for the old "Time Life" releases or the newer complete sets. Even then, check the back of the box. Licensing is a nightmare.
The International Problem
If you’re outside the United States, things get even wonkier.
In the UK, for instance, Sky and NOW TV often hold the rights to MTV content. In Australia, it’s usually BINGE or Paramount+. Because of regional licensing, some seasons might be available in Canada but locked in the US. Using a high-quality VPN can sometimes help you jump between these libraries if you already have a subscription to the service in another region.
Taking Action: Your Beavis Strategy
Don't just start clicking. If you want the most bang for your buck, here is what you do.
Sign up for a Paramount+ free trial. It's usually seven days. Use that week to blast through Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe and the two newest seasons. That’s the highest-quality content available right now.
If you still have the itch for the 90s stuff, check your local library or eBay for the DVD sets. It sounds archaic, but physical media is the only way to bypass the "music video purge" that has gutted the streaming versions.
Lastly, keep an eye on the "Comedy Central" or "MTV" apps if you have a cable login. They occasionally host "throwback" marathons that include segments you won't find on the standard streaming apps. It's a lot of work to watch two guys sit on a couch, but for most of us, it's worth the effort.
Go find a couch. Grab some nachos. Avoid the fire.
Next Steps for the Best Experience
- Check your current subscriptions: If you have Amazon Prime, look for the Paramount+ "channel" add-on; sometimes they offer longer trials than the standalone app.
- Verify the Version: Before buying a digital season on VOD, look at the episode runtimes. If they are around 5-7 minutes, the music videos are gone. If they are closer to 11-15 minutes, you've found the holy grail.
- Physical Search: Look specifically for the "Mike Judge Collection" Volume 1-3 on DVD if you want the creator-approved edits, or hunt for the original 1990s VHS tapes if you have a VCR and want the pure, unadulterated 90s grit.