Rick Grimes woke up in a hospital bed fourteen years ago and changed television forever. Since then, the franchise has mutated like the wildfire virus itself. Honestly, if you're trying to figure out where to watch The Walking Dead right now, you probably feel like you're navigating a hoard of walkers without a map. It used to be simple—you just turned on AMC on Sunday nights. Now? It’s a mess of licensing deals, platform migrations, and spin-offs that live on entirely different apps.
The landscape shifted heavily in late 2024 and throughout 2025. Streaming rights aren't forever. Just because a show started on Netflix doesn't mean it stays there, and that’s exactly the frustration fans are hitting today.
The Netflix Situation vs. The AMC+ Reality
For a long time, Netflix was the undisputed home for the main series. All 11 seasons lived there in a tidy little package. But here is the thing: AMC wants their property back.
While you can still find the flagship series on Netflix in many regions, the "extended universe" is a different beast entirely. If you want the full experience, you basically have to look at AMC+. This isn't just a corporate cash grab; it’s where the high-budget sequels live. The Ones Who Live, which brought back Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira, didn't follow the traditional Netflix licensing path immediately.
If you're a purist, Netflix is still the cheapest way to binge the original 177 episodes. But be warned. The clock is ticking on those legacy contracts. Most industry insiders expect the main show to eventually become an AMC+ exclusive as the network tries to bolster its own subscriber numbers against giants like Disney+ and Max.
Navigating the Spin-off Scramble
You can’t just watch the main show anymore and call it a day. The story didn't end at Commonwealth.
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- Dead City: Maggie and Negan’s awkward road trip through Manhattan.
- Daryl Dixon: Somehow, he’s in France. Don't ask how unless you've watched the World Beyond post-credits scene.
- Fear The Walking Dead: The original spin-off that lasted eight seasons.
Where do these live? AMC+ is the primary hub. However, if you have a cable login or a live TV streamer like Philo or FuboTV, you can often catch these on-demand. Interestingly, Roku and Pluto TV have started hosting "The Walking Dead Universe" FAST channels. These are free, ad-supported television channels that run 24/7 marathons. It's great for background noise, but terrible if you’re trying to watch in chronological order because you’re at the mercy of the broadcast schedule.
International Viewers Have It Differently
In the UK, the situation is completely flipped. Disney+ is actually the primary home for the main series under their Star brand. It's a weird quirk of international distribution rights. While Americans are juggling AMC apps, fans in London or Manchester just open Disney.
In Australia, the service Stan holds a lot of the cards. If you’re traveling, this is where a VPN becomes your best friend, though most streaming services have gotten much better at blocking them lately. Always check the local listings if you're crossing borders, because your "watch list" might literally disappear once you land.
Why Some Seasons Are Missing on Certain Platforms
Digital storefronts like Amazon, Apple TV, and Vudu (now Fandango at Home) are the "buy it once" backup plan. Sometimes, a season will "disappear" from a streaming service because of a temporary lapse in licensing. It's happened with Fear the Walking Dead multiple times.
Buying the digital seasons is expensive—usually about $30 to $40 per season in HD—but it’s the only way to ensure you won't lose access when a contract expires. Plus, the digital versions often include "Inside the Episode" featurettes that Netflix usually strips out.
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Is AMC+ Worth the Subscription?
Kinda. It depends on how fast you watch. If you're looking for where to watch The Walking Dead sequels, you don't really have a choice. AMC+ also bundles in Shudder and Sundance Now. If you like horror, Shudder is genuinely the best niche service out there.
But the app itself? It’s notoriously buggy. Users constantly complain about the interface on Roku and Fire Stick. My advice is usually to subscribe to AMC+ through Amazon Prime Video Channels or Apple TV Channels. You get the same content, but you use Amazon or Apple's much more stable video player. It saves a lot of headaches during high-action scenes where the standalone AMC app might buffer.
Hidden Gems: Where to Find the Webisodes
Most people don't even know the webisodes exist. Torn Apart, Cold Storage, and The Oath fill in the gaps of the early seasons. These aren't on Netflix. They aren't even really on the main AMC+ landing page.
You usually have to hunt for these on YouTube or deep within the "extras" menu of the physical Blu-rays. They provide the backstory for the "Bicycle Girl" walker from the pilot episode and other minor characters. It’s some of the best world-building the show ever did, and it’s essentially free if you know where to look on the official AMC YouTube channel.
The Physical Media Argument
In an era where shows can be deleted for tax write-offs (we see you, Warner Bros. Discovery), owning the Blu-rays is the only "real" way to watch. The Season 11 Blu-ray set is surprisingly well-produced.
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Physical discs also provide the "uncensored" version of certain scenes. The most famous example is Negan’s arrival in the Season 6 finale. The version that aired on TV and stays on most streaming sites is the PG-13 version. The Blu-ray contains the "F-bomb" version which is much closer to the source material in the comics. If you want the gritty, intended experience, discs win every time.
Summary of Where to Watch
If you are starting today, here is the most efficient path.
- Use Netflix for the original 11 seasons. It’s the smoothest interface for a massive binge.
- Sign up for a 7-day free trial of AMC+ (via Prime Video) to knock out The Ones Who Live.
- Check out Pluto TV's "The Walking Dead Universe" channel if you just want to see some zombie kills without worrying about the plot.
- Avoid "free" pirated sites. Not because I’m a moralizing schoolteacher, but because the pop-up ads and malware risks are genuinely worse than just paying $9 for a month of a streaming service.
Making the Final Call
Don't overcomplicate this. Most people just want to see the ending. To do that, you need to follow the actors. If you want Rick and Michonne, you need the sequels. If you want the classic Shane and Rick rivalry, stick to the early seasons on Netflix.
The most important thing to remember is that "The Walking Dead" is no longer one show. It’s a network. Treat it like the Marvel Cinematic Universe—you might need to hop between a couple of different apps to get the full story. Start with the flagship, see if you still have the stomach for it after Season 8 (the "All Out War" slump is real), and then decide if the spin-offs are worth the extra monthly fee.
Next Steps for the Savvy Viewer
- Audit your current subs: Check if your mobile phone plan or internet provider (like Verizon or Comcast) currently offers a free "entertainment pass" that includes AMC+. Many do, and people forget to activate them.
- Check local libraries: Use the Libby or Hoopla apps. Many public libraries have digital licenses for TV seasons that you can stream for free with a library card.
- Monitor the FAST channels: Download the Pluto TV app. It’s free and requires no login. Search for the Walking Dead channel and see if the episode currently playing is somewhere you left off. It’s a great way to "test" the quality of later seasons before paying for them.