Netflix and AMC Global Media have struck a landmark five-year, $500 million co-exclusive global streaming deal that will bring the entirety of The Walking Dead franchise to Netflix starting in 2027, while also making the original series available on AMC+ for the first time.
The deal covers 371 episodes across the original series and all six spinoffs: Fear the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: Dead City, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, Tales of the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Licenses for each series will begin rolling out across territories in 2027 as existing regional agreements expire.
Netflix has held exclusive U.S. streaming rights to the original Walking Dead since 2011, and the new deal extends that arrangement through 2032. The agreement also expands the show’s Netflix availability to major new international territories including the U.K., Italy, Australia and New Zealand. As part of the co-exclusive structure, the original series will be made available on AMC+ for the first time early next year.
“Audiences have discovered and loved The Walking Dead on Netflix for nearly 15 years and the show continues to attract new fans,” said Lori Conkling, VP of Licensing at Netflix. “We’re excited to partner with AMC Global Media to continue to expand that access to more audiences around the world and bring the entirety of The Walking Dead Universe to Netflix.”
AMC Global Media CEO Kristin Dolan called the deal a win for fans and both companies. “This deal creates a global destination for this universe, all shows, all episodes, making the franchise more accessible than ever to fans around the world,” she said. “Netflix has been an important partner in making The Walking Dead one of the most successful franchises in the history of entertainment.”
The numbers back up that assessment. According to Netflix’s engagement data covering 2023 through mid-2026, the mothership series and its spinoffs have accumulated 3.89 billion viewing hours, equating to approximately 345.7 million views, despite not being available globally. Netflix will pay $100 million annually in 2027 through 2030, with the remaining balance due in 2031.
The original Walking Dead premiered on AMC on Halloween 2010 and ran for 11 seasons and 177 episodes, becoming one of the defining franchise properties in cable television history.