The Walking Dead Lives On: Netflix’s Smash Hit Revives the Iconic Franchise!

AMC’s Rick and Michonne spinoff is one of Netflix’s most viewed Walking Dead series.

Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live _ Season 1, Episode 6 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes – The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live _ Season 1, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Fans of The Walking Dead franchise have been excited to see several spinoffs become available on Netflix. Adding AMC originals to the streamer is part of an ongoing partnership between the two, including many popular titles from the network. The Rick and Michonne spinoff, The Ones Who Live, was added in Jan. 2025 and has become one of the streamer’s most popular shows.

Viewers anxiously awaited the release of the six-part limited series on AMC in 2024 as it marked the return of Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira as Rick Grimes and Michonne. The actors left the series in seasons 9 and 10 respectively, but their stories were far from over.

After Rick was whisked away with Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh) to the CRM (Civic Republic Military), the network had a trilogy of movies in the works featuring Lincoln as Rick. This project was scrapped and replaced with The Ones Who Live. Michonne’s departure from the main storyline occurred in season 10 after she left in search of Rick upon the discovery of clues that he survived the bridge explosion. This opened her story to be included in the next chapter of their epic love story.

The Ones Who Live gains massive viewership numbers on Netflix

https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_88,w_4500,h_2531/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImageExchange%2Fmmsport%2F318%2F01jjey5bag4xgxzqkfa2.jpg 2x, https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_88,w_4500,h_2531/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImageExchange%2Fmmsport%2F318%2F01jjey5bag4xgxzqkfa2.jpg 3x" media="(max-width: 719px)" />
https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_88,w_4500,h_2531/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImageExchange%2Fmmsport%2F318%2F01jjey5bag4xgxzqkfa2.jpg 3x" media="(max-width: 1079px)" />TOWL_104_GP_0412_0236-RTAndrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Danai Gurira as Michonne – The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live _ Season 1, Episode 4 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

According to Netflix Tudum, The Ones Who Live is in the No. 5 spot on the streamer’s top shows list in the US and No. 8 globally for the week ending Jan. 25. The series has gained over 2.3 million viewers globally.

This is great news for creators of the franchise who have long teased that more spinoffs are in the works. Rumors have begun to circulate about what these new series will be but AMC has yet to confirm. In the meantime, in 2025 fans will be treated to the second season of The Walking Dead: Dead City and season 3 of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.

The Ones Who Live has been criticized for a rushed ending but overall it was an amazing story that revealed backstories for both characters leading to their long-awaited reunion. It will be interesting to see how this series’ events affects The Walking Dead universe in the future.

List of Walking Dead series featured on Netflix:

The Walking Dead – Seasons 1-11
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – Season 1
Fear the Walking Dead – Seasons 1–8
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live – Season 1

https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_149,w_6000,h_3375/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImageExchange%2Fmmsport%2F318%2F01jjez11ky6twjj38dh7.jpg 2x, https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_149,w_6000,h_3375/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImageExchange%2Fmmsport%2F318%2F01jjez11ky6twjj38dh7.jpg 3x" media="(max-width: 719px)" />The Walking Dead: Dead CityLauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee, Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan – The Walking Dead: Dead City _ Season 1, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Peter Kramer/AMC

The Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan) spinoff, Dead City, was included in the original Netflix release announcement but, for unknown reasons, was excluded from the Jan. 13 release. It is possible the spinoff will be available on Netflix in the future. For now, you can watch season 1 of Dead City on AMC+.

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