Netflix and AMC Ink $500 Million USD Deal to Co-Stream Entire ‘The Walking Dead’ Universe

Netflix and AMC Global Media have finalized a significant five-year, $500 million USD co-exclusive global licensing agreement that will grant both platforms streaming rights to the entirety of The Walking Dead universe. This landmark deal, set to commence in 2027, encompasses a total of 371 episodes, including the original flagship series and all six of its associated spinoff shows. The agreement marks a notable shift, as AMC+ will now stream the original The Walking Dead series for the first time, a show that had previously been exclusively available on Netflix in the U.S. since 2011. This move by AMC+ to stream its own flagship series on its platform, even co-exclusively, signifies a strategic effort to bolster its own streaming service's appeal and subscriber base.

Concurrently, Netflix, a global streaming giant with a vast international subscriber base, will leverage this partnership to broaden the international availability of the complete television franchise. This expansion will include key territories such as the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, and New Zealand, as existing regional licensing arrangements for these shows expire. This strategic move by Netflix aims to capitalize on the franchise's established global popularity and attract new international subscribers to its platform.

The comprehensive collection of The Walking Dead content, comprising the original series and its spinoffs, will become available for co-exclusive streaming on both Netflix and AMC+ beginning in 2027. The spinoff series included in this extensive deal are Fear the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, The Walking Dead: Dead City, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and Tales of The Walking Dead. The original series, which premiered in 2010, spawned a highly successful franchise that has captivated audiences for over a decade, exploring themes of survival, morality, and human nature in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. The subsequent spinoffs have expanded the narrative, introducing new characters and storylines that delve deeper into the complexities of this enduring universe.

This collaboration represents a substantial investment in the enduring popularity of The Walking Dead franchise, aiming to maximize its reach and accessibility for a global audience across two major streaming services. The financial terms of the deal, totaling $500 million USD, underscore the perceived value of the franchise's extensive library and its dedicated fanbase. By pooling resources and rights, Netflix and AMC are positioning the franchise for continued success in the competitive streaming landscape, ensuring that new and existing fans can access the entire narrative arc of this zombie apocalypse saga. This deal highlights the ongoing trend of major content owners and distributors forming strategic alliances to maximize the value of their intellectual property in the evolving media market.