Although AMC’s original The Walking Dead series concluded in 2022, the franchise is still expanding its slate of exciting spin-off series. The 2024 spin-off series, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, marked the highly-anticipated return of fan-favorite Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), while Daryl Dixon’s (Norman Reedus) and Negan’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) spin-offs are still going strong. For fans of this long-lasting franchise or newcomers, this guide will show you the best way to watch The Walking Dead franchise in order.
When it comes to The Walking Dead franchise, you have a choice between watching the franchise in chronological or release order. The chronological order might give you a more comprehensive view of the franchise, but it also means a lot of going back and forth between shows, which could distract you from each show’s build-up of suspense. Still, if you’re up for the challenge, the chronological order is:
- Fear the Walking Dead (Seasons 1-3)
- The Walking Dead (Seasons -8)
- Fear the Walking Dead (Season 4)
- Tales of the Walking Dead
- The Walking Dead (Season 9)
- Fear The Walking Dead (Season 5)
- The Walking Dead (Season 10)
- The Walking Dead: World Beyond
- Fear the Walking Dead (Season 6)
- The Walking Dead (Season 11)
- Fear the Walking Dead (Seasons 7-8)
- The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
- The Walking Dead: Dead City
However, I strongly suggest watching the franchise in its release order because watching the show chronologically can be overly complicated. For example, Fear the Walking Dead runs alongside the original series, meaning you’ll need to keep switching back-and-forth between them. So the most logical viewing order, especially for anyone watching The Walking Dead for the first time, is the release order. Here’s how that looks.
The Walking Dead (2010-2022)
The Walking Dead is where the hit zombie franchise began. Across 11 seasons, the series explores a world ravaged by a zombie apocalypse, primarily from the perspective of former Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln). The Walking Dead is as gritty, in-depth a look at a zombie apocalypse as one can get.
In addition to the suspense, jump scares, and zombie gore, the series delves deeper into how civilization and long-term survival would function in the chaos of a zombie apocalypse, making it as much a show about human behavior and nature as it is about zombies. If you want 28 Days Later’s and Dawn of the Dead’s terror, violence, and thoughtfulness, but in a longer timeline better suited for character and thematic development, The Walking Dead is a must-see.
Fear the Walking Dead (2015-2023)
Fear the Walking Dead premiered during The Walking Dead’s run, serving as a companion series. The show’s first three seasons take place before the events of The Walking Dead, while the last five seasons run concurrently with the original series.
One of the best things about Fear the Walking Dead is that it fills in some of the gaps in the disease’s outbreak (which The Walking Dead glossed over due to Grimes’ coma) and delves into other sects of survivors. Compared to the original series, Fear the Walking Dead offers a more character and dialogue-driven premise. If you’re squeamish, you might even prefer Fear the Walking Dead because it has less gore and isn’t as intense. While later seasons disappointed fans, the earlier seasons of Fear the Walking Dead are considered by many as comparable, if not superior, to the flagship series. That said, you’ll enjoy it a lot more if you’ve already seen The Walking Dead.
The Walking Dead: World Beyond (2020-2021)
The Walking Dead: World Beyond expanded The Walking Dead franchise with a spin-off centered on younger protagonists. The series takes place 10 years after the outbreak and follows the first generation of teenagers who grew up during the zombie apocalypse, exploring how that volatile environment impacted their lives.
Unlike the shows that came before it, The Walking Dead: World Beyond is a teen drama with a zombie flair. Similar to shows like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and The Vampire Diaries, the series emphasizes coming-of-age topics, but combines them with horror and action. If you enjoy The Walking Dead and love coming-of-age stories, The Walking Dead: World Beyond is the perfect series for you.
Tales of the Walking Dead (2022)
Tales of the Walking Dead is The Walking Dead franchise’s anthology series, telling a variety of standalone stories. It features a variety of stories following new characters and some characters you’ll recognize from the franchise’s other shows. If you love the unique storytelling in Into the Dark and Black Mirror, this is another intriguing anthology show with a blend of zombies, horror, and A-list guest stars.
Tales of the Walking Dead is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to enjoy The Walking Dead’s apocalyptic universe but finds themselves daunted by the original show’s 11-season run. Because this is an anthology series, you can enjoy any episode as a standalone story. So this works as another complementary TWD series for fans, and a sneak peek into The Walking Dead for newcomers. I particularly enjoyed this show’s celebrity guest stars, such as Terry Crews and Parker Posey, which add some humor and lightheartedness to the series.
The Walking Dead: Dead City (2023-Present)
The Walking Dead: Dead City is the first direct sequel to The Walking Dead. It centers on fan-favorite Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) as he travels to Manhattan with Maggie Smith (Lauren Cohan) to find her missing son.
The Walking Dead: Dead City is the perfect expansion of the franchise for Maggie and Negan fans, while more casual fans of the characters can still appreciate the change in scenery. You’ll especially love The Walking Dead: Dead City if you’re intrigued by a zombie apocalypse against an urban backdrop, which is refreshing given the typical rural settings of The Walking Dead. The Walking Dead: Dead City parallels I Am Legend with its big city setting, but maintains The Walking Dead franchise’s signature storytelling and grit.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (2023-Present)
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is another sequel series to The Walking Dead. It puts Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) in the spotlight and takes the franchise international as he arrives in a post-apocalyptic France.
Longtime fans of The Walking Dead seeking some originality and tonal shifts won’t want to skip The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Just like The Walking Dead: Dead City, this is another spin-off that explores new territory after the events of The Walking Dead, elevating a fan-favorite character in satisfying ways. In particular, Season 2 is a treat for fans of Carol (Melissa McBride), who becomes an important co-star. So while you definitely need to watch The Walking Dead before watching this, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon offers something new for anyone who loves character-driven storylines.
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (2024)
If you’re a fan of Rick Grimes, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is probably the show you’re most looking forward to seeing after Season 11 of The Walking Dead. Because while Negan and Daryl’s stories continue with their own respective shows, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live follows Rick and Michonne (Danai Gurira) as they attempt to find each other after the The Walking Dead finale.
If you’re hooked into the romance storylines in The Walking Dead, the spin-off series The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is the franchise’s perfect follow-up love story. It’s more in the vein of Love and Monsters and 28 Days Later, with an emphasis on romance amidst a compelling, post-apocalyptic backdrop. This is also the show that offers some much-needed closure regarding Rick Grimes and his relationship with Michonne.
