Based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, The Walking Dead is a cultural phenomenon that redefined the horror genre on television. Spanning over a decade, the series follows a changing group of survivors led by Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world overrun by "walkers." Beyond the constant threat of the undead, the franchise explores the depths of human nature, illustrating that the living can be far more dangerous than the dead as civilization collapses and is slowly rebuilt.
Franchise Information |
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Main Language |
English |
Country |
United States |
Release Span |
2010 – 2022 |
Total Seasons |
11 Seasons (177 Episodes) |
Total Runtime |
8,120 Minutes (Approx.) |
Genre |
Horror
Drama Sci-Fi |
Total Budget |
$522,400,000 (Estimated) |
Total Box Office |
N/A (TV Series) |
Key Crew |
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Created by |
Frank Darabont Robert Kirkman |
Showrunners |
Frank Darabont (S1) Glen Mazzara (S2-3) Scott M. Gimple (S4-8) Angela Kang (S9-11) |
Produced by |
Gale Anne Hurd David Alpert Greg Nicotero |
Music by |
Bear McCreary |
Original Network |
AMC |
Production Co. |
AMC Studios Valhalla Entertainment |
Main Cast |
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The Collection
The Walking Dead Season 1 (2010)
The saga begins when Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes wakes from a coma to find the world ravaged by a zombie apocalypse. After reuniting with his family and a small group of survivors outside Atlanta, Rick assumes a leadership role. The group struggles to adapt to this terrifying new reality, facing internal conflicts and the realization that there is no help coming, leading them to a fleeting hope at the CDC that ends in a fiery revelation about the nature of the virus.
The Walking Dead Season 2 (2011)
Seeking refuge after fleeing Atlanta, the group finds sanctuary on the Greene family farm. The season is defined by the desperate search for the missing Sophia and the growing ideological rift between Rick and his best friend, Shane Walsh. As secrets about the barn are revealed and resources dwindle, the group's morality is tested, culminating in a violent confrontation between the two leaders and the destruction of the farm by a massive herd.
The Walking Dead Season 3 (2012)
Hardened by months of survival, Rick's group clears a prison to make it their fortress. Simultaneously, a new threat emerges in the form of the Governor, the charismatic but sadistic leader of the nearby town of Woodbury. The season focuses on the brutal conflict between the prison and Woodbury, marked by heavy losses, including the death of Rick's wife, Lori, and the introduction of the katana-wielding Michonne, who becomes a pivotal ally.
The Walking Dead Season 4 (2013)
The prison community faces a deadly influenza outbreak that kills from within, while the vengeful Governor rebuilds his forces for a final assault. The mid-season battle results in the complete destruction of the prison and the scattering of the survivors. Separated and vulnerable, the various groups navigate the dangers of the road, eventually following train tracks toward a promised sanctuary known as "Terminus," which hides a dark and cannibalistic secret.
The Walking Dead Season 5 (2014)
After a violent escape from Terminus, the reunited group faces the harsh brutality of the open road and personal tragedies, including the loss of Beth. Their journey for a permanent home leads them to the Alexandria Safe-Zone, a walled community that has been shielded from the apocalypse's worst horrors. The season explores the friction between Rick's feral, survivalist group and the naive residents of Alexandria, as Rick takes drastic measures to ensure the community's survival.
The Walking Dead Season 6 (2015)
Rick assumes leadership of Alexandria, coordinating a massive effort to divert a quarry herd threatening the walls. The world expands significantly as the group discovers the Hilltop Colony and learns of a ruthless extortionist network known as the Saviors. Overconfident in their ability to handle threats, Rick's group launches a preemptive strike, unknowingly triggering a conflict that leads to a terrifying roadside trap and the introduction of the Saviors' leader, Negan.
The Walking Dead Season 7 (2016)
Beginning with the brutal execution of Glenn and Abraham, this season depicts the group's total subjugation under Negan's rule. Broken and forced to provide tribute, Rick initially submits to protect his family. However, as the oppression becomes unbearable, seeds of rebellion are planted. The group slowly builds alliances with the Kingdom and the Hilltop, gathering weapons and numbers to rise up against the Saviors' tyranny.
The Walking Dead Season 8 (2017)
The "All Out War" arc explodes as the unified forces of Alexandria, Hilltop, and the Kingdom launch a coordinated assault on the Saviors' sanctuary and outposts. The conflict is bloody and relentless, resulting in major casualties and the tragic death of Carl Grimes, whose dying wish for peace profoundly impacts Rick. The war concludes with Rick choosing mercy over vengeance, sparing Negan to honor his son's vision of a civilized future.
The Walking Dead Season 9 (2018)
Eighteen months after the war, the communities attempt to build a new civilization, but internal tensions and Rick's disappearance following a bridge explosion fracture the alliance. After a six-year time jump, a terrifying new threat emerges: the Whisperers, a cult that wears walker skin to blend in with herds. Led by the ruthless Alpha, they mark their territory with a horrific display of severed heads on pikes, forcing the estranged communities to unite once again.
The Walking Dead Season 10 (2019)
Paranoia and psychological warfare define the conflict with the Whisperers as Alpha attempts to crush the communities with a massive horde. Negan, seeking redemption, infiltrates the Whisperers in a complex ploy that aids Carol's quest for vengeance. The Whisperer War culminates in a massive battle, the deaths of Alpha and Beta, and the introduction of a mysterious new group, paving the way for the discovery of the Commonwealth.
The Walking Dead Season 11 (2021)
In the series conclusion, the survivors encounter the Commonwealth, a massive, advanced civilization with 50,000 residents living in pre-apocalypse comfort but under a strict class system led by Governor Pamela Milton. As corruption and inequality within the city are exposed, our survivors find themselves leading a revolution to restore justice. The series ends with the group finally securing a peaceful future, closing the chapter on their long struggle for survival.