How to watch
Rick and Morty Watch Order in the correct order
How to watch Rick and Morty in order
Last updated: July 11 2026
Written by: ChronoAlice
Rick and Morty is Adult Swim's darkly brilliant sci-fi animated series that redefined what adult animation could be. With increasingly serialized storytelling and universe-spanning lore, watching in order is essential to fully appreciate the show's genius.
Created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, Rick and Morty follows nihilistic genius scientist Rick Sanchez and his anxious grandson Morty on interdimensional adventures that range from hilarious to genuinely profound. Inspired by Back to the Future, the show evolved from anarchic comedy into one of television's most ambitious explorations of existentialism, family, and the nature of reality. The show's canon grows increasingly complex, making the watch order more important with each passing season.
🕐 Release Order
Rick and Morty must be watched in release order. The show's serialized lore, character development, and ongoing storylines build on each other continuously — especially from Season 3 onward.
- Rick and Morty Season 1 (2013–2014)
- Rick and Morty Season 2 (2015)
- Rick and Morty Season 3 (2017)
- Rick and Morty Season 4 (2019–2020)
- Rick and Morty Season 5 (2021)
- Rick and Morty Season 6 (2022)
- Rick and Morty Season 7 (2023)
Release order and story chronology are essentially the same for Rick and Morty. While individual episodes jump around in time, the overarching narrative progresses season by season.
📖 Story Chronology
The show's continuity is intentionally complex, but the main character arcs — particularly Rick's backstory and the Smith family dynamics — are best understood by watching the seasons in order. Each season finale tends to have major consequences for the next.
- Rick and Morty Season 1 (2013–2014)
- Rick and Morty Season 2 (2015)
- Rick and Morty Season 3 (2017)
- Rick and Morty Season 4 (2019–2020)
- Rick and Morty Season 5 (2021)
- Rick and Morty Season 6 (2022)
- Rick and Morty Season 7 (2023)
Which Order Should You Choose?
Always start with Season 1. The early episodes are brilliantly accessible, balancing standalone adventures with seeds of deeper lore. Season 3 marks a turning point where the serialized elements become essential viewing, and Season 6 delivers some of the most emotionally complex storytelling in the show's history. Rick and Morty rewards patient, sequential viewing — every throwaway reference has a chance to pay off in spectacular fashion episodes or seasons later.
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