Latest Marvel Disney+ Series Reportedly Surpasses Studio Expectations in Terms of Viewership
Marvel’s newest animated series, Marvel Zombies, has surprised Disney+ and Marvel Studios with a stronger debut than they expected.
The show was released on September 24, and quickly reached the top of Disney+ charts in the United States, ranking number one for three days in a row.
A source close to Marvel told reporters that the early numbers went beyond what the studio had predicted. “Marvel Studios is very pleased with Marvel Zombies’ 5-day opening viewership performance,” the source said, adding that the strong start has sparked early talks about making more zombie stories for Disney+.
The four-part series is the first Marvel Studios Animation project to carry a TV-MA rating. It picks up from the “What If… Zombies?!” episode of What If…? and follows survivors in a world destroyed by a zombie virus that has infected heroes and villains alike. Despite its short length and mature tone, the show has drawn major attention.
Marvel’s animated projects What If…? Season 1 and X-Men ’97 were previously the most-watched titles from the animation branch.
X-Men ’97 earned about 4 million viewers within its first five days. While exact numbers for Marvel Zombies have not been released, insiders say the series is already considered one of Marvel Animation’s biggest successes.
Who will save us from our heroes?
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) September 2, 2025
On September 24, stream #MarvelZombies, a Marvel Animation four-part event, only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/JAUr6hdeZb
The show brings together a large voice cast, including Florence Pugh, Simu Liu, Hailee Steinfeld, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Olsen, Randall Park, and David Harbour. Directed by Bryan Andrews and written by Zeb Wells, it uses the same animation style as What If…? with Stellar Creative Lab leading the work.
Marvel Zombies is part of Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and adds to Marvel’s growing animated lineup, which also includes Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and Eyes of Wakanda.
It’s interesting to see Marvel take risks with darker and more adult-focused content, especially in animation. The strong start shows that fans are ready for stories outside the usual Marvel tone. Do you think Marvel should keep exploring darker stories like this, or should they stick with their classic style? Share your thoughts in the comments.
