Rick and Morty#Broadcast and ratings

{{see also|List of Rick and Morty characters|l1=List of Rick and Morty characters}}

The show revolves around the adventures of the members of the Smith household, which consists of parents Jerry and Beth, their children Summer and Morty, and Beth's father, Rick Sanchez, who lives with them as a guest. The family lives in a suburb outside of Seattle, Washington,{{Cite tweet |author=Roiland, Justin |user=JustinRoiland |number=772269394084802560 |date=September 3, 2016 |title=Washington state- outside of Seattle}} with the characters traveling to other planets and dimensions through portals and Rick's flying saucer.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-21 |title=Rick and Morty series five review – proof that Elon Musk must be stopped! |url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jun/21/rick-and-morty-series-five-review-proof-that-elon-musk-must-be-stopped |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927140508/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jun/21/rick-and-morty-series-five-review-proof-that-elon-musk-must-be-stopped |url-status=live }}

Rick is an eccentric and alcoholic mad scientist, who eschews many ordinary conventions such as school, marriage, love, and family.{{cite web |author=Zachary Kandell | url=https://screenrant.com/rick-morty-stop-burping-alcoholic-when-reason/ | title=Rick & Morty: When Did Rick Stop Burping (& is He Still an Alcoholic?) | website=Screen Rant | date=23 March 2020 }} He frequently goes on adventures with his 14-year-old grandson, Morty, a kind-hearted but easily distressed boy, whose naïve but grounded moral compass plays counterpoint to Rick's Machiavellian ego.{{Cite web |last=Pulliam-Moore |first=Charles |date=2021-09-03 |title=Rick and Morty…This Is Heavy |url=https://gizmodo.com/rick-and-morty-this-is-heavy-1847613393 |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Gizmodo |language=en |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927140509/https://gizmodo.com/rick-and-morty-this-is-heavy-1847613393 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Cameron |first=Charles |date=2022-01-12 |title=Rick & Morty: Why Season 2's Cob Planet Was So Terrifying To Rick |url=https://screenrant.com/rick-morty-season-2-not-cob-planet-reason/ |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=ScreenRant |language=en |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927140511/https://screenrant.com/rick-morty-season-2-not-cob-planet-reason/ |url-status=live }} Morty's 17-year-old sister, Summer, is a more conventional teenager who worries about improving her status among her peers and sometimes follows Rick and Morty on their adventures.{{Cite web |last=Lebovitz |first=David L. |date=2020-11-19 |title=How Rick And Morty's Summer Changed Because Of Spencer Grammer - Exclusive |url=https://www.looper.com/282030/how-rick-and-mortys-summer-changed-because-of-spencer-grammer-exclusive/ |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Looper |language=en-US |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927140508/https://www.looper.com/282030/how-rick-and-mortys-summer-changed-because-of-spencer-grammer-exclusive/ |url-status=live }} The kids' mother, Beth, is a generally level-headed person and assertive force in the household, though self-conscious about her professional role as a horse surgeon. She is dissatisfied with her marriage to Jerry, a simple-minded and insecure person, who disapproves of Rick's influence over his family.{{Cite web |last=Plante |first=Corey |date=2020-12-28 |title='Rick and Morty's scene-stealing new character will stick around in Season 5 |url=https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/rick-and-morty-season-5-space-beth-sarah-chalke-interview |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Inverse |language=en |archive-date=June 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628151025/https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/rick-and-morty-season-5-space-beth-sarah-chalke-interview |url-status=live }}

Different versions of the characters inhabit other dimensions throughout the show's multiverse and their personal characteristics can vary from one reality to another.{{Cite web |last=Jung |first=E. Alex |date=2017-09-12 |title=Here's What We Know About Rick and Morty's Evil Morty |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/09/evil-morty-theory.html |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Vulture |language=en-us |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927140539/https://www.vulture.com/2017/09/evil-morty-theory.html |url-status=live }} The show's original Rick identifies himself as "Rick Sanchez of Earth Dimension C-137", in reference to his original universe, but this does not apply to any other member of the Smith household.{{Cite web |last=Puchko |first=Kristy |date=2022-09-05 |title='Rick and Morty' Season 6 premiere explainer: All your mind-blower questions answered |url=https://mashable.com/article/rick-and-morty-season-6-explainer |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Mashable |language=en |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927141010/https://mashable.com/article/rick-and-morty-season-6-explainer |url-status=live }} For instance, in the first-season episode "Rick Potion #9", after turning the entire world population into monsters, Rick and Morty move to a different dimension, leaving the original Summer, Beth and Jerry behind.{{Cite web |date=2014-01-28 |title=Rick And Morty: "Rick Potion #9" |url=https://www.avclub.com/rick-and-morty-rick-potion-9-1798179332 |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=August 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801065832/https://www.avclub.com/rick-and-morty-rick-potion-9-1798179332 |url-status=live }}

{{main|List of Rick and Morty episodes|l1=List of Rick and Morty episodes}}

{{:List of Rick and Morty episodes}}

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Rick and Morty was created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon. The duo first met at Channel 101, a non-profit monthly short film festival in Los Angeles co-founded by Harmon. At Channel 101, participants submit a short film in the format of a pilot, and a live audience decides which pilots continue as a series. Roiland, then a producer on reality programming, began submitting content to the festival a year after its launch, in 2004. His pilots typically consisted of shock value—"sick and twisted" elements that received a confused reaction from the audience. Nevertheless, Harmon took a liking to his humor and the two began collaborating. In 2006, Roiland was fired from working on a television series he regarded as creatively stifling, and funneled his creative energies into creating a webisode for Channel 101. The result was The Real Animated Adventures of Doc and Mharti, an animated short starring parodies of Doc Brown and Marty McFly, characters from the Back to the Future film trilogy.{{cite web |url=http://splitsider.com/2013/11/dan-harmons-rick-and-morty-premieres-on-adult-swim-on-dec-2/ |title=Dan Harmon's Rick and Morty Premieres on Adult Swim on Dec. 2 |work=Splitsider |publisher=The Awl |date=November 12, 2013 |access-date=November 26, 2013 |last=Czajkowski |first=Elise |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702121402/http://splitsider.com/2013/11/dan-harmons-rick-and-morty-premieres-on-adult-swim-on-dec-2/ |archive-date=July 2, 2017 |url-status=dead }} In the short, which Harmon would dub "a bastardization, a pornographic vandalization", Doc Smith urges Mharti to perform oral sex on him in order to go back in time.{{Cite news |first=Alan |last=Sepinwall |date=March 24, 2014 |title=Mega Dan Harmon interview, part 3: 'Rick and Morty' |url=http://uproxx.com/sepinwall/mega-dan-harmon-interview-part-3-rick-and-morty/ |work=HitFix |access-date=February 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227231747/https://uproxx.com/sepinwall/mega-dan-harmon-interview-part-3-rick-and-morty/ |archive-date=February 27, 2018 |url-status=live }} The audience reacted to it wildly, and Roiland began creating more shorts involving the characters, which soon evolved beyond his original intentions and their obvious origin within the film from which it was culled.{{Cite news |first=Yvonne |last=Villarreal |date=March 5, 2014 |title=Dan Harmon, Justin Roiland talk bringing absurd to 'Rick and Morty' |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-xpm-2014-mar-05-la-et-st-dan-harmon-justin-roiland-on-bringing-the-absurd-to-adult-swims-rick-and-morty-20140304-story.html |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005042531/http://articles.latimes.com/2014/mar/05/entertainment/la-et-st-dan-harmon-justin-roiland-on-bringing-the-absurd-to-adult-swims-rick-and-morty-20140304 |archive-date=October 5, 2014 |url-status=live }} Harmon would later create and produce Community, an NBC sitcom,{{cite news |last1=Rose |first1=Lacey |date=July 17, 2013 |title='Community's' Dan Harmon Reveals the Wild Story Behind His Firing and Rehiring |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/communitys-dan-harmon-reveals-wild-586084 |url-status=live |access-date=July 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708061249/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/communitys-dan-harmon-reveals-wild-586084 |archive-date=July 8, 2014}} while Roiland would work primarily in voice acting for Disney's Fish Hooks and Cartoon Network's Adventure Time.{{Cite web |last=Goldman |first=Eric |date=2013-12-02 |title=Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland on the Inspiration Behind Rick and Morty, the New Adult Swim Animated Series |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/12/02/dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland-on-the-inspiration-behind-rick-and-morty-the-new-adult-swim-animated-series |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927141011/https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/12/02/dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland-on-the-inspiration-behind-rick-and-morty-the-new-adult-swim-animated-series |url-status=live }}

In 2012, Harmon was briefly fired from Community. Adult Swim, searching for a more prime-time, "hit" show, shortly afterward approached Harmon, who initially viewed the channel as unfit for his style. He was also unfamiliar with animation and his process for creating television focused more heavily on dialogue, characters, and story. Instead, he phoned Roiland to inquire if he had any ideas for an animated series. Roiland immediately brought up the idea of using the Doc and Mharti characters, renamed Rick and Morty. At first, Roiland wanted the show's run time to consist of one eleven-minute segment, but Adult Swim pushed for a half-hour program.{{Cite news |first=Fred |last=Topel |date=December 2, 2013 |title=Exclusive Interview: Dan Harmon & Justin Roiland on 'Rick and Morty' |publisher=CraveOnline |url=http://www.craveonline.com/tv/interviews/612291-exclusive-interview-dan-harmon-justin-roiland-on-rick-and-morty |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026042114/http://www.craveonline.com/tv/interviews/612291-exclusive-interview-dan-harmon-justin-roiland-on-rick-and-morty |archive-date=October 26, 2014 |url-status=live }} Harmon felt the best way to extend the voices into a program would be to build a family around the characters, while Adult Swim development executive Nick Weidenfeld suggested that Rick be Morty's grandfather. Having pitched multiple television programs that did not get off the ground, Roiland was initially very unreceptive to others attempting to give notes on his pitch. Prior to developing Rick and Morty, he had created three failed animated pilots for Fox, and he had begun to feel "burned out" with developing television.

The first draft was completed in six hours on the Paramount Pictures lot in Dan Harmon's unfurnished Community office.{{Cite AV media notes |work=Rick and Morty season 1 |title=Commentary for the episode "Pilot" |first=Dan |last=Harmon |year=2014 |medium=Blu-ray Disc |publisher=Warner Bros. Home Entertainment}} The duo had worked out the basics of the story that day, sold the pilot, and then sat down to write.{{Cite AV media notes |work=Rick and Morty season 1 |title=Commentary for the episode "Pilot" |first=Justin |last=Roiland |year=2014 |medium=Blu-ray Disc |publisher=Warner Bros. Home Entertainment}} Roiland, while acknowledging a tendency for procrastination, encouraged Harmon to stay and write the entire first draft. "We were sitting on the floor, cross-legged with laptops and I was about to get up and go home and he said, 'Wait, if you go home, it might take us three months to write this thing. Stay here right now and we can write it in six hours.' He just had a premonition about that," recalled Harmon. In the beginning, Adult Swim was unsure of Roiland doing both voices, partially due to the undeveloped nature of the character of Morty. Harmon wrote four short premises in which Morty took a more assertive role and sent it to Mike Lazzo. For the first season, Adult Swim placed a tamer-than-usual TV-14 rating on the program, which was initially met with reluctance from the show's staff. The network's reason behind the rating was that it would soon begin broadcasting in prime-time, competing with major programs. Many later episodes have received TV-MA ratings, with the first being the episode "Interdimensional Cable 2: Tempting Fate" in season 2.

The theme song for Rick and Morty by Ryan Elder was originally used in a rejected Cartoon Network pilot Roiland made called "Dog World", which was referenced in the episode "Lawnmower Dog".{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN61CU3njsE%2F |title=How One Guy Scored 'Rick and Morty', TV's Weirdest Cartoon |type=YouTube |people=Ryan Elder |publisher=Great Big Story |date=August 1, 2017 |access-date=August 3, 2017 |archive-date=March 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325174837/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN61CU3njsE%2F |url-status=live }}

File:Mike McMahan by Gage Skidmore.jpg]]Harmon has noted that the writers' room at the show's studio bears a striking resemblance to the one used for Community. In comparing the two, he noted that the writing staff of Rick and Morty was significantly smaller, and more "rough and tumble verbally". The first season writing staff consisted of Roiland, Harmon, Tom Kauffman, Ryan Ridley, Wade Randolph, and Eric Acosta, while writer's assistant Mike McMahan was also given writing credit. Described as a "very, very tiny little writers' room with a lot of heavy lifting from everybody," the show's writing staff, like many Adult Swim productions, is not unionized with the Writers Guild of America, though in 2022 production staff at Rick & Morty filed a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board in a bid to join The Animation Guild.{{Cite web |last=Kilkenny |first=Katie |date=2022-02-23 |title='Rick and Morty,' 'Solar Opposites' Production Workers File to Unionize With Animation Guild |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/rick-and-morty-solar-opposites-production-workers-union-1235098022/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927141012/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/rick-and-morty-solar-opposites-production-workers-union-1235098022/ |url-status=live }} The writing staff first meets and discusses ideas, which evolve into a story. Discussions often include anecdotes from personal life as well as thoughts on the science fiction genre. After breaking the story—which consists of developing its consistency and logical beginning, middle, and conclusion—a writer is assigned to create an outline. Roiland and Harmon do a "pass" on the outline, and from there the episode undergoes several more drafts. The final draft of the script is last approved by either of the co-creators. Harmon has admitted that his perfectionism can sometimes be disruptive and cause writing schedule delays. For the most part, this was the reason why the third season of the show consisted of only 10 episodes instead of 14, as was initially intended.{{cite web |url=http://theinterrobang.com/rick-morty-creators-give-season-3-update-theyre-drawing/ |title=Rick and Morty Creators Give Season 3 Update: They're Drawing It |author=Staff |date=February 7, 2017 |website=The Interrobang |access-date=July 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731162542/http://theinterrobang.com/rick-morty-creators-give-season-3-update-theyre-drawing/ |archive-date=July 31, 2017 }}{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/rick-and-morty-season-3-dan-harmon-delay/ |title='Rick and Morty' Season 3: Dan Harmon Explains Delay |last=Cabin |first=Chris |date=June 24, 2017 |website=Collider |access-date=August 3, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803135401/http://collider.com/rick-and-morty-season-3-dan-harmon-delay/ |archive-date=August 3, 2017 }}

Many episodes are structured with use of a story circle, a Harmon creation based largely on Joseph Campbell's monomyth, or The Hero's Journey. Its two-act structure places the act break at an odd location in the stages of the monomyth: after The Meeting with the Goddess, instead of Atonement with the Father. Roiland has stated his and Harmon's intentions for the series to lack traditional continuity, opting for discontinuous storylines "not bound by rules".{{cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/justinabarca/8-fun-facts-about-dan-harmons-new-animated-show-rick-and-mor |title=8 Fun Facts About Dan Harmon's New Animated Show "Rick And Morty" |last=Abarca |first=Justin |date=November 22, 2013 |website=BuzzFeed |access-date=November 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125001228/https://www.buzzfeed.com/justinabarca/8-fun-facts-about-dan-harmons-new-animated-show-rick-and-mor |archive-date=November 25, 2017 |url-status=live }} He has also confirmed that the writers avoid revisiting old tropes from the show's past, "in fear of that coming off as disingenuous fan service."{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/comic-con/2019/07/17/rick-and-morty-season-4-interview/ |title='Rick and Morty' creators give first season 4 interview: 'It will never be this long again' |last=Hibberd |first=James |date=July 17, 2019 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=July 28, 2019 |archive-date=July 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724064507/https://ew.com/comic-con/2019/07/17/rick-and-morty-season-4-interview/ |url-status=live }} In producing the series' first season, episodes were occasionally written out of order. For example, "Rick Potion #9" was the second episode written for the series, but was instructed to be animated as the fifth, as it would make more sense within the series' continuity.

Animation for the show is done using Toon Boom Harmony, a vector-based 2D puppet software, which is a more economical option than traditional hand-drawn animation.{{Cite web |last=Wit |first=Alex Dudok de |date=2021-09-17 |title=Why The Animation On 'Rick And Morty' Needs To Change |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/video-essay/video-essay-why-the-animation-on-rick-and-morty-needs-to-change-208756.html |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=Cartoon Brew |language=en-US |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927141022/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/video-essay/video-essay-why-the-animation-on-rick-and-morty-needs-to-change-208756.html |url-status=live }} The post-production work is done in Adobe After Effects, and background art is done in Adobe Photoshop.{{cite web |url=http://www.factinate.com/shareable/36-rickdiculous-rick-morty-fact-3/ |title=Rickdiculous Rick and Morty facts. |last=Burke |first=Mathew |date=June 7, 2017 |website=Factinate |access-date=August 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808114158/http://www.factinate.com/shareable/36-rickdiculous-rick-morty-fact-3/ |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |url-status=live }} Production of animation was handled by Bardel Entertainment in Vancouver, Canada for the first six seasons and return since the eighth season, and by Lighthouse Studios in Kilkenny, Ireland since the seventh season.{{Cite web |last=Rosario |first=Alexandra Del |date=2021-10-05 |title='Moon Lake': Heavy Metal Developing TV Adaptation Of Dan Fogler Graphic Novel Series, 'Rick And Morty' Studio Bardel Entertainment To Animate & Co-Produce |url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/moon-lake-heavy-metal-tv-adaptation-dan-fogler-graphic-novel-series-rick-and-morty-bardel-entertainment-animate-co-produce-1234849974/ |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927141016/https://deadline.com/2021/10/moon-lake-heavy-metal-tv-adaptation-dan-fogler-graphic-novel-series-rick-and-morty-bardel-entertainment-animate-co-produce-1234849974/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2024-01-30 |title=Why Rick And Morty S7 Credits Thanks The Irish Government |url=https://geekireland.com/why-irish-governement-thank-rick-and-morty-credits/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |language=en-GB}}

Roiland's cartooning style is heavily indebted to The Simpsons, a factor he acknowledged in a 2013 interview, while also comparing his style to that of Pendleton Ward (Adventure Time) and J. G. Quintel (Regular Show): "You'll notice mouths are kind of similar and teeth are similar, but I think that's also a stylistic thing that ... all of us are kind of the same age, and we're all inspired by The Simpsons and all these other shows we're kind of subconsciously tapping into."

John Kricfalusi's The Ren & Stimpy Show was another strong influence for Rick and Morty, which is why, according to Roiland, the small "w-shaped mouths" that the characters occasionally make is a reference to a similar expression that Ren frequently makes.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANE1Bz7Qk0c%2F |title=Rick and Morty Panel SDCC 2014 |type=YouTube |time=20:43 |people=Justin Roiland |publisher=Adult Swim |date=July 31, 2014 |access-date=November 15, 2017 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709193705/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANE1Bz7Qk0c%2F |url-status=live }} Talking about the style guide the animators of the show have to follow, season three art director Jeffrey Thompson explained that the characters are often drawn with odd or asymmetrical features, in order to avoid looking "too normal to live in the Rick and Morty universe."{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c4hAsobciA%2F |title=Rick and Morty Style Guide |type=YouTube |people=Jeffrey Thompson |publisher=Adult Swim |date=October 3, 2018 |access-date=November 25, 2018 |archive-date=March 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314001030/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c4hAsobciA%2F |url-status=live }} When recording dialogue, Roiland does a considerable amount of improvisation, in order to make the characters feel more natural.{{cite web |last=Lai |first=Kristin |title=How Much of Frantic 'Rick & Morty,' Does Creator Justin Roiland Improv? |url=https://moviepilot.com/posts/4082539 |work=Movie Pilot |date=March 22, 2017 |access-date=August 8, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519063907/https://moviepilot.com/posts/4082539 |archive-date=May 19, 2017 }}

In January 2023, it was reported that Roiland was charged with felony domestic battery and false imprisonment in Orange County, California, in connection with an alleged incident in January 2020 toward an unnamed woman he was reportedly dating at the time. A hearing was scheduled for April 27, 2023.{{Cite news|last1=Tenbarge|first1=Kat|last2=Kingkade|first2=Tyler|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/justin-roiland-rick-morty-allegations-domestic-violence-charges-rcna65403|title='Rick and Morty' co-creator Justin Roiland faces felony domestic violence charges|date=January 12, 2023|publisher=NBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112202319/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/justin-roiland-rick-morty-allegations-domestic-violence-charges-rcna65403|archive-date=January 12, 2023|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last1=Shanfield|first1=Ethan|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/justin-roiland-domestic-violence-charges-rick-and-morty-1235487828/|date=January 12, 2023|title='Rick and Morty' Co-Creator Justin Roiland Facing Domestic Violence Charges|publisher=Variety|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112212035/https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/justin-roiland-domestic-violence-charges-rick-and-morty-1235487828/|archive-date=January 12, 2023|url-status=live}} Following the public revelation of the indictment, allegations against Roiland's personal conduct regarding his behavior to minors on social media were made.{{Cite web |last=Dressler |first=Jacob |date=2023-01-24 |title='Rick And Morty' Creator Justin Roiland Alleged DM's Reveal Disturbing Conversation With Minor |url=https://www.screengeek.net/2023/01/24/justin-roiland-alleged-dms-disturbing/ |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=ScreenGeek |language=en-US |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927141042/https://www.screengeek.net/2023/01/24/justin-roiland-alleged-dms-disturbing/ |url-status=live }} The same month, Adult Swim announced that they had cut ties with Roiland and fired him from the show stating that the seventh season's production would continue and that his roles would be recast.{{Cite news|last1=Kilkenie|first1=Katie|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/adult-swim-ends-relationship-justin-roiland-domestic-abuse-charges-1235308995/|title=Adult Swim Cuts Ties With Justin Roiland Following Domestic Abuse Charges|date=January 24, 2023|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=January 24, 2023|archive-date=March 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306222901/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/adult-swim-ends-relationship-justin-roiland-domestic-abuse-charges-1235308995/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=Adult Swim Severs Ties With 'Rick And Morty' Co-Creator Justin Roiland After Domestic Violence Charges Against Him Became Public |url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/adult-swim-severs-ties-rick-and-morty-co-creator-justin-roiland-domestic-violence-charges-1235239868/ |website=Deadline |access-date=January 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124222616/https://deadline.com/2023/01/adult-swim-severs-ties-rick-and-morty-co-creator-justin-roiland-domestic-violence-charges-1235239868/ |archive-date=January 24, 2023 |date=January 24, 2023}} In March 2023, the Orange County District Attorney's office dropped all criminal charges against Roiland due to insufficient evidence.{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/justin-roiland-domestic-violence-dropped-rick-morty-star-adult-swim-orange-county-1235307424/|title=Rick And Morty' Co-Creator Justin Roiland's Domestic Violence Charges Dropped By D.A.; EP Rails Against "Embittered Ex" & Being "Cancelled"|first=Dominic|last=Patten|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 22, 2023|accessdate=March 22, 2023|archive-date=September 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927141517/https://deadline.com/2023/03/justin-roiland-domestic-violence-dropped-rick-morty-star-adult-swim-orange-county-1235307424/|url-status=live}} During San Diego Comic-Con 2023, producer Steve Levy stated that Roiland's voice work will be replaced by "soundalikes" but there will otherwise be no changes in the characters.{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/sdcc/23803715/rick-morty-season-7-justin-roiland-anime-first-look-comic-con | title = Rick and Morty season 7 will replace Justin Roiland's characters with 'soundalikes' | first = Kayti | last = Bart | date = July 21, 2023 | accessdate = July 22, 2023 | work = Polygon | archive-date = September 27, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230927141518/https://www.polygon.com/sdcc/23803715/rick-morty-season-7-justin-roiland-anime-first-look-comic-con | url-status = live }} Adult Swim revealed the new voices of Rick and Morty with its seventh season trailer in September 2023, but the new actors were not announced until the season’s premiere in October.{{Cite web |last=Hibberd |first=James |date=2023-09-25 |title='Rick and Morty' Season 7 Trailer Reveals New Voice Actors |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rick-and-morty-season-7-trailer-1235598275/ |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927141527/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rick-and-morty-season-7-trailer-1235598275/ |url-status=live }} When the seventh season premiered on October 15, 2023, it was revealed that the new actors were Ian Cardoni as Rick and Harry Belden as Morty.{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=2023-10-16 |title=How 'Rick and Morty' Cast Its New Voice Stars |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rick-and-morty-new-voice-actors-revealed-casting-process-1235618102/ |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=October 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016032114/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rick-and-morty-new-voice-actors-revealed-casting-process-1235618102/ |url-status=live }}

The general formula of Rick and Morty consists of the juxtaposition of an extremely selfish, alcoholic grandfather dragging his grandson along for interdimensional adventures, intercut with domestic family drama. Co-creator Dan Harmon has described the series as a cross between Matt Groening's two shows The Simpsons and Futurama, balancing family life with heavy science fiction.{{Cite news |first=Bradford |last=Evans |date=December 2, 2013 |title=Talking to Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland About Their New Adult Swim Show, 'Rick and Morty' |publisher=Splitsider |url=http://splitsider.com/2013/12/talking-to-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland-about-their-new-adult-swim-show-rick-and-morty/ |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023015809/http://splitsider.com/2013/12/talking-to-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland-about-their-new-adult-swim-show-rick-and-morty/ |archive-date=October 23, 2014 |url-status=live }} Comparisons have been drawn to House of Cosbys, a show created by Justin Roiland, for having similar bits such as characters announcing themselves (Mr. Meeseeks/Curiosity Cosby).{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Erik |date=2015-06-22 |title=The path to Rick And Morty leads through House Of Cosbys |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-path-to-rick-and-morty-leads-through-house-of-cosby-1798280953 |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208003046/https://www.avclub.com/the-path-to-rick-and-morty-leads-through-house-of-cosby-1798280953 |url-status=live }} The series is inspired by British-style storytelling, as opposed to traditional American family TV stories.{{Cite news |first=Ivan |last=Cohen |date=January 24, 2014 |title=Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland on Rick and Morty, How Community Is Like Star Trek, and Puberty |work=Vulture |url=https://vulture.com/2014/01/rick-and-morty-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland-interview.html |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706120428/http://www.vulture.com/2014/01/rick-and-morty-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland-interview.html |archive-date=July 6, 2014 |url-status=live }} Harmon has stated that his inspiration behind much of the concept and humor for the series comes from various British television series, such as The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Doctor Who. He figures that the audience will only understand developments from Morty's point of view, but stated "we don't want to be the companions. We want to hang out with the Doctor, we idolize the Doctor, but we don't think like him, and that's really interesting."{{cite web |url=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2013/11/dan-harmon-rick-and-morty-will-be-the-doctor-who-of-adult-swim-cartoons.html |title=Dan Harmon: Rick and Morty will be the Doctor Who of Adult Swim cartoons |work=From Inside the Box |publisher=Zap2it |date=November 25, 2013 |access-date=November 26, 2013 |last=Schwartz |first=Terri |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130024125/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2013/11/dan-harmon-rick-and-morty-will-be-the-doctor-who-of-adult-swim-cartoons.html |archive-date=November 30, 2013 }}

Occasionally, characters will acknowledge an episode's narrative or hint at the presence of a fourth wall, suggesting that they are aware of the fact that they are characters of a TV show. Thereunder, Troy Patterson of The New Yorker notes that Rick and Morty "supplies an artful answer to the question of what follows postmodernism: a decadent regurgitation of all its tropes, all at once, leavened by some humanistic wistfulness."{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/rick-and-morty-is-just-the-show-we-need-for-the-american-apocalypse |title="Rick and Morty" Is Just the Show We Need for the American Apocalypse |last=Patterson |first=Troy |date=October 18, 2017 |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308185204/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/rick-and-morty-is-just-the-show-we-need-for-the-american-apocalypse |archive-date=March 8, 2018 |url-status=live }} Sean Sebastian of Junkee says that the show can be both hilarious and deeply disturbing at the same time as it excels at the "intersection between big ideas, flippancy and wit."{{cite web |url=http://junkee.com/the-mad-genius-of-adult-swims-rick-and-morty/62141 |title=The Mad Genius of Adult Swim's 'Rick And Morty' |last=Sebastian |first=Sean |date=July 28, 2015 |website=Junkee |access-date=August 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814104116/http://junkee.com/the-mad-genius-of-adult-swims-rick-and-morty/62141 |archive-date=August 14, 2018 |url-status=live }}

The series addresses the insignificance of human existence as compared to the size of the universe, with no recognizable divine presence, as described by Lovecraft's philosophy of cosmicism.{{Cite web |last=Gandolfo |first=Federica |date=2021-02-04 |title=Rick and Morty {{!}} The absurd balance between tragedy and miracle of life |url=https://hypercritic.org/collection/justin-roiland-dan-harmon-rick-and-morty-review/ |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=Hypercritic|publisher=Rampart Srl, Torino, Piedmont. |language=en-US |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927141522/https://hypercritic.org/collection/justin-roiland-dan-harmon-rick-and-morty-review/ |url-status=live }} Genovesi (Bonn University) describes the series as exhibiting a nihilistic world-view. {{Cite book|last1=Genovesi |location=University of Bonn|first1=Sergio |date=17 October 2020|chapter=Rick & Morty as Philosophy: Nihilism in the Multiverse|title= The Palgrave Handbook of Popular Culture as Philosophy |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-97134-6_74-1|isbn=978-3-319-97134-6|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan, Cham}} The characters of the show deal with cosmic horror and existential dread, either by asserting the utility of science over magic or by choosing a life in ignorant bliss.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/tv/2017/10/2/16395818/rick-and-morty-season-3-finale-review |title=Rick and Morty season 3 finale review: hitting the reset button |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=October 2, 2017 |website=Polygon |access-date=November 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107020112/https://www.polygon.com/tv/2017/10/2/16395818/rick-and-morty-season-3-finale-review |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |url-status=live }} However, as Joachim Heijndermans of Geeks notes, none of them appear able to handle the absurd and chaotic nature of the universe, as Jerry gets by through denial, and Rick is a "depressed, substance-addicted, suicidal mess".{{cite web |title=The Meaning (or Lack Thereof) of Life with "Rick and Morty" |url=https://geeks.media/the-meaning-or-lack-thereof-of-life-with-rick-and-morty |website=Geeks |first=Joachim |last=Heijndermans |date=April 12, 2017 |access-date=August 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806225639/https://geeks.media/the-meaning-or-lack-thereof-of-life-with-rick-and-morty |archive-date=August 6, 2017 |url-status=live }}

Harmon describes Rick as a self-interested anarchist, who does not like being told what to do.{{cite web |last=Pearl |first=Mike |date=July 19, 2017 |title=A Very Psychedelic Conversation with the Creators of 'Rick and Morty' |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-very-psychedelic-conversation-with-the-creators-of-rick-and-morty/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731001541/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/wj8b9z/a-very-psychedelic-conversation-with-the-creators-of-rick-and-morty |archive-date=July 31, 2017 |access-date=July 30, 2017 |publisher=VICE}} He believes that the character's life on a larger scale has caused him mental illness, and opines that "the knowledge that nothing matters—while accurate—gets you nowhere".{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de2grEPn7rg |title=The Search For Meaning |type=YouTube |people=Dan Harmon |publisher=Adult Swim |date=June 23, 2017 |access-date=December 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123161939/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de2grEPn7rg |archive-date=November 23, 2017 |url-status=live }} Mental illness is a theme that is drawn on several times throughout the show, one scene in particular has Rick's therapist deliver a fiery explanation of his fundamental immaturity.{{Cite web |last=Thielman |first=Sam |date=2023-02-07 |title=The case for Rick and Morty |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/23589595/rick-morty-justin-roiland-dan-harmon-save |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Vox |language=en |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208010654/https://www.vox.com/culture/23589595/rick-morty-justin-roiland-dan-harmon-save |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Plante |first=Corey |title='Rick and Morty' reminds us to care for our mental health in "Pickle Rick" |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/47133-rick-and-morty-pickle-rick-focuses-on-mental-health |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Inverse |date=July 18, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208010708/https://www.inverse.com/article/47133-rick-and-morty-pickle-rick-focuses-on-mental-health |url-status=live }} Matthew Bulger of The Humanist notes that the creators of the series are trying to communicate the message that we need to focus on human relationships and not preoccupy our minds with unanswerable questions, in order to find a sense of purpose and live a better life.{{cite web |url=http://thehumanist.com/arts_entertainment/culture/the-sad-and-silly-world-of-rick-and-morty |title=The Sad and Silly World of Rick and Morty |last=Bulger |first=Matthew |date=September 1, 2015 |website=TheHumanist.com |access-date=January 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120172511/http://thehumanist.com/arts_entertainment/culture/the-sad-and-silly-world-of-rick-and-morty |archive-date=January 20, 2016 |url-status=live }} Eric Armstrong of The New Republic notes that Morty represents the audience, as he is "mostly there to react to Rick's deranged schemes". The character is transformed by the truths he discovers during his interdimensional adventures with his grandfather. Rather than sinking into depression, Morty accepts these truths that empower him to value his own life.{{cite magazine |last1=Armstrong |first1=Eric |date=March 17, 2017 |title=The Existential Hokiness of Rick & Morty |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/141205/existential-hokiness-rick-and-morty |url-status=live |magazine=The New Republic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321170331/https://newrepublic.com/article/141205/existential-hokiness-rick-and-morty |archive-date=March 21, 2017 |access-date=March 21, 2017}}

Rick and Morty is distributed by Warner Bros. Television.

In May 2012, Adult Swim unveiled its development slate that included a Rick and Morty pilot from Harmon and Roiland,{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2012/05/adult-swim-puts-animated-harold-kumar-series-in-development-greenlights-seven-pilots-272740/ |title=Adult Swim Puts Animated 'Harold & Kumar' In Development, Greenlights Seven Pilots |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=May 15, 2012 |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707104730/https://deadline.com/2012/05/adult-swim-puts-animated-harold-kumar-series-in-development-greenlights-seven-pilots-272740/ |url-status=live }} which was eventually picked up to series in October 2012, as one of the network's first primetime original shows.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2012/10/adult-swim-picks-up-dan-harmons-animated-comedy-rick-morty-to-series-361510/ |title=Adult Swim Picks Up Dan Harmon's Animated Comedy 'Rick & Morty' To Series |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=October 29, 2012 |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707104728/https://deadline.com/2012/10/adult-swim-picks-up-dan-harmons-animated-comedy-rick-morty-to-series-361510/ |url-status=live }} The first season premiered in December 2013 and concluded in April 2014. It comprised eleven episodes (including the pilot), and aired Mondays at 10:30 pm ET/PT.{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/heres-the-first-episode-of-dan-harmons-animated-rick-and-morty/ |title=Here's the First Episode of Dan Harmon's Animated 'Rick and Morty' |last=Fischer |first=Russ |date=November 27, 2013 |website=Slash Film |access-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707104727/https://www.slashfilm.com/heres-the-first-episode-of-dan-harmons-animated-rick-and-morty/ |url-status=live }}

Two months earlier, in February 2014, the show had been renewed for a second season, with the press release noting that Rick and Morty consistently outperformed direct competition in its time slot.{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/rick-and-morty-season-2-renewal/ |title='Rick and Morty' Renewed for Second Season |last=Trumbore |first=Dave |date=February 12, 2014 |website=Collider |access-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707104727/http://collider.com/rick-and-morty-season-2-renewal/ |url-status=live }} Season two aired Sundays at 11:30 pm ET/PT, from July to October 2015, and comprised ten episodes.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/rick-morty-season-2-dan-810874 |title='Rick and Morty' Creators on "More Chaotic" Season 2, 'Community' Movie's Status |last=Gajewski |first=Ryan |date=July 24, 2015 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108132007/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/rick-morty-season-2-dan-810874 |url-status=live }} In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Roiland said that Rick and Morty will remain "a big priority above anything else" for him in the future, and expressed his intention to keep the show growing.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/rick-morty-creators-finales-challenges-828683 |title='Rick and Morty' Co-Creators on Finale's Challenges, Hiring Female Writers, 'Community' Lessons |last=Gajewski |first=Ryan |date=October 3, 2015 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-date=September 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915225754/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/rick-morty-creators-finales-challenges-828683 |url-status=live }}

Adult Swim renewed Rick and Morty for a third season in August 2015, shortly after a successful second-season premiere.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2015/08/rick-and-morty-renewed-season-3-adult-swim-dan-harmon-justin-roiland-1201497834/ |title='Rick And Morty' Renewed For Season 3 By Adult Swim |first=Denise |last=Petski |date=August 12, 2015 |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=August 20, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812130743/http://deadline.com/2015/08/rick-and-morty-renewed-season-3-adult-swim-dan-harmon-justin-roiland-1201497834/ |archive-date=August 12, 2017}} The two co-creators and executive producers expressed their delight at the series' popularity.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2015/08/12/rick-and-morty-season-3/ |title='Rick and Morty' renewed for season 3 |last=Collis |first=Clark |date=August 12, 2015 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=September 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915192401/https://ew.com/article/2015/08/12/rick-and-morty-season-3/ |archive-date=September 15, 2018 |url-status=live}} The season premiered unannounced on April 1, 2017, as part of an April Fools' Day prank. The remaining episodes began airing weekly almost four months later, continuing in the same time slot from season two, and the initial airing concluded in October 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/rick-and-morty-april-fools-prank/ |title=How 'Rick and Morty' April Fools' Prank Helped It Hit a 'Critical Mass' |last=Velocci |first=Carli |date=July 31, 2017 |website=TheWrap |access-date=April 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426144330/https://www.thewrap.com/rick-and-morty-april-fools-prank/ |archive-date=April 26, 2018 |url-status=live}} Although it was originally intended for the season to consist of fourteen episodes, as a result of production delays it eventually comprised only ten.{{Cite web |last=Plante |first=Corey |date=17 July 2019 |title='Rick and Morty' Season 4: Six Big Reveals From Dan Harmon, Justin Roiland |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/57797-rick-and-morty-season-4-spoilers-details-dan-harmon-justin-roiland-interview |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=Inverse |language=en |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927141212/https://www.inverse.com/article/57797-rick-and-morty-season-4-spoilers-details-dan-harmon-justin-roiland-interview |url-status=live }}

Following the conclusion of the show's third season, co-creators Harmon and Roiland wanted to have assurance that there would be many more seasons of Rick and Morty in the future, so that they would be able to focus on the show and minimize their involvement in other projects.{{cite web |url=https://www.gq.com/story/rick-and-morty-renewed-for-season-4-dan-harmon-interview |title=Rick and Morty Renewed for Season 4: Dan Harmon Tells Us All About It |last=O'Neal |first=Sean |date=May 10, 2018 |website=GQ |access-date=August 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811194653/https://www.gq.com/story/rick-and-morty-renewed-for-season-4-dan-harmon-interview |archive-date=August 11, 2018 |url-status=live }} Additionally, Harmon had expressed his wish for the upcoming fourth season to consist of more than ten episodes.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/09/26/rick-morty-dan-harmon-interview/ |title='Rick and Morty' Co-Creator Answers Our Burning Season 3 Questions |last=Hibberd |first=James |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=September 26, 2017 |access-date=October 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001121546/http://ew.com/tv/2017/09/26/rick-morty-dan-harmon-interview/ |archive-date=October 1, 2017 |url-status=live }} In May 2018, after prolonged contract negotiations, Adult Swim announced a long-term deal with the creators, ordering 70 new episodes over an unspecified number of seasons.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/rick-and-morty-renewed-70-episode-order-creators-dan-harmon-justin-roiland-deal-adult-swim-1202386828/ |title='Rick And Morty' Gets Massive 70-Episode Renewal By Adult Swim; Creators Dan Harmon & Justin Roiland Ink New Deal |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=May 10, 2018 |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-date=May 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510190308/https://deadline.com/2018/05/rick-and-morty-renewed-70-episode-order-creators-dan-harmon-justin-roiland-deal-adult-swim-1202386828/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Hermanns |first=Grant |date=2022-08-19 |title=Rick & Morty Future After 70-Episode Order Addressed By Creator |url=https://screenrant.com/rick-morty-show-future-dan-harmon-response/ |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927141211/https://screenrant.com/rick-morty-show-future-dan-harmon-response/ |url-status=live }} Roiland was confident that this big renewal deal would allow the creators to minimize the gaps between seasons to no more than a year,{{Cite web |last=Spry |first=Jeff |title=Here's exactly when you can watch 'Rick and Morty' Season 6 Episode 2 on Adult Swim |url=https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/rick-morty-season-6-episode-2-release-date-time-plot-cast-adult-swim |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=Inverse |date=September 10, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927141212/https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/rick-morty-season-6-episode-2-release-date-time-plot-cast-adult-swim |url-status=live }} as they would be able to schedule their time around the show and "keep the machine going."{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/14/17464224/rick-and-morty-season-4-release-date-waiting-gap-justin-roiland-adult-swim |title='Rick and Morty' co-creator promises no more big gaps between seasons |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=June 14, 2018 |website=Polygon |access-date=July 6, 2019 |archive-date=June 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623103906/https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/14/17464224/rick-and-morty-season-4-release-date-waiting-gap-justin-roiland-adult-swim |url-status=live }} In January 2023, it was confirmed that the long-term deal had renewed the series through to a tenth season.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/adult-swim-ends-relationship-justin-roiland-domestic-abuse-charges-1235308995/ |title=Adult Swim Cuts Ties With Justin Roiland Following Domestic Abuse Charges |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Katie |last=Kilkenny |date=January 24, 2023 |accessdate=January 26, 2023 |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306222901/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/adult-swim-ends-relationship-justin-roiland-domestic-abuse-charges-1235308995/ |url-status=live }} In January 2024, it was revealed that due to the recent Writers Guild strike, production was delayed and thus made it so the eighth season of the regular series would not be released until 2025, though an anime series would in 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rick-morty-season-8-date-anime-footage-1235803545/|title='Rick and Morty' Season 8 Coming in 2025, Anime Series Reveals New Footage|first=James|last=Hibberd|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 22, 2024|accessdate=September 15, 2024}} At a New York Comic Con panel in 2024, it was announced that the series had been renewed for an additional two seasons, through a 12th season.{{Cite web |last=Ethan |first=Shanfield |date=2024-10-17 |title='Rick and Morty' Renewed Through Season 12 at Adult Swim |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/rick-and-morty-renewed-season-12-adult-swim-1236181248/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Variety}}

In May 2019, the fourth season of Rick and Morty was announced to debut in November 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/05/15/rick-and-morty-season-4-coming-november-2019 |title=Rick and Morty Season 4 Coming November 2019 |last=Macy |first=Seth |date=May 15, 2019 |website=IGN |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-date=May 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515174142/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/05/15/rick-and-morty-season-4-coming-november-2019 |url-status=live }} The fourth season consisted of ten episodes split across two airings.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/comic-con/2019/07/17/rick-and-morty-season-4-interview/ |title=Rick and Morty creators give first season 4 interview |last=Hibberd |first=James |date=July 17, 2019 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=July 17, 2019 |archive-date=July 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724064507/https://ew.com/comic-con/2019/07/17/rick-and-morty-season-4-interview/ |url-status=live }} The first five episodes began airing on November 10, 2019,{{cite news|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/rick-and-morty-season-4-trailer/|title='Rick and Morty' Season 4 Trailer: The Disastrous Duo Returns with New Episodes in November|last=Anderton|first=Ethan|work=/Film|date=October 7, 2019|access-date=April 1, 2020|archive-date=October 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008142405/https://www.slashfilm.com/rick-and-morty-season-4-trailer/|url-status=live}} while the remaining five episodes began airing on May 3, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/rick-and-morty-season-4-episode-6-release-date-trailer/|title='Rick and Morty' Trailer Teases the Final Five Episodes of the New Season|last=Goldberg|first=Matt|work=Collider|date=April 1, 2020|access-date=April 1, 2020|archive-date=April 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401220159/https://collider.com/rick-and-morty-season-4-episode-6-release-date-trailer/|url-status=live}} The sixth season premiered on September 4, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/rick-and-morty-season-six-september-adult-swim-1235078808/|title='Rick And Morty' Season 6 Gets September Premiere Date On Adult Swim|last=Evans|first=Greg|date=July 27, 2022|access-date=August 1, 2022|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729210219/https://deadline.com/2022/07/rick-and-morty-season-six-september-adult-swim-1235078808/amp/|url-status=live}} The seventh season premiered on October 15, 2023.{{cite web|last=Hibberd|first=James|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rick-morty-season-7-premiere-return-date-1235573874/|title='Rick and Morty' Season 7 Premiere Date Revealed Following Justin Roiland Scandal|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 24, 2023}} The eighth season premiered on May 25, 2025.{{cite web|last=Shanfeld|first=Ethan|title='Rick and Morty' Season 8 to Premiere in May|url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/rick-and-morty-season-8-release-date-1236353354/|work=Variety|date=March 31, 2025|access-date=April 1, 2025}}

The show is available to watch in its entirety on Netflix in a number of countries, while the first four seasons are available to stream in the United States on both Hulu and HBO Max. Following the conclusion of the show's third season, Adult Swim made a livestream marathon of Rick and Morty available to watch on its official website in select regions,{{cite web |url=http://www.adultswim.com/videos/streams/rick-and-morty |title=Adult Swim Streams — Rick and Morty |website=Adult Swim |access-date=December 13, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214081221/http://www.adultswim.com/videos/streams/rick-and-morty |archive-date=December 14, 2017 }} hoping to dissuade viewers from watching other illegal livestreams.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/10/25/16542970/rick-and-morty-livestream-adult-swim-youtube |title=Adult Swim's Rick and Morty marathon calls out illegal YouTube livestreams |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=October 25, 2017 |website=Polygon |access-date=December 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213140825/https://www.polygon.com/2017/10/25/16542970/rick-and-morty-livestream-adult-swim-youtube |archive-date=December 13, 2017 |url-status=live }}

In the United Kingdom, public-service broadcaster Channel 4 outbid Netflix and began airing the series with season 4, which represents its first pickup by an international television channel.{{cite news |last1=Johnston |first1=Rich |title=Channel 4 Takes Rick And Morty From Netflix in the UK, Will Air and Stream Season 4 Exclusively |url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/01/14/channel-4-rick-and-morty-netflix-uk-air-stream-season-4-exclusively/ |work=bleedingcool.com |date=January 14, 2019 |access-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114173905/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/01/14/channel-4-rick-and-morty-netflix-uk-air-stream-season-4-exclusively/ |archive-date=January 14, 2019 |url-status=live }} Season 4 was originally scheduled to premiere on Channel 4 in January 2020; viewer complaints resulted in the broadcaster moving the first episode forward to November 20 on E4.{{cite news |last1=Kanter |first1=Jake |title=Channel 4 Pulls Forward 'Rick & Morty' UK Premiere After Complaints From Fans |url=https://deadline.com/2019/11/channel-4-rick-and-morty-uk-premiere-november-20-1202782790/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=November 11, 2019 |access-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-date=December 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215003635/https://deadline.com/2019/11/channel-4-rick-and-morty-uk-premiere-november-20-1202782790/ |url-status=live }}

In Canada, the series initially premiered on Adult Swim on January 10, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.corusent.com/news/rick-and-morty-now-in-your-dimension-adult-swim-canada/|title=Rick and Morty - Now in Your Dimension|work=Corus Entertainment |access-date=August 30, 2020|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108141542/https://www.corusent.com/news/rick-and-morty-now-in-your-dimension-adult-swim-canada/|url-status=live}} In Quebec, it premiered on Télétoon's Télétoon la nuit block on May 18, 2018.{{cite web|url = https://geekbecois.com/rick-and-morty-teletoon-la-nuit/|title = Rick and Morty s'amène enfin sur nos écrans à Télétoon la nuit !|date = May 19, 2018|access-date = December 4, 2020|archive-date = November 30, 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201130021924/https://geekbecois.com/rick-and-morty-teletoon-la-nuit/|url-status = live}}

The 10-episode third season, was released on DVD (2-disc set) and Blu-ray (single BD-50 disc) on May 15, 2018. Special features include exclusive commentary and animatics for every episode, "inside the episode", the origins of Rick and Morty, and an exclusive "inside the recording booth" session.{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/rick-and-morty-season-3-bluray-release-date-details-special-features/ |title='Rick and Morty' Season 3 Blu-ray Details Reveal When You Can Bring Pickle Rick Home |last=Trumbore |first=Dave |date=February 14, 2018 |website=Collider |access-date=February 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216025513/http://collider.com/rick-and-morty-season-3-bluray-release-date-details-special-features/ |archive-date=February 16, 2018 |url-status=live }}

Uncensored versions of the show are also available to purchase on various digital platforms, including iTunes and Amazon, with the digital releases of each season containing bonus material.{{cite web |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/30322-rick-and-morty-on-netflix-streaming-watch-hulu |title=Here's When 'Rick and Morty' Is Probably Coming to Netflix |last=Plante |first=Corey |date=April 14, 2017 |website=Inverse |access-date=December 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226130358/https://www.inverse.com/article/30322-rick-and-morty-on-netflix-streaming-watch-hulu |archive-date=December 26, 2017 |url-status=live }}

{{Television critical response

| link1 = Rick and Morty season 1#Reception

| rotten_tomatoes1 = 97% (29 reviews){{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick_and_morty/s01|title=Rick and Morty: Season 1|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango Media|access-date=October 18, 2022|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308183322/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick_and_morty/s01|url-status=live}}

| metacritic1 = 85 (8 reviews){{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/rick-morty/season-1|title=Rick and Morty: Season 1|website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=May 10, 2020|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308193443/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/rick-morty/season-1|url-status=live}}

| link2 = Rick and Morty season 2#Reception

| rotten_tomatoes2 = 91% (117 reviews){{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick_and_morty/s02|title=Rick and Morty: Season 2|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango Media|access-date=October 18, 2023|archive-date=March 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312005522/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick_and_morty/s02|url-status=live}}

| metacritic2 =

| link3 = Rick and Morty season 3#Reception

| rotten_tomatoes3 = 96% (175 reviews){{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick_and_morty/s03|title=Rick and Morty: Season 3|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango Media|access-date=October 18, 2023|archive-date=April 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405012920/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick_and_morty/s03/|url-status=live}}

| metacritic3 =

| link4 = Rick and Morty season 4#Reception

| rotten_tomatoes4 = 96% (107 reviews){{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick_and_morty/s04|title=Rick and Morty: Season 4|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango Media|access-date=October 18, 2023|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922021206/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick_and_morty/s04|url-status=live}}

| metacritic4 = 84 (5 reviews){{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/rick-morty/season-4|title=Rick and Morty: Season 4|website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=May 10, 2020|archive-date=July 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724011420/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/rick-morty/season-4|url-status=live}}

| link5 = Rick and Morty season 5#Reception

| rotten_tomatoes5 = 86% (100 reviews){{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick_and_morty/s05|title=Rick and Morty: Season 5|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango Media|access-date=October 18, 2023|archive-date=November 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119205855/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick_and_morty/s05|url-status=live}}

| metacritic5 = 86 (5 reviews){{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/rick-morty/season-5|title=Rick & Morty - Season 5|website=Metacritic|access-date=March 23, 2022|archive-date=March 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307095205/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/rick-morty/season-5|url-status=live}}

| link6 = Rick and Morty season 6#Reception

| rotten_tomatoes6 = 91% (62 reviews){{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick_and_morty/s06|title=Rick and Morty: Season 6|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango Media|access-date=October 18, 2023|archive-date=November 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101053118/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick_and_morty/s06|url-status=live}}

| metacritic6 = 86 (4 reviews){{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/rick-morty/season-6|title=Rick & Morty - Season 6|website=Metacritic|access-date=September 8, 2022|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326080435/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/rick-morty/season-6|url-status=live}}

| link7 = Rick and Morty season 7#Reception

| rotten_tomatoes7 = 77% (13 reviews){{Cite web |title=Rick and Morty (2023) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick_and_morty/s07 |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |language=en |archive-date=October 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017154103/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick_and_morty/s07 |url-status=live }}

| metacritic7 = 73 (6 reviews){{Cite web |title=Rick & Morty season 7 |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/rick-morty/season-7/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Metacritic |language=en |archive-date=October 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016162101/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/rick-morty/season-7/ |url-status=live }}

| link8 = Rick and Morty season 8#Reception

| rotten_tomatoes8 = 100% (7 reviews){{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick_and_morty/s08|title=Rick and Morty: Season 8|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango Media|access-date=May 27, 2025}}

| metacritic8 =

}}

Rick and Morty has been met with critical acclaim. It holds an average approval rating of 90% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes for the entire series.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick-and-morty/|title=Rick and Morty|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango Media|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710091815/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/rick-and-morty/|archive-date=July 10, 2019|url-status=live|access-date=October 23, 2023}} David Weigand of San Francisco Chronicle described it as "offbeat and occasionally coarse... the take-away here is that it works". He praised the animation direction by James McDermott for being "fresh, colorful and as wacky as the script", and states that the series possesses "shades of Futurama, South Park and even Beetlejuice", ultimately opining that its humor felt "entirely original".{{Cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/tv/article/Rick-and-Morty-review-Funny-and-edgy-5011147.php |title=Rick and Morty review: Funny and edgy |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=November 26, 2013 |access-date=November 26, 2013 |last=Weigand |first=David |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126071924/http://www.sfgate.com/tv/article/Rick-and-Morty-review-Funny-and-edgy-5011147.php |archive-date=November 26, 2013 |url-status=live }} Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times praised the series and stated that it was "Grandparenting at its unhinged finest."{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/02/arts/television/rick-and-morty-on-adult-swim.html |title=A Warm and Fuzzy Grandpa? Well, Not Exactly: 'Rick and Morty' on Adult Swim |work=The New York Times |date=December 1, 2013 |access-date=December 7, 2013 |last=Genzlinger |first=Neil |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207163251/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/02/arts/television/rick-and-morty-on-adult-swim.html |archive-date=December 7, 2013 |url-status=live }} In a review shortly after the second-season premiere, Sean Sebastian of Junkee said that although the crude animation and over-the-top voice acting might have discouraged some viewers from continuing to watch, Rick and Morty is "exceptionally well-made" and that "the more you dissect it, the more you find it has to say."

Todd Spangler of Variety gave the series a lukewarm review; saying that though it "often seems … frenetic at the expense of being witty", it represents "a welcome attempt to dream just a little bigger".{{Cite journal |url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/reviews/rick-and-morty-tv-review-cartoon-network-adult-swim-1200883197/ |title=TV Review: Rick and Morty |last=Spangler |first=Todd |journal=Variety |date=December 1, 2013 |access-date=December 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201172010/http://variety.com/2013/tv/reviews/rick-and-morty-tv-review-cartoon-network-adult-swim-1200883197/ |archive-date=December 1, 2013 |url-status=live }} David Sims of The A.V. Club gave the series an "A−". In reviewing the first two episodes, he praised its "clean, simple style" of animation, and said the series has "a dark, sick sensibility". He praised its "effort to give each character a little bit of depth", and applauded Roiland's voice talent.{{Cite news |url=https://avclub.com/review/dan-harmons-new-series-is-a-warped-take-on-the-doc-106087 |title=Dan Harmon's new series is a warped take on the Doc Brown/Marty McFly dynamic |work=The A.V. Club |date=December 2, 2013 |access-date=December 3, 2013 |last=Sims |first=David |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203134639/http://www.avclub.com/review/dan-harmons-new-series-is-a-warped-take-on-the-doc-106087 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=live }}

Rick and Morty has been a ratings hit since season one,{{Cite web |last=Adalian |first=Josef |title=Dan Harmon's Rick and Morty Is a Ratings Hit |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/01/dan-harmon-rick-and-morty-ratings-hit.html |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=Vulture |date=January 28, 2014 |language=en-us |archive-date=July 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722153415/https://www.vulture.com/2014/01/dan-harmon-rick-and-morty-ratings-hit.html |url-status=live }} with viewership doubling and tripling over their first six episodes.{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=2014-02-12 |title=Dan Harmon's 'Rick and Morty' Renewed for Second Season |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/dan-harmons-rick-morty-renewed-679875/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=July 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722154343/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/dan-harmons-rick-morty-renewed-679875/ |url-status=live }} The third season ended with the best ratings in Adult Swim history,{{cite web |last=McLennan |first=Cindy |date=October 5, 2017 |title=Rick and Morty; Season Three: Animated Series Sets Ratings Records for Adult Swim |url=https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/rick-morty-season-three-animated-series-sets-ratings-records-adult-swim/ |access-date=March 7, 2018 |website=TV Series Finale}} an 81 percent increase in overall viewers over the second season.{{Cite web |author=Tom Huddleston Jr. |date=October 1, 2017 |title=Millennials' Favorite TV Show Is Adult Swim's 'Rick and Morty' |url=http://fortune.com/2017/09/30/why-adult-swims-rick-and-morty-is-millennials-favorite-tv-show/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127112734/http://fortune.com/2017/09/30/why-adult-swims-rick-and-morty-is-millennials-favorite-tv-show/ |archive-date=January 27, 2018 |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Fortune}} According to a Nielsen poll, the third season was the most watched television comedy of adults between the ages of 18 and 24.{{Cite web |last=Adalian |first=Josef |date=2017-10-04 |title=Rick and Morty Is Now the No. 1 TV Comedy Among Millennials |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/rick-and-morty-is-now-the-no-1-tv-comedy-among-millennials.html |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=Vulture |language=en-us |archive-date=July 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722043251/https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/rick-and-morty-is-now-the-no-1-tv-comedy-among-millennials.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Gaudette |first=Emily |date=2017-09-29 |title=How 'Rick and Morty' became TV's #1 comedy |url=https://www.newsweek.com/rick-and-morty-season-4-adult-swim-673721 |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=Newsweek |language=en |archive-date=July 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722154343/https://www.newsweek.com/rick-and-morty-season-4-adult-swim-673721 |url-status=live }} The president of Adult Swim said that Rick and Morty "goes beyond just appealing to millennials," with statistics suggesting that people of every age tune in to the show.

The fourth season started relatively strong, with its premiere reaching 2.33 million viewers (the show's average is 2.51 million).{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=2019-11-12 |title='Rick and Morty' Returns to Healthy Ratings, People's Choice Awards Improve |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rick-morty-returns-healthy-peoples-choice-awards-ratings-rise-1254285/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=July 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722153415/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rick-morty-returns-healthy-peoples-choice-awards-ratings-rise-1254285/ |url-status=live }} However, interest soon appeared to taper off after the network decided to split the season in half causing a steep drop in the season's second half—about a 40% drop in viewership from the third season.{{Cite web |last=Schwarz |first=John |date=2020-07-16 |title=Ratings Report: Analyzing Rick and Morty's Fourth Season Which Averaged {{as written|I|t's [sic]}} Lowest-Rated Season In History |url=https://www.bubbleblabber.com/ratings-report-analyzing-rick-and-mortys-fourth-season-which-averaged-its-lowest-rated-season-in-history/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=Bubbleblabber |language=en-US |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116044514/https://www.bubbleblabber.com/ratings-report-analyzing-rick-and-mortys-fourth-season-which-averaged-its-lowest-rated-season-in-history/ |url-status=live }} The fourth episode of the fourth season saw 1.62 million viewers, which was noted to not be impressive in its own right, but in that it showed consistent viewership especially when competing against shows like The Walking Dead in the same time slot.{{Cite web |last=Venable |first=Nick |date=2019-12-13 |title=How Rick And Morty Season 4 Is Doing In The Ratings |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2486701/how-rick-and-morty-season-4-is-doing-in-the-ratings |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=CinemaBlend |language=en |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927141213/https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2486701/how-rick-and-morty-season-4-is-doing-in-the-ratings |url-status=live }} The season five premiere episode was posted on YouTube and received 1.7 million views within the first 12 hours.{{Cite web |last=Hibberd |first=James |date=2021-06-21 |title='Rick and Morty' Puts Entire Uncensored Season 5 Premiere Online |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rick-morty-season-5-premiere-online-1234971259/ |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927141213/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rick-morty-season-5-premiere-online-1234971259/ |url-status=live }} The television premiere saw 1.9 million views.{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Evan |date=2021-09-09 |title=Rick and Morty Season 5 Finale Ratings Are In |url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/rick-and-morty-season-5-finale-ratings/ |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en |archive-date=September 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912033636/https://comicbook.com/anime/news/rick-and-morty-season-5-finale-ratings/ |url-status=live }}

The premiere of season six was shown on September 4, 2022, and saw the highest ratings in telecast for women aged 18 to 24 and 18 to 34 and non-sports telecast for male viewers age 18 to 24 and 18 to 34. The episode was also the number two most-viewed non-sports program overall for viewers age 18 to 49.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-07 |title='Rick and Morty' Premiere #1 Most-Viewed Cable Program with Young Viewers |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/rick-and-morty/ |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=The Futon Critic |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927141522/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/rick-and-morty/ |url-status=live }}

Several former Rick and Morty storyboard artists and crew members proceeded to develop their own shows or work on major new productions. Creator Justin Roiland and showrunner Mike McMahan have gone on to co-create Solar Opposites, an animated sci-fi sitcom that has been frequently compared to Rick and Morty.{{Cite web |date=2020-05-31 |title=Solar Opposites boss responds to Rick and Morty comparisons |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a32722615/solar-opposites-rick-and-morty-comparisons/ |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB |archive-date=November 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121013407/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a32722615/solar-opposites-rick-and-morty-comparisons/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Marcus |date=2022-10-13 |title=What Exactly Made 'Rick and Morty' One of Hollywood's Most Influential Writers Rooms |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2022/10/rick-and-morty-writers-avengers-star-trek-1234771086/ |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=IndieWire |language=en |archive-date=November 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121013421/https://www.indiewire.com/2022/10/rick-and-morty-writers-avengers-star-trek-1234771086/ |url-status=live }} McMahan also went on to create Star Trek: Lower Decks. Writer Michael Waldron would go on to write for Loki, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Avengers: Doomsday, and Avengers: Secret Wars and has said that he and his colleagues are "cashing in on our 'Rick and Morty' street cred." Show alumnus Jeff Loveness became a writer for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Erica Hayes, the show's storyboard writer and director,{{Cite web |last=Plante |first=Corey |title='Rick and Morty' director Erica Hayes wants you in the workplace revolution |url=https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/60702-erica-hayes-rick-and-morty-future-50 |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Inverse |date=November 6, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=November 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121013421/https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/60702-erica-hayes-rick-and-morty-future-50 |url-status=live }} went on to work for Netflix's Big Mouth.{{Cite web |last=Colangelo |first=B. J. |date=2022-10-25 |title=Netflix Axes Mike Judge Adult Animated Comedy Series Bad Crimes Mid-Production |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1069523/netflix-axes-mike-judge-adult-animated-comedy-series-bad-crimes-mid-production/ |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=/Film |language=en-US |archive-date=November 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121013403/https://www.slashfilm.com/1069523/netflix-axes-mike-judge-adult-animated-comedy-series-bad-crimes-mid-production/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2022-01-18 |title=Nicole Byer & Lauren Lapkus To Star In Netflix Animated Comedy Series 'Bad Crimes' From Nicole Silverberg, Greg Daniels & Mike Judge |url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/nicole-byer-lauren-lapkus-to-star-in-animated-comedy-bad-crimes-netflix-1234914075/ |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118170507/https://deadline.com/2022/01/nicole-byer-lauren-lapkus-to-star-in-animated-comedy-bad-crimes-netflix-1234914075/ |url-status=live }} Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch, who worked on the episode "Big Trouble in Little Sanchez", would become an executive producer of Inside Job, another show that has had comparisons drawn to Rick and Morty for being similarly themed. Pete Michels, director of over twenty Rick and Morty episodes, was also a director of two episodes of Inside Job.{{Cite web |last=Lerner |first=Jamie |date=2021-11-04 |title=People Think 'Inside Job' and 'Rick and Morty' Are Related... They're Not Entirely Wrong |url=https://www.distractify.com/p/is-inside-job-connected-to-rick-and-morty |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Distractify |language=en-US |archive-date=December 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201014101/https://www.distractify.com/p/is-inside-job-connected-to-rick-and-morty |url-status=live }}{{better source needed|reason=Distractify is not a reliable source|date=July 2023}}

{{main|Rick and Morty (franchise)|l1=Rick and Morty (franchise)}}

Rick and Morty is part of a wider merchandising franchise.{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Michael |date=2021-06-17 |title=As 'Rick and Morty' Returns for Season 5, So Does the Adult Swim Hit's Merchandise Juggernaut |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/rick-and-morty-season-5-merchandise-1234998519/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=January 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114153600/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/rick-and-morty-season-5-merchandise-1234998519/ |url-status=live }}

Show creator Justin Roiland said in 2019 that he would love to make an R-rated Rick and Morty feature film.{{Cite web |last=Millican |first=Josh |date=2019-06-13 |title=RICK AND MORTY Creator Says He'd Love to Make an R-Rated Feature Film |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/295738/rick-and-morty-creator-says-hed-love-to-make-an-r-rated-feature-film/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=Dread Central |language=en-US |archive-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915022150/https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/295738/rick-and-morty-creator-says-hed-love-to-make-an-r-rated-feature-film/ |url-status=live }} In June 2021, producer Scott Marder confirmed that the creators and crew hope to eventually produce a feature film, with Roiland stating that it is more a question of "when", rather than "if".{{cite web |last=Deloss |first=John |url=https://screenrant.com/ricky-morty-movie-scott-marder-when-reaction/ |title=Rick & Morty Movie Will Happen Says Show Producer |publisher=Screen Rant |date=2021-06-08 |access-date=2022-02-10 |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223004234/https://screenrant.com/ricky-morty-movie-scott-marder-when-reaction/ |url-status=live }} In 2022, American filmmaker Zack Snyder expressed interest in directing a Rick and Morty science fiction movie.{{Cite web |last=Valdez |first=Nick |date=2021-06-21 |title=Zack Snyder Would Direct a Rick and Morty Movie |url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/rick-and-morty-season-5-movie-zack-snyder-director/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en |archive-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915022153/https://comicbook.com/anime/news/rick-and-morty-season-5-movie-zack-snyder-director/ |url-status=live }}

On May 20, 2021, Adult Swim announced a short spin-off series centred on the Vindicators team (Supernova, Vance Maxiumus, Alan Rails, Crocubot and Noob Noob) previously seen on the episode, "Vindicators 3: The Return of Worldender" to be in development, alongside spin-offs from other Adult Swim shows like Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Robot Chicken, and Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell. The 10-episode series, Vindicators 2 was released in July 2022.{{cite web|last=Bankhurst|first=Adam|date=May 19, 2021|title=Rick & Morty and Three Other Adult Swim Shows are Getting Spin-Off Digital Shorts|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/rick-morty-and-three-other-adult-swim-shows-are-getting-spin-off-digital-shorts|access-date=May 20, 2021|website=IGN|archive-date=May 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519232540/https://www.ign.com/articles/rick-morty-and-three-other-adult-swim-shows-are-getting-spin-off-digital-shorts|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|date=May 19, 2021|title='Rick and Morty' Spinoff Set at Adult Swim|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rick-and-morty-spinoff-vindicators-adult-swim-1234955601/|access-date=May 20, 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-date=May 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520001900/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rick-and-morty-spinoff-vindicators-adult-swim-1234955601/|url-status=live}}

On May 18, 2022, Adult Swim announced there would be a full spin-off series based on the anime shorts, Rick and Morty: The Anime, directed by Takashi Sano.{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rick-morty-anime-spinoff-1235149017/ | title='Rick and Morty' Anime Spinoff Announced by Adult Swim | website=The Hollywood Reporter | date=May 18, 2022 | access-date=May 19, 2022 | archive-date=May 19, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519191127/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rick-morty-anime-spinoff-1235149017/ | url-status=live }}

Rick and Morty, both voiced by Roiland, have a cameo in 2021's Space Jam: A New Legacy, as they claim to have experimented on the Tasmanian Devil but say they were disgusted by the results; thus, they voluntarily give him back to LeBron James and the Looney Tunes by dropping him on their rocket's windshield.{{cite web|date=2021-07-18|title=Space Jam 2: The 10 Best Pop Culture References|url=https://screenrant.com/space-jam-2-best-movie-pop-culture-references/|access-date=2021-07-21|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US|archive-date=July 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721144507/https://screenrant.com/space-jam-2-best-movie-pop-culture-references/|url-status=live}}

Rick and Morty were featured in the couch gag at the beginning of "Mathlete's Feat", the final episode of the twenty-sixth season of The Simpsons. Said opening involved Rick accidentally killing the family when he crash-lands into their living room causing Morty to go on a mission to bring them back to life.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/simpsons-couch-gag-rick-morty-793924|title='The Simpsons': Matt Groening Dissects 'Rick and Morty' Opening Credits Crossover|work=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Couch|first=Aaron|date=May 14, 2015|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=August 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822113736/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/simpsons-couch-gag-rick-morty-793924|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Rick and Morty (comics)|l1=Rick and Morty (comics)}}

On April 1, 2015, a Rick and Morty comic book adaptation debuted with its first monthly issue, entitled "BAM!"{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=332793 |title=Rick and Morty (2015) - #1 |publisher=Comicbookdb |access-date=April 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414034652/http://www.comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=332793 |archive-date=April 14, 2015 |url-status=live }} The series was initially written by Zac Gorman and illustrated by CJ Cannon.{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/2015/01/22/rick-and-morty-comic-book-preview-revealed/ |title=Rick and Morty Comic Book Preview Revealed |publisher=Comicbook.com |date=January 22, 2015 |access-date=April 8, 2015 |last=Steinbeiser |first=Andrew |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416031032/http://comicbook.com/2015/01/22/rick-and-morty-comic-book-preview-revealed/ |archive-date=April 16, 2015 |url-status=live }} Artist Tom Fowler wrote a multi-issue story arc that began in March 2016.{{cite web |url=https://pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/01/exclusive-incoming-rick-and-morty-comic-writer-tom.html |title=Exclusive: Incoming Rick and Morty Comic Writer Tom Fowler Takes Series to Sad, Absurd Extremes |first=Barry |last=Thompson |date=January 20, 2016 |work=Paste |access-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122094322/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/01/exclusive-incoming-rick-and-morty-comic-writer-tom.html |archive-date=January 22, 2016 |url-status=live }} Using the television series' established premise of alternate timelines, the first two volumes of the comic book expressly features the Rick and Morty (and supporting cast) of a different timeline, allowing the comics to tell stories without conflicting with the canon of the show.{{cite web |last=Venable |first=Nick |date=27 May 2020 |title=Rick and Morty Star Shares Thoughts on Character's Sexuality Flip in Comic Storyline |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2547000/rick-and-morty-star-shares-thoughts-on-characters-sexuality-flip-in-comic-storyline |access-date=27 May 2020 |website=CinemaBlend |archive-date=March 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321183413/https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2547000/rick-and-morty-star-shares-thoughts-on-characters-sexuality-flip-in-comic-storyline |url-status=live }} From the third volume onwards, with the departure of Gorman as writer and his replacement with Kyle Starks, the series switched focus to display the off-screen adventures of the specific Rick and Morty of the television series, keeping in the canon of the show, with the Ricks and Mortys of different timelines forming the basis for backup stories.{{cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=September 23, 2019 |title=The Rick and Morty Comic Series to End With #60 |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/rick-and-morty-comic-series-60 |access-date=September 23, 2019 |website=Bleeding Cool |archive-date=October 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027162259/https://bleedingcool.com/comics/rick-and-morty-comic-series-60/ |url-status=live }}

On August 29, 2018, a four-issue crossover comic with the fantasy tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons was released. The series titled Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons is co-written by Jim Zub and Patrick Rothfuss, and art by Troy Little.{{cite web |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/48465-rick-and-morty-dungeons-dragons-review-comic-relatable |title='Rick and Morty vs. D&D' Review: Totally Nails the 'D&D' Newb Experience |last=Plante |first=Corey |date=August 28, 2018 |website=Inverse |access-date=October 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009172126/https://www.inverse.com/article/48465-rick-and-morty-dungeons-dragons-review-comic-relatable |archive-date=October 9, 2018 |url-status=live }} A sequel mini-series, titled Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons: Chapter II: Painscape, was published in September 2018.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/rick-and-morty-dd-tabletop-game-1203218821/|title='Rick and Morty' Getting a D&D Tabletop Game This Fall|last=Lanier|first=Liz|date=May 17, 2019|website=Variety|access-date=June 20, 2019|archive-date=May 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521033618/https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/rick-and-morty-dd-tabletop-game-1203218821/|url-status=live}} It was written by Jim Zub and Sarah Stern with art by Troy Little.{{cite web|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/05/17/rick-and-morty-dd-chapter-2-comic-unveiled-at-dd-live-2019/|title=Rick and Morty D&D Chapter 2 Comic Unveiled at D&D Live 2019|website=bleedingcool.com|date=May 17, 2019|access-date=June 20, 2019|archive-date=June 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609101328/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/05/17/rick-and-morty-dd-chapter-2-comic-unveiled-at-dd-live-2019/|url-status=live}} The Rick and Morty vs Dungeons and Dragons Deluxe Edition, by Rothfuss, Zub, and Little, was nominated for the 2022 "Best Graphic Album—Reprint" Eisner Award.{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |author-link=Heidi MacDonald |date=2022-05-18 |title=2022 Eisner Awards Nominations Announced, led by DC and Image |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/2022-eisner-awards-nominations-announced-led-by-dc-and-image/ |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=The Beat |language=en-US |archive-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518170818/https://www.comicsbeat.com/2022-eisner-awards-nominations-announced-led-by-dc-and-image/ |url-status=live }}

File:McDonald's Szechwan Sauce.jpg]]

McDonald's Szechuan Sauce returned to their menu nearly twenty years later after being referenced numerous times in "The Rickshank Rickdemption", the Season 3 premiere.{{cite web |last1=Alexander |first1=Julia |date=August 7, 2017 |title=Rick and Morty fans are bidding more than $4,500 on Szechuan sauce (update) |url=https://www.polygon.com/tv/2017/8/7/16107724/rick-and-morty-szechuan-sauce-auction |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003132606/https://www.polygon.com/tv/2017/8/7/16107724/rick-and-morty-szechuan-sauce-auction |archive-date=October 3, 2017 |access-date=6 October 2017 |website=Polygon |publisher=14 August 2017 |df=mdy-all}} The sauce was announced to return to all McDonald's stores on February 26, 2018 due to popular demand from Rick and Morty fans.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Aaron |date=October 9, 2017 |title=McDonald's vows to reboot Szechuan Sauce for spurned 'Rick and Morty' fans |work=CNN Money |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/10/09/news/companies/rick-and-morty-mcdonalds/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215001154/http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/09/news/companies/rick-and-morty-mcdonalds/index.html |archive-date=December 15, 2017 |df=mdy-all}} On March 31, 2022, it once again returned to stores, featured as an app-only exclusive until April 4.{{Cite web |last=Castrodale |first=Jelisa |date=2022-03-22 |title=McDonald's Is Bringing Back One of Its Most Popular McNugget Sauces for Very Limited Time — Here's How to Order It |url=https://www.foodandwine.com/news/mcdonalds-szechuan-sauce-return-2022 |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=Food & Wine |language=en |archive-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910192212/https://www.foodandwine.com/news/mcdonalds-szechuan-sauce-return-2022 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Rosario |first=Nicole Del |date=2022-04-01 |title=McDonald's is bringing back its viral Szechuan Sauce for a limited time |url=https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/04/01/mcdonalds-is-bringing-back-its-viral-szechuan-sauce-for-a-limited-time/ |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=WSLS |language=en |archive-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910192206/https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/04/01/mcdonalds-is-bringing-back-its-viral-szechuan-sauce-for-a-limited-time/ |url-status=live }}

Adult Swim and Wendy's have collaborated to create commercials featuring the titular duo.{{cite web|last=Outlaw|first=Kofi|date=June 22, 2021|title=Rick and Morty Throws Down with Wendy's Breakfast Favs in New Ad|url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/rick-and-morty-season-5-wendys-ad-commercial-watch-online/|access-date=2021-11-12|website=Comicbook.Com|language=en|archive-date=November 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112222552/https://comicbook.com/anime/news/rick-and-morty-season-5-wendys-ad-commercial-watch-online/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Valdez|first=Nick|date=May 4, 2020|title=Rick and Morty Debuts Hilarious Wendy's Promo|url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/rick-and-morty-wendys-commercial/|access-date=2021-11-12|website=Comicbook.com|language=en|archive-date=November 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112222550/https://comicbook.com/anime/news/rick-and-morty-wendys-commercial/|url-status=live}} They have also created Morty themed food trucks and restaurants.{{cite web|last=Lussier|first=Germain|date=November 11, 2021|title=Rick and Morty Has Forsaken McDonald's, Now Worships Wendy's|url=https://gizmodo.com/rick-and-morty-has-forsaken-mcdonald-s-now-worships-we-1848042829|access-date=2021-11-12|website=Gizmodo|language=en-us|archive-date=November 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112222549/https://gizmodo.com/rick-and-morty-has-forsaken-mcdonald-s-now-worships-we-1848042829|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Cahillane|first1=Mollie|date=June 15, 2021|title=Rick and Morty Get Wendy's Drink Flavors, Pop-Up Restaurant|url=https://www.adweek.com/convergent-tv/rick-and-morty-get-their-own-wendys-drink-flavors-and-restaurant-pop-up-for-season-5/|access-date=2021-11-12|language=en-US|archive-date=November 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112222550/https://www.adweek.com/convergent-tv/rick-and-morty-get-their-own-wendys-drink-flavors-and-restaurant-pop-up-for-season-5/|url-status=live}} In 2022, Wendy's offered Rick and Morty-inspired combo meals exclusively on Uber Eats and brought back their "Portal Time Lemon Lime" soft drink to promote the series' sixth season.{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Sammi |date=2022-09-10 |title=Wendy's Launches Limited-Time 'Rick & Morty'-Inspired Meals and Drinks |url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/wendys-launches-limited-time-rick-165707719.html |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=Yahoo! Life |language=en-US |archive-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910192206/https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/wendys-launches-limited-time-rick-165707719.html |url-status=live }} The promotion also featured a giveaway of Rick and Morty merchandise.{{Cite web |last=Vines |first=Maia |date=2022-09-06 |title='Rick and Morty' and Wendy's reunite for the show's 6th season |url=https://adage.com/article/marketing-news-strategy/rick-and-morty-and-wendys-promote-shows-6th-season-ad-merchandise/2428051 |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=Ad Age |language=en |archive-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910192221/https://adage.com/article/marketing-news-strategy/rick-and-morty-and-wendys-promote-shows-6th-season-ad-merchandise/2428051 |url-status=live }}

Adult Swim released a promotional video advertising Death Stranding. The ad involves Rick and Morty traversing the world of Death Stranding to deliver packages to stations in order to rebuild human civilization while trying to avoid being harmed by hostiles.{{cite web|last=Brayson|first=Johnny|date=2019-11-06|title=Rick And Morty Meets Death Stranding In Hilarious Crossover Video|url=https://www.looper.com/173614/rick-and-morty-meets-death-stranding-in-hilarious-crossover-video/|access-date=2021-11-12|website=Looper.com|language=en-US|archive-date=November 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112222550/https://www.looper.com/173614/rick-and-morty-meets-death-stranding-in-hilarious-crossover-video/|url-status=live}}

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