Sci Fi TV Network Scorecard: AMC

Network Scorecard: Scoring the networks based on their history of airing and supporting sci fi and fantasy television shows.

Network Overview

AMC is one of the earliest basic cable channels having launched in 1984 with programming dedicated to classic movies (it’s call letters stood for “American Movie Classics”), primarily those made prior to 1970 (and initially it did not air commercials during the films).  By the early 2000s, the network had change its focus to movies from all eras, and also started adding original, unscripted programming.  The network then made the move into scripted programming with the acclaimed Mad Men as its flagship series (it had previously dabbled in that arena back in the mid-90’s with the sitcom Remember WENN).  That would be followed by the critically-lauded Breaking Bad, and by the 2010s AMC had put much heavier focus on scripted originals.  The network’s first genre entry was the poorly-received mini-series reboot of The Prisoner.  But it had much more success with a little show known as The Walking Dead which debuted in 2010 and would go on to become the highest-rated scripted show across all of television for several years in a row.  Since then, the network has shown an interest in other genre properties and has had at least one new entry on its schedule each year since the 2014-15 season.

What Type of Sci Fi Shows Does the Network Air?

The Walking Dead has been the face of the network for the last decade and that franchise has produced two spin-offs so far (Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond) with at least two more currently in the works.  When TWD sky-rocketed to the top of the ratings, becoming a juggernaut by its fourth season, AMC started looking at other genre properties to add to its schedule.  It jumped onboard as co-producer of the British series Humans in 2014, and kicked off another comic book property in 2016 with Preacher.  It also put out the martial arts fantasy Into the Badlands, the season-long horror anthology The Terror, the supernatural drama NOS4A2, the rather odd, genre-bending entry Dispatches from Elsewhere, and more.  And currently, the network is targeting the launch of another major franchise with an upcoming series adapting Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles novels.

How Quick is the Network to Cancel Sci Fi Shows?

Walking Dead shows have fared quite well on AMC, but for other genre entries it has been a mixed bag (Note that while TWD: The World Beyond will only go two seasons, that was planned in advance).  Sci fi/fantasy shows on this network have had a good chance of at least surviving to a second season with only one getting cancelled after one year since the 2011-12 season (Dispatches from Elsewhere, which was never officially cancelled but I am counting as ended).  That is an 11% cancellation rate for genre entries vs. 20% for all scripted shows on the networks (the lowest for all of the networks I have covered so far).  But once beyond that first season, the survival rate for AMC shows takes a plunge.  33% were cancelled after two seasons with an additional 22% getting the ax after three.  Only two genre shows have survived for at least four seasons over the past ten years (22%), with on of those being TWD franchise entry Fear the Walking Dead (across all scripted shows on the network, 30% lasted for four seasons or longer).  The original TWD is not counted in the numbers below because it started in the 2010-11 season.

AMC New Scripted Programming 2011-12 Season thru 2020-21 Season

Network Score

I give AMC a score of 2 ½ on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the highest). The network has been willing to add sci fi and fantasy shows to its schedule, and it has been patient with them early on. But if they don’t have TWD in the title, their survival rate after that first season is not so great. Two were cancelled after two seasons, and fan-favorites Into the Badlands and Humans ended after three seasons without the chance to fully resolve their storylines.  If you are a fan of TWD, then this is the network for you because they will be leaning heavily on that franchise for the next few years (and possibly longer).  But if zombies are not your thing, or you just grew tired of that show, AMC does not have much to offer at this point.  The Vampire Chronicles could prove an interesting addition to the schedule, but it sure seems that vampires have been done to death of late (as have zombies).  It is reasonable to expect AMC to offer some more genre entries of note in the coming years, though (and The Ballad of Black Tom definitely looks interesting).

List of Sci Fi/Fantasy Originals

This is a list of the scripted sci fi and fantasy shows that have debuted on AMC since the 2011-12 season (TWD started in the 2010-11 season, but it is included since it is still active). The network is currently bringing over all three of its TWD shows plus Soulmates to the 2021-22 season.  Shows that have had their final season announced are counted as ended below. The list sorted by number of seasons and if the show have officially been renewed that is included in the season count.

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