The irreverent animated sitcom Family Guy has been a staple of Fox’s animation lineup since its debut in 1999. Created by Seth MacFarlane, the show centers on the Griffin family – parents Peter and Lois, their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie, and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian. Known for its pop culture references, cutaway gags, and offbeat humor, Family Guy has amassed a devoted fanbase over its 20+ seasons on the air.
Nowadays, fans are wondering if they can stream episodes of Family Guy on Netflix. With the rise of streaming and multiple platforms competing for content, viewers want to know where they can find their favorite shows. In this article, we’ll take a look at whether Family Guy is available on Netflix and where you can currently find episodes of the iconic animated series online.
Family Guy Characters
Here are some of the main characters in the animated sitcom Family Guy:
- Peter Griffin: The obese, bumbling father of the family. He enjoys drinking beer with his neighbors and often causes chaos around town.
- Lois Griffin: Peter’s wife. She’s a redheaded housewife and piano teacher who often acts as the voice of reason in the family.
- Stewie Griffin: The Griffins’ eccentric 1-year-old son. He’s highly intelligent and obsessed with world domination and matricide.
- Brian Griffin: The family’s anthropomorphic dog. He walks upright, talks, drinks martinis, and considers himself sophisticated.
- Meg Griffin: The Griffins’ teenage daughter. She’s socially awkward and frequently ridiculed by her family and peers.
- Chris Griffin: Meg’s younger brother. He’s not very bright and is often carefree and naive.
- Glenn Quagmire: The Griffins’ sex-crazed neighbor. He’s a pilot who almost always greets people by saying “Giggity.”
- Cleveland Brown: Peter’s mild-mannered friend. He later left Quahog for his own spinoff show.
- Joe Swanson: A paraplegic police officer who is friends with Peter. He is married to Bonnie and has a son, Kevin.
- Mayor Adam West: The eccentric and incompetent mayor of Quahog who often makes ridiculous decisions.
How Many Seasons of Family Guy
The show first aired in 1999 but was canceled after season 3. It was later revived for season 4 in 2005 and has aired continuously since then.
Season | Years Aired |
1 | 1999 |
2 | 1999-2000 |
3 | 2001-2002 |
4 | 2005-2006 |
5 | 2006-2007 |
6 | 2007-2008 |
7 | 2008-2009 |
8 | 2009-2010 |
9 | 2010-2011 |
10 | 2011-2012 |
11 | 2012-2013 |
12 | 2013-2014 |
13 | 2014-2015 |
14 | 2015-2016 |
15 | 2016-2017 |
16 | 2017-2018 |
17 | 2018-2019 |
18 | 2019-2020 |
19 | 2020-2021 |
20 | 2021-2022 |
The Current Status of “Family Guy” on Netflix
As of the latest updates, “Family Guy” is not readily available on Netflix in many regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. While the show was previously accessible on Netflix in certain countries like Canada and Germany, licensing agreements have led to its removal from the platform’s library.
Reasons for “Family Guy” Absence on Netflix
Here are the main reasons why Family Guy is not available on Netflix:
- Exclusive Streaming Deal with Hulu: In 2019, Disney signed an exclusive streaming deal to make Hulu the exclusive streaming home for Family Guy and other 20th Century Fox animated shows. This deal took Family Guy off of Netflix.
- Competition between Streaming Services: As more streaming services emerged, content licensing became more competitive. Netflix likely did not want to continue paying for Family Guy rights when other services like Hulu and Disney+ wanted exclusivity.
- Disney Owns Family Guy IP: Since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox and its assets, they have shifted Fox content to their own streaming services (Hulu and Disney+) rather than license to competitors like Netflix.
- Hulu Has Entire Family Guy Library: Given the Hulu deal, the entire Family Guy catalog is available there. Netflix may have opted not to renew with partial availability.
- Expiring License Agreement: Licensing deals expire. Netflix’s previous Family Guy license likely ended, allowing Disney to shift the series to Hulu exclusively.
Where to Watch Family Guy?
When it comes to watching Family Guy, there are several legal options available for streaming or purchasing access to episodes, including Hulu, FOX NOW, digital retailers, cable networks, and physical media.
Hulu is currently the best streaming option for watching the full Family Guy library. After Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox, an exclusive deal was signed making Hulu the only streaming home for the entire series. All past and current seasons are available on-demand, and new episodes are added the day after they air.
Other options to access Family Guy include:
- The FOX NOW app and website, which allows free streaming of the most recent 5 episodes. You’ll need to log in with a TV provider for full access.
- Purchasing digital episodes or seasons from retailers like Amazon, Vudu, Apple TV, YouTube, etc. This allows you to download and watch offline.
- Catching re-runs on cable networks like Adult Swim and TBS. Check local TV listings for air times.
- Buying DVD or Blu-ray box sets containing full seasons or the complete series collection.
While unofficial free streaming and torrent sites may offer episodes, these often come with safety and reliability concerns, so legal options are recommended for watching Family Guy.
In a Nutshell
Although Family Guy is no longer available on Netflix, fans of the long-running animated sitcom still have plenty of legal options to get their fix of Peter, Lois, Stewie, Brian, and the rest of the Griffin family. Hulu now exclusively streams the entire series and adds new episodes after they air thanks to Disney’s ownership of the Fox library.
For those who prefer to own copies, physical media like DVDs and Blu-Rays containing multiple seasons can be purchased. And cable networks like Adult Swim continue to air reruns regularly. While the methods of accessing it may have changed, the humor and enduring popularity of Family Guy remains strong over 20 years since its debut.