Rick and Morty

An irascible, genius scientist named Rick Sanchez pulls his nervous, well-meaning grandson Morty out of suburban monotony and into a chaotic life of interdimensional travel, alien encounters, and reckless inventions. Episodes shift between high-concept sci-fi set pieces and quieter moments at the family home, where Rick's nihilism clashes with Beth, Jerry, and Summer in ways that are often funny, sometimes dark, and occasionally unsettling. The show mixes standalone adventures with recurring plot threads, letting absurd scenarios reveal character flaws, shifting loyalties, and the emotional cost of infinite possibilities without resolving everything neatly.

Created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland, Rick and Morty premiered on Adult Swim in 2013. The series uses sharp, fast-paced animation and features voices from Justin Roiland alongside Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke, Ian Cardoni, and Harry Belden among others.

The series has won Primetime Emmy Awards, including recognition in the Outstanding Animated Program category, and has received multiple nominations across award seasons for writing and animation. Those wins helped raise its profile beyond typical adult animation fare.

Rick and Morty left a noticeable mark on pop culture, spawning memes like the "Pickle Rick" phenomenon and fueling viral moments tied to promotional tie-ins, fan art, and catchphrases. Its references have popped up in mainstream conversations and merchandise lines, and it's often cited in discussions about the evolving audience for adult animated comedy.

Critics and viewers often praise the show for blending inventive science fiction concepts with dark humor and family drama, reflected in a strong vote average of 8.684 out of 10 from thousands of votes. Major themes include the limits of free will, the ethics of genius, and the emotional fallout of selfishness, all delivered with rapid-fire jokes, genre pastiche, and occasional surprisingly sincere scenes that complicate its comedic surface.