Matlock Season 2 premiere boosts viewership—11.9M multiplatform viewers beat Season 1 average

Matlock delivered an impressive Season 2 premiere. 11.9 million multiplatform viewers tuned in on October 12, 2025. That’s a 2% jump over Season 1’s 11.7 million average. The CBS legal drama continues its ratings momentum strong.

The Numbers Tell the Story

Matlock’s sophomore season kicked off with real momentum. The multiplatform numbers showed viewers embraced the legal procedural. That 2% increase proved the reboot isn’t a one-hit wonder.

The show made broadcast history early on. After two episodes aired, CBS greenlit Season 2 faster than any other network premiere. The Season 1 finale in April 2025 still drew 5.6 million viewers for a two-hour event.

“Matlock kept the ratings momentum growing throughout its first season. The legal drama joined high-performing series as a network cornerstone.”

Kathy Bates Continues Her Winning Streak

Academy Award winner Kathy Bates carries the show with a standout performance. Her character Madelyn Matlock is a brilliant attorney with hidden agenda. The reboot gives the classic 1986 original fresh energy.

The supporting cast includes Skye P. Marshall and Jason Ritter. Together they elevate the courtroom drama. Paramount+ subscribers can watch new episodes next day after broadcast.

Critical reception remains stellar. The show holds a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score. Audiences connect with both comedy and legal substance the series delivers consistently.

Where to Watch This Fall

Matlock Season 2 airs on Thursday nights at 9:00 PM ET on CBS. Live TV streaming options include DIRECTV, Paramount+, and YouTube TV. Here’s the viewing breakdown:

Platform	How to Access	Cost
CBS	Live broadcast Thursday 9 PM ET	Free with cable
Paramount+	Next day streaming (Premium)	$5.99/mo+
Amazon Prime Video	Episodes available for purchase	$2.99 per episode

Paramount+ offers a 7-day free trial. New subscribers can watch the first episodes free. Premium members get all episodes next-day.

What’s Next for Matlock’s Future

The network clearly views Matlock as a franchise cornerstone. Season 3 is already planned. Showrunner Jennie Snyder Uraman has stories mapped out years ahead.

• Expect 18-22 episodes spread across fall 2025 into early 2026
• Character development promises shocking reveals about Matty’s past
• Legal cases grow more complex and high-stakes each week
• Guest stars from top TV shows likely in pipeline
• Spin-off potential being explored by network executives

The reboot phenomenon continues to dominate network television. Matlock proves audiences embrace updated versions of beloved classics. Strong writing plus perfectly cast leads equals ratings gold.

Why Should You Tune In?

Are you looking for intelligent courtroom drama with style? Matlock Season 2 delivers both legal intrigue and character depth. Kathy Bates anchors the show with gravitas and humor.

The CBS legal drama balances procedural elements with season-long mythology. Each episode works standalone. Yet serialized storytelling keeps viewers coming back.

Viewers aged 18-49 made up core audience. But demos 50+ watch heavily too. Paramount+ streaming reaches younger cord-cutters nationwide. Will you join millions discovering why Matlock became broadcast’s brightest hit?

Sources

• The Wrap – Matlock Season 2 premiere viewership ratings breakdown October 2025
• Variety – Broadcast ratings analysis and industry benchmarking
• Deadline – CBS renewal strategy and multi-platform viewership metrics

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