Fallout (American TV series)

{{Short description|2024 American television series}} {{Other uses|Fallout (disambiguation)}} {{Use American English|date=April 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox television | image = Fallout television series logo.svg | genre = {{idp| * Action * Drama * Post-apocalyptic * Science fiction Western<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bardini |first1=Julio |title='Fallout' Borrows From This Classic Sergio Leone Western |url=https://collider.com/fallout-tv-show-good-bad-ugly/ |website=Collider |language=en |date=28 April 2024 |quote=A lot about Prime Video's Fallout series screams Western. It has been so since before it ever came out, as the games themselves already draw a lot from the Wild West theme to establish their stories and overall look. The series, however, takes it a step further, drawing on the typical looks and archetypes of the Western genre to tell its own story.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Vallavan |first1=Prashanth |title=Fallout Series Review: A rollicking blend of sci-fi, Western, satire, and relevant politics |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/english/review/2024/Apr/17/fallout-series-review-a-rollicking-blend-of-sci-fi-western-satire-and-relevant-politics |website=Cinema Express |language=en |date=17 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Martinez |first1=Alejandra |title=Fallout Gives Us A Rich Neo Sci-Fi/Western in First Two Episodes |url=https://latinamedia.co/fallout/ |website=LatinaMedia.Co |date=11 April 2024}}</ref> }} | creator = {{idp| * Graham Wagner * Geneva Robertson-Dworet }} | based_on = {{Based on|''Fallout''|Bethesda Softworks{{efn|name=creator}}}} | showrunner = {{idp| * Graham Wagner * {{nobr|Geneva Robertson-Dworet}} }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * Ella Purnell * Aaron Moten * Kyle MacLachlan * Moisés Arias * Xelia Mendes-Jones * Walton Goggins * Frances Turner }} | composer = Ramin Djawadi{{efn|Theme music written by Inon Zur}} | country = United States | language = English | num_seasons = 2 | num_episodes = 16 | executive_producer = {{idp| * Jonathan Nolan * Lisa Joy * Geneva Robertson-Dworet * Graham Wagner * Athena Wickham * Todd Howard * James Altman * Margot Lulick * James W. Skotchdopole * Frederick E. O. Toye }} | producer = {{Plainlist| * Crystal Whelan * Halle Phillips * Gursimran Sandhu * Jake Bender * Zach Dunn }} | editor = {{Plainlist| * Ali Comperchio * Yoni Reiss * Micah Gardner * Daniel Raj Koobir }} | cinematography = {{Plainlist| * Stuart Dryburgh * Teodoro Maniaci * Alejandro Martinez * Dan Stoloff * Jonathan Freeman * John Conroy }} | runtime = 45–74 minutes | company = {{Plainlist| * Kilter Films * Big Indie Pictures * Bethesda Game Studios * Amazon MGM Studios }} | network = Amazon Prime Video | first_aired = {{Start date|2024|4|10}} | last_aired = present }}

'''''Fallout''''' is an American post-apocalyptic drama television series created by Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet for Amazon Prime Video. Based on the role-playing video game franchise created by Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky,{{Efn|name=creator}} the series is set two centuries after the Great War of 2077, in which society has collapsed following a nuclear holocaust. It stars Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Kyle MacLachlan, Moisés Arias, Xelia Mendes-Jones, Walton Goggins, and Frances Turner.

Amazon purchased the rights to produce a live-action project in 2020, and the series was announced that July, with Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy's Kilter Films joined by Bethesda Game Studios in the production. Nolan directed the first three episodes. Bethesda Game Studios producer Todd Howard, who directed various games in the series, signed on to executive produce alongside Nolan and Joy. Robertson-Dworet and Wagner were hired as the series' showrunners in January 2022, and Goggins and Purnell were cast in February and March, respectively.

''Fallout'' premiered on Prime Video on April 10, 2024. Its second season premiered on December 16, 2025. In May 2025, the series was renewed for a third season. The series has received generally positive reviews, with praise for its visuals and faithfulness to the source material. Critics have deemed it one of the best video game adaptations. It has garnered three Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Goggins, as well as two Creative Arts Emmy Awards out of 14 nominations.

== Premise == {{See also|Fallout (franchise)#Series overview}} The series depicts the aftermath of the Great War of 2077, an apocalyptic nuclear exchange between the United States and China. The series takes place in an alternate history of Earth, where advances in nuclear technology after World War II led to the emergence of a retrofuturistic society and a subsequent resource war.<ref>{{cite news |title= Fallout's Apocalypse Explained: What Happened To The US & Vault-Tec's Role |first= Sean| last= Morrison| date= April 11, 2024| url=https://screenrant.com/fallout-show-apocalypse-nuclear-war-united-states-explained/ |work=ScreenRant |language= en| accessdate= February 21, 2025}}</ref>

Many survivors took refuge in fallout bunkers, known as Vaults, most being unaware that each Vault was designed to perform sociological and psychological experiments on the vault dwellers on behalf of Vault-Tec and numerous other American corporations.

219 years later in 2296,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/no-the-fallout-tv-show-hasnt-written-fallout-new-vegas-out-of-history-says-bethesda-studio-design-director |title=No, the Fallout TV show hasn't written Fallout: New Vegas out of history, says Bethesda design director |first=Edwin |last=Evans-Thirlwell |date=April 14, 2024 |access-date=April 14, 2024 |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |archive-date=April 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412170836/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/no-the-fallout-tv-show-hasnt-written-fallout-new-vegas-out-of-history-says-bethesda-studio-design-director |url-status=live }}</ref> a young woman, Lucy, leaves her home in Vault 33 to venture into the dangerous wasteland of a devastated Los Angeles on a quest to find her kidnapped father. Along the way, she encounters a Brotherhood of Steel squire named Maximus and a legendary ghoul bounty hunter, who was once a famous actor named Cooper Howard, each having their own pasts and agendas to settle.

In the second season, Lucy and Cooper travel to New Vegas hoping to learn the truth about Vault-Tec, Cooper's wife and daughter, and Lucy's father. Maximus, having been promoted in rank within the Brotherhood, becomes increasingly disillusioned with the Brotherhood's internal corruption and the conflict between his own conscience and the order's code.

== Cast and characters == === Main === {{Multiple image |align=right |direction=horizontal |total_width=400 | image1 = Ella Purnell at MEGACON Orlando 2025.png | image2 = Aaron Moten SXSW 2024.jpg | image3 = Walton Goggins by Gage Skidmore.jpg | footer = Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, and Walton Goggins star in ''Fallout''. }} * Ella Purnell as Lucy MacLean, a Vault 33 Dweller ** Luciana VanDette (guest season 1) and Grace Kelly Quigley (guest season 2) portray young Lucy MacLean * Aaron Moten as Maximus, a squire of the Brotherhood of Steel and later ally of Lucy ** Amir Carr portrays young Maximus (guest seasons 1–2) * Kyle MacLachlan{{efn|name=Appearance|Credited as part of the main cast only for episodes in which they appear.}} as Hank MacLean, Lucy and Norm's father and Overseer of Vault 33 * Moisés Arias as Norm MacLean, Vault 33 resident and Lucy's younger brother ** Cody Alexander Guevara portrays young Norm MacLean (guest season 2) * Xelia Mendes-Jones{{efn|name=Appearance}} as Dane (season 1; recurring season 2), a scribe of the Brotherhood of Steel * Walton Goggins as Cooper Howard / The Ghoul, a Hollywood actor and Vault-Tec ambassador before the Great War, who mutated into a ghoul and is now a gunslinger and bounty hunter * Frances Turner as Barb Howard (season 2; recurring season 1), Cooper's wife and high-ranking Vault-Tec executive * Annabel O'Hagan as Stephanie Harper (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2), pregnant Vault 33 resident. In the second season, she becomes the overseer of Vault 32. * Dave Register as Chet (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2), Lucy and Norm's cousin and Vault 33 gatekeeper

=== Recurring ===  * Sarita Choudhury as Kate Williams / Lee Moldaver (season 1; guest season 2), a nuclear scientist who survived the Great War and later became a New California Republic (NCR) commander * Leslie Uggams as Betty Pearson, Vault 33 councillor and later Overseer ** Princess Bey portrays young Betty Pearson (guest seasons 1–2) * Johnny Pemberton as Thaddeus, a squire of the Brotherhood of Steel * Zach Cherry as Woody Thomas (season 1; guest season 2), Vault 33 councillor * Rodrigo Luzzi as Reg McPhee, Vault 33 councillor * Leer Leary as Davey, Vault 33 resident * Elle Vertes as Rose MacLean (season 1), Lucy and Norm's mother * Teagan Meredith as Janey Howard (season 1; guest season 2), Cooper's daughter * Michael Cristofer as Elder Cleric Quintus (season 2; guest season 1), Maximus' superior and leader of the Brotherhood of Steel's San Fernando chapter * Jon Daly as the Snake Oil Salesman (season 2; guest season 1), who is a mercantile denizen of the wasteland * Justin Theroux as Robert Edwin House (season 2), the CEO of RobCo Industries and ruler of the New Vegas Strip in 2281. He previously appeared in the video game ''Fallout: New Vegas''. ** Rafi Silver portrays a body-double version of the character (season 2; guest season 1) * Rachel Marsh as Claudia (season 2), a novice Vault-Tec employee who was cryogenically frozen in Vault 31 * Adam Faison as Ronnie McCurtry (season 2), Bud Askin's former assistant and one of the Vault-Tec employees who were cryogenically frozen in Vault 31 * Rajat Suresh and Jeremy Levick as Clark and Pete (season 2), part of the group of Vault-Tec employees who were cryogenically frozen in Vault 31 * Martha Kelly as Representative Diane Welch (season 2), a pre-apocalypse congresswoman for the district of Glendale * Jon Gries as Biff (season 2), a ranger for the New California Republic

=== Guest ===  {{Div col|colwidth=40em}} ;Introduced in season 1 * Mykelti Williamson as Honcho, a bounty hunter who revives Cooper from imprisonment * Matt Berry as: ** "Mr. Handy", a General Atomics helper bot in 2077 ** "Snip Snip", a Mr. Handy turned organ harvester ** Sebastian Leslie, an English actor who provided the voice of the Handys, and Cooper's pre-apocalypse friend * Cameron Cowperthwaite as Monty, a raider who "married" Lucy as part of a ruse to kidnap Hank * Jacinto Taras Riddick as Cleric Felix, high-ranking member of the Brotherhood of Steel * Joel Marsh Garland and Jacob A. Ware as Biggie and Slim, Honcho's minions * Mike Doyle and Janie Brookshire as Bob Spencer and Rhonda Spencer, Cooper's pre-apocalypse employers for their child's birthday party * Michael Emerson as Dr. Siggi Wilzig (seasons 1–2), an enigmatic defector from the Enclave whose head carries the solution to Cold Fusion * Michael Rapaport as Knight Titus, whom Maximus initially serves and later impersonates * Dale Dickey as Ma June (seasons 1–2), a cantankerous shopkeeper in the settlement of Filly * Edythe Jason as Barv (seasons 1–2), June's partner and a resident of Filly * Michael Abbott Jr. as a lonesome farmer living just outside Filly * Neal Huff as Roger, a ghoul and friend of Cooper's, slowly succumbing to ferality * Michael Esper as Bud Askins / Brain-on-a-Roomba (seasons 1–2), a senior junior vice president at Vault-Tec in 2077 and the Overseer of Vault 31 post-war * Matty Cardarople and Elvis Valentino Lopez as Huey and Squirrel, a pair of bumbling organ harvesters * Chris Parnell as Benjamin, the Cyclops Overseer of Vault 4 * Cherien Dabis as Birdie, a surface-born resident of Vault 4 and former resident of Shady Sands * Glenn Fleshler as Sorrel Booker, the self-titled "President" of The Govermint (sic) who seeks to maintain order in the Wasteland * Dallas Goldtooth as Charles Whiteknife (seasons 1–2), a pre-apocalypse actor friend of Cooper's * Eric Berryman as Lloyd Hawthorne, the first overseer of Vault 4 * Angel Desai as Cassandra Hawthorne, Lloyd's wife * Fred Armisen as DJ Carl, the host of an old-timey radio station * Erik Estrada as Adam, a former ranger for the New California Republic turned farmer whose son is affiliated with Moldaver * Michael Mulheren as Frederick Sinclair, a representative of Big MT and the founder of the Sierra Madre Casino * James Yaegashi as Leon Von Felden, a top West-Tek executive * Rebecca Watson as Julia Masters, a top REPCONN executive {{div col end}}

;Introduced in season 2 {{Div col|colwidth=40em}} * Susan Berger as Old Woman Gretch, an elderly soup seller * Jared Bankens as Nick the Prick, the leader of the Great Khans raiders * Christopher Matthew Cook as Bill, a pre-apocalypse bar patron * Kumail Nanjiani as Paladin Xander Harkness, a liaison to the Commonwealth Brotherhood of Steel * Bashir Salahuddin and Shinelle Azoroh as Joseph and Julia, Maximus's father and mother * Brian Thompson, Sisa Grey, and Chris Browning as the Coronado Elder, Yosemite Elder, and Grand Canyon Elder, the cleric leaders of separate Brotherhood of Steel chapters * Judson Mills as Stephen Winthrop, a rich businessman cryogenically frozen by Vault-Tec * Tim Soergel as Gnatius, a knight of the Brotherhood * Macaulay Culkin as Lacerta Legate, a high-ranking member of Caesar's Legion, a society inspired by Ancient Roman traditions * Barbara Eve Harris as Rodriguez, a captain of the New California Republic * Guy Heilweil, Ava Scarola, and Alyssa Riley Ndati as Perry, Lois, and Trudy, children who work in Thaddeus' factory * Ciel Shi as Wenjie, a pre-apocalypse Chinese soldier * Edwin Lee Gibson as Shotgun Jeff, a bartender in New Vegas * Tony Robinette as Simon, the shopkeeper for the Sunny's Sundries general store in New Vegas * Ron Perlman as a super mutant who encounters Cooper * Clancy Brown as the last pre-apocalypse President of the United States * Natasha Henstridge as Joan, Stephanie's pre-apocalypse mother who attempts to escape with her from Canada {{div col end}}

== Episodes == {{Series overview | color1 = #F1C40F | link1 = #Season 1 (2024) | episodes1 = 8 | released1 = {{Start date|2024|4|10}}

| color2 = #42563D | link2 = #Season 2 (2025–26) | episodes2 = 8 | start2 = {{Start date|2025|12|16}} | end2 = {{End date|2026|2|3}} }}

===Season 1 (2024)=== {{Main|Fallout season 1|l1=''Fallout'' season 1}} {{:Fallout season 1}}

===Season 2 (2025–26)=== {{Main|Fallout season 2|l1=''Fallout'' season 2}} {{:Fallout season 2}}

== Production == === Development === Bethesda had been approached several times about a television adaptation of the ''Fallout'' video games since the developer released ''Fallout 3'' in 2008, according to Bethesda's Todd Howard, though he felt none of the suggestions met the vision of the ''Fallout'' series.<ref name="howard 2024">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bethesda-rejected-multiple-fallout-tv-show-pitches-before-jonathan-nolan-came-along/1100-6522434/ |title=Bethesda Rejected Multiple Fallout TV Show Pitches Before Jonathan Nolan Came Along |first=Eddie |last=Makuch |date=April 5, 2024 |access-date=April 7, 2024 |work=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom, Inc.|archive-date=April 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407160342/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bethesda-rejected-multiple-fallout-tv-show-pitches-before-jonathan-nolan-came-along/1100-6522434/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Bethesda's marketing executive Pete Hines had also warned the company in 2015 about the potential impact of a poor adaptation of their video games, saying: "There's way more things that can go wrong than can go right with this", since the adaptation's director may override the vision of the series.<ref name="hines 2015"/> Hines pointed to the example of the 2005 ''Doom'' film as an example of a bad adaptation.<ref name="hines 2015">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-there-hasnt-been-a-fallout-or-elder-scrolls-mo/1100-6428537/ |title=Why There Hasn't Been a Fallout or Elder Scrolls Movie...Yet |first=Eddie |last=Makuch |date=June 30, 2015 |access-date=April 7, 2024 |work=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom, Inc. |archive-date=April 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407160342/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-there-hasnt-been-a-fallout-or-elder-scrolls-mo/1100-6428537/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The situation changed when Jonathan Nolan approached Bethesda with his idea of a ''Fallout'' television series, having been an avid player of the game series. Howard, having seen what Nolan had created with the ''Westworld'' series, found that Nolan had a clear vision for the adaptation, and agreed this approach was a good way to bring the game series to the television screen.<ref name="howard 2024"/><ref name="nytimes devs">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/09/arts/television/fallout-amazon.html|title='Fallout' Finds the Fun in an Apocalyptic Hellscape|first=Austin|last=Considine|date=April 9, 2024 |access-date=April 20, 2024 |work=The New York Times|archive-date=April 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409104409/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/09/arts/television/fallout-amazon.html}}</ref> Bethesda gave Nolan the freedom to craft a story as long as it remained true to the ''Fallout'' universe but served as its unique narrative within the game series and not translate one of the existing games to television.<ref name="nytimes devs"/>

The television adaptation was formally announced in July 2020 under Amazon Studios (later renamed Amazon MGM Studios) with Nolan and Lisa Joy developing the work.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |last2=Petski |first2=Denise |title='Fallout' TV Series From 'Westworld' Creators Based On Games In Works At Amazon With Series Commitment |url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/fallout-television-series-based-game-franchise-amazon-studios-westworld-creators-1202976079/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=July 2, 2020 |date=July 2, 2020 |archive-date=February 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228001003/https://deadline.com/2020/07/fallout-television-series-based-game-franchise-amazon-studios-westworld-creators-1202976079/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Joy described the series as "a gonzo, crazy, funny, adventure, and mindfuck like none you've ever seen before".<ref>{{cite web |last=Weintraub |first=Steve |title=Lisa Joy on 'Reminiscence,' Casting Hugh Jackman, and How the 'Fallout' Amazon Series Will Be Like Nothing You've Seen Before |url=https://collider.com/lisa-joy-reminiscence-fallout-amazon-series-interview/ |website=Collider |publisher=Valnet |access-date=August 21, 2021 |date=August 19, 2021 |archive-date=August 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820141946/https://collider.com/lisa-joy-reminiscence-fallout-amazon-series-interview/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2022, Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner were hired as show runners for the series, with Nolan set to direct the pilot episode.<ref>{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title='Fallout': Kilter Films' TV Series Based On Games Moving Forward At Prime Video With Jonathan Nolan Directing |url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/fallout-series-games-prime-video-jonathan-nolan-geneva-robertson-dworet-graham-wagner-kilter-1234905676/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=January 6, 2022 |date=January 6, 2022 |archive-date=January 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106232953/https://deadline.com/2022/01/fallout-series-games-prime-video-jonathan-nolan-geneva-robertson-dworet-graham-wagner-kilter-1234905676/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The series is canon within the ''Fallout'' continuity. Howard wanted an original story instead of an adaptation of the games,<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |date=November 28, 2023 |title='Fallout' First Look: This Is How the World Ends—With a Smiling Thumbs-Up |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/11/fallout-first-look |access-date=November 28, 2023 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US |archive-date=November 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128144831/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/11/fallout-first-look |url-status=live}}</ref> though the series incorporates game storylines and factions, such as the Brotherhood of Steel. The series' 2296 setting is the furthest in the future that the ''Fallout'' franchise has occurred.<ref name="russell20240411">{{Cite web |last=Russell |first=Bradley |date=April 11, 2024 |title=Is the Fallout TV show canon? Here's what Bethesda's Todd Howard and the showrunners have to say |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/is-the-fallout-tv-show-canon-bethesda-games-todd-howard/ |access-date=April 18, 2024 |website=Total Film |language=en|archive-date=April 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411083926/https://www.gamesradar.com/is-the-fallout-tv-show-canon-bethesda-games-todd-howard/}}</ref> On April 18, 2024, Amazon Prime Video renewed the series for a second season.<ref name="S2Renewal">{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/fallout-renewed-season-2-amazon-1235889742/|title='Fallout' Renewed For Season 2 At Amazon|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|first=Katie|last=Campione|date=April 18, 2024|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418231908/https://deadline.com/2024/04/fallout-renewed-season-2-amazon-1235889742/|url-status=live}}</ref> The first season had a budget of $153 million.<ref>{{cite web|first=Gene|last=Maddaus|url=https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/california-film-tv-tax-incentive-fallout-amazon-1235963577/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408130039/https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/california-film-tv-tax-incentive-fallout-amazon-1235963577/|title=Amazon's 'Fallout' to Film Second Season in California With $25 Million Tax Credit|magazine=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|archivedate=April 8, 2024|date=April 8, 2024|accessdate=May 23, 2024}}</ref> In May 2025, the series was renewed for a third season.<ref name="S3Renewal">{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=May 12, 2025|title=''Fallout'' Gets Early Season 3 Renewal At Prime Video|url=https://deadline.com/2025/05/fallout-renewed-season-3-prime-video-1236394147/|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|access-date=May 12, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250512231311/https://deadline.com/2025/05/fallout-renewed-season-3-prime-video-1236394147/|archive-date=May 12, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Casting === In February 2022, Walton Goggins was cast in a lead role as Cooper Howard, a Hollywood actor who became a ghoul after the bombs fell.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=''Fallout'': Walton Goggins To Star In Prime Video's TV Series From Kilter Films Based On Games |url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/fallout-walton-goggins-star-prime-videos-tv-series-ghoul-kilter-films-jonathan-nolan-1234956734/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=18 February 2022 |date=February 18, 2022|archive-date=February 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218193131/https://deadline.com/2022/02/fallout-walton-goggins-star-prime-videos-tv-series-ghoul-kilter-films-jonathan-nolan-1234956734/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Doug |first=Norrie |date=July 18, 2022 |title=See Walton Goggins Give Major Update From Set Of Fallout |url=https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/walton-goggins-fallout.html |access-date=January 8, 2023 |website=Giant Freaking Robot |archive-date=January 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108084843/https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/walton-goggins-fallout.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2022, Ella Purnell joined the cast as a peppy Vault-Dweller.<ref>{{cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |title=''Fallout'' TV Series at Amazon Casts 'Yellowjackets' Star Ella Purnell in Lead Role |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/fallout-tv-series-amazon-cast-ella-purnell-1235219101/ |website=Variety |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=March 30, 2022 |date=March 30, 2022 |archive-date=July 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706153745/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/fallout-tv-series-amazon-cast-ella-purnell-1235219101/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2022, Kyle MacLachlan (Hank MacLean), Xelia Mendes-Jones (Dane) and Aaron Moten (Maximus) joined as regulars.<ref>{{cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |title=''Fallout'' Amazon Series Casts Kyle MacLachlan, Xelia Mendes-Jones, Aaron Moten (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/fallout-amazon-series-cast-kyle-maclachlan-xelia-mendes-jones-aaron-moten-1235305085/ |website=Variety |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=June 28, 2022 |date=June 28, 2022 |archive-date=June 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628180217/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/fallout-amazon-series-cast-kyle-maclachlan-xelia-mendes-jones-aaron-moten-1235305085/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2023, additional casting including Sarita Choudhury (Moldaver), Michael Emerson (Dr. Siggi Wilzig), Leslie Uggams (Betty Pearson) and Zach Cherry (Woody Thomas) was announced.<ref name="Premiere">{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|title='Fallout' TV Series From 'Westworld' Creators Based On Games Gets Prime Video Premiere Date|url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/fallout-tv-series-premiere-date-westworld-creators-video-game-trailer-1235580537/|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=October 23, 2023 |access-date=October 23, 2023|archive-date=October 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023151252/https://deadline.com/2023/10/fallout-tv-series-premiere-date-westworld-creators-video-game-trailer-1235580537/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2024, Macaulay Culkin joined the cast for the second season in an undisclosed role.<ref>{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title='Fallout': Macaulay Culkin Joins Season 2 Of Prime Video Series|url=https://deadline.com/2024/11/macaulay-culkin-cast-fallout-season-2-1236170530/|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=November 7, 2024|access-date=November 7, 2024|archive-date=November 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241108015642/https://deadline.com/2024/11/macaulay-culkin-cast-fallout-season-2-1236170530/|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2025, it was revealed that Justin Theroux would portray Robert House for the second season.<ref name="S2ReleaseDate"/>

In May 2026, Aaron Paul joined the cast for the third season, and both Annabel O'Hagan and Dave Register were promoted to series regulars.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=May 11, 2026|title=''Fallout'': Aaron Paul Joins Season 3 Of Prime Video Series|url=https://deadline.com/2026/05/fallout-aaron-paul-1236889936/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=May 11, 2026|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260511172136/https://deadline.com/2026/05/fallout-aaron-paul-1236889936/|archive-date=May 11, 2026|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Filming === [[File:Kolmanskop Ghost Town.jpg|thumb|right|An overhead shot of Kolmanskop, Namibia, which was used for filming shots in the wasteland.]]

Principal photography began on July 5, 2022, in New Jersey, New York and Utah,<ref>{{cite web |title=Fallout (w/t: "Hondo") – TV Series – New York, New Jersey, Utah |url=https://stuntaccess.com/coordinator/job/fallout-w-t-hondo-tv-series-new-york/ |website=Stunt Access |access-date=June 28, 2022 |archive-date=August 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829015249/https://stuntaccess.com/coordinator/job/fallout-w-t-hondo-tv-series-new-york/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> and was shot on 35mm film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beforesandafters.com/2024/10/09/shooting-on-an-led-volumeon-film/|title=Shooting on an LED volume…on film|date=October 9, 2024|last=Failes|first=Ian|website=Befores & Afters|access-date=October 9, 2024|archive-date=October 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009121717/https://beforesandafters.com/2024/10/09/shooting-on-an-led-volumeon-film/|url-status=live}}</ref> Wasteland scenes were additionally filmed in Kolmanskop, a former mining operation-turned-ghost town, as well as on Namibia's infamous Skeleton Coast. The desolate location is where desert sands meet the sea, where the western Namib Desert reaches Namibia's South Atlantic coastline. As a result of the treacherous seas offshore, the "skeleton" coast is dotted with both historic and recent shipwrecks;<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-big-fallout-tv-show-interview-with-jonathan-nolan-walton-goggins-and-more |title=The Big Fallout TV Show Interview With Jonathan Nolan, Walton Goggins, and More |date=December 4, 2023 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis|last=Bankhurst |first=Adam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121195535/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-big-fallout-tv-show-interview-with-jonathan-nolan-walton-goggins-and-more |archive-date=January 21, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> some scenes were filmed at the wreck of the ''Eduard Bohlen''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/fallout-tv-show-wasteland-namib-desert/ |title=Fallout TV show didn't need to use CGI to create the Wasteland because it found the perfect real-life location |first=Lauren |last=Milici |date=April 12, 2024 |access-date=April 12, 2024 |magazine=Games Radar |archive-date=April 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412234402/https://www.gamesradar.com/fallout-tv-show-wasteland-namib-desert/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Historic Wendover Airfield in Wendover, Utah served as the filming location of the initial Brotherhood of Steel base. This location has a unique atomic history connection as it is the airfield where the 509th Composite Group trained for the atomic missions in World War II.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-04-12 |title=Utah turns radioactive wasteland in new Amazon TV series |url=https://www.abc4.com/news/entertainment-news/utah-turns-radioactive-wasteland-in-new-amazon-tv-series/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604120154/https://www.abc4.com/news/entertainment-news/utah-turns-radioactive-wasteland-in-new-amazon-tv-series/ |archive-date=2024-06-04 |access-date=2025-11-12 |work=ABC4 Utah |language=en-US|url-status=live}}</ref> Nolan directed the first three episodes of the series, with Stuart Dryburgh and Teodoro Maniaci as cinematographers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stuart Dryburgh Resume |url=https://www.murthaskouras.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Dryburgh-Stuart.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319194912/https://www.murthaskouras.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Dryburgh-Stuart.pdf |archive-date=March 19, 2023 |access-date=December 2, 2023 |agency=Murthas Kouras}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Teodoro Maniaci Resume |url=https://admin.wp-a.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/MANIACI-Teo-DP.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203013849/https://admin.wp-a.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/MANIACI-Teo-DP.pdf |archive-date=December 3, 2023 |access-date=December 3, 2023 |agency=Worldwide Production Agency}}</ref>

Filming for the second season occurred in Los Angeles and Toronto, to take advantage of a $25 million tax incentive offered by California.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/california-film-tv-tax-incentive-fallout-amazon-1235963577/ |title=Amazon's 'Fallout' to Film Second Season in California With $25 Million Tax Credit |first=Gene |last=Maddeus |date=April 7, 2024 |accessdate=April 20, 2024 |website=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408170827/https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/california-film-tv-tax-incentive-fallout-amazon-1235963577/|archive-date=April 8, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> Filming was scheduled to begin in November 2024, and had begun by early December that same year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thecinemaholic.com/fallout-season-2-filming/ |title=Fallout Season 2 Begins Filming in Los Angeles and Toronto in September |first=Harsh |last=Vardhan |date=May 14, 2024 |accessdate=May 18, 2024 |website=The CinemaHolic|archive-date=May 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518140658/https://thecinemaholic.com/fallout-season-2-filming/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-12-04 |title=Fallout season two starts filming with Walton Goggins back in character |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/fallout-season-two-starts-filming-with-walton-goggins-back-in-character |access-date=2024-12-04 |work=Eurogamer.net |language=en|archive-date=December 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204112853/https://www.eurogamer.net/fallout-season-two-starts-filming-with-walton-goggins-back-in-character|url-status=live|author=Kennedy, Victoria Phillips}}</ref> Filming was paused in January 2025, due to the Los Angeles fires.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title='Fallout' Production Restart Pushed Due To Dangerous SoCal Weather |url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/fallout-production-restart-season-2-pushed-wind-fire-1236250610/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=January 7, 2025 |date=January 7, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108214034/https://deadline.com/2025/01/fallout-production-restart-season-2-pushed-wind-fire-1236250610/|archive-date=January 8, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> Filming for the second season wrapped on May 7, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/fallout-season-2-filming-wrap-ella-purnell-bts-photo/ |title=Fallout Season 2 Star Ella Purnell Shares Exciting Production Update In BTS Photo |first=Adam |last=Bentz |date=May 7, 2025 |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Screen Rant |publisher=Valnet |archive-date=May 8, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250508215542/https://screenrant.com/fallout-season-2-filming-wrap-ella-purnell-bts-photo/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Music === {{Main|Fallout (soundtrack)}} Ramin Djawadi composed a score inspired by the works of Inon Zur's ''Fallout'' series compositions.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 3, 2024 |title=Ramin Djawadi Scoring Prime Video's 'Fallout' TV Series |url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/01/03/ramin-djawadi-scoring-amazon-prime-videos-fallout-tv-series/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103194742/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/01/03/ramin-djawadi-scoring-amazon-prime-videos-fallout-tv-series/ |archive-date=January 3, 2024 |access-date=January 3, 2024 |website=Film Music Reporter}}</ref> ''Fallout'' also features a licensed soundtrack similar to the video game series, including The Ink Spots and The Mills Brothers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pitman |first=Robert |date=April 11, 2024 |title=Fallout Soundtrack Guide: Every Song & When They Play |url=https://screenrant.com/fallout-show-soundtrack-song-guide/ |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=ScreenRant |language=en|archive-date=April 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411134901/https://screenrant.com/fallout-show-soundtrack-song-guide/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ridgely |first=Charlie |date=April 10, 2024 |title=Fallout Soundtrack: Every Song Featured in the TV Series |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/fallout-tv-show-soundtrack-playlist-listen-ink-spots-prime-video/ |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en|archive-date=April 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411024027/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/fallout-tv-show-soundtrack-playlist-listen-ink-spots-prime-video/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first-season soundtrack was released by Amazon on April 8, 2024.<ref>{{Citation |title=Fallout (Original Amazon Series Soundtrack) by Ramin Djawadi |date=April 8, 2024 |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/fallout-original-amazon-series-soundtrack/1736163174 |access-date=April 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411040031/https://music.apple.com/us/album/fallout-original-amazon-series-soundtrack/1736163174 |archive-date=April 11, 2024 |url-status=live |language=en-US |via=Apple Music}}</ref>

=== Post-production === Jay Worth was the production's visual effects supervisor,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frei |first=Vincent |date=2024-04-30 |title=Fallout |url=https://www.artofvfx.com/fallout/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=The Art of VFX |language=fr-FR|archive-date=May 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501141840/https://www.artofvfx.com/fallout/|url-status=live}}</ref> returning to work with director Jonathan Nolan and executive producer Lisa Joy following ''Person of Interest'', ''Westworld'', ''The Peripheral'' and ''Reminiscence.'' Grant Everett was the on-set visual effects supervisor who brought together a variety of visual effects studios for the environment, creatures, hard surface work and more. Framestore in Montreal took on the Yao Guai and Gulper creature work, RISE FX in Germany handled the Vertibird shots, Power Armor work and numerous environments, Swedish studio Important Looking Pirates took on the Cyclops overseer of Vault 4 and Snip-Snip.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Russell |date=2024-04-25 |title=What Fallout Looks Like Without Special Effects |url=https://www.looper.com/1569775/fallout-without-special-effects-looks-like/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=Looper |language=en-US|archive-date=April 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425184820/https://www.looper.com/1569775/fallout-without-special-effects-looks-like/|url-status=live}}</ref> FutureWorks in India did the Ghoul nosework. Refuge, CoSA, Mavericks, One of Us, Studio 8 and Deep Water FX were also involved across the 3,300 visual effects shots of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Carson |date=2024-04-15 |title=The Consequences of Fallout |url=https://www.vfxvoice.com/the-consequences-of-fallout/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=VFX Voice Magazine |language=en-US|archive-date=May 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501141839/https://vfxvoice.com/the-consequences-of-fallout/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Release == ''Fallout'' was scheduled to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on April 12, 2024,<ref name="Announcement">{{cite web|last=Rivera|first=Joshua|title=Amazon's 'Fallout' TV show is set in Los Angeles, which is suspiciously close to New Vegas|url=https://www.polygon.com/23843006/fallout-tv-show-los-angeles-new-vegas|website=Polygon|date=August 23, 2023 |access-date=August 23, 2023|archive-date=August 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823212036/https://www.polygon.com/23843006/fallout-tv-show-los-angeles-new-vegas|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Premiere"/> but this date was later moved forward to be released on April 10, 2024, at 6 PM Pacific Time (GMT-8:00).<ref name="release change">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/fallout-tv-series-premiere-date-westworld-creators-video-game-trailer-1235580537/|title='Fallout' TV Series Based On Games Gets New, Earlier Premiere Date On Prime Video|first1=Denise|last1=Petski|first2=Nellie|last2=Andreeva|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=April 8, 2024|accessdate=April 9, 2024|archive-date=April 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409032436/https://deadline.com/2024/04/fallout-tv-series-premiere-date-westworld-creators-video-game-trailer-1235580537/|url-status=live}}</ref> The second season was set to premiere on December 17, 2025, but later scheduled to release a day earlier on December 16, 2025 at 6 PM Pacific Time (GMT-8:00), with the remaining episodes released weekly through February 4, 2026.<ref name="S2ReleaseDate">{{cite web |last1=Moreau |first1=Justin |title='Fallout' Season 2 Trailer: Justin Theroux Plays Robert House, the Ghoul and Lucy Fight a Deathclaw in New Vegas |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/fallout-season-2-trailer-justin-theroux-robert-house-deathclaw-1236493155/ |website=Variety |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=August 19, 2025 |date=August 19, 2025|archive-date=August 20, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250820092508/https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/fallout-season-2-trailer-justin-theroux-robert-house-deathclaw-1236493155/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="S2 release change">{{Cite press release|url=http://press.amazonmgmstudios.com/us/en/press-release/the-wasteland-comes-bearing-giftsifallouti-season-|title=The Wasteland Comes Bearing Gifts...''Fallout'' Season Two Surprises with Early Release Date|website=Amazon MGM Studios Press|date=December 15, 2025|access-date=December 15, 2025|archive-date=December 15, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251215193716/http://press.amazonmgmstudios.com/us/en/press-release/the-wasteland-comes-bearing-giftsifallouti-season-|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Season2Dates">{{cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |title=Fallout Season 2 Episode Release Date Schedule |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallout-season-2-episode-release-date-schedule/1100-6536675/ |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom, Inc. |access-date=December 14, 2025 |date=December 3, 2025|archive-date=December 14, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214103029/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallout-season-2-episode-release-date-schedule/1100-6536675/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first season of ''Fallout'' was released on Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD by MGM Home Entertainment on July 8, 2025. A limited edition Ultra HD Blu-Ray steelbook was released exclusively through Amazon's website and will come with six collectible art cards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Jason |date=2025-04-23 |title="FALLOUT: Season One" Hits Blu-ray & DVD July 8th — Amazon Exclusive 4K Steelbook Incoming! |url=https://www.iconvsicon.com/2025/04/23/fallout-season-one-hits-blu-ray-dvd-july-8th-amazon-exclusive-4k-steelbook-incoming/ |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Icon Vs. Icon |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250426093717/https://www.iconvsicon.com/2025/04/23/fallout-season-one-hits-blu-ray-dvd-july-8th-amazon-exclusive-4k-steelbook-incoming/ |archivedate=April 26, 2025 |url-status=live |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Webisodes === To promote the second season, a metafictional talk show of nine videos was released from December 18, 2025, to February 4, 2026. Titled ''Fallout Fake Talkshow'', actors from the series play fictionalized versions of themselves being interviewed by Jon Daly in character as the Snake Oil Salesman. Actors featured include Justin Theroux, Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Johnny Pemberton, Macaulay Culkin, Walton Goggins, Frances Turner, Xelia Mendes-Jones, and Kyle MacLachlan.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}

An animated series of shorts consisting of six instructional videos for customers of the fictional RobCo Industries was released. A different RobCo product is showcased in each webisode. The series is accessible on Prime Video in the bonus section of the ''Fallout'' page, or as extras in the 4K Blu-Ray release of the second season. They were originally released on the show's social media accounts concurrently with each episode of the season.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}

A Yule log-style holiday video, titled "Fallout: The Ghoul Log," was released on December 10, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eddy |first=Cheryl |date=2025-12-10 |title=Fire Up 'Fallout: The Ghoul Log' and Irradiate Your Holidays |url=https://gizmodo.com/fire-up-fallout-the-ghoul-log-and-irradiate-your-holidays-2000698035 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Gizmodo |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Reception == === Viewership === According to Amazon, ''Fallout'' pulled in 65 million viewers in its first 16 days of availability, and was the second most-watched title in the history of the platform after ''The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power'' in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/fallout-amazon-series-ratings-1235985817/|title='Fallout' Nabs 65 Million Viewers in First Two Weeks of Availability, Amazon Claims|first=Joe|last=Otterson|date=April 29, 2024|access-date=May 1, 2024|website=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|archive-date=April 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429193242/https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/fallout-amazon-series-ratings-1235985817/|url-status=live}}</ref> As of October 2024, the series has surpassed 100 million viewers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Palumbo |first=Alessio |date=October 3, 2024 |title=The Fallout TV Show Has Registered 100 Million Viewers |url=https://wccftech.com/the-fallout-tv-show-has-registered-100-million-viewers-to-date/ |access-date=October 7, 2024 |website=Wccftech |language=en-US|archive-date=October 3, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003122319/https://wccftech.com/the-fallout-tv-show-has-registered-100-million-viewers-to-date/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Next TV also reported that, based on viewership estimates sourced from research firm PlumResearch, ''Fallout'' delivered the largest premiere audience for any series released on Prime Video to date.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Jack |date=April 23, 2024 |title='Fallout' Just Drew Amazon's Biggest Premiere Audience Ever, Research Firm Says |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/fallout-just-drew-amazons-biggest-premiere-audience-ever-research-company-says | access-date=November 25, 2025 |website=Next TV |archive-date=April 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423230720/https://www.nexttv.com/news/fallout-just-drew-amazons-biggest-premiere-audience-ever-research-company-says |language=en-US |url-status=live}}</ref>

The adaptation's success on Amazon Prime Video has led to renewed commercial success of the ''Fallout'' video games, including the original game; according to Steam Charts, it experienced the highest percentage increase in player base at 160%.<ref name=VG247-retrospective>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/original-fallout-games-give-them-a-shot |last=Donaldson |first=Alex |title=The original Fallout games show their age - but newer fans should still give them a shot |website=VG247 |date=April 19, 2024 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-date=April 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420104212/https://www.vg247.com/original-fallout-games-give-them-a-shot |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Critical response === {{Television critical response | rotten_tomatoes1 = 93% (133 reviews)<ref name=RT1 /> | metacritic1 = 73 (33 reviews)<ref name=MC1 /> | rotten_tomatoes2 = 96% (126 reviews)<ref name=RT2 /> | metacritic2 = 73 (22 reviews)<ref name=MC2 /> }}

''Fallout'' has an average approval rating of 94% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes<ref>{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes|id=fallout|title=Fallout|type=tv|accessdate=December 16, 2025|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20260205222104/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/fallout|archivedate=February 5, 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> and a weighted average score of 73/100 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{Cite Metacritic|id=fallout|title=Fallout|type=tv|accessdate=December 16, 2025|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20251217002646/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/fallout/|archivedate=December 17, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Season 1==== For the first season, the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 93% approval rating based on 133 critic reviews, with an average rating of 8/10. The website's consensus reads: "An adaptation that feels like a true extension of the games, ''Fallout'' is a post-apocalyptic blast for newcomers and longtime fans alike".<ref name=RT1>{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes|id=fallout|title=Fallout|type=tv|season=1|access-date=April 20, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924062333/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/fallout/s01|archivedate=September 24, 2025|url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Metacritic assigned a score of 73 out of 100 based on 33 critics.<ref name=MC1>{{Cite Metacritic|id=fallout|title=Fallout|type=tv|season=1|access-date=April 10, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250615183145/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/fallout/season-1/|archivedate=June 15, 2025|url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Kristen Baldwin of ''Entertainment Weekly'' gave the series a B+ and said, "The eight-episode season exists in a vivid and captivating universe that will be familiar to gamers—though knowledge of the franchise isn't required to enjoy its darkly comic dystopian pleasures."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/fallout-tv-show-review-prime-video-ella-purnell-walton-goggins-8629037|title=''Fallout'' review: An addictive post-apocalyptic adventure|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Kristen|last=Baldwin|date=April 10, 2024|access-date=April 12, 2024|archive-date=April 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411183500/https://ew.com/fallout-tv-show-review-prime-video-ella-purnell-walton-goggins-8629037|url-status=live}}</ref> Reviewing the series for the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', Zaki Hasan gave a rating of 3/4 and wrote, "With a raft of unfolding mysteries, protagonists we care about and a quest we want to see through to the end, ''Fallout'' is well situated to grow the loyal fan base that has kept the video game franchise going for 27 years."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/movies-tv/review-fallout-amazon-prime-19392628|title=Review: 'Fallout' series is a worthy video game adaptation|work=San Francisco Chronicle|first=Zake|last=Hasan|date=April 10, 2024|access-date=April 12, 2024|archive-date=April 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412225801/https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/movies-tv/review-fallout-amazon-prime-19392628|url-status=live}}</ref>

Multiple critics called ''Fallout'' one of the best video game adaptations of all time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/fallout-rotten-tomatoes-video-game-adapatation-best/ |last=Garbutt |first=Emily |title=Fans are calling the Fallout TV show one of the best video game adaptations ever – and critics agree, judging by its near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score |website=GamesRadar+ |date=April 12, 2024 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-date=April 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415183810/https://www.gamesradar.com/fallout-rotten-tomatoes-video-game-adapatation-best/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Film and television adaptations of video games as a whole have garnered a negative reputation due to multiple high-profile failures (such as the aforementioned ''Doom'' film). In this regard, commentators have compared ''Fallout'' to ''The Last of Us'', another well-received video game adaptation for television.<ref>{{cite magazine | last=Newby | first=Richard | title=Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations | magazine=Time | date=April 12, 2024 | url=https://time.com/6966286/fallout-video-game-adaptation/ | access-date=July 7, 2024|archive-date=April 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412163548/https://time.com/6966286/fallout-video-game-adaptation/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="a464">{{cite news | last=Wyper | first=Adrienne | title=Fallout: one of the 'most faithful – and best – video game adaptations' | website=The Week | date=April 17, 2024 | url=https://theweek.com/culture-life/tv-radio/fallout-one-of-the-most-faithful-and-best-video-game-adaptations | access-date=July 7, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418015225/https://theweek.com/culture-life/tv-radio/fallout-one-of-the-most-faithful-and-best-video-game-adaptations|url-status=live}}</ref>

In a YouTube video, Tim Cain, the creator of ''Fallout'', praised the adaptation for matching the mood of the series and for its easter eggs and characters. He also defended the adaptation from accusations of contradicting the ''Fallout'' canon.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/og-fallout-lead-tim-cain-defends-the-shows-lore-changes-in-a-glowing-full-reviewnot-that-it-matters-im-not-in-charge-of-this-anymore-and-neither-are-you/ |last=Litchfield |first=Ted |title=OG Fallout lead Tim Cain defends the show's lore changes in a glowing full review⁠⁠—'Not that it matters, I'm not in charge of this anymore⁠, and neither are you' |magazine=PC Gamer |date=April 19, 2024 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-date=April 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421190420/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/og-fallout-lead-tim-cain-defends-the-shows-lore-changes-in-a-glowing-full-reviewnot-that-it-matters-im-not-in-charge-of-this-anymore-and-neither-are-you/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/fallout-creator-tim-cain-is-a-big-fan-of-the-tv-show |last=Kennedy |first=Victoria |title=Fallout creator Tim Cain is a big fan of the TV show |website=Eurogamer |date=April 22, 2024 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422105856/https://www.eurogamer.net/fallout-creator-tim-cain-is-a-big-fan-of-the-tv-show |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/heres-what-fallouts-original-creator-thinks-of-prime-videos-tv-show |last=Lyles |first=Taylor |title=Here's What Fallout's Original Creator Thinks of Prime Video's TV Show |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=April 19, 2024 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422015111/https://www.ign.com/articles/heres-what-fallouts-original-creator-thinks-of-prime-videos-tv-show |url-status=live }}</ref>

However, ''Source Weekly'' journalist Kayvon Bumpus described major, "incompatible" discrepancies between the show and existing canon,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bumpus |first1=Kayvon |title=Atomized Canon: The Folly of Hollywood's Fallout |url=https://www.bendsource.com/television/atomized-canon-the-folly-of-hollywoods-fallout-tv-show/ |website=Source Weekly |access-date=9 January 2026 |date=December 15, 2025}}</ref> as established in ''Fallout 1'' and ''Fallout 2''. Noting that the show moved a primary location in those games by hundreds of miles without explanation, Bumpus wrote, "The ''Fallout'' show fundamentally breaks the universe that it attempts to expand."

====Season 2==== The second season has a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 96% based on 126 reviews. The website's consensus reads, "''Fallout'' Season Two successfully expands its post-apocalyptic world to deliver everything audiences could want from a video game adaptation, including sumptuous visuals and riveting performances."<ref name=RT2>{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes|id=fallout|title=Fallout|type=tv|season=2|access-date=December 16, 2025|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20260429210729/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/fallout/s02|archivedate=April 29, 2026|url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Metacritic assigned a score of 73 out of 100 based on 22 reviews.<ref name=MC2>{{Cite Metacritic|id=fallout|title=Fallout|type=tv|season=2|access-date=December 16, 2025|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20260103202759/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/fallout/season-2/|archivedate=January 3, 2026|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Awards and nominations === {{Main|List of accolades received by Fallout (American TV series)}}

== Notes == {{Notelist|refs= {{efn|name=creator|''Fallout'' was created by Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky, and developed by Black Isle Studios, and formerly published by Interplay Entertainment from 1997 to 2004. It has been owned by ZeniMax Media and developed by Bethesda Game Studios since 2007.<ref>{{cite news |last=Middler |first=Jordan |title=Fallout creator Tim Cain is consulting on The Outer Worlds 2 |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/fallout-creator-tim-cain-is-consulting-on-the-outer-worlds-2/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |work=VGC |date=January 4, 2024 |archive-date=April 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417021923/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/fallout-creator-tim-cain-is-consulting-on-the-outer-worlds-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}} }}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{wikiquote|Fallout (TV series)}} * {{Official website}} * {{IMDb title}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|tv/fallout|Fallout}}

{{Fallout}} {{Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Television Series}} {{Bethesda Game Studios}} {{Amazon Video original series}}

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