Diving Into Rick and Morty
Photo: Warner Media
Created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, Rick and Morty has a fevered fan base that’s been growing steadily since the Cartoon Network Adult Swim show debuted in 2013, up until the release of its fourth season this month. The half-hour animated comedy has received almost universal acclaim from both critics and viewers. And while the offbeat and often edgy humor is not for everyone, fans of the show are quick to point out that its knack for both straightforward sci-fi and biting satire makes it one of the smartest on television.
Rick and Morty’s fan base is probably best known for its intense devotion, incredible cosplay, and yes, the occasional Szechuan sauce-fueled riot at a McDonald’s. But what else defines these devotees besides their incredible enthusiasm? We took a deep dive into their varied interests, including their favorite movies, books, and music.
HOW DOES AMERICA FEEL ABOUT RICK AND MORTY?
Photo: Ranker
NOTE: On the map featured to the right, blue represents upvotes, while red represents downvotes. The darker blue a region is, the more positively they feel about Rick and Morty — the darker red it is, the more negatively they feel.
Rick and Morty fans span the United States from coast to coast: the show is voted up by 70% of Ranker readers across the country. It appeals to 71% of Ranker voters in the Central/Mountain region, while 75% of Midwesterners approve of the show. But there’s nowhere more receptive to the antics of Pickle Rick than the West Coast, where 76% of the population are big fans.
The lowest approval ratings are in the Southwest, which has 67% approval, and the Deep South, where 61% of voters are Rick and Morty fans.
FANS’ TOP TV SHOWS
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What do the people who love this show watch when Rick and Morty isn’t on? If they don’t have access to interdimensional cable, fans of this animated sci-fi comedy tend to generally enjoy cartoons, science fiction, and edgy humor.
Shocker.
According to Ranker data, your average Rick and Morty fan is 9X more likely to love Netflix's Bojack Horseman, Cartoon Network's Steven Universe, and the surprise sci-fi hit Stranger Things. Other popular shows among this fanatical fan base include Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Netflix's defunct Daredevil — perhaps because they’re hunting for similarly cerebral programming. Folks who tune in for the off-the-wall, darkly tinged comedy also enjoy Fox's Bob's Burgers, HBO's Silicon Valley, and NBC's Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
RICK AND MORTY IN THE THEATER
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When we look at fans’ favorite big-screen fare, we again see an affinity for geeky sci-fi fare like Chris Nolan’s Interstellar, a movie that Rick and Morty heads are 5X more likely to love. Other favorites include the AI thriller Ex Machina, Warner Bros.' Edge of Tomorrow, and the popular MCU entry The Guardians of the Galaxy.
Animated movies are also among fans’ top choices: the show’s followers are 4X more likely to also like Disney's Big Hero 6, and 3X more likely to love Pixar's Inside Out.
These findings might not be surprising, but here’s something a little more strange: Love, Rosie, a 2014 romantic comedy-drama that didn’t attract a lasting following, is 4X more likely to be enjoyed by lovers of Rick and Morty.
WHAT ELSE DO THEY LOVE?
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Rick and Morty fans are big fans of rap — they’re 4X more likely to enjoy the work of Ice Cube, Eminem, and the Wu-Tang Clan. But, ever the intellectuals, no composition tops Radiohead’s OK Computer for these fans, who are 5X more likely to love the classic indie album.
When it comes to comic book characters, Rick and Morty fans lean toward outcasts and loner types — characters much like Rich Sanchez himself. The show’s fan base is 5X more likely to also love the Joker, Rorschach, and John Constantine, all antiheroes who represent many of the same pessimistic ideals held sacred by the show's protagonist.
Finally, fans of the show have a similarly cynical taste in literature. Fans of this animated sci-fi satire also love hilarious science fiction novels like Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five.
FINAL FINDINGS
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