Futurama (season 9)

The ninth season of ''Futurama'' consisted of ten episodes. It premiered on Hulu in the United States on July 29, 2024.

This season has alternatively been titled the ninth season (production) and the twelfth season (broadcast). This list follows the previous season box sets, which feature the episodes in the original, intended production season order, ignoring the order of broadcast.

Cast and characters

Regular

* Billy West as Philip J. Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Zoidberg, Zapp Brannigan, Smitty, Judge Ron Whitey, Gus
* Katey Sagal as Turanga Leela
* John DiMaggio as Bender, Yancy Fry, Sr., Sal, Igner, Elzar, Randy
* Tress MacNeille as Mom, Mrs. Astor, Mrs. Fry, Vyolet, Dr. Lauren Cahill, Hattie MacDoogal, Petunia, Gypsy-bot, Turanga Munda, Leela's Grandmother, Ndnd, Linda, Monique, Gladys Lenox
* Maurice LaMarche as Kif Kroker, Lrrr, Axl, The Hyperchicken, Walt, Don Cunningham, H.G. Blob, Morbo, Hedonismbot, Calculon, Dandy Jim
* Lauren Tom as Amy Wong, Mandy, Inez Wong
* Phil LaMarr as Hermes Conrad, Dwight Conrad, Billionaire Bot, Bubblegum Tate
* David Herman as Scruffy, Dr. Ben Beeler, Leg Mutant, Turanga Morris, Larry, Josh Gedgie, Frank, Number Nine Man, Dr. Ogden Wernstrom, Dwayne, Warden Vogel, Malfunctioning Eddie

Recurring

* Feodor Chin as Leo Wong
* Tom Kenny as Yancy Fry, Jr., Abner Doubledeal, Gamster Alien
* Dawnn Lewis as LaBarbara Conrad, Chelsea
* Kevin Michael Richardson as URL, Barbados Slim
* Kath Soucie as Cubert Farnsworth, Albert, Nina
* Nicole St. John as Sally

Special guest stars

* Cara Delevingne as Screeching Owl, herself
* Danny Trejo as Doblando
* Renée Victor as Abuelatron
* Ana Ortiz as Marquita
* Bill Nye as himself
* Tim Gunn as himself
* Kyle MacLachlan as himself
* LeVar Burton as himself
* Neil deGrasse Tyson as himself

Episodes

Production

Development

In February 2022, Hulu revived the series with a 20-episode order expected to premiere in 2023. By November 2022, the production team was aiming to complete the episodes by the end of the year.

Casting

Guest stars for the season were unveiled at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con panel.

Release

The season premiered on July 29, 2024, on Hulu in the United States and on Disney+ internationally on the same day, with new episodes dropping every Monday.

Reception

Viewership

Nielsen Media Research, which records streaming viewership on U.S. television screens, estimated that ''Futurama'' was viewed for 320 million minutes from July 29 to August 4. The following week, it had 348 million minutes of viewership. From August 12 to August 18, it garnered 346 million minutes, making it the seventh most-streamed original series. Nielsen Media Research later announced that ''Futurama'' was streamed for 360 million minutes between August 26 and September 1, 2024, ranking it as the seventh most-streamed original series during that period. ''Futurama'' was then watched for 356 million minutes in the week of September 2 to September 8, 2024, making it the ninth most-streamed original show. Whip Media's viewership tracking app, TV Time, which monitors data from over 25 million users worldwide, reported that ''Futurama'' was the second most-streamed original series in the U.S. during the week of August 4. It ranked fourth during the week of August 11, improved to third place for the week of August 18, and was fourth again for the week of August 25. The series returned to fourth place for the week ending September 8. Whip Media later calculated that it was the eighth most-streamed original series in the U.S. for the week ending September 22, 2024.

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 60% of 10 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.40/10.

Cheryl Eddy of ''Gizmodo'' asserted that the new season successfully delivers what fans expect, citing classic 31st-century antics and clever cultural commentary, including takes on NFTs, chatbots, and fast fashion. Eddy found that the season retains the show's signature humor and features a strong voice cast, including John DiMaggio and Billy West. They added that while no new ground is broken, the episodes offer the familiar mix of weird humor, puns, and oddball references that define ''Futurama''. Robert Brian Taylor of ''Collider'' noted that the season premiere of ''Futurama'' aptly describes itself as "Your TV Friend," saying it reflects its enduring charm and reliability across its four revivals. Taylor stated that despite a decade-long hiatus and publicized contract negotiations, the series has returned in a more subdued manner but remains a standout blend of science fiction and comedy. They concluded that while ''Futurama'' may not be as strong as in its original FOX years, it continues to age well.

Andrew Webster of ''The Verge'' stated that the new season struggles with its focus on NFTs, particularly in the debut episode, which fails to provide meaningful jokes or insightful commentary. Webster found that the show's attempt to blend contemporary issues with its sci-fi setting was uneven, with later episodes faring slightly better but still missing the show’s original charm. Webster noted that the season’s emphasis on topical humor often overshadows the humor and warmth that made the show special, suggesting that the series would have benefited from leaving current trends behind. A. A. Dowd of ''IGN'' said that ''Futurama''’s new season, despite its unexpected continuation, is not operating at its best. Dowd found the first six episodes to be uneven, featuring more forgettable content than significant humor, though there is a notable late parody of the Fyre Festival. Dowd speculated that the series might reserve its strongest material for later in the season.

References

{{Futurama episodes, 9

2024 American animated television seasons
9