When Does Matlock Season 3 Come Out? Is It Renewed?
“Allies. All lies.”
Matlock Season 3 doesn't have an official release date yet. Based on the roughly 13-month gap between previous seasons, expect it around November 2026.
IMDb
7.5/10
Seasons
2
Episodes
35
Predictive Logic Analysis
Matlock landed successfully for CBS in 2024 and has maintained stability through two seasons. The show's 7.5 IMDb rating is solid for network drama, and its 15,406 votes indicate a meaningful engaged audience. The Emmy nomination and broader recognition (13 wins, 23 total nominations) signal industry respect. CBS historically renews drama series more conservatively than streamers but tends to give them multiple seasons if they hold a respectable time slot and deliver consistent audiences. Matlock appears to have done both.
Season 2's average episode rating of 5/10 is notably lower than Season 1's 6.5, which is a legitimate concern. However, the show's ratings rose across Season 2 itself, suggesting viewer retention improved as the season progressed. This is a better signal than a steady decline. The 33,395 Trakt active watchers represent a dedicated core, and the steady momentum (neither spiking nor collapsing) is stable footing for a CBS procedural. Rising Wikipedia pageviews in the past month indicate sustained audience interest post-finale.
The timing is critical here. Only one month has passed since the Season 2 finale aired on April 23, 2026. CBS typically announces renewals and cancellations in May and June. The absence of a formal renewal signal at this point is not yet a negative sign, it is just timing. The show has not been cancelled, and all structural indicators (network type, genre, ratings trajectory, viewer base) align with a drama that is likely to be picked up for Season 3.
What is Matlock about?
Matlock reimagines the classic legal thriller for a new era by centering its narrative on Madeline "Matty" Matlock, a brilliant septuagenarian who returns to the legal profession after years away to infiltrate a prestigious law firm. What begins as a seemingly straightforward fish-out-of-water premise quickly reveals itself as something far more calculated: Matty is on a deliberate mission to expose corruption from within, using her age and unassuming demeanor as camouflage for a sharp, cunning legal mind. The show's central appeal lies in this reversal of expectations—the underestimated older woman who outwits everyone in the room by virtue of the very assumptions people make about her. It's a high-concept thriller wrapped in the comfort of a procedural, offering viewers the intellectual satisfaction of legal strategy combined with the satisfying arc of a protagonist playing a long game against powerful enemies.
The series distinguishes itself through a particular tonal sophistication that balances courtroom drama with psychological intrigue. Rather than relying on the bombastic theatrics of traditional legal shows, Matlock finds its drama in the quiet accumulation of secrets, the performance of innocence, and the meticulous gathering of evidence. Kathy Bates anchors the show with a performance that suggests layers beneath every gentle smile and seemingly innocent observation, transforming what could have been a gimmick into a genuine character study. The ensemble cast, particularly Skye P. Marshall and Jason Ritter, creates compelling workplace dynamics that serve the larger mystery, making the firm itself feel like a character to be decoded.
The reboot has found considerable success with both critics and audiences, earning a solid 7.5 IMDb rating from over fifteen thousand viewers and securing a renewal into its third season. The premise taps into a growing appetite for stories centered on older women with agency and intelligence, a demographic frequently sidelined by television. The show's tagline—"Allies. All lies."—captures its central appeal: nothing is as it seems, and trust is the ultimate liability. In the landscape of prestige drama and procedurals, Matlock occupies a distinctive space, neither wholly committed to legal proceduralism nor to serialized mystery, but instead blending both approaches to create something that feels both classic and contemporary.
Created by Jennie Snyder Urman
Is Matlock renewed or cancelled?
Working toward renewal
CBS renewal patterns for drama series
Solid IMDb rating (7.5) with strong vote count (15406)
Rising episode ratings within Season 2
Emmy nomination and industry recognition (13 wins, 23 nominations total)
Rising Wikipedia pageview trend post-finale
Steady Trakt active-watcher momentum (33395 watchers)
Only one month since finale; renewal announcement window not yet closed
Working against it
Season 2 average episode rating (5/10) lower than Season 1 (6.5)
Matlock Season 3 Release Date
If renewed, Matlock would likely premiere in fall 2026 or early 2027, following CBS's standard drama schedule. Given the show aired its second season finale in late April 2026, a fall return would allow roughly five to six months for production and post-production, which is typical for broadcast procedurals. There is no production status yet reported, so the actual timeline remains unknown. However, CBS typically greenlights and schedules dramas in May and June, so an announcement should come within weeks of this assessment.
Best & worst episodes
Matlock seasons
Season 12024 · 19 ep
- 1. Pilot2024-09-22 · ★ 7.0
- 2. Rome, in a Day2024-10-17 · ★ 6.3
- 3. A Guy Named Greg2024-10-24 · ★ 6.7
- 4. The Rabbit and the Hawk2024-10-31 · ★ 7.0
- 5. Claws2024-11-07 · ★ 7.2
- 6. Sixteen Steps2024-11-14 · ★ 6.6
- 7. Belly of the Beast2024-12-05 · ★ 6.4
- 8. No, No Monsters2024-12-12 · ★ 6.3
- 9. Friends2025-01-30 · ★ 6.7
- 10. Crash Helmets On2025-02-06 · ★ 5.9
- 11. A Traitor in Thine Own House2025-02-13 · ★ 6.3
- 12. This Is That Moment2025-02-20 · ★ 6.4
- 13. Pregame2025-02-27 · ★ 6.3
- 14. Game Day2025-03-06 · ★ 6.3
- 15. Game Face2025-03-13 · ★ 6.3
- 16. The Johnson Case2025-04-03 · ★ 6.6
- 17. I Was That, Too2025-04-10 · ★ 6.5
- 18. Tricks of the Trade (1)2025-04-17 · ★ 6.3
- 19. Tricks of the Trade (2)2025-04-17 · ★ 6.6
Season 22025 · 16 ep
- 1. The Before Times2025-10-12 · ★ 3.6
- 2. Another Matlock2025-10-16 · ★ 3.6
- 3. Tomorrow Is Still Tomorrow2025-10-23 · ★ 4.5
- 4. Piece of My Heart2025-10-30 · ★ 5.2
- 5. Mousetrap2025-11-06 · ★ 4.2
- 6. Harm Reduction2025-11-13 · ★ 4.4
- 7. Prior Bad Acts2025-12-04 · ★ 5.5
- 8. Call It a Christmas Gift2025-12-11 · ★ 5.0
- 9. Collateral2026-02-26 · ★ 5.8
- 10. The Greater Good2026-03-05 · ★ 6.2
- 11. Tail Lights2026-03-12 · ★ 5.6
- 12. The Cavalry Isn't Coming2026-04-02 · ★ 5.7
- 13. The Future is Nigh2026-04-09 · ★ 5.7
- 14. Day One2026-04-16 · ★ 5.7
- 15. Who Are You? (1)2026-04-23 · ★ 4.9
- 16. Matty Matlock (2)2026-04-23 · ★ 4.0
Matlock trailer
Matlock cast
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Where to watch Matlock
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Paramount Plus Essentialstream
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Paramount+ Amazon Channelstream
YouTube TVstream
Paramount+ Roku Premium Channelstream
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Fandango At HomebuyAI Verdict
Matlock is a strong performer for CBS with solid viewership, respectable critical recognition, and a network that typically supports drama series through multiple seasons. Season 2's lower episode average is offset by rising trajectory within the season and rising Wikipedia interest. The show's one-month window since finale makes formal renewal announcements premature, but the fundamentals point toward continuation.
Live signals
33.4K watching on Traktsteady
Interest rising
Verdict updated 4 weeks ago
Updated 2026-06-02 · AI-generated analysis
How we predict →Our verdicts have proved right for 59 of 82 decided shows →Matlock latest news
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Frequently asked
- When does Matlock Season 3 come out?
- Matlock Season 3 doesn't have an official release date yet. Based on the roughly 13-month gap between previous seasons, expect it around November 2026.
- Is Matlock renewed or cancelled?
- Matlock is a strong performer for CBS with solid viewership, respectable critical recognition, and a network that typically supports drama series through multiple seasons. Season 2's lower episode average is offset by rising trajectory within the season and rising Wikipedia interest. The show's one-month window since finale makes formal renewal announcements premature, but the fundamentals point toward continuation.
- How many seasons of Matlock are there?
- Matlock has aired 2 seasons so far.
- How many episodes of Matlock are there?
- There are 35 episodes of Matlock across 2 seasons.
- Who created Matlock?
- Matlock was created by Jennie Snyder Urman.
- Where can I watch Matlock?
- Matlock is available to stream on fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel , Paramount+ Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and Fandango At Home.
- What is Matlock's IMDb rating?
- Matlock holds an IMDb rating of 7.5/10 from 15,406 votes.