A powerful vampire family returns to the city they built centuries ago to reclaim it. Their New Orleans power struggle became one of The CW’s most devoted cult followings. Anyone searching for where to watch The Originals wants Julie Plec’s Vampire Diaries spin-off centered on Klaus Mikaelson. This guide covers exactly where the show streams, rents, or sells right now. Every detail here reflects current listings, not old data.
This show’s access differs quite a bit by region, more than most CW catalog titles this age. As a result, where to watch The Originals depends heavily on which country someone happens to be checking from. This guide separates subscription access from rental and purchase. It also breaks down availability across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. A cast rundown and the show’s award history follow, useful for anyone confirming they’ve found the right series.
Last Updated: July 2026
How This Guide Was Structured
- Verified subscription access at the time of writing
- Rental and purchase routes across major digital storefronts
- Regional availability patterns for the US, UK, Canada, and Australia
- Series identification and production background
- Awards recognition and franchise legacy
- Related viewing guides for further reading
Readers who came here from The Vampire Diaries or Legacies can browse more of ForeverWatch’s watch TV shows online guide.
About the Show
The Originals follows Klaus Mikaelson, an Original vampire who returns to New Orleans, the city he helped build centuries earlier. He’s just learned he’s about to become a father. He’s joined by his siblings Elijah and Rebekah. Their family’s return threatens the fragile power balance among the city’s vampires, witches, and werewolves. Creator Julie Plec built the series as a direct spin-off of The Vampire Diaries. Its blend of family drama and supernatural politics helped it become one of the consistently great TV shows to watch. That’s especially true for fans of the wider vampire genre.
- Genre: Supernatural, drama, dark fantasy
- Premiere date: October 3, 2013
- Series finale: August 1, 2018
- Seasons: 5 (complete series, 92 episodes)
- Episode runtime: Approximately 40–42 minutes
- Age rating: TV-14
- Country of origin: United States
- Original network: The CW
- Creator: Julie Plec
Cast and Key Crew
- Joseph Morgan as Klaus Mikaelson
- Daniel Gillies as Elijah Mikaelson
- Claire Holt as Rebekah Mikaelson
- Phoebe Tonkin as Hayley Marshall
- Charles Michael Davis as Marcel Gerard
- Danielle Campbell as Davina Claire
- Danielle Rose Russell as Hope Mikaelson
- Creator: Julie Plec
Morgan anchored the show as Klaus for its full run. He carried the character’s magnetism from his earlier appearances on The Vampire Diaries into a lead role of his own. Gillies and Holt gave Elijah and Rebekah enough depth to matter on their own. Their sibling dynamic became just as central as any supernatural plot. That ensemble chemistry helped the series carve out its own identity within a crowded genre. Many other best fantasy series of that era were built around younger, less morally complicated leads.
Where to Watch The Originals Online
Anyone confirming where to watch The Originals right now will find the anchor subscription service changes by region.
Subscription Streaming
Current listings show The Originals included with an Amazon Prime Video or Peacock subscription in the US. The UK carries it through Prime Video or ITVX Premium, with a free ad-supported option through ITVX as well. Canada and Australia currently lack a confirmed subscription route. Confirming where to watch The Originals through a subscription is worth doing locally. The UK’s free option doesn’t extend to the other three regions.
Rental and Purchase
For anyone who’d rather buy seasons individually, Amazon, Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Google Play cover the US. Each offers The Originals by season. Similar storefronts cover the UK, Canada, and Australia too. No confirmed free option currently exists outside the UK. These routes stay a dependable fallback for where to watch The Originals whenever a regional subscription isn’t confirmed.
Where to Watch The Originals by Region
Regional access for where to watch The Originals is confirmed in two of the four regions checked. Canada and Australia currently depend more heavily on rental and purchase.
| Region | Typical Access | Common Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Subscription access confirmed on multiple services; no free option currently | Prime Video, Peacock, Amazon, Apple TV |
| United Kingdom | Subscription access confirmed on multiple services, plus a free ad-supported option | Prime Video, ITVX |
| Canada | Subscription access unconfirmed at this time; rental and purchase confirmed | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Australia | Subscription access unconfirmed at this time; rental and purchase confirmed | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Rest of World | Availability rotates by country and local licensing agreements | Varies by territory |
Release Performance and Reception
The Originals premiered on The CW on October 3, 2013, and ran for five seasons before concluding in August 2018. It built a devoted following throughout its run, averaging roughly two million viewers per season. Those are respectable numbers for a spin-off airing on a smaller broadcast network. Its popularity carried far enough that The CW greenlit a further spin-off, Legacies, extending the franchise into a third generation.
Award recognition stayed within genre and fan-voted circles. Joseph Morgan won a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Actor in a New Series for his Klaus performance. That same first season also earned an Emmy nomination. The show picked up additional Teen Choice Award nominations in the years that followed. That’s a fitting mix of recognition for a series built to connect directly with a young, devoted fan base.
Official Trailer
Before renting or buying, the official trailer offers a fast way to confirm the show’s tone and pacing. This helps anyone weighing whether to start here or with The Vampire Diaries first. Either entry point works for newcomers to the franchise. It captures the show’s mix of family drama and supernatural danger without spoiling how the Mikaelsons’ early conflicts resolve.
Fans drawn to the show’s darker moments might also enjoy exploring more of the best horror TV shows covered elsewhere. That holds even given this series’ heavier focus on romance and family drama.
FAQs About Where to Watch The Originals
Is The Originals available on Netflix?
No, not currently. It’s not confirmed on Netflix in any of the four regions checked.
Where to watch The Originals for free?
ITVX carries it free with ads in the UK. No confirmed free option currently exists in the US, Canada, or Australia.
Is The Originals included with a Prime Video subscription?
Yes, current listings confirm it in the US and UK.
How many seasons of The Originals are there?
Five, comprising 92 episodes. The series is complete, having concluded in August 2018.
What is The Originals rated?
It carries a TV-14 rating for violence, sexual content, and mature themes.
Is The Originals part of a series?
Yes. It’s a spin-off of The Vampire Diaries, and it later spawned its own spin-off, Legacies.
Does The Originals’s availability differ by region?
Yes. The US and UK both offer confirmed subscription access, while Canada and Australia currently rely on rental and purchase.
Can I buy The Originals on physical media?
This guide didn’t find a confirmed current physical media release; digital purchase remains the more reliable option.
Did The Originals win any awards?
Yes. Joseph Morgan won a People’s Choice Award for his performance as Klaus, and the show’s first season earned an Emmy nomination along with several Teen Choice Award nods in later years.
Will where to watch The Originals change again soon?
It’s possible. Checking a current listing before relying on one platform is worth doing, especially given how much regional access already varies.
Final Thoughts
Prime Video currently offers the most reliable subscription route for The Originals in both the US and UK. ITVX adds a free option in the UK specifically. Canada and Australia currently depend on rental and purchase instead, since no subscription option has been confirmed there yet. That gap could close eventually, though it’s remained fairly stable for a while now. The show’s family-centered take on the vampire genre explains part of its lasting fan base. Its role extending the Vampire Diaries franchise into Legacies explains the rest, years after its own finale. For a recap, Prime Video covers where to watch The Originals in the US and UK. Rental and purchase fill in for Canada and Australia. Before finalizing a choice, double-check the displayed price or subscription status, since listings can lag behind what’s actually available.
