How Fallout captivated fans around the world with its post-apocalyptic wasteland

In 2024, shortly after his new series Fallout became a breakout hit on Prime Video, Walton Goggins was in Istanbul eating some baklava with his family when a man from Kurdistan approached the table excited to talk about the show.

“I just got back from Mongolia and I had fans stop me in the street,” says Goggins, who plays a former actor turned mutated ghoul bounty hunter. “All of a sudden you’re participating in a property that is speaking to people across cultures and across languages.”

The cast and creators of Fallout discuss what’s in store for season 2 and how the Prime Video show became a global hit.

Such is the success of Fallout, the series based on the beloved video game franchise from Kilter Films, which will premiere its highly anticipated second season on December 17. Since debuting in 2024, the series has accumulated more than 100 million viewers worldwide, ranking among Prime Video's top three most-watched titles ever. The show was a hit with critics too, earning 17 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, Writing, and Lead Actor in a Drama for Goggins.

“It’s thrilling, to be quite honest with you, to be part of something that has such a global reach, but is also so important to the Fallout community all over the world. Then there are the people like myself who aren’t gamers,” Goggins says.

For Jonathan Nolan who executive produces the show alongside Lisa Joy, there was one important moment when he knew Fallout had become a crossover success beyond fans of the game.

“When my mom said she liked the show, I knew we were reaching a new audience, because I’m quite confident that she has not played any of the games,” Nolan says.

Fallout season 2 arrives during an exceptionally robust year for premium original content on Prime Video. Series like Reacher and The Summer I Turned Pretty have captivated audiences and driven the cultural conversation in 2025. With an exciting lineup of forthcoming original shows and movies from Prime Video, there are endless opportunities for brands to reach millions of viewers through streaming TV ads in Prime Video content. With the powerful ad tech solutions of Amazon Ads, it's easier than ever to help brands connect with audiences through premium original content.

This is particularly important for brands wanting to reach consumers through premium content. According to the 2025 Beyond the Buy report from Amazon Ads, 50% of consumers see entertainment as part of their shopping journey.

In an era where audiences are craving immersive entertainment, Fallout creates this detailed world-building that gives brands an opportunity to meaningfully connect with consumers.

So how has the show managed to captivate audiences beyond fans of the game? It all comes down to exceptional storytelling.

“Our writers get it right,” says Frances Turner who plays Barb, Goggins’ on-screen wife. “It’s all there in the production design. It’s all there in the costume design. As soon as we step into it, we’re there and we’re in the truth of the story and in the truth of these character’s lives.”

With its second season—and a third season on the horizon—Fallout can continue to explore this vivid world deeper into every corner of every vault.

“Our first season always felt like such a good start to me,” says Aaron Moten, who plays Maximus, a knight from The Brotherhood of Steel. “It’s so wonderful to have the reception that it’s had because now we get the opportunity to really expand and play, and it feels like a crescendo this second season.”

And in the seasons ahead, Fallout continues to prove that in the streaming age, great storytelling isn’t just about surviving in a post-apocalyptic wasteland—it’s about connecting with audiences everywhere.