Netflix’s Hit ‘Rick & Morty Meets Ghosts’ Fantasy Series With 10 Episodes Returns Next Month

Over the past few years, Netflix has invested heavily in its animated library, creating plenty of original movies and films that have made a big impact. Once criticized for not giving these projects enough of a chance, the streaming platform has turned its reputation around and is now home to some of the best animated hits on the market.

Between KPop Demon Hunters, Nimona, and Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio, Netflix has an incredible catalog of animated movies, but its TV collection is even better. BoJack Horseman, Arcane, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and Blue Eye Samurai are just a few of the countless original masterpieces on the platform, and another exciting hit is set to return next month.

Debuting last year, Haunted Hotel stood out as a real surprise package in 2025, exceeding expectations and landing a second season. Starring Will Forte, Eliza Coupe, Skyler Gisondo, Natalie Palamides, and Jimmi Simpson, the show follows a family running a hotel that is home to various ghosts, including a close relative.

Although it might not be up to the same standards, Haunted Hotel feels like Netflix’s Rick and Morty alternative, especially since the two projects share a similar creative team. However, it isn’t just Adult Swim’s hit series that Haunted Hotel takes inspiration from, as its premise is extremely similar to Ghosts‘, setting up some truly hilarious encounters.

The show has barely been gone a year, yet it is already set to return on October 9, suggesting it has a bright future ahead. Given it expertly combined key elements from Ghosts and Rick and Morty, it will be interesting to see how this concept holds up the second time around and whether it stays consistent.

Haunted Hotel Blends Rick & Morty’s Humor With Ghosts’ Premise

It shouldn’t come as a big surprise that Haunted Hotel shares similarities with Rick and Morty, considering the overlap in creative teams, but it was hard to expect this type of humor to work so well with the premise of Ghosts. While it may not have as much meta humor or pop culture references, Haunted Hotel does borrow Rick and Morty‘s comedic style.

In addition to the dark jokes, the Netflix series also thrives on some of the ghosts’ personalities being the opposite of what you’d expect based on their appearance, while others are often put in situations well outside their comfort zone. This helps create some hilarious scenarios and encounters that Rick and Morty already mastered years ago.

The fact that Rick and Morty is still going strong nine seasons in is a testament to how adaptable and unique the show is. Often diverting audience expectations, its jokes range from painfully silly to genuinely clever, and while Haunted Hotel‘s fantasy setting doesn’t allow for quite as complex punchlines, its creative comedy does still shine.

Whereas Haunted Hotel mimics Rick and Morty‘s brand of humor, Ghosts is clearly the inspiration behind its story. The British sitcom follows a couple inheriting a country house occupied by all kinds of spirits, while the US version follows a similar premise, involving a couple inheriting a country estate filled with ghosts that they turn into a hotel.

Haunted Hotel is closer to the US version of Ghosts, since they both involve hotel owners trying to run a business without the dead disrupting it. The Netflix show’s concept may feel almost identical, but it delves much deeper into the supernatural elements of these spirits, whereas Ghosts focuses more on the historical aspects.

As a result, Haunted Hotel is much more wild and chaotic, as the unhinged tone and often crude humor make it particularly memorable. Therefore, it’s no surprise that this Rick and Morty meets Ghost project turned out to be such a success.

Haunted Hotel Deserved To Return For A Second Season

Ben looking mesmerized by an idol while ghostly hands reach out to him in Haunted Hotel

Despite its quality, Haunted Hotel didn’t exactly have a massive cultural impact, especially compared to something like Rick and Morty, meaning a second season was far from guaranteed. However, it undoubtedly deserved one, making it a relief to see that it will be back on Netflix in less than a month.

The Freeling family all brought something different to the table and can definitely be expanded on, so it would have been way too soon to even consider axing this show. Abaddon became a real fan favorite and the heart of the series, allowing his unexpected friendship with Esther to really win over fans.

That alone gives season 2 plenty to dive into, but the ability to constantly bring in new ghosts and guests means there is still so much room to grow. We’ve barely seen much action take place outside the hotel either, and while that is obviously the hub of the story, that doesn’t mean it can’t branch out from time to time.

Haunted Hotel season 2 will contain eight episodes, two fewer than season 1.

Haunted Hotel‘s reviews may not have blown everyone away, but they were relatively solid across the board and laid the foundations for what’s to come. As debut seasons go, it certainly delivered, and with characters and relationships already established, a second season has the license to really let loose.

There is certainly a lot of pressure on this second season to exceed the first and make itself a show that people can’t stop talking about. However, even if it doesn’t achieve that, Haunted Hotel‘s entertaining concept definitely warranted another installment, and a successful next outing could set up some promising years to come.