Fire up the propane grill and crack open a cold Alamo.
King of the Hill is staying around for a while longer. Hulu has ordered two more seasons of the revived animated series—the 16th and 17th overall and third and fourth seasons as a streaming original—following blockbuster viewership numbers that prove Arlen, Texas still has plenty of stories to tell.
The Numbers Don’t Lie, I Tell You What
The show’s return brought in massive viewing numbers for Hulu that justify the renewal multiple times over. During the week of Season 14’s premiere in August, King of the Hill racked up 1.21 billion viewing minutes according to Nielsen, with more than three-quarters of that coming from the new episodes (the remainder was for the show’s prior seasons streaming catalog).
The revival spent four weeks on Nielsen’s top 10 original streaming series chart, accumulating 2.91 billion minutes—that’s 485 million hours—of viewing over that time. Disney now says King of the Hill has passed 1 billion hours of watch time worldwide across Hulu and Disney+.
Those are staggering numbers for an animated comedy that originally aired on Fox from 1997 to 2010. Clearly, audiences were hungry for more propane and propane accessories.
How the Revival Came Together
After several years of on-and-off speculation about a revival, Hulu gave King of the Hill a straight-to-series order in 2023—a vote of confidence that’s now paying dividends. The initial order was for two seasons totaling 20 episodes.
Season 14 premiered in August 2025 and represents the first half of that initial order. Season 15 is set to debut in 2026, completing the original commitment. Now, with Seasons 16 and 17 greenlit, fans can rest assured that Hank Hill, his family, and his friends will continue their misadventures in Arlen for years to come.
Crucially, creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels are both involved in the revival, maintaining creative continuity with the original series. Judge, who voices Hank Hill and created the character, brings his distinct comedic sensibility. Daniels, who helped develop King of the Hill and went on to adapt The Office for American audiences and create Parks and Recreation and Upload, provides the showrunning expertise that made the original series work so well.
The Cast Returns (Almost) Intact
The revival reunited virtually the entire original cast, demonstrating the deep affection these performers have for their characters:
- Mike Judge returns as Hank Hill, the propane salesman with unwavering principles and a narrow urethra
- Kathy Najimy is back as Peggy Hill, Hank’s confident (perhaps overly so) wife
- Pamela Adlon reprises her role as Bobby Hill, the endearingly odd son who’s never quite met his father’s expectations
- Stephen Root returns as Bill Dauterive, the divorced, depressed Army barber
- Lauren Tom voices Minh Souphanousinphone and her daughter Connie
- Toby Huss is back as Kahn Souphanousinphone, the Laotian neighbor with an inferiority complex
Notably absent from the revival is the late Johnny Hardwick, who voiced Dale Gribble, the conspiracy theorist exterminator, until his death in August 2023. The show has not publicly addressed how it’s handling the character going forward, though Dale continues to appear in the revival.
What Makes King of the Hill Timeless
Part of King of the Hill‘s enduring appeal is how it aged better than many of its contemporaries. While shows like Family Guy and South Park went for increasingly outrageous humor, King of the Hill remained grounded in character-driven comedy about fundamentally decent people navigating a changing world.
Hank Hill, for all his narrow-minded tendencies about “the proper way” to do things, genuinely tries to be a good husband, father, and neighbor. His conservatism is rooted in tradition rather than meanness. The show found humor in his rigidity without making him a villain—and crucially, allowed other characters to challenge his worldview and occasionally change his mind.
The show’s Texas setting and focus on working-class life gave it specificity that paradoxically made it universal. Whether you grew up in suburban Texas or rural Maine, you probably knew a Hank Hill, a Dale Gribble, a Bill Dauterive, and a Boomhauer.
Why the Revival Works
Many revivals fail because they either pander too heavily to nostalgia or abandon what made the original beloved in a misguided attempt at “relevance.” Early indications suggest King of the Hill has avoided both pitfalls.
The show has maintained its character-focused comedy while acknowledging that time has passed. Bobby is older (though apparently still living at home, because that’s very 2025), the world around Arlen has changed, and the show can explore how traditionalists like Hank navigate contemporary issues without becoming preachy or abandoning its comedic foundation.
Judge and Daniels also benefit from having developed other successful shows in the intervening years. Judge created Silicon Valley for HBO, sharpening his satirical edge. Daniels shepherded multiple hit comedies. They’ve returned to King of the Hill with fresh perspectives while maintaining respect for what made it work originally.
The Road Ahead
With Seasons 14 and 15 representing Hulu’s initial commitment, and Seasons 16 and 17 now greenlit, King of the Hill has secured at least four seasons as a streaming original—potentially matching or exceeding many of its contemporaries’ revival runs.
Judge and Daniels executive produce alongside showrunner Saladin Patterson, Michael Rotenberg and Howard Klein of 3 Arts Entertainment, and Dustin Davis of Judge and Daniels’ Bandera Entertainment. Disney’s 20th Television Animation serves as the studio, giving the production resources and institutional support for the long haul.
Season 15 arrives in 2026, with Seasons 16 and 17 following in subsequent years (exact timing remains to be announced). Given the viewership numbers, it wouldn’t be surprising if Hulu orders even more seasons beyond these, though that depends on creator interest and cast availability.
A Streaming Success Story
King of the Hill‘s revival success represents a win for everyone involved. Hulu gets a proven hit driving substantial viewing hours. Judge and Daniels get to continue telling stories with characters they love. The cast gets to revisit beloved roles. And fans get more adventures in Arlen, Texas—a place that somehow feels both frozen in time and evolving with the world.
The show’s original 13-season Fox run from 1997 to 2010 made it one of the longest-running animated series in television history. Now, as it approaches Season 17, King of the Hill cements its status as an animated institution that has successfully bridged the gap between network television’s past and streaming’s future.
Not bad for a show about a propane salesman, his weird kid, and their odd neighbors.
As Hank Hill might say, looking at these renewal numbers: “That’s my show. I don’t know you!”
Actually, scratch that. Hank would probably just say the show is doing its job properly and efficiently, the way things should be done. And he’d be right.
Season 14 is currently streaming on Hulu, with Season 15 arriving in 2026. Seasons 16 and 17 will follow, ensuring that Arlen, Texas remains open for business for years to come.
