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ABC
Television shows can transform into cultural sensations when word-of-mouth buzz takes over, and “Twin Peaks” is a prime example. Created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, this ABC mystery soap opera revolutionized TV on April 8, 1990, when its pilot episode captivated over 34.6 million viewers. The series unfolded over three seasons, each pushing the boundaries of storytelling in new and exciting ways. Whether you’re a die-hard Lynch fan looking to revisit the series or a first-timer curious about its acclaim, you’ll find all seasons of “Twin Peaks” available for streaming on Paramount+ and Mubi.
The tranquil facade of Twin Peaks, Washington, shatters when the body of local homecoming queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) is discovered wrapped in plastic. Her death sets off a federal investigation led by the eccentric FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan), whose unique methods and partnership with Sheriff Harry S. Truman (Michael Ontkean) aim to unravel the mystery behind the murder.
As Cooper and Truman delve deeper, they uncover that the quaint town harbors secrets far darker than Laura’s demise alone. With a stellar cast including Mädchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook, Richard Beymer, Sherilynn Fenn, Lara Flynn Boyle, Ray Wise, Everett McGill, Jack Nance, and many others, “Twin Peaks” stands as an iconic television moment not to be overlooked.
Showtime
All three seasons of Twin Peaks are streaming on Paramount+ and Mubi
Though “Twin Peaks” is known for having three seasons, its availability on streaming platforms varies. The original series aired two seasons from April 1990 to June 1991, beginning with a pilot movie and followed by seven episodes in the first season, and 22 episodes in the second. If Paramount+ or Mubi subscriptions are not an option, you can watch the initial run of “Twin Peaks” on PlutoTV without a charge. However, the platform does not include the third season, which premiered more than 25 years later.
The third season, available on Paramount+ and Mubi as “Twin Peaks: The Return,” is an 18-part event series that aired on Showtime during the summer of 2017. While technically following up the narrative and character threads left by the shocking Season 2 cliffhanger, “The Return” is a much darker and more experimental beast from Lynch and Frost, which acts more as an introspective of the series’ legacy than a straightforward continuation.
It isn’t just one of the best television shows in Showtime’s history, but one of the greatest legacy sequels in either film or television. “The Return” was Lynch’s last large-scale production prior to his unfortunate passing in 2025, which makes it extra special that it even got made to begin with. It’s an uncompromising vision that, much like the original run, broke all the rules of what television could look and sound like. It’s the best possible “Twin Peaks” revival fans could have asked for.
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me is streaming on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel
New Line Cinema
If this is your first experience watching “Twin Peaks,” then you definitely don’t want to miss an important piece of the puzzle. About a year after the ABC series went off the air, David Lynch directed “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me,” a prequel film documenting the harrowing last week of Laura Palmer’s (Sheryl Lee) life. The 1992 psychological horror film eschewed the soap opera charms of the ABC series in favor of painting a dark portrait of the troubled teenager whose visage became one of the most recognizable images of the ’90s. It heavily informs the darker tone of “The Return” and is best seen either on HBO Max or The Criterion Channel before watching the series itself.
“Fire Walk With Me” was largely panned upon its theatrical release, with one of its biggest criticisms being that it didn’t tie up any loose ends from the Season 2 cliffhanger. It took years for folks to understand the ’90s film, as its distancing from the show was one of its greatest attributes. At the center is Sheryl Lee giving a monumentally moving performance, her intimate portrayal of a teenager trapped in a death spiral of substance, emotional and physical abuse shining a whole new light on a character who was initially meant to be the catalyst for the television series. Lynch, however, was so moved by Lee’s performance that he kept finding ways to include her in the series. “Twin Peaks” would not have as much of an impact without Lee’s performance guiding the way.
