'The Walking Dead' Season 4 Premiere Smashes Ratings Records

“The Walking Dead” is back, and it’s devouring everything in sight.

AMC’s hit zombie action-drama premiered its fourth season to record ratings on Sunday night, bringing in a series high of 16.1 million viewers. Those numbers easily beat “The Walking Dead” season 3 premiere with 10.9 million viewers last October as well as the series' previous record, the season 3 finale, which drew 12.4 million viewers.

“The Walking Dead” also brought in 10.4 million viewers in the 18-45 year-old demographic, making it the highest-rated show this season for the advertiser-coveted demo. “The Walking Dead” even managed to beat out “Sunday Night Football” among young adult viewers. The zombie drama has been TV’s top scripted show for more than a year now, and as its audience grows in its fourth season, “The Walking Dead” could soon become the most popular show on television, period.

"Sincere thanks to the fans, who have welcomed 'The Walking Dead' back for its fourth season with the highest-rated episode in the show's history," AMC President Charlie Collier said in a statement accompanying the announcement. "We could not be more proud of this show and everyone on both sides of the camera who works so hard to give life to this story of character, leadership and survival."

“The Walking Dead’s” companion show, “Talking Dead,” also set a new record on Sunday night. The post-“Walking Dead” talk show brought in a total of 5.1 million viewers and 3.3 million adults in the 18-45 age range.