First of all, what are the best TV series of all time? You may ask, wondering if your favorite one falls on the list.
We all love some drama, mystery, romance, ******, horror, and a combination of all those to feel goosebumps and enjoy as we predict and get consumed in the series.
We know how empty it feels when a series is over and don’t know what to do to fill the void.
I have an answer- watch another one, of course! Not just for fun, we watch series to improve our vocabulary and fluency, to learn a different language or culture, and to give ourselves time to relax and imagine at the same time.
21 Best TV Series of All-time that you must watch
Different people have different tastes in every aspect, such as music, art, lifestyle, food, genre, etc.
So, we have gathered the most info we could from the audience’s point of view in regard to the best TV Series of all time.
We have taken references from trusted sources such as IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.
We have done our research together and put up the all-time must-watch series, so if you’re wondering what to watch next, you know exactly where to come.
Here is a brief table of the Top 21 best series of all time:
Quick View
| Name of Series | IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | Genre |
| 21. Money Heist | 8.3/10 | 93% | Drama, Thriller, Heist, Crime Film |
| 20. The Simpsons | 8.6/10 | 85% | Sitcom, Adult Animation, Satire, Comedy, Animation, Music |
| 19. Queen’s Gambit | 8.6/10 | 96% | Thriller, History, Period Drama |
| 18. Stranger Things | 8.3/10 | 93% | Thriller, Sci-Fi, Horror, Drama |
| 17. Narcos | 8.8/10 | 98% | Drama, Crime, Biography |
| 16. The Office | 8.9/10 | 81% | Sitcom, Romantic Comedy, Mockumentary, Comedy Drama, Satire, Parody, Office Humour |
| 15. Friends | 8.9/10 | 94% | Sitcom, Comedy, Romance |
| 14. Fargo | 8.9/10 | 93% | Thriller, Drama, Crime Film, Anthology, Dark Comedy |
| 13. Gravity Falls | 8.9/10 | 100% | Animation, Comedy, Mystery, Action Fiction, Adventure, Surreal Humor, Action, Sitcom, Drama |
| 12. Scam: 1992 | 9.5/10 | N/A | Drama, Crime |
| 11. Avatar: The Last Airbender | 9.3/10 | 97% | Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Drama |
| 10. Band Of Brothers | 9.4/10 | 94% | War, Adventure, Miniseries, Action Fiction, Adventure, Military, Drama |
| 9. Chernobyl | 9.4/10 | 96% | Historical Film, Tragedy |
| 8. Madmen | 8.6/10 | 94% | Serial, Drama |
| 7. Sherlock | 9.1/10 | 78% | Mystery, Comedy, Drama, Crime film, Thriller, Adventure, Comedy-drama, Action fiction, Crime TV genre |
| 6. The Sopranos | 9.2/10 | 92% | Drama, Crime Film |
| 5. Game of Thrones | 9.2/10 | 89% | Serial, Epic, Action, Drama, Thriller, Suspense, Adventure, Fantasy TV |
| 4. Rick and Morty | 9.2/10 | 95% | Dark Comedy, Sci-Fi, Sitcom, Adventure, Animation, Comedy |
| 3. Planet Earth I/II | 9.4/10 | 100% | Nature Documentary, Documentary |
| 2. The Wire | 9.3 | 94% | Serial, Drama, Crime Film, Tragedy, Police Procedural |
| 1. Breaking Bad | 9.4 | 96% | Dark Comedy, Thriller, Drama, Crime Film, Suspense |
21. Money Heist
IMDb: 8.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Release date: May 2, 2017
Money Heist is thrilling, exciting, and filled with action and mystery. This consists of 5 seasons released to date.
It was intended to be 2 seasons, as released by Antena 3, but since Netflix picked it up, it has been running for 3 more seasons.
This series is Netflix’s most-watched non-English series with 65 million streams as a result, getting 29 awards with 62 nominations.
Usually, a group of robbers rob the place, take the money and run away, but not them.
Firstly they analyze their way in, then carry out their plan, which has been revised and devised.
They have gone through every single possibility of what might happen and what to do then. This makes their plan a masterpiece.
20. The Simpsons
IMDb: 8.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
Release Date: April 19, 1987
The Simpsons is an American sitcom series that contains a perfect blend of humor, satire, and television comedy.
It is about a family of 5 consisting of 2 parents and three kids.
Having crossovers with the Family Guy and Futurama, yet still performing the best, this series has won 120+ awards and has won 3 Guinness World Records to date.
The Simpsons had 3.11 million viewers in 2000 in the US alone.
Similarly, the sequel: The Simpson Movie is no less, either. Also, The Simpson Movie 2 is dated to release on August 2022.
19. The Queen’s Gambit
IMDb: 8.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Release Date: October 23, 2020
Queen’s Gambit has 62 million viewers worldwide.
This miniseries has 18 nominations for Emmy Awards and won two Golden Globe awards till August 2021.
This is a story of an orphan chess player. Nine-year-old Elizabeth loses her mom in a car accident and is sent to the orphanage.
All things make no sense, however, until she gets to play her first game of chess.
In other words, chess completes her, and her life starts making sense.
The protagonist demonstrates a god-level talent in chess and starts competing at a high level. The story demonstrates her journey towards fame and success, or not?
18. Stranger Things
IMDb: 8.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Release date: July 15, 2016
We all love some Sci-Fi supernatural which boggles our minds and makes us think- what if it truly exists somewhere. I mean, hopefully not?
The tension, the imagination, the unimaginable, and the thrill. We love it all.
Stranger things is about a group of kids in a small town. The disappearance of children results in an investigation by the police and the locals too.
As a result, we can see the unraveling of many mysteries and secrets of the town. In other words, it consists of a lot of fiction, horror, action, and thrill.
It consists of three seasons, with the fourth season on the way, planned to release next in 2022.
This series has won a total of 63 awards and has a whopping 64 million views.
To sum up, this is a very fun and interesting show for all ages, and you definitely wouldn’t regret watching it.
17. Narcos
IMDb: 8.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Release Date: August 28, 2015
Narcos is an excellent drama that depicts the life of a drug lord.
The show is based on the true story of Colombia’s biggest and wildest drug lord Pablo Escobar when he started working in drugs.
He was bad and cruel but very smart and passionate.
It consists of 3 seasons and 30 episodes. Certainly, Narcos is a ‘masterpiece.’ Narcos was the most popular show on Netflix in 2017.
You can find Narcos on Netflix, Vudu, and Pluto TV.
27.2 million viewers watched Narcos only during the first week of the release of season 3.
16. The Office
IMDb: 8.9
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
Release Date: March 24, 2005
The Office is an influential story about 3 co-workers and friends. It clearly depicts the everyday life of everyday work, the connections, and the benefits.
The series is more of a mockumentary which refers to a blend of mock and documentary.
With hilarious storylines and characters, the series leaves us wanting more.
With no much drama or tension, the show has fluidity and perfect action to the storyline.
In 8 years of production, The Office has 9 seasons and 201 episodes.
Also, The Office has won 30 awards with 163 nominations. In addition to that, The Office was one of the Top Streaming Shows in 2020.
15. Friends
IMDb: 8.9
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Release Date: September 22, 1994
Friends consist of 10 seasons and 236 episodes. This drama is a sitcom with some romance and comedy.
With 28 total awards and 52.5 million views when it aired, Friends still remains the best series of many people at present.
Friends also have a sequel- Friends: The Reunion, which has over 100 billion total views. This depicts how loved the show was and still is.
Firstly, we all know about friends, it is a show about a group of friends living in Manhattan.
It revolves around the life of the 6 friends, of whom 3 are guys, and 3 are girls.
The show is very simple and basically, a friend circle consisting of people of all kinds.
The friend circle is very strong and tight, and they always have each other no matter what might come.
It is available on Netflix in some regions and almost all online streaming sites.
14. Fargo
IMDb: 8.9
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Release Date: April 15, 2014
Fargo is based on the 1968 ****** of Helle Crafts.
With each season getting better and better, Fargo has a good storyline executed by the best characters there could be.
The surprise, humor, and smart moves is what make it one of the best. Fargo debuted in 2014 with more than 4 million viewers.
Similarly, Fargo won 51 awards as well as 228 nominations.
13. Gravity Falls
IMDb: 8.9
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Release Date: June 15, 2012
Gravity Falls is an animated series with a combination of comedy, mystery, and action fiction which had 10.7 million viewers in 2017.
You might think it is just an animated series. Let me tell you, my friend, you are mistaken.
Firstly, this is one show that I will never get bored of. The storyline is consumed by action followed by the revealing of mystery.
It is an all-time iconic classic which has twists and turns when you never expect it.
Gravity Falls is a small town where two kids: Dipper and Mabel, who are twins, go for summer vacation.
This town is very odd and gives Dipper eerie vibes. With curiosity and courage, the kids overcome and understand the nature of strange occurrences.
The perfect cast, excellent characters, and the ideal storytelling is what make Gravity Falls one of its kind.
12. Scam:1992
IMDb: 9.5
Release Date: 9 October 2020
Based on the 1992 Indian stock market scam conducted by Harshad Mehta collapsing the entire securities system, this series is indeed one of the best series of all time.
The fraud successfully raised a total of over $1 billion from the banking system.
With perfect execution of screenplay, storytelling, acting, and dialogues, you will definitely not repent watching this series.
Very recently released, this series had 970 thousand views and will undoubtedly reach new heights in the upcoming days.
It has won ITA Award for Landmark-OTT and ITA Award for Best Actor- Web Series.
11. Avatar: The Last Airbender
IMDb: 9.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Release Date: February 21, 2005
The world is divided into four nations: Water, Earth, Fire, and Air.
Each group consists of Benders who are gifted and have the ability to manipulate elements using martial arts and magic.
For several years, the nations lived together peacefully, then disaster struck.
This series is about the journey to peaceful collaboration between nations, consequently with a lot of struggles.
Let’s find out what happens next on Amazon Prime, Paramount+, and Netflix.
This show won 5 Annie awards along with a Genesis award, a Kids’ choice award, and a Peabody award.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is the most-watched kids series as of February 2021.
10. Band of Brothers
IMDb: 9.4
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Release Date: September 9, 2001
This miniseries consists of the portrayal of World War II.
It is based on the book ‘Stephen Ambrose‘ and is a dramatic representation of real circumstances and has won 7 awards and 20 nominations.
With the exact illustration of a condition similar to that of the war and portrayal in such a real way, Band of Brothers is really something.
It consists of 10 episodes and is available on Amazon Prime, HBO, or you can purchase Band of Brothers on DVD.
9. Chernobyl
IMDb: 9.4
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Release Date: May 6, 2019
Chernobyl is a miniseries based on one of the worst disasters that took place in April 1986. The series has won 83 awards and 57 nominations.
RBMK reactor explosion that took place at Chernobyl, Ukraine, affecting almost 100,000 people.
The explosion of the RBMK reactor was caused during test execution.
According to the data recorded, 31 people died, which was directly related to the disaster, although many people living around 1000 sq. m. were affected by the high radiation caused due to the explosion.
All animals in the area were slaughtered, trees and greenery were destroyed, and people living have been facing lifelong consequences since.
Chernobyl is estimated to be safe for living only after 20,000 years. You can find this on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, or HBO Max.
8. Madmen
IMDb: 8.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Release Date: July 19, 2007
Consisting of 7 seasons and 92 episodes, Madmen is from the Executive Producer of ‘The Sopranos.’
The plot revolves around Donald Draper, who is indeed the best in the business. However, we can notice later on the show that he is not who he claims to be.
It is based on struggles maintaining his family, agency, and his past.
Madmen is an incredible show, and it’s as good as everyone says it is.
Madmen was able to successfully win 16 Emmy awards and 116 nominations. This series had 3.3 million viewers in 2015.
7. Sherlock
IMDb: 9.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
Release Date: July 25, 2010
Firstly, who doesn’t love crime shows? The suspense, action, the crime, and the unraveling of criminals.
The helpless victims, the witty culprit, and the ever so curious audience.
Two Roommates: Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes, come together and solve crimes.
They take on exceptional cases, taking into account the smallest of details, however, and using their remarkable plans to find and punish criminals.
With sufficient mystery, drama, and thrill, this series has been able to win 24 awards in addition to 42 nominations.
The series has 5 seasons and 13 episodes. Sherlock had 11.3 million viewers in 2017.
6. The Sopranos
IMDb: 9.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Release Date: January 10, 1999
An old show full of violence and chaos, The Sopranos is about the mafia as well as the drug cartel.
The protagonist, who is a mafia head, has an affair with his psychiatrist and so cannot balance personal and professional life.
It won the Golden Globe Award for Best TV series(2000) and also won a total of 21 awards and 111 nominations.
This show is one of the best shows ever made, with 22.6 million views in 2001.
Hence, if you are looking for some action, The Sopranos is the answer.
5. Game of Thrones
IMDb: 9.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 82%
Release Date: April 17, 2011
Obviously, Game of Thrones.
Do you remember that time when all everyone could think about and talk about was Game of Thrones? Because I clearly do.
Game of Thrones is an American drama with a classic theme song which I still hear time and again.
It consists of 8 seasons and 73 episodes. This series has thrill, dragons, fights, and intense action.
It has won 269 awards and had 738 nominations and over 10 million viewers on HBO, along with millions illegally watching all over the world.
Secondly, the House of the Dragon drama series prequel.
Also, Game of Thrones is strictly 18+.
4. Rick and Morty
IMDb: 9.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Release Date: December 2, 2013
Rick Sanchez is a depressed and lonely man who is also a mastermind. He also has the ability to travel to multiple dimensions.
This is a story of Rick and Morty traveling into interdimensional adventures. Here Morty is Rick’s daughter’s son.
With 5 seasons and 49 episodes, this TV series has won 3 awards and had 3 nominations.
Firstly, the dark comedy and then the science fiction adventure, which pretty much makes up all of Rick and Morty.
This series had 2.51 million viewers in 2019.
Rick and Morty is considered highly inappropriate for those below 18 due to the constant use of drugs, foul language, and violence.
3. Planet Earth I/II
IMDb: 9.4/9.5
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%/100%
Release Date: March 5,2006/ Nov 6,2016
Planet Earth I/II is a British nature documentary series. Similar to Planet Earth, Planet Earth II is a sequel. It has 15 awards and 15 nominations.
We, humans, live a life full of chaos and stress, on the contrary, we can see mother nature doing its work very calmly.
In short, it brings us closer to mother nature.
The sparkling waterfall, the fierce hunting animals, peaceful and serene nature as well as the blooming flowers all bring us harmony.
Animals, insects, reptiles, fishes, and all different beings are excellently captured in this show.
Above all, we relish the functioning of mother nature and stare and appreciate the life we live.
2. The Wire
IMDb: 9.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Release Date: June 2, 2002
“One of the greatest pieces of art in the last decades,” mentioned Barack Obama.
Of course, with the perfect coordination between exemplary storytelling, flawless acting, directing, and producing this series- The Wire is one of the best all-time TV series winning 16 awards and 60 nominations.
The Wire is about a detective and his team investigating bringing a drug kingpin down.
They start their investigation not by following the drugs but by following the money which takes them to unimaginable places.
With sufficient drama, mystery, and crime, this series is just “the best.”
1. Breaking Bad
IMDb: 9.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Release date: Jan 20, 2008
Nothing is better than the all-time classic Breaking Bad, we all know that, right?
The storyline of an average Chemistry teacher with barely sufficient salary, finding out about having a chronic disease.
As a result, he starts manufacturing and distributing Methamphetamine (Meth) to ensure the finance of his family.
Because he thinks he has nothing to lose now, he breaks all his boundaries and takes this a turn in life.
Breaking Bad aired from 2008-2013, consisting of 5 seasons (62 episodes) with 10 million viewers.
Bad decisions after bad decisions, in addition, cheating ***** and the police.
This series portrays the problems in a normal household while perfectly painting the picture of the life of drug lords.
Breaking bad won 16 Emmy awards.
Equally important are El Camino and Better Call Saul.
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie is a sequel movie, and Better Call Saul is a prequel series that reveals and explains the story even more.
This series is not over the top, neither is it dull. It is just perfect for watching when you want some drama and thrill in your life.
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