Finding the best series of all time is not an easy task and it is always debatable. However, there are obvious contenders and we have put together a list of the top ones here in this article.
Although there are a lot of series that can be labeled the best series of all time, there are some that rise above the rest. Many years ago, television world was seen as a lesser medium compared to movies. However, that is not the case anymore. Things took a turn and according to some people, we are living in a golden era of TV. Whereas today we have better shows than we have ever had, stellar television goes back decades. The series listed here are most critically acclaimed, audience beloved and culturally important that changed the television forever. Without further ado, let’s get to the list of the best series of all time.
Best Series of All Time; What to Watch Next?
Series like “The West Wing” and “The Sopranos” have long kept fans glued to the sofa before the streaming services. Now, however, we have plenty of ways to watch these incredible series. Keep reading to find out what the best series of all time are.
11. The 100 2014-2020
- Genre: Sci-fi
- Stars: Eliza Taylor, Bob Morley, Marie Avgeropoulos, Lindsey Morgan, Richard Harmon, Tasya Teles, Henry Ian Cusick
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 93%, IMDb 7.6
TechTrends 100% recommends this sci-fi series to fans of adventure and fantasy movies. It is highly regarded as one of the best series of all time as it follows post-apocalyptic survivors from the Ark, which is a space habitat, and to the Earth. They returned after a century when there was a nuclear apocalypse. The interesting part is that the first group that was sent to Earth in order to check whether its hospitable was a group of juvenile delinquents. They then encounter some of the survivors of that nuclear disaster on Earth. One of the major themes of this TV show is humanity’s cyclical nature. In other words, humans will inevitably repeat their ancestors’ mistakes and perpetuate the old patterns.
10. The Walking Dead 2010 – 2022
- Genre: Horror/Drama
- Stars: Norman Reedus, Andrew Lincoln, Melissa McBride, Lauren Cohan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Danai Gurira
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 79%, IMDb 8.1
This is a zombie apocalypse series that is based on Robert Kirkman’s comic book, with the initial idea of his work being “The zombie story that never ends!”. The Walking Dead has soon gained lots of popularity and went on a runaway success. Aside from the scares and the zombies, this drama series looks hard into the humanity of people who are living in a hostile world after being civilized for so long. Although the result of that look may hardly be pretty, this has become of the best series series of all time. The group of survivors are doing all their can to stay alive while they are consistently being hunted by zombies, who they refer to as “walkers”. The group is led by former police officer Rick Grimes, who searches for a safe and secure place for his people to settle in.
Read more: Best TV Shows of All Time
9. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
- Genre: Drama
- Stars: Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo, Markella Kavenagh, Charlie Vickers, Maxim Baldry, Nazanin Boniadi, Ismael Cruz Cordova
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 83%, 6.9
2022 brought one of the best series of all time, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The plot of the series is about how the 19 rings were eventually forged by the elves under Sauron’s influence. Sauron is the evil lieutenant of the dark lord of Morgoth. Fans of this epic series and the films are aware that Sauron secretly forged the One Ring that gave him the power to rule the three races. The series also shows the history and politics of Middle=Earth following the war and attempts to thrive after. This is indeed an incredible series and fans have been waiting for it for so long. The visuals are amazing, making this series a must-watch if you haven’t already.
8. Lost 2005 – 2010
- Genre: Mystery
- Stars: Jorge Garcia, Matthew Fox, Josh Holloway, Evangeline Lilly, Daniel Dae Kim, Naveen Andrews, Dominic Monaghan, Michael Emerson, Terry O’Quinn, Ian Somerhalder
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 85%, IMDb 8.3
Even those who have not watched Lost could not escape the fascination of its huge fan base. As one of the top series of all time, Lost got nominated for many awards, such as the Best Drama Emmy when its first season came out. For the second season, it claimed a Golden Globe. The story gets viewers on the edge of their seats to see what happens to the island survivors of a plane crash, with the island being mysterious. The Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashed into an island located in the tropical Pacific. The survivors try to stay alive, but they gradually discover mysterious things happening on the island. It has supernatural and science-fiction elements. So, make sure to add it to your watch list if you haven’t already as it is one of the best series of all time.
7. Game of Thrones 2011 – 2019
- Genre: Drama
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 88%, IMDb 9.2
Game of Thrones is a series based on the adaptation of the beloved novels of George R.R. Martin named “A Song of Ice and Fire”. As one of the best series of all time, this award-winning series revolves around the deadly adventures of two powerful families when they fight to rule the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The show grabbed 56 Emmys and was nominated for 160 awards. This is indeed one of the top TV shows to add to your watch list. Many critics hailed the characters’ complexity, as well as the story, acting, and production. The fans believe that this is one of the best series ever made, except for the final season, which has not been appealing to some.
6. The Office 2005 – 2013
- Genre: Sitcom
- Stars: Jenna Fischer, Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, Ellie Kemper, Mindy Kaling
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 81%, IMDb 9
This mockumentary sitcom is one of the best series of all time. Although it initially just copied the British version, it started to be more of its own juggernaut. There are many jokes that makes The Office hardly ever have a dull moment. More importantly, it is The New Sincerity in comedy, which means it doesn’t use cruelty or bitter sarcasm to make people laugh, but rather sweet and kind-hearted characters who are doing their best. This series follows the manager and the employees’ everyday lives, with the employees having humorous and bizarre encounters as they aim to keep the company at its best.
Read more: Best Comedy Series of All Time
5. Friends 1994 – 2004
- Genre: Sitcom
- Stars: Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Courtney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 79%, IMDb 8.9
It was television magic when Joey, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Ross, and Monica got together in an unforgettable series called Friends. Those were the names that everybody knew back in the 90s. As one of the most popular and best TV shows of all time, this series changed the lives of all the cast members. Moreover, in 2021, there was a long-anticipated reunion of Friends starring the original cast. As for the story of this series, it revolves around the lives of six unique adults who go through various adventures and experiences that make their lives not only troublesome but also entertaining. Friends influenced people to get haircuts, affected the coffee shop culture, and brought “How you doing?” into the lexicon. Fans of the series always claim that they have seen it over and over again that they have lost count, me included.
4. The West Wing 1999 – 2001
- Genre: Drama
- Stars: Martin Sheen, Bradley Whiteford, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Dule Hill, John Spencer
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 75%, IMDb 8.9
The West Wing was on the air for two years and it set the blueprint for procedural and political dramas for the next two decades. Martin Sheen plays the role of President Bartlett in an endearing way but he is quite believable as a leader that politicians in real life might lack when compared. Courtesy of Sheen’s performance and the amazing writing of the series, making those comparisons are easier than usual for a character that is fictional. Moreover, this series received many awards, such as the 2001 Golden Globe for Best TV Show. This is indeed one of the best series of all time to watch.
3. The Simpsons 1989 – Present
- Genre: Sitcom
- Stars: Matt Groening, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Hank Azaria, Julie Kavner, Aaron Paul, Conan O’Brien
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 85%, IMDb 8.7
Another one of the best series of all time that you can watch is the Simpsons, that has 34 seasons so far. Although its most recent seasons have not gained the previous popularity, it does not take the years that it has been one of the greatest comedy series on TV. The story revolves around the titular family in Springfield, with the irreverent sense of humor and its iconic animation style becoming one of the series that has lasted this long over the years and of all time; so much so that Homer’s age is a plot-hole now. In addition, this series altered people’s perspective when it came to animated films since it was sometimes rude and shocking.
2. Breaking Bad 2008 – 2013
- Genre: Drama
- Stars: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, RJ Mitte, Rob Odenkirk
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 96%, IMDb 9.5
Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, became an icon in this critically acclaimed series called Breaking Bad, which aired on AMC. Bryan Cranston also won four Primetime Emmy Awards for the role he portrayed in this series as a high school teacher who turned into a meth kingpin. This is one of the best TV shows of all time and tells the story of a chemistry teacher named Walter White, who was diagnosed with stage III cancer with little time to live. He is determined to make sure his family’s future will be secured. Therefore, he starts a career in drugs. The impact of such a fatal diagnosis on the morality of a hard-working man is tracked in this series.
1. The Sopranos 1999 – 2007
- Genre: Drama
- Stars: James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Steven Van Zandt, Tony Sirico, Lorraine Bracco, Drea de Matteo
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 92%, IMDb 9.2
The Sopranos is a crime drama TV show that tells the tale of an Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano as he tries to not only lead his criminal organization but also keep his family life. This HBO series is widely known as one of the greatest series of all time and has won many awards, including 21 Emmys and five Golden Globes. This series elevated the art form and for the effect it had on the industry and the way it changed everything, critics consider it one of the most groundbreaking series ever made. The subversive idea of a protagonist being an anti-hero has influenced 21st century TV in general, proved in Dexter, Breaking Bad, and many others. Even if it is dated and aged, every high-quality drama owes something to this series. Don’t miss this wonderful series.