TV’s 25 Most Iconic Shows of All Time—and Where to Watch Them

The top 25 iconic TV shows of all time, ranked

The HBO fantasy series, based on George R.R. Martin’s fantasy saga, managed to feel modern despite its medieval and at times magical setting. (For example, the White Walkers seemed to serve as an analog for climate concerns, and the show often worked its way into political discourse.)

Though the ending may stand as one of the most disappointing events in TV history (despite a few brief flashes of glory), anyone who revisits the earlier seasons (especially the shocking finale of Season 1) will be quickly reminded why the show became iconic in the first place.

Paving the way for cartoons to take on more mature themes for adult audiences, The Simpsons reflected and created more culturally iconic moments than we can count (though not without its fair share of controversies and criticisms). Over the decades, it won over 187 awards (including 35 Emmys), and the show was also nominated about twice as many times for major awards.

Through its mix of edgy jokes and subject matter mixed with wholesome and heart-warming moments, The Simpsons shines as an American everyman-oriented sitcom with something, or someone, anyone can relate to.

“Friends is more than just a show about six 20-somethings living in New York getting into a bunch of hijinks and falling in and out (and back in) love with one another. Thematically, it has something for pretty much everyone—love, loss, socioeconomic class, feminism, and blended families, just to name a few. It was ahead of time in so many ways. Can that BE any more iconic?” —Alex Vejar, Staff Writer

The show got everyone to ask “How you doin’?” in their best Joey voice—and let’s be real, fans have made the characters’ quotes not only part of their regular vocabulary, but also spread those references onto those who haven’t watched the show.

Whether you’ve been “on a break” or not, it might be time to revisit the couch at Central Perk with Ross, Rachel, Joey, Chandler, Phoebe, and Monica.

Between Jerry’s apartment, Monk’s Cafe, and the slew of strange scenarios they found themselves in, the four self-absorbed friends in Seinfeld gave us plenty of iconic moments, ranging from Elaine’s dry-heave dancing and Jerry’s hypercritical relationship rollercoasters, to George’s “shrinkage,” and Dr. Cosmo Kramer’s accidental “ASSMAN” license plate.

The show stretched for 11 years and culminated in the 1998 finale, which showed the gang facing everyone they’ve wronged in court. Attracting 76.3 million viewers to mixed reviews, the Seinfeld finale ranks among the top U.S. broadcasts ever. Along the way, Seinfeld won 10 Emmys (and a Golden Globe) and influenced countless sitcoms (such as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia).

“I came to The Sopranos later in life, during lockdown, when I could put it off no longer. (Listen, I’m not a huge mafia guy.) I know, I know. What was I thinking? To all the skeptics out there, believe the hype when it comes to The Sopranos. The family drama is brutal and punishing. The quips and takedowns are darkly funny. The wardrobe and mise-en-scène are sooooo Y2K. The Sopranos is, in a word, iconic.” —Mike Strayer, Managing Editor 

Speaking of a meditation-worthy moment: The finale “Made In America”—and its shocking, if not abrupt, ending—was a national event that rewarded careful-watching fans but left many viewers confused.

Exploring themes of personal existentialism, family dynamics, and blurred lines in gangster life, The Sopranos proved to be a dark, reflective look at American culture that captivated audiences for the long haul, with plenty of laughs along the way. “Ain’t that right, Ton’?”

Ever since it aired in 2016, Stranger Things flipped the script upside down and sent audiences into a paranormal paradise with its retro vibes, real-life-meets-dark-fantasy setting, and memorable cast of characters. Gearing up for its fifth and final season in 2025, we’re hopeful to have the Hawkins homies finally finish off their fight against all things strange.

11. The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019)

Going from a niche and nerdy sitcom about socially awkward scientists to a worldwide ratings phenomenon, The Big Bang Theory brought home the “bazinga” to brainiacs and broad audiences alike starting in 2007.

The globally syndicated, top-rated sitcom topped U.S. ratings by its eleventh season, amassed seven Emmys (including four Lead Actor awards), and became one of the most-watched comedies worldwide.

12. Squid Game (2021–present)

Would you do anything to get out of debt—even if it meant lying, stealing, and killing to get the big ole piggybank at the end? What if you had to do it while playing children’s games? The stark, if not sick, contrast of naive innocence and brutal malevolence made Squid Game stand out among the crowd for audiences worldwide.

With subversively stylish details and shadowy secret plots, the South Korean survival drama recorded 1.65 billion hours viewed (in just 28 days) on Netflix and became the platform’s most popular show ever. Breaking the record for a non-English series, it garnered six Emmy wins and spawned worldwide memes and references that we expect to see play out for a long time to come.

13. Lupin (2021–present)

Mixing sleek sleight of hand with gentlemanly style, the smart French heist thriller Lupin premiered to massive success, stealing the spotlight as Netflix’s most-watched non-English series at the time of its release, with over 76 million households tuning in during its first month.

Along with winning over global audiences, the surprising show took home a Critics’ Choice Award and earned Emmy and Golden Globe nods thanks to its suave star, twisting turns, and masterful misdirection.

14. The Office (US) (2005–2013)

In the millennial memesphere, The Office still prevails. Whether it’s the fourth-wall-breaking gif reactions from the Dunder Mifflin team, silly or strange Dwight Schrute quotes, or Kevin’s big pot of chili spilling everywhere, it’s hard to find a corner of the internet that The Office hasn’t influenced. You could likely even find plenty of dating profiles that say something to the effect of “Looking for the Jim to my Pam.”

Based on the same premise as the British original series of the same name, the American mockumentary sitcom stood out for its irreverence and awkwardness, eventually earning five Emmys (including Outstanding Comedy). Plus, Steve Carell’s performance as awkward and inept office manager Michael also earned a Golden Globe.

Though the show’s initial ratings were modest, its cultural footprint exploded after becoming a comfortable, bingeable series with much in the way of memorable material that marks it as a fan favorite—especially around the holiday season.

15. Downton Abbey (2010–2015)

Clad in corsets, the historical drama Downton Abbey combines class warfare and drawing-room drama amidst sharp side-eyes and tea talks. The British show became the most-watched series on ITV and PMS, with U.S. premiere ratings reaching 11 million viewers.

Winning a Golden Globe for Best Miniseries, along with 15 Primetime Emmys (including awards for costuming and hairstyling), Downton Abbey earned its aristocratic accolades with a prestigious and posh appeal to mass audiences who wanted to rub elbows with the social hierarchs of the early 20th century.

16. Doctor Who (1963–1989, 2005–present)

Wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey, and imaginatively iconic, Doctor Who holds the Guinness record for the longest-running sci-fi series. It also happens to be the most successful sci-fi show of all time based on global ratings and sales.

Since its debut in the early 1960s, Doctor Who became a British institution and worldwide cult hit. Taking audiences on adventures through space and time, the traveling TARDIS keeps things fresh, even as the show has regenerated over the decades with an ever-evolving cast of Doctors and a plethora of perilous time paradoxes.

17. Modern Family (2009–2020)

A blend of sitcom silliness and meaningful mockumentary insight, ABC’s Modern Family became a critical favorite, winning 22 Emmys, including five consecutive wins for Outstanding Comedy, a Golden Globe, and a Peabody.

From “Phil’s-osophies” contrasting Claire’s inconclusive attempts to keep it all together to Cam and Mitch’s theatrical and contrasting parenting approaches to Gloria’s glorious outbursts, Modern Family brought heart-filled moments and plenty of laughs to American audiences.

Proving to be relatable for its perfectly imperfect depiction of parents and families, Modern Family became one of the most regularly watched sitcoms in the 2010s and attracted nearly 14 million viewers every week at its peak.

18. NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) (2003–present)

Anchoring prime time viewership over two decades, the procedural powerhouse proved its staying power with intense investigations and character-driven drama, with just enough in the way of dry humor to keep sailing straight through the waves of TV trends.

Featuring Agent Gibbs and a rotating cast of crime-solving characters, the long-running military-crime drama ruled as the most-watched U.S. TV series for many years (2012–2013 being the most-viewed season, with over 21 million weekly viewers) and dispatched several more spin-offs around the world.

19. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000–2015)

Moody lighting, slick visuals, and an unforgettable theme song helped turn OG CSI from a simple crime scene procedural into an emblematic television empire, spawning hit spin-offs set in Miami, New York, and even cyberspace. At its peak, it siphoned off 73.8 million in global viewership in a single season and became the “most watched show in the world.”

The original Vegas-based series earned Emmys for its groundbreaking editing and cinematography, but is also remembered for its iconic sunglass-dropping one-liners, blacklight blood-splatter revelations, and a slew of spectacular scenes featuring forensic teams.

20. Narcos (2015–2017)

Chronicling the bloody rise of Pablo Escobar, Narcos was a raw, gritty Netflix crime drama that was one of the few threats to Game of Thrones’ absolute TV reign. Albeit intense, the Colombian crime lord’s cartel legacy continues to captivate, with corruption and consequences lurking at every turn.

By blending Spanish and English dialogue, real-world news footage, and actual events with exciting bursts of violence and suspense, Narcos garnered a massive global audience and ended up among the top five most-watched series worldwide in 2016.

21. Mad Men (2007–2015)

The smart, subtle, and stylish AMC period drama set in a 1960s New York advertising agency was highly acclaimed for its wise and witty writing, complex characters, and sense-heightening sophistication.

Both time-shaped and timeless, the appeal of Mad Men lies in its ability to connect our modern lives with those of previous generations, allowing us to watch alongside the characters as interpersonal drama and historical events unfold. Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm) and the rest of the dynamic Sterling Cooper crew are among the greatest cast of characters in TV history, playing within while also deepening and defying the archetypes they represent.

Winning 16 Emmys and five Golden Globes (including multiple Outstanding Drama Series), Mad Men drew top-tier cable ratings for its peak seasons and reshaped prestige TV while influencing fashion and culture in the real world.

22. M*A*S*H (1972–1983)

Set during the Korean War and opening every episode with a sadly sweet theme song, M*A*S*H’s mix of comedy and drama helped give it the heart and humor that made it a cultural icon around the world, winning over 14 Emmys and a Peabody across its 11 seasons.

Hailed for its hopeful and human depiction of wartime life, death, and friendship, M*A*S*H captured a blend of hauntingly honest emotions and believably bittersweet feelings amongst the absurdity of conflict.

The two-and-a-half-hour finale, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen,” aired on February 28, 1983, and still holds the record for the highest U.S. TV viewership ever, 106 million American viewers, around 60% of U.S. television households. (And if you don’t know about the traumatic “chicken story”—prepare to have your heart wrenched.)

23. The Twilight Zone (1959–1964)

With his unmistakable voice, Rod Serling takes audiences through a series of strange stories filled with haunting horror and sci-fi scenes. An undeniable cultural icon, The Twilight Zone has become a cool but creepy cornerstone in our collective unconscious. Its eerie takes and tales, full of twists, turns, and terror, have embedded themselves forever in our imaginations.

“Talk about iconic! Even if you haven’t seen The Twilight Zone, it’s so much a part of popular culture that you probably recognize the tense, uneasy theme song. If you have seen it, you know how some of these far-out, grayscale stories haunt your dreams.” —Randy Harward, Senior Staff Writer

Beyond winning two Emmys, the show inspired too many artists, actors, directors, and writers to document accurately. Showing its continuing influence, the series has been recently revived in modern times by director Jordan Peele, too.

24. House (2004–2012)

Dr. Gregory House (played by Hugh Laurie) meets medical mysteries with unrelenting wit and stunning displays of brilliant observation. Despite, or perhaps due to, his flawed and unfriendly approach, House became a household name, topping U.S. ratings and earning international cult status across 71 countries, becoming the most-watched TV program worldwide in 2008.

Running for eight seasons on FOX, the deviating doctor drama took home five Emmys and two Golden Globes and left the world with plenty of mental material to meme over with no words minced.

25. Star Trek: The Original Series (1966–1969)

With the intellect of the Vulcans, the killer instincts of the Klingons, and all the hope of the human heart, the crew of the Starship Enterprise left a long-lasting legacy of space-age stories for the masses of multi-generational Trekkie fans.

Boldly going where no man had gone before, few sci-fi series have had the cultural impact and outright fan devotion of Star Trek. Armed with daring ideas and a diverse cast, the futuristic and forward-thinking Star Trek, along with its globe-spanning success and numerous spinoffs, cemented itself as an inspirational icon for subsequent space series and films.

And it holds multiple Guinness World Records as a major entertainment franchise: the most successful sci-fi TV franchise by revenue, the most spinoffs, the largest gathering of fans in costume, the most widely spoken fictional language (Klingon), and more.