Paramount Plus Best Shows: The Hidden Masterpieces
- 01. The definitive answer: Paramount+'s best shows critics won't stop praising
- 02. Critically Acclaimed Paramount+ Originals by Category
- 03. Top-Rated Drama Series
- 04. Best Comedy & Animated Series
- 05. Sci-Fi & Fantasy Standouts
- 06. Why Critics Keep Praising These Shows
- 07. Subscription Tiers & Access
- 08. Frequently Asked Questions
- 09. Final Recommendation for Discerning Viewers
The definitive answer: Paramount+'s best shows critics won't stop praising
The best shows on Paramount+ that critics consistently praise are Yellowjackets (96% Rotten Tomatoes), Avatar: The Last Airbender (100% RT), Frasier (95% RT), The Good Fight (95% RT), Fellow Travelers (91% RT), Tulsa King (89% RT), and 1883 (89% RT). These series represent the platform's highest-caliber original programming and licensed classics, with Yellowjackets standing out as the most critically acclaimed thriller currently streaming.
Critically Acclaimed Paramount+ Originals by Category
Paramount+ has transformed into a premier streaming destination for high-quality television, offering over 1,500 original and exclusive series as of May 2026. The platform's content strategy blends Taylor Sheridan's Western universe, the complete Star Trek franchise, Showtime originals, and beloved CBS catalog titles.
Top-Rated Drama Series
- Yellowjackets - 96% RT (Seasons 1-2), 89% RT (Season 3); a psychological thriller about plane-crash survivors descending into savagery
- Fellow Travelers - 91% RT; an epic LGBTQ+ romance spanning four decades from the 1950s Lavender Scare to the AIDS crisis
- Tulsa King - 89% RT; Sylvester Stallone's highest-rated series debut on cable in 2022 as an aging mobster in Oklahoma
- 1883 - 89% RT; Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone prequel following the Dutton family's 19th-century journey west
- The Good Fight - 95% RT; the acclaimed legal drama spin-off starring Christine Baranski
- Billions - 87% RT; seven seasons of high-stakes hedge fund warfare from Showtime
Best Comedy & Animated Series
- Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008) - 100% RT; the beloved Nickelodeon animated classic about bending elements
- Frasier - 95% RT original, 94% RT revival; all 12 seasons including the 2023 Paramount+ revival
- Colin from Accounts - 100% RT; Australian feel-good comedy about two strangers united by an injured dog
- Freaks and Geeks - 100% RT; the cult 1999 teen comedy-drama launching James Franco and Seth Rogen
- Cheers - 87% RT; all 11 seasons (264 episodes) of the iconic Boston bar sitcom
- The Curse - 93% RT; Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone's cringe-comedy dramedy
Sci-Fi & Fantasy Standouts
| Show Title | RT Score | Seasons | Key Cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avatar: The Last Airbender | 100% | 3 | Jack De Sena, Zach Tyler Eisen |
| Star Trek: Picard | 89% | 3 | Patrick Stewart, Alison Pill |
| The Twilight Zone | 92% | 5 | Rod Serling, William Shatner |
| Halo | 80% | 2 | Pablo Schreiber, Shabana Azmi |
| The Legend of Korra | 89% | 4 | Janet Varney, David Faustino |
The complete Star Trek franchise distinguishes Paramount+ from competitors, with every TV series except Prodigy available for streaming, making it a Trekkie's dream platform.
Why Critics Keep Praising These Shows
These series earn universal critical acclaim through exceptional writing, authentic character development, and production values exceeding typical streaming standards. Yellowjackets' dual-timeline narrative structure pioneering the survival-cannibal subgenre has influenced subsequent thriller programming. Fellow Travelers' authentic portrayal of LGBTQ+ history earned it among LGBTQ Critics' 2024 Dorian TV Award nominations.
Taylor Sheridan's Western universe expansion (Yellowstone, 1883, Tulsa King) generated over $1.5 billion in streaming value for Paramount+, with Yellowstone remaining the #3 most-watched show globally on Paramount+ as of July 2025. The platform's $90 million Halo budget demonstrates commitment to blockbuster-scale originals.
Subscription Tiers & Access
Paramount+ offers two subscription levels: standard Paramount+ ($5.99/month) and Paramount+ Premium ($13.99/month or $124.99 annually), with Premium enabling 4K streaming and up to four concurrent views. Shows marked with an asterisk (*) require Premium access, including most Showtime originals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Recommendation for Discerning Viewers
For elite television experiences aligned with rigorous quality standards, prioritize Yellowjackets for psychological depth, Avatar: The Last Airbender for narrative excellence, and Fellow Travelers for historical authenticity. These three series embody Paramount+'s commitment to evidence-based storytelling with measurable cultural impact, making them essential viewing for audiences seeking substantive content over disposable entertainment.
Helpful tips and tricks for Paramount Plus Best Shows The Hidden Masterpieces
What is the #1 best show on Paramount+?
Yellowjackets holds the highest critic score at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes for its first two seasons, with critics calling it "brutal, fascinating, and possessed of a cast to literally die for".
Which Paramount+ shows have perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes scores?
Three shows achieve perfect scores: Avatar: The Last Airbender (animated classic), Colin from Accounts (Australian comedy), and Freaks and Geeks (cult 1999 drama).
Is Yellowstone available on Paramount+?
Yellowstone is available on Paramount+ in the UK and Australia, but not in the US where it streams exclusively on Peacock due to licensing; however, prequels 1883 and 1923 are available globally on Paramount+.
What new shows were added to Paramount+ in 2025-2026?
Dutton Ranch premiered May 15, 2026, as a Yellowstone spin-off sequel featuring Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser as Beth and Rip starting fresh in Texas. Reunion debuted September 2025 with a perfect 100% RT score as a deaf-led crime drama.
How many best shows should I binge-watch weekly?
Screen Rant recommends 5 best Paramount+ shows weekly for optimal binge-watching, balancing new releases with classics like Tulsa King replacements. Most critics suggest starting with Yellowjackets Season 1 (10 episodes), then moving to Fellow Travelers (8 episodes) for a complete weekend binge.
