TV Shows Must Watch All Time: The List Experts Keep Arguing About
- 01. TV shows must watch all time that actually deserve the hype
- 02. Critically Acclaimed Drama Series That Define Television Excellence
- 03. Historical Miniseries That Achieved Rare Perfection
- 04. Documentary and Animated Series That Redefined Their Genres
- 05. Modern Prestige Dramas That Earned Their Reputation
TV shows must watch all time that actually deserve the hype
The must-watch TV shows all time that genuinely deserve the hype are Breaking Bad (IMDb 9.5, Guinness World Record for critical acclaim with 99/100 score), Chernobyl (IMDb 9.7, highest-rated series on IMDb), The Wire (IMDb 9.3, score of 98/100 critical acclaim), The Sopranos (Writers Guild of America's best-written TV series), Planet Earth II (IMDb 9.5, #2 all-time on IMDb Top 250), Band of Brothers (IMDb 9.4, highest-rated miniseries), and Avatar: The Last Airbender (IMDb 9.3, greatest animated series).
Critically Acclaimed Drama Series That Define Television Excellence
Breaking Bad holds the Guinness World Record as the most critically acclaimed TV show of all time, receiving a 99 out of 100 score on an aggregate global critical scale. The series aired from January 20, 2008, to September 29, 2013, spanning 5 seasons with 62 episodes on AMC. Bryan Cranston's transformation from early-career observer to lead protagonist earned universal acclaim, with the show maintaining a 9.5 IMDb rating across all seasons.
The Wire explores Baltimore's drug scene through the eyes of both dealers and law enforcement, creating an unprecedented sociological portrait of American urban life. Created by David Simon, the series ran from 2002 to 2008 across 5 seasons and 60 episodes on HBO. Despite averaging less than a million viewers in its final season, The Wire achieved a 9.3 IMDb rating and the second-highest critical acclaim score of 98/100.
The Sopranos was voted the best-written TV series of all time by the Writers Guild of America in 2013, topping a poll of 101 TV series with 101 writers participating. The drama about a mob boss undergoing therapy premiered in 1999 and concluded in 2007, fundamentally changing how television explores complex anti-heroes and psychological depth.
Historical Miniseries That Achieved Rare Perfection
Chernobyl became IMDb's highest-rated TV show of all time with a 9.7-star rating from approximately 140,000 users within days of its June 3, 2019 finale. This five-part HBO limited series chronicles the catastrophic 1986 nuclear accident that turned a huge patch of Ukraine into a no-go zone. The series stands ahead of Breaking Bad (9.5), Planet Earth II (9.5), and Band of Brothers (9.4) in IMDb rankings.
Band of Brothers holds the title of highest-rated miniseries of all time on IMDb with a 9.4 rating, only ahead of Chernobyl among miniseries. Originally broadcast on HBO starting September 9, 2001, this 10-part series tells the story of Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. The series received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries and numerous other accolades based on interviews with surviving soldiers and Stephen Ambrose's book.
| Show Title | IMDb Rating | Years Aired | Network | Critical Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chernobyl | 9.7 | 2019 | HBO | 99/100 |
| Breaking Bad | 9.5 | 2008-2013 | AMC | 99/100 |
| Planet Earth II | 9.5 | 2016 | BBC | 98/100 |
| Band of Brothers | 9.4 | 2001 | HBO | 97/100 |
| The Wire | 9.3 | 2002-2008 | HBO | 98/100 |
| Avatar: The Last Airbender | 9.3 | 2005-2008 | Nickelodeon | 96/100 |
Documentary and Animated Series That Redefined Their Genres
Planet Earth II ranks #2 all-time on IMDb's Top 250 TV list, behind only Chernobyl, with an impressive 9.5 IMDb rating. David Attenborough returns with this 2016 BBC Natural History Unit production that shows life in a variety of habitats with spectacular cinematography. The opening image contained the promise of everything to come-spectacular and beautiful wildlife documentation that set new standards for nature programming.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is regarded by critics as one of the most acclaimed series of the 21st century and one of the greatest animated television series of all time. The series aired from 2005 to 2008 on Nickelodeon, winning five Annie Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Kids' Choice Award, and a Peabody Award. It explores themes rarely touched on in youth entertainment, including war, genocide, sexism, imperialism, totalitarianism, and political corruption.
Modern Prestige Dramas That Earned Their Reputation
Succession received universal critical acclaim for its writing, acting, humor, musical score, directing, production values, and examination of its subject matter. The HBO prestige drama premiered in June 2018 and aired its series finale in 2023 to 2.9 million viewers, a record high for the series. Despite ending two years ago, Succession ranks at #8 on iTunes' streaming list of Top TV Shows as of July 2025, demonstrating enduring appeal.
Fleabag is acclaimed for its dark comedy and poignant drama, with specific praise for Phoebe Waller-Bridge's performance and writing. Running from 2016 to 2019 with an 8.7 IMDb rating, the show's innovative use of the fourth wall and exploration of female relationships and grief simplified complex emotional territory.
- Breaking Bad (2008-2013) - Chemistry teacher turned drug dealer, 9.5 IMDb
- Chernobyl - Nuclear disaster miniseries, 9.7 IMDb
- The Wire (2002-2008) - Baltimore drug scene sociological study, 9.3 IMDb
- The Sopranos (1999-2007) - Mob boss in therapy, best-written WGA
- Planet Earth II - Nature documentary, 9.5 IMDb
- Band of Brothers - WWII miniseries, 9.4 IMDb
- Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008) - Animated fantasy, 9.3 IMDb
- Succession (2018-2023) - Media family drama, universal acclaim
- Fleabag (2016-2019) - Dark comedy drama, 8.7 IMDb
- Better Call Saul (2015-2022) - Breaking Bad spinoff, critical darling
- All shows listed have IMDb ratings of 8.7 or higher
- Critical acclaim scores range from 96/100 to 99/100
- Every series won major industry awards (Emmys, Peabody, WGA)
- Shows span 1999-2023, representing multiple television eras
- Networks include HBO (4 shows), AMC, BBC, Nickelodeon
- Genres covered: drama, miniseries, documentary, animation, comedy
These elite television masterpieces represent the pinnacle of storytelling across multiple genres, with verified ratings, awards, and critical scores that confirm they truly deserve the hype rather than relying on subjective opinion or marketing hype alone.
Everything you need to know about Tv Shows Must Watch All Time The List Experts Keep Arguing About
What TV shows actually deserve the hype?
Breaking Bad, Chernobyl, The Wire, and The Sopranos actually deserve the hype because they hold Guinness World Records, highest IMDb ratings, and management awards from Writers Guild of America with verified critical scores of 98-99/100.
Which miniseries has the highest IMDb rating?
Band of Brothers has the highest IMDb rating among miniseries at 9.4, with Chernobyl following at 9.3 as the second-highest-rated miniseries of all time.
What is the most critically acclaimed TV show ever?
Breaking Bad is the most critically acclaimed TV show ever according to Guinness World Records, receiving a 99 out of 100 score on an aggregate global critical scale.
Which animated series is considered the greatest of all time?
Avatar: The Last Airbender is considered one of the greatest animated television series of all time, with critics regarding it as one of the most acclaimed series of the 21st century.
Why is The Wire so highly rated despite low viewership?
The Wire maintains a 9.3 IMDb rating despite averaging less than a million viewers in its final season because of David Simon's uncompromising vision and HBO's support for sociological storytelling.
