Sharp writing, complex characters, unforgettable performances and pop culture immortality — the most popular shows in the first quarter of the 21st century have all these and more. The advent of streaming services has only made this early period of the century more remarkable for the small screen.
Frankly, it is difficult to imagine the huge popularity television enjoys today without streaming platforms. Their rise began when Netflix turned to streaming in 2007. More online-only streamers followed, including Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+, as streaming subscribers increased in the age of the Internet. Established networks and studio giants, such as HBO, Disney and Paramount among others, also launched their own streaming services.
Streaming is still a relatively new phenomenon, which gained steam with the success of one particular Netflix show in 2013 — House of Cards. Yet it is now synonymous with television as almost all major shows released on network and cable television, are now available for streaming either on platforms of the TV channel or online-only OTT giants.
The 25 best TV shows of the last 25 years are, thus, a healthy mix of network television-produced classics and OTT originals.
Selection Methodology
To pick the best 25 shows in the first quarter of the 21st century so far, we used the following criteria:
1. Must be a live-action serialised show, which means animation works and miniseries or limited series are not part of this list.
2. Must have had its season 1 premiere in the last 25 years, irrespective of its completion.
3. Must have a minimum rating of 8.0 on IMDb.
4. Must have had immense cultural significance during its run and is considered a landmark in some respects. For this purpose, shows that won major awards, boosted a franchise, attained high viewership numbers or ratings for at least 75 per cent of their seasons, had an indelible impact on general pop culture and were the breakout shows of now-famous actors have been explored.
Yet some shows, even though incredible, may have been overshadowed by even globally popular phenomenons during their run. An example is Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019). The Netflix show arrived the same year as House of Cards; even though the former is also critically acclaimed, the latter’s influence on streaming and pop culture remain undeniable.
25 most popular TV and streaming shows of the 21st century you should watch
Note: ‘Platform’ carries the network or streamer where the show or any of its seasons originally debuted. ‘Seasons’ and ‘Episodes’ also include the 2025 count, whether released or set for release in the year, for shows where such confirmation is available. Shows are listed in order of their release date.
Jump To / Table of Contents
- 1 24 (2001–2010)
- 2 The Office (2005–2013)
- 3 Mad Men (2007–2015)
- 4 Breaking Bad (2008–2013)
- 5 Downton Abbey (2010–2015)
- 6 Sherlock (2010–2017)
- 7 Game of Thrones (2011–2019)
- 8 Black Mirror (2011–)
- 9 House of Cards (2013–2018)
- 10 The Americans (2013–2018)
- 11 Peaky Blinders (2013–2022)
- 12 Fargo (2014–2024)
- 13 True Detective (2014–)
- 14 Mr. Robot (2015–2019)
- 15 Better Call Saul (2015–2022)
- 16 Narcos (2015–2017)
- 17 The Crown (2016–2023)
- 18 Stranger Things (2016–2025)
- 19 Mindhunter (2017–2019)
- 20 Money Heist (2017–2021)
- 21 Succession (2018–2023)
- 22 The Mandalorian (2019–)
- 23 The Boys (2019–)
- 24 Squid Game (2021–2025)
- 25 Shōgun (2024–2026)
24 (2001–2010)
Created by: Robert Cochran, Joel Surnow
Cast: Kiefer Sutherland
Platform: Fox
Premiere date: 6 November 2001
Seasons: 9
Episodes: 204
Avg. runtime per episode: 44 minutes
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys- 20; Golden Globes- 2; SAG Awards- 4
IMDb rating: 8.4
Synopsis: Jack Bauer (Sutherland), a counter-terror agent, must race against time to tackle numerous threats against the US.
Why it is one of the greatest: Widely hailed as one of the best TV shows of all time, 24 rewrote the thriller genre on the small screen with its gripping storyline and fast-paced action. Sutherland’s Jack is the focus in all seasons, but each depicts the character dealing with a different threat — from assassination attempts to bioterrorism.
The most unique feature of 24 is its concept — each season barring the last comprises 24 episodes and every episode unfolds in real-time, cumulatively covering 24 hours in Jack’s life. One of the longest-running American TV shows, 24 also has a television movie, 24: Redemption (2008), set between the events of the sixth and seventh seasons.
Image credit: IMDb
The Office (2005–2013)
Created by: Greg Daniels, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Cast: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B. J. Novak, Angela Kinsey, Brian Baumgartner, Leslie David Baker
Platform: NBC
Premiere date: 24 March 2005
Seasons: 9
Episodes: 201
Avg. runtime per episode: 22 minutes
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys- 5; Golden Globes- 1; SAG Awards- 2
IMDb rating: 9.0
Synopsis: Employees at struggling paper company Dunder Mifflin in Scranton, Pennsylvania, navigate everyday workplace situations in an eccentric, absurd style. Office romances, ego clashes and comical scenarios are the order of the day.
Why it is one of the greatest: The Office, a mockumentary sitcom based on the British TV show of the same name, surpassed the original in popularity. Outstanding writing, relatable humour, familiar setting and likeable characters made it an all-time classic and immortalised it in 21st-century pop culture through unforgettable quotes, memes and GIFs.
Mad Men (2007–2015)
Created by: Matthew Weiner
Cast: Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones, Christina Hendricks, John Slattery, Kiernan Shipka
Platform: AMC
Premiere date: 19 July 2007
Seasons: 7
Episodes: 92
Avg. runtime per episode: 45 minutes
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys- 16; Golden Globes- 5; SAG Awards- 2
IMDb rating: 8.7
Synopsis: Don Draper (Hamm), the creative director of the prestigious ad agency Sterling Cooper in 1960s New York, has a carefully cultivated image, which begins to decline as the years pass and society undergoes a transformative change.
Why it is one of the greatest: Mad Men is the first basic-cable TV show to win the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series and won it four times consecutively. Its cultural impact is humongous; Don has become an icon for generations largely due to his ambitious yet vulnerable personality. The show’s authentic portrayal of the 1960s is noteworthy.
Hamm largely played minor roles before he landed the part. By the end of the first season, he broke into the A-league of American stars.
Image credit: Justina Mintz/AMC – © AMC Network Entertainment LLC and Lions Gate Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. via IMDb
Breaking Bad (2008–2013)
Created by: Vince Gilligan
Cast: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt, RJ Mitte
Giancarlo Esposito, Bob Odenkirk
Platform: AMC
Premiere date: 20 January 2008
Seasons: 5
Episodes: 62
Avg. runtime per episode: 45 minutes
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys- 16; Golden Globes- 2; SAG Awards- 3, BAFTA- 1
IMDb rating: 9.5
Synopsis: Walter White (Cranston) is a family man and high school chemistry teacher leading a mundane life till it is turned upside down by his terminal illness. Worried about his family’s financial future, Walter begins producing methamphetamine with his former student Jesse Pinkman (Paul). With each new step into their new life of crime, they become targets of drug cartels.
Why it is one of the greatest: No TV show in the first quarter of the 21st century has had such a profound impact on television as Breaking Bad. It has been 12 years since the series finale, but it remains the highest-rated TV show of all time on IMDb. Rotten Tomatoes critics have picked it as the best TV show in the last 25 years.
Some believe that Breaking Bad is the show with which the new Golden Age of Television began. Its cast members, particularly Cranston, Paul, Odenkirk and Esposito, are internationally renowned A-list Hollywood actors today. The show’s cult following is undeniable; its dialogues, catchphrases such as “Say my name” and “I am the danger”, characters, story and exploration of morality are deemed path-breaking in television history.
Downton Abbey (2010–2015)
Created by: Julian Fellowes
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Samantha Bond, Dan Stevens, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jessica Brown Findlay, Lily James, Shirley MacLaine
Platform: ITV
Premiere date: 26 September 2010
Seasons: 6
Episodes: 52
Avg. runtime per episode: 1 hour
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys- 15; Golden Globes- 3; SAG Awards- 4; BAFTA- 2
IMDb rating: 8.7
Synopsis: The lives of the members of the aristocratic Crawley family as well as their servants are explored over the years in the early part of the 20th century.
Why it is one of the greatest: Downton Abbey is one of the greatest British shows in the first quarter of the 21st century. The period drama is loved by many for its lavish depiction of Edwardian and post-Edwardian England. At the same time, its masterful narrative spun around the family’s fortunes through pivotal times of the early 20th century, such as World War I and the sinking of the Titanic, has been received with critical acclaim.
Sherlock (2010–2017)
Created by: Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman
Platform: BBC
Premiere date: 25 July 2010
Seasons: 4
Episodes: 13
Avg. runtime per episode: 1 hour 30 minutes
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys- 9; BAFTA- 8
IMDb rating: 9.1
Synopsis: A modern reinterpretation of the popular Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle sees the great detective (Cumberbatch) as a “high-functioning sociopath” solving cases in London, while Dr John Watson (Freeman), an Afghan war veteran, assists him.
Why it is one of the greatest: Cumberbatch became a worldwide acting icon by playing the contemporary version of Doyle’s legendary detective. Sherlock was widely praised for effortlessly transporting some of the finest Holmes stories and their characters to the modern setting while remaining true to the finer elements that made Sherlock a timeless icon.
It is an intelligently made show, one that finely balances new-age technology with Holmes’ brilliant deductive prowess. The series also included a Christmas mini-episode in 2013 and a special episode titled The Abominable Bride in 2016 apart from the four full seasons.
Game of Thrones (2011–2019)
Created by: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
Cast: Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Peter Dinklage, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Aidan Gillen, Gwendoline Christie, Iain Glen
Platform: HBO
Premiere date: 17 April 2011
Seasons: 8
Episodes: 73
Avg. runtime per episode: 1 hour
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys- 59; Golden Globes- 1; SAG Awards- 8
IMDb rating: 9.2
Synopsis: Multiple noble families vie for power to sit on the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, while a dark threat returns after a millennium in the north and a claimant to the throne arrives with dragons from the east.
Why it is one of the greatest: HBO transformed the television landscape with Game of Thrones, an adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s novels in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. It holds the record for most Emmy wins by a scripted show and is the second most-awarded show in Emmy history after Saturday Night Live.
Everything about Game of Thrones is grand — just like the show’s high fantasy elements defined by magnificent mediaeval cities, bleak fortresses, fearsome dragons, undead armies and dark magic thrown into the mix.
The show is particularly noteworthy for making almost every character significant to the storyline. As such, its lead actors and supporting names, many of whom were virtually unknown when the show premiered, are internationally renowned A-list Hollywood stars today. Among them are Jason Momoa and Pedro Pascal, both of whom now have blockbuster movies to their names.
Black Mirror (2011–)
Created by: Charlie Brooker
Cast: Diverse
Platform: Channel 4 (till 2014)/Netflix (since 2016)
Premiere date: 4 December 2011
Seasons: 6
Episodes: 27
Avg. runtime per episode: 1 hour
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys – 6; BAFTA TV Awards – 3
IMDb rating: 8.7
Synopsis: An anthology series featuring a diverse range of characters who grapple with unsettling and disturbing situations due to technology in a near-dystopian world.
Why it is one of the greatest: Black Mirror, a British anthology television series, is praised for its thought-provoking exploration of technology’s impact on society. Each standalone episode falls in one or the other sub-genres of horror, presenting dystopian scenarios that caution viewers about ever-evolving technology. Though almost all of its episodes are dark social commentary on technology, some later episodes can be called supernatural horror.
Black Mirror draws inspiration from The Twilight Zone (1959–1964), which is widely hailed as one of the greatest television shows of all time. It is credited with the revival of anthology shows, a reflection of which was seen in the increasing popularity of other anthology titles, particularly sci-fi horror.
House of Cards (2013–2018)
Created by: Beau Willimon
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright
Platform: Netflix
Premiere date: 1 February 2013
Seasons: 6
Episodes: 73
Avg. runtime per episode: 50 minutes
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys- 7; Golden Globes- 2; SAG Awards- 2
IMDb rating: 8.6
Synopsis: Francis Underwood (Spacey) is an ambitious US Congressman from South Carolina. After he is sidelined by the US President for a prominent role he was promised in return for his support, Francis and his environmentalist wife, Claire (Wright), meticulously begin to plot a scheme that would see his rivals destroyed on his way to the Oval Office.
Why it is one of the greatest: House of Cards is Netflix’s first major TV show that ran exclusively on a streaming service and the one that made the streamer what it is today. The series’ success on Netflix ushered in the age of streaming television. It was three years after the premiere of this show that Netflix went global by launching its service in over 130 countries. Until then, the service was available in 60 countries.
Based on the 1989 eponymous novel by Michael Dobbs and the critically acclaimed 1990 British series of the same name, the American version made Netflix the first streaming platform to win an Emmy. It was praised for its performances, writing and the lead character’s monologues delivered by breaking the fourth wall — a concept carried over from the British original.
The Americans (2013–2018)
Created by: Joseph Weisberg
Cast: Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Holly Taylor, Noah Emmerich
Platform: FX
Premiere date: 30 January 2013
Seasons: 6
Episodes: 75
Avg. runtime per episode: 44 minutes
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys- 4; Golden Globes- 1
IMDb rating: 8.4
Synopsis: Elizabeth (Russell) and Philip Jennings (Rhys) seem like an ordinary American family with two children in Washington, D.C. in the 1980s. But in reality, they are hardened KGB spies. They face great difficulty maintaining their charade especially since their children are American-born and they genuinely care for each other.
Why it is one of the greatest: One of the biggest reasons why The Americans is counted among the best TV shows in the last 25 years is its deft balancing of elements found in spy thrillers with those seen in family dramas. On the outside, The Americans is about espionage, which brings the thrill quotient as expected from a show set during the last decade of the Cold War. But deeper within, the story explores marriage and family life centred around the lead characters which gives the show a unique dimension.
Peaky Blinders (2013–2022)
Created by: Steven Knight
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson, Sophie Rundle, Joe Cole
Platform: BBC
Premiere date: 12 September 2013
Seasons: 6
Episodes: 36
Avg. runtime per episode: 1 hour
Major awards won: BAFTA – 1
IMDb rating: 8.7
Synopsis: War hero Thomas “Tommy” Shelby (Murphy) leads Peaky Blinders, one of the most powerful criminal gangs in post-1919 Britain. Tommy is ambitious and cunning. He begins expanding his criminal empire over the decades, navigating roadblocks such as Inspector Chester Campbell (Neill), rivals, including international criminal groups, as well as the changing political situation in Europe.
Why it is one of the greatest: Murphy was already famous as an actor on the big screen with blockbusters under his belt before he took on the role of Thomas Shelby. But Peaky Blinders, his second TV show after The Way We Live Now (2001), helped turn him into a major leading actor. The series has received critical acclaim and is one of the most fan-favourite small-screen works in recent years.
The show’s cultural impact on the UK has also been noted by the government. In a report titled ‘Baby names in England and Wales: 2018’, the Office for National Statistics remarked: “Arthur surged into the top 10 boys’ names for the first time since the 1920s, and Ada jumped into the girls’ top 100 for the first time in a century too, both perhaps inspired by characters in the BBC TV drama Peaky Blinders.”
In the series, Arthur and Ada, the siblings of Thomas Shelby, are played by Anderson and Rundle, respectively.
Fargo (2014–2024)
Created by: Noah Hawley
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Ewan McGregor, Chris Rock, Jason Schwartzman, Ben Whishaw, Juno Temple, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jon Hamm
Platform: FX
Premiere date: 15 April 2014
Seasons: 5
Episodes: 51
Avg. runtime per episode: 1 hour
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys- 7; Golden Globes- 3
IMDb rating: 8.9
Synopsis: Various characters get involved in crimes in different timelines in Minnesota.
Why it is one of the greatest: The anthology thriller crime drama is based on the 1996 film of the same name by Joel and Ethan Coen. Critics have expressed admiration for all five seasons of the show, praising its dark humour and twist. Such praise for all seasons of a show, particularly one that falls in the overall noir genre, is rare.
True Detective (2014–)
Created by: Nic Pizzolatto, Issa López
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, Vince Vaughn, Mahershala Ali, Carmen Ejogo, Jodie Foster, Kali Reis
Platform: HBO
Premiere date: 12 January 2014
Seasons: 4
Episodes: 30
Avg. runtime per episode: 1 hour
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys- 6; Golden Globes- 1; BAFTA- 1
IMDb rating: 8.9
Synopsis: The anthology series follows police investigations of gruesome crimes which lead to both personal and professional upheaval in their own lives.
Why it is one of the greatest: The first season of True Detective was hailed as a television masterpiece. Both McConaughey and Harrelson received widespread critical acclaim and accolades for their performances in season 1.
The show has since maintained its edge, with the fourth season surpassing the first in the eyes of the critics with special praise for the performance of Foster, for which she received numerous major awards in 2025.
Mr. Robot (2015–2019)
Created by: Sam Esmail
Cast: Rami Malek, Christian Slater
Platform: USA Network
Premiere date: 24 June 2015
Seasons: 4
Episodes: 45
Avg. runtime per episode: 45 minutes
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys- 3; Golden Globes- 2
IMDb rating: 8.5
Synopsis: Elliot (Malek) is a highly intelligent but anti-social cybersecurity genius recruited by Mr. Robot (Slater), the mysterious leader of an underground hacking collective aiming to destroy corporations they hold responsible for corruption.
Why it is one of the greatest: Though Malek had been acting since 2004, the world took note of his phenomenal talent with Mr. Robot. The psychological thriller is widely hailed as one of the best shows of the 2010s and has received consistent critical acclaim for each of its four seasons. Mr. Robot has a huge cult following and pop culture focus, particularly centred around Malek’s character.
Better Call Saul (2015–2022)
Created by: Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould
Cast: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorn, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, Michael McKean, Giancarlo Esposito, Tony Dalton, Bryan Cranston
Platform: AMC
Premiere date: 8 February 2015
Seasons: 6
Episodes: 63
Avg. runtime per episode: 45 minutes
IMDb rating: 9.0
Synopsis: Con-man-turned-small-time attorney Jimmy McGill (Odenkirk) creates his branding under the name of Saul Goodman and fights cases in his own questionable manner. He worked closely with former cop Mike Ehrmantraut (Banks), who is also a fixer for shady people.
Why it is one of the greatest: Spin-offs of television shows, let alone of the acclaimed ones, are rare. Spin-offs as good as the original are rarer. This is why Better Call Saul, which largely serves as a prequel to Breaking Bad, is one of the greatest spin-offs ever made. Some believe it surpasses the latter, which is a badge of honour given the cult popularity of Walter White.
The show begins around two years before the events of Breaking Bad and follows the transformation of Odenkirk’s character Jimmy McGill into his assumed identity of the unscrupulous lawyer Saul. The series also has scenes that show what happened to Saul after the events of Breaking Bad, which, in a way, serves as a closure to the original series.
Narcos (2015–2017)
Created by: Chris Brancato, Carlo Bernard, Doug Miro
Cast: Wagner Moura, Boyd Holbrook, Pedro Pascal, Damián Alcázar, Alberto Ammann
Platform: Netflix
Premiere date: 28 August 2015
Seasons: 3
Episodes: 30
Avg. runtime per episode: 50 minutes
IMDb rating: 8.7
Synopsis: In the dark days of Colombia in the 1980s, drug lord Pablo Escobar (Moura) of the Medellín cartel is the undisputed ruler of the cocaine trade in South America. But two DEA agents, Steve Murphy (Holbrook) and Javier Peña (Pascal), are trying to take him down, with the latter also going after Escobar’s rival group, the Cali cartel.
Why it is one of the greatest: The show is primarily praised for the gripping storyline, the depiction of Pablo Escobar’s life and the performances of its lead actors, including celebrated Brazilian actor Moura who had his international breakthrough with this show, with his portrayal of Escobar now part of pop culture memes and GIFs.
Narcos also helped solidify Pascal’s reputation as an international star after his career breakthrough portrayal of Oberyn Martell in the fourth season of Game of Thrones.
The Crown (2016–2023)
Created by: Peter Morgan
Cast: Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton, Matt Smith, Vanessa Kirby, Tobias Menzies, Helena Bonham Carter, Jonathan Pryce, Lesley Manville, Elizabeth Debicki
Platform: Netflix
Premiere date: 4 November 2016
Seasons: 6
Episodes: 60
Avg. runtime per episode: 1 hour
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys – 24; Golden Globes – 8; SAG Awards – 7; BAFTA – 1
IMDb rating: 8.6
Synopsis: The life of Queen Elizabeth II (Foy/Colman/Staunton) and the ups and downs of the British royal family across seven decades are revealed as they leave an impact on the latter part of the 20th century.
Why it is one of the greatest: Like Downton Abbey and Black Mirror, The Crown is one of the greatest British shows in the last 25 years.
The series is widely hailed as a global phenomenon and one of the greatest historical dramas ever created for television. It is also Netflix’s biggest success to date. Each of its seasons progressively covers a specific time period in the life of Queen Elizabeth II, from her wedding in 1947 to the wedding of Charles and Camilla in 2005.
But the show is not entirely factual. Creator Peter Morgan reportedly said that real-life events are intertwined with “acts of imagination”. Nevertheless, the legacy and impact of The Crown on historical storytelling remain undeniable.
Stranger Things (2016–2025)
Created by: Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Joe Keery, Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Jamie Campbell Bower
Platform: Netflix
Premiere date: 15 July 2016
Seasons: 5 (including 2025)
Episodes: 42 (including 2025 series finale)
Avg. runtime per episode: 1 hour
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys– 12; SAG Awards- 2
IMDb rating: 8.7
Synopsis: When a member of their group goes missing, three young children begin an investigation of their own which leads them to a secret government facility connected to a supernatural happening in their small town of Hawkins, Indiana, in the 1980s.
Why it is one of the greatest: Netflix continued its successful dominance of the streaming world with Stranger Things through the second decade of the 21st century. Its mix of supernatural horror and coming-of-age genres along with its nostalgic 1980s setting have endeared the show to legions of fans of all ages.
At the time of its premiere, Ryder was the only cast member who was globally popular. By the end of the first season, almost all of its main characters, particularly Brown and Harbour, were among the most-recognised actors in the world.
And who can forget the unearthly monsters? Demogorgon, Mind Flayer and Vecna — which the show smartly connects to the board game Dungeons & Dragons — enjoy pop culture fame like the human characters.
Mindhunter (2017–2019)
Created by: Joe Penhall
Cast: Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Anna Torv
Platform: Netflix
Premiere date: 13 October 2017
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 19
Avg. runtime per episode: 1 hour
IMDb rating: 8.6
Synopsis: FBI agents Holden Ford (Groff) and Bill Tench (McCallany) along with psychologist Wendy Carr (Torv) study serial killers in the late 1970s to understand what goes on in their heads and make a system that can help authorities catch such deranged minds.
Why it is one of the greatest: Helmed by Oscar-nominated director David Fincher, Mindhunter made criminal psychology a central focus of the crime drama, which helped give a new direction to the genre. It is universally praised for its historical accuracy and dialogue-driven storytelling devoid of sensationalism.
The series is based on the 1995 true-crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker. It shows the origins of criminal profiling with the founding of the Behavioral Science Unit in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Money Heist (2017–2021)
Created by: Álex Pina
Cast: Úrsula Corberó, Álvaro Morte, Pedro Alonso, Itziar Ituño, Najwa Nimri, Alba Flores
Platform: Antena 3 (till 2017)/ Netflix (since 2019)
Premiere date: 2 May 2017 (on Antena 3)/19 July 2019 (on Netflix)
Seasons: 3
Episodes: 41
Avg. runtime per episode: 50 minutes
IMDb rating: 8.2
Synopsis: A mysterious man known by the alias The Professor (Morte), recruits a handful of people with special skills to carry out a daring heist on the Royal Mint of Spain. Adopting city names as their aliases, they attempt the robbery by taking several people hostage inside the mint while authorities prepare to take all of them down.
Why it is one of the greatest: The South Korean entertainment industry is so rich in terms of content that it has no need to remake anything from anywhere. However, Money Heist is one of those rare TV shows that got a Korean remake — Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area (2022). Perhaps this alone is evidence of the impact the Spanish original has had on the television landscape.
Interestingly, the show had not attained such critical acclaim during its initial run on the Spanish network Antena 3. But its characters and plot elements quickly became cultural symbols throughout Europe and beyond after it arrived on Netflix. Principal cast members Corberó and Morte became internationally famous. They now have American films and shows to their names, such as The Day of the Jackal (2024) starring Corberó and The Wheel of Time (2021–present) featuring Morte.
The show also made the Italian anti-fascist song “Bella ciao” universally popular, with people in parts of Europe singing it from the balconies of their homes during the pandemic-influenced lockdown. Apart from its Korean remake, the show also got a direct spin-off, Berlin (2023).
Succession (2018–2023)
Created by: Jesse Armstrong
Cast: Brian Cox, Alan Ruck, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook, Matthew Macfadyen, Alexander Skarsgård
Platform: HBO
Premiere date: June 3, 2018
Seasons: 4
Episodes: 39
Avg. runtime per episode: 1 hour
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys- 19; Golden Globes- 9; SAG Awards- 2; BAFTA- 3
IMDb rating: 8.8
Synopsis: The decision of Logan Roy (Cox), the ageing patriarch of the Roy family, to step down as the head of Waystar Royco, the world’s largest media and entertainment company, triggers a succession crisis. One of his sons, Kendall (Strong), is the heir apparent, but his other children, sons Connor (Ruck) and Roman (Culkin) and daughter Shiv (Snook), have plans of their own.
Why it is one of the greatest: Succession won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama and the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series three times — a testament to the tremendous critical reception it enjoyed throughout its run. Almost all of its main cast members received either an Emmy or a Golden Globe or both for their individual performances.
The show’s writing received particular praise for razor-sharp dialogues that finely juggled between humour and emotion. Armstrong, understandably, won the Emmy four times for his writing, once for each season.
The Mandalorian (2019–)
Created by: Jon Favreau
Cast: Pedro Pascal, Katee Sackhoff, Carl Weathers, Omid Abtahi, Nick Nolte (voice), Gina Carano, Giancarlo Esposito, Emily Swallow, Timothy Olyphant, Temuera Morrison, Ming-Na Wen
Platform: Disney+
Premiere date: 12 November 2019
Seasons: 3
Episodes: 24
Avg. runtime per episode: 40 minutes
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys- 15; SAG Awards- 1
IMDb rating: 8.6
Synopsis: Five years after the fall of the Galactic Empire, Din Djarin aka the Mandalorian (Pascal), a lone bounty hunter, accepts a mission for a mysterious client. The bounty turns out to be a young child of the species of the great Jedi master Yoda. Instead of handing over Grogu to the client, the Mandalorian chooses to protect it. Thus begins an adventure which will change the fate of the galaxy.
Why it is one of the greatest: Call him the ‘Midas of the small screen’ if you wish, but whatever Pedro Pascal has been doing on TV appears to be turning into gold. The Mandalorian gave Star Wars a desperately needed jump-start after the tepid critical reception of the standalone film Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) and the overall less enthusiastic response to the sequel trilogy (2015-2019).
The Mandalorian is seen among the greatest ever Star Wars movies and TV shows by both critics and die-heart fans of the franchise. It has been universally praised for its action, story, world-building, performances, music, fan-favourite moments and characters, and overall faithfulness to the Star Wars lore.
It is the stupendous success of The Mandalorian that gave Disney+ its own place in a space largely dominated by Netflix. The streamer could subsequently bet on more Star Wars live-action shows, including the critically acclaimed Andor (2022 – present) and the well-received Ahsoka (2023).
The Boys (2019–)
Created by: Eric Kripke
Cast: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Dominique McElligott, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Chace Crawford, Tomer Capone, Karen Fukuhara, Nathan Mitchell
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Premiere date: 26 July 2019
Seasons: 4
Episodes: 32
Avg. runtime per episode: 1 hour
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys- 1
IMDb rating: 8.7
Synopsis: A group of vigilantes take on seven powerful superheroes and a multibillion-dollar conglomerate which manages them by telling the world of the crimes they committed using their superpowers.
Why it is one of the greatest: The greatest show from Amazon Prime Video since its launch, The Boys is based on the comic book of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson.
The superhero satire has been such a tremendous success for the streamer that almost all of its seasons spent a considerably longer time at the top spot as the platform’s most-watched shows list than any other. Its season 2 was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series becoming the first-ever comic book television series to get a nod in the category. Season 4 was the second most-watched season of a TV series in Prime Video’s history, according to Los Angeles Times.
Squid Game (2021–2025)
Directed by: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Hoyeon Jung, Wi Ha-joon, Im Si-wan, Gong Yoo
Platform: Netflix
Premiere date: 17 September 2021
Seasons: 3 (including 2025)
Episodes: 16 (till the end of season 2)
Avg. runtime per episode: 1 hour
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys – 6; Golden Globes – 1; SAG Awards – 3
IMDb rating: 8.0
Synopsis: Numerous people who are down on their luck are lured to participate in a survival game show where the winner can take home a prize money of KRW 45.6 billion. Contestants have to play dangerous versions of children’s games where failure means death.
Why it is one of the greatest: The South Korean entertainment industry emerged as a force to be reckoned with exactly 25 years ago with Joint Security Area (2000) and Il Mare (2000), both of which were immensely popular even beyond the shores of the country. Fast forward 25 years, the anti-capitalist K-drama Squid Game is the crown jewel among the gems.
Season 1 of the show remains Netflix’s most-watched non-English series globally. Its second season, released on 26 December 2024, is the second-most-watched non-English show on Netflix. For their performances, Lee and Jung became the first Korean actors to win the SAG award. Lee also became the first Asian to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor.
Interestingly, Netflix hadn’t quite anticipated the massive success of the thriller K-drama. Reports say that the show was not even promoted by the streamer and there were no screeners for the press. Thus, its success is purely a word-of-mouth phenomenon. And now, the show is set to have a third season.
Shōgun (2024–2026)
Created by: Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks
Cast: Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano
Platform: FX on Hulu and FX
Premiere date: 27 February 2024
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 10
Avg. runtime per episode: 1 hour
Major awards won: Primetime Emmys- 18; Golden Globes- 4
IMDb: 8.6
Synopsis: Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Sanada) is an ambitious and shrewd daimyo in mediaeval Japan, dealing with powerful rivals united against him. A turn of events brings marooned English sailor John Blackthorne (Jarvis) into his realm. Toranaga senses an opportunity and finds that his intelligent loyal translator Lady Mariko along with Blackthorne and his ship can give him a chance to carry out his schemes.
Why it is one of the greatest: Even though the show is an American production, Shōgun has been to Japan what Squid Game has been to South Korea. Yes, Japanese live-action television has not been able to influence the world for decades, which is sad if you look at their brilliance on the big screen.
But with 18 Emmy wins for its very first season, Shōgun is truly historic. It is the first Japanese-language show to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. Its wins also make it the show with the most-awarded single-season TV series in Emmy history.
Shōgun is based on the 1975 novel by James Clavell, which was first adapted for television in 1980. That miniseries starred the legendary Toshiro Mifune in the role played in 2024 by Sanada. Backed by incredible performances by Sanada, Sawai and Asano, the series has become a pop culture cornerstone for all things samurai — which is remarkable given that there haven’t been such unforgettable samurai movies or TV shows for over a decade.
Even though the first season covers Clavell’s book in its entirety, the makers announced two more seasons of the show following Shōgun’s success.
Hero image: Ben Leuner – © Copyright: AMC 2011 Ben Leuner via IMDb; Featured image: Ursula Coyote/AMC via IMDb
Frequently Asked Questions
The one show universally hailed as the most-popular of the 21st century is 'Breaking Bad'. Among other popular shows are 'The Office', 'Game of Thrones', 'Narcos' and 'The Crown'.
If only one show has to be picked, it should be 'Breaking Bad'. The critically acclaimed show marks a turning point in the history of modern television.
Netflix has delivered most of the best shows of 2025 among online-only streamers. It is behind acclaimed shows such as 'House of Cards', 'The Crown', 'Stranger Things' and 'Squid Game' among others.
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Manas Sen Gupta writes at the intersection of tech, entertainment and history. His works have appeared in publications such as The Statesman, Myanmar Matters, Hindustan Times and News18/ETV. In his spare time, Manas loves studying interactive charts and topographic maps. When not doing either, he prefers reading detective fiction. Spring is his favourite season and he can happily eat a bowl of noodles any time of the day.
