‘The Sopranos’ And The 10 Best Shows Of All Time, According To Data
Sometimes, Reddit is the most interesting place on the internet because, on top of viral stories about various encounters, someone compiled some really neat data to rank the best shows of all time. Taking scores from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, JustWatch, and more, they've tallied up all the votes to determine what the fifty best shows of all time are. Some of these entries are not at all surprising, others genuinely are, and a few should be on this list.
At the same time, so much has changed in the last year, like Heated Rivalry (2025) airing its fifth episode and immediately topping charts. There are a number of new shows added that are growing in popularity, like Severance (2022) or Pluribus (2025). But ultimately, some of these do deserve a spot on the list of greats, so we're breaking down all the reasons why, as well as where you can stream them on platforms such as Prime Video, Netflix, and more.
10. Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)
Like Sherlock, what Peaky Blinders achieves with its shorter episodes is monumental. Cillian Murphy delivers one of his finest performances as Thomas Shelby and the entire cast is exceptional right alongside him. It's incredible that the series is in the top ten because it undoubtedly deserves to be. I'd even put it a little higher because, since The Sopranos, it's been the best thing in the crime genre.
Peaky Blinders is a feast for the eyes, too. As a show that's dark in its theme and the setting, the saturation is proof of how you capture scenes that aren't entirely vivid but still stand out. It's never once hard to engage with the show or understand why writers make the choices that they do which then allows it to be so memorable years after the fact, even now, when we just got the Netflix movie, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (2026).
9. Sherlock (2010-2017)
Sherlock is another series that's both shocking in the top ten but simultaneously expected. What the show accomplished as the best adaptation is no small feat, but sometimes it also felt like a unicorn of a series that only a few people were watching as it aired. Still, for its glowing cast alone, Sherlock deserves all the praise. Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, and Andrew Scott? Say less.
The series is a technical achievement, too, as it proved that you can tell gripping stories through a limited number of episodes so long as the writing is always sharp. It's substantial proof of the fact that British series are often ten times more engaging because their limited number of episodes are always brimming with indescribable character work that pushes the plot forward in an organic manner.
8. Stranger Things (2016-2025)
While Game of Thrones being number two on this list is shocking, Stranger Things as number eight isn't. Because unlike the epic fantasy, it's a bit more understandable why the '80s sci-fi grew in popularity and was palatable to a wide variety of audience members. Despite its lackluster final season that's unfortunately similar to Game of Thrones, few shows have a more engaging debut or second season.
In addition, because of the callbacks to the '80s, it's fitting that more people would tune in for the distinct nostalgia. It also has all the markings of memorable adventure movies like The Goonies (1985). The characters are engaging, the story is enthralling, and the performances were exceptional. Despite its imperfect ending, Stranger Things is still the type of show I'd recommend to anyone who's looking for something with friendships and adventures, coupled with great character beats.
7. Better Call Saul (2015-2022)
As someone who prefers the quiet depth in Better Call Saul to Breaking Bad, I'm thrilled by the fact that it's at least in the top ten. There's something really gripping for me personally about the shows that are slower and a bit more subtle, yet a ton happens in them regardless. That's Better Call Saul in a nutshell, and it's what I'd still argue to be Vince Gilligan's best work to date.
It's also an incredible example of how to create a spin-off that's its own thing while simultaneously allowing it to add even more lore to the original. And it's a profound shame that, still to this day, neither Bob Odenkirk nor Rhea Seehorn took home any Emmys because what the show accomplished in its six seasons is quite literally perfect.
6. The Wire (2002-2008)
If there's one crime drama that deserves the crown for the ultimate in the genre, it's undoubtedly The Wire. Gritty, sharp, thrilling on all fronts, and full of gripping performances from the whole cast, there's nothing quite like it in a sea of procedurals currently airing. And really, there doesn't need to be because we can't top perfection and don't need to try.
The Wire, like most shows on this list, is something most people have likely heard of, even if they've never seen it. They know of its significance, and they've likely heard of its impact. It deserves its reputation, which also contributes to making it so revered from all standpoints, because the shorter seasons also make it easy enough to watch and know that you'll get an enticing story in every episode. If you only watch one crime drama, let it be The Wire.
5. Band of Brothers (2001)
It wouldn't be a top TV list of any kind if there weren't at least one war drama on it, and I suppose if someone had to choose the leading paradigm, Band of Brothers makes the most sense. As someone who typically doesn't prefer shows like this, I can recognize its significance, though really not in the top ten. Still, its limited series approach is perhaps what makes it so enticing and worthwhile.
On top of that, while there are a number of films like it on AFI's Top 100, for example, the prospect of it being well done on the small screen is more rare, which then ensures that Band of Brothers continues to stand the test of time. For what it accomplishes on the small screen with its visuals and storytelling, there's no denying that the episodes would be consistently great.
4. The Sopranos (1999-2006)
If there's one show on this list that almost every adult has at least heard of, it's The Sopranos. Before Breaking Bad, it was the series everyone referred to as a must-watch and top-tier example of truly excellent television. The fact that it's not in the top three, however, is legitimately shocking, even if I wouldn't put it in my own personal top three.
Still, everything about The Sopranos is an example of how to craft a television show centered around character journeys that keep the audience invested. It's proof of the fact that when characters are at the forefront, the series can consistently push the narrative as far as it needs to go organically. Its relevance on the small screen isn't just significant to critics and those who engage with TV often, but for the general audience, too. And like The Godfather (1972), its importance is prominent in the title alone.
3. Chernobyl (2019)
There are a few limited series on the entirety of this list that are easier to revisit, but it's entirely understandable why Chernobyl would have the highest score. The historic accuracy is a challenging one to capture, yet it does so with grace, nuance, and outstanding performances at the helm to keep the story engaging with the heavy subject matter.
The limited number of episodes also ensures that the writing is sharp and cohesive without any frustrating or unnecessary detours. The visuals also give us plenty to appreciate, while the story effectively conveys what happened as accurately as possible in a manner that can be gripping for those who aren't familiar with the explosion. There's so much to respect about the production, so it's understandable it gets as much praise from both fans and critics.
2. Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
While Breaking Bad as number one isn't shocking, Game of Thrones as number two is almost unbelievable. I had to do multiple double-takes to verify I was seeing correctly because it's hard to believe it's true when the final season is so universally detested by most fans and critics. At the same time, because it's genre television, you have to wonder how the show got to a place where non-fantasy fans watched it, too.
From another perspective, the first few seasons of Game of Thrones are so gripping that they deserve the viewership and praise for maintaining consistency, even when they fumbled in the end. The show was also monumental for how it stirred social media conversations and allowed us to engage with people live.
1. Breaking Bad (2008-2012)
It's both understandable that Vince Gilligan's Breaking Bad is number one on this list and simultaneously a little frustrating. Because as sensational as the show is for what it accomplishes in writing, performances, and all-around directing, there are so many others like it that it's almost a shame none of them get as much attention.
Still, it makes complete sense from an objective standpoint when we consider the sheer excellence of "Ozymandius." The episode alone is enough reason to crown Breaking Bad as the ultimate TV show, as it's still something we draw comparisons to almost daily. The series' achievement in writing and how to deliver compelling narrative arcs in every episode is no small feat, and it's essentially a must-watch for anyone who wants to do anything in this industry.
