Greatest Television shows of all time ranked by IMDb rating
From Breaking Bad to Peaky Blinders, these shows aren’t just fan favorites — they’ve redefined television itself. With gripping stories, unforgettable characters, and sky-high IMDb ratings, here’s a look at the greatest TV shows ever made.
Breaking Bad (2008) Widely hailed as the gold standard of television, Breaking Bad tops the list with a stellar 9.32 IMDb score. Bryan Cranston’s Walter White — the mild-mannered teacher turned meth kingpin — redefined character arcs. Critics adored it, fans worshipped it, and honestly, it’s hard to find someone who hasn’t binge-watched it. A pure masterclass in storytelling.
2/10
Game of Thrones (2011) Say what you will about the final season, Game of Thrones remains a cultural phenomenon. With an 8.60 overall IMDb rating, it gave us dragons, betrayals, and characters we loved—and loved to hate. “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die,” Cersei said. The series pretty much lived by it.
3/10
Chernobyl (2019) Chernobyl had a greater impact than many long-running series despite only having five episodes. It has an 8.60 rating and is commended for its eerie storytelling and realistic realism. The miniseries reveals political lies and human error as it dissects the 1986 nuclear accident. Its tagline asks, "What is the cost of lies?" and the response still makes viewers cringe.
4/10
The Sopranos (1999) Before anti-heroes were everywhere, Tony Soprano set the template. HBO’s The Sopranos holds an 8.50 rating and is often cited as the show that changed TV forever. Mob drama blended with therapy sessions? Genius. James Gandolfini’s performance was electric, and the show’s finale — still one of the most debated endings in television history.
Band of Brothers (2001) Band of Brothers was brilliantly crafted by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, as evidenced by its 8.48 rating. Easy Company's terrifying journey is brutally honest in the WWII miniseries. It portrays soldiers as human beings first and is both intimate and cinematic. More than critics could ever say, veterans even praised its authenticity.
6/10
The Wire (2002) Critics often call The Wire the “greatest show nobody watched.” With an 8.47 rating, it dissected Baltimore’s institutions — the cops, schools, politics, media — with unmatched detail. David Simon’s writing was raw and unflinching, making it feel more like reality than fiction. Years later, it’s still studied in classrooms and quoted in newsrooms.
7/10
Better Call Saul (2015) Who knew a Breaking Bad spin-off could hold its own? With an 8.41 score, Better Call Saul proved skeptics wrong. Bob Odenkirk’s Jimmy McGill slowly morphing into the sleazy lawyer Saul Goodman was nothing short of brilliant. Some fans even whisper that it’s better than Breaking Bad—a bold claim, but not entirely unfounded.
8/10
Stranger Things (2016) A love letter to the ’80s, Stranger Things blends nostalgia, horror, and heart. Scoring 8.37, it turned “Upside Down” into pop culture lingo. The kids — Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will — became overnight stars. The show might be packed with Demogorgons and psychic powers, but at its core, it’s about friendship. And Eggos.
Sherlock (2010) Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes was a revelation. This modern retelling, with an 8.32 rating, redefined the detective genre for a new generation. Sharp writing, clever twists, and Martin Freeman’s Watson made it addictive. “The game is on,” Sherlock declares — and fans were hooked from episode one. Shame it ended too soon, really.
10/10
Peaky Blinders (2013) Peaky Blinders swaggers in with an 8.22 rating, and honestly, it feels criminally underrated. Cillian Murphy’s Thomas Shelby is charisma wrapped in grit. The razor-blade gangsters, the smoky 1920s vibe, and that rock soundtrack made it unforgettable. “By order of the Peaky Blinders” isn’t just a line — it became a cultural catchphrase.
![Chernobyl (2019) Chernobyl had a greater impact than many long-running series despite only having five episodes. It has an 8.60 rating and is commended for its eerie storytelling and realistic realism. The miniseries reveals political lies and human error as it dissects the 1986 nuclear accident. Its tagline asks, "What is the cost of lies?" and the response still makes viewers cringe.](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2025/09/20250919231356_3.png "Chernobyl (2019) Chernobyl had a greater impact than many long-running series despite only having five episodes. It has an 8.60 rating and is commended for its eerie storytelling and realistic realism. The miniseries reveals political lies and human error as it dissects the 1986 nuclear accident. Its tagline asks, "What is the cost of lies?" and the response still makes viewers cringe.")
