The Best TV Shows of The Last 20 Years

Originally by Ranker Community

Updated December 22, 2020 1.6m votes 83.7k voters 779.8k views339 items

List RulesOnly series that have aired new episodes since 1998.

This best TV show list represents the combined opinions of thousands of TV fans. Anyone can vote on this list of the best TV shows of recent memory, making this list a truly trustworthy way to find the best TV show. You can even add your own list to these TV show rankings.

Including shows like Friends and The X-Files, the best TV shows ever in the past 20 years features the latest television series as well as classics such as Seinfeld and Frasier. From sitcoms to dramas and animations to miniseries, this list has got them all. If your favorite recent shows are missing, go ahead and add them!

What are the best TV shows of recent memory? Whether you're looking for the best TV shows to add to your Netflix queue or you just want to share your picks for the best TV series of the last few decades, this is the place to tune in to the tastes of TV fans around the world. Figure out what much see TV you have to catch up on below and cast your votes for the best television in recent history.

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1
27,615
14,966
Game of Thrones
Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey
Premiered: 2011-04-17
Genres (Tv): Medieval fantasy, Drama, Adventure film, Epic, Action
Game of Thrones (HBO, 2011) is an American fantasy drama television series created by David... more
2
24,817
16,277
Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul
Premiered: 2008
Genres (Tv): Crime drama, Thriller, Neo-western, Tragedy
Breaking Bad (AMC, 2008) is an American neo-Western crime drama television series created by... more
3
11,080
5,124
Stranger Things
Winona Ryder, David Harbour
Premiered: 2016
Genres (Tv): Sci-fi, Horror, Supernatural, Period drama
Stranger Things (Netflix, 2016) is an American science fiction-horror web television series... more
4
14,355
11,740
House
Hugh Laurie, Omar Epps
Premiered: 2004
Genres (Tv): Medical drama
House, M.D. (Fox, 2004) is an American television medical drama created by David Shore. An... more
5
16,672
13,972
The Office
Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson
Premiered: 2005
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Mockumentary
The Office (NBC, 2005) is an American mockumentary sitcom television series developed by Greg... more
6
11,057
9,168
Sherlock
Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman
Premiered: 2010
Genres (Tv): Crime drama, Mystery
Sherlock (BBC One, 2010) is a British crime television series created by Steven Moffat and... more
7
12,175
10,754
The Sopranos
James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco
Premiered: 1999
Genres (Tv): Crime drama
The Sopranos (HBO, 1999) is an American crime drama television series created by David Chase.... more
8
14,178
12,229
Walking Dead
Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal
Premiered: 2010
Genres (Tv): Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, Suspense, Drama
The Walking Dead (AMC, 2010) is an American post-apocalyptic horror television series... more
9
15,361
13,700
The Big Bang Theory
Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons
Premiered: 2007
Genres (Tv): Sitcom
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 2007) is an American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and... more
10
8,581
6,748
Band of Brothers
Scott Grimes, Damian Lewis
Premiered: 2001
Genres (Tv): Miniseries, Action/Adventure, Drama, Military, Adventure film
Band of Brothers is a 2001 American WWII drama miniseries based on historian Stephen E.... more
11
10,048
8,749
Futurama
Billy West, John DiMaggio
Premiered: 1999
Genres (Tv): Animation, Sitcom, Comedy, Science Fiction
Futurama is an American adult animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and... more
12
13,449
12,179
South Park
Trey Parker, Matt Stone
Premiered: 1997
Genres (Tv): Animation, Television comedy, Sitcom, Satire, Animated cartoon
South Park (Comedy Central, 1997) is an American adult animated sitcom created by Trey Parker... more
13
12,626
11,806
Dexter
Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter
Premiered: 2006
Genres (Tv): Crime drama, Psychological thriller, Mystery, Dark comedy, Police procedural
Dexter (Showtime, 2006) is an American crime drama mystery series developed by James Manos... more

14
16,725
15,905
Friends
Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox
Premiered: 1994
Genres (Tv): Sitcom
Friends (NBC, 1994) is an American sitcom television series created by David Crane and Marta... more
15
9,220
7,722
voting closed at #15
Home Improvement
Tim Allen, Patricia Richardson
Premiered: 1991
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Home Improvement is an American television sitcom starring Tim Allen, that aired from... more
16
11,349
10,083
That '70s Show
Topher Grace, Laura Prepon
Premiered: 1998
Genres (Tv): Romance Film, Sitcom, Comedy
That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that originally aired on Fox from... more
17
14,207
13,848
The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright
Premiered: 1989
Genres (Tv): Animation, Television comedy, Comedy, Family Film
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting... more
18
8,001
7,406
Parks & Recreation
Amy Poehler, Jim O'Heir
Premiered: 2009
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Mockumentary, Satire, Romance TV, Comedy-drama
Parks and Recreation (NBC, 2009) is an American television sitcom created by Greg Daniels and... more
19
12,138
10,818
Family Guy
Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein
Premiered: 1999
Genres (Tv): Black comedy, Animation, Sitcom, Animated cartoon, Comedy
Family Guy is an American adult animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox... more
20
10,143
7,837
Supernatural
Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles
Premiered: 2005
Genres (Tv): Supernatural drama, Black comedy, Drama, Horror Film, Mystery
Supernatural (The CW, 2005) is an American fantasy horror television series created by Eric... more
21
10,590
10,411
The X-Files
David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson
Premiered: 1993
Genres (Tv): Cryptozoology, Supernatural, Crime Fiction, Drama, Live action
The X-Files is an American science fiction horror drama television series created by Chris... more
22
11,308
11,064
How I Met Your Mother
Josh Radnor, Jason Segel
Premiered: 2005
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Romantic comedy
How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 2005) is an American sitcom created by Craig Thomas and Carter... more
23
8,884
8,865
Firefly
Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres
Premiered: 2002
Genres (Tv): Space Western, Space opera, Drama, Comedy-drama, Science Fiction
Firefly is an American space western science fiction drama television series created by writer... more

24
9,063
8,824
Scrubs
Zach Braff, Donald Faison
Premiered: 2001
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Medical drama
Scrubs (NBC, 2001) is an American medical comedy-drama television series created by Bill... more
25
6,367
5,238
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie
Premiered: 1998
Genres (Tv): Improvisational theatre, Television comedy
Whose Line Is It Anyway? (ABC, 1998-2007, The CW, 2013) is an American improvisational comedy... more