This is a list of the best cult TV shows ever, ranked by their loyal fans. TV series that develop cult followings are known for their magnetic characters, pithy dialogue, and complex plots that interweave of the course of several episodes or seasons. The best cult TV fan bases are passionate and may feel deeply attached to the cult characters, their lives, and their relationships. Many devoted fan communities take to online message boards, writing fan-fiction, and attending conventions dressed as their favorite characters.
Long-running mainstream series such as The Twilight Zone, Lost, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer easily attracted loyal fanbases, but even more impressive are those beloved shows that only lasted a season or two, like Freaks and Geeks and Firefly. Even after their favorite shows go off the air, fans of cult TV shows continue to collect memorabilia, replica props, and do cosplay at fan events. This subcultural phenomenon spans genres from sci-fi cult shows to fantasy, drama, and even comedy cult series. This list also includes cult classic TV shows and top cult TV series.
What are the best cult TV series? To vote on more of the best TV series, check out these lists of the best sci-fi shows of all time and the best shows cancelled too soon.
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2,4261,340Firefly
Nathan Fillion, Gina TorresPremiered: 2002
Network: Fox Broadcasting Company
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2,5451,504Game of Thrones
Peter Dinklage, Lena HeadeyPremiered: 2011
Network: HBO
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1,7991,051The Twilight Zone
Rod Serling, Robert McCordPremiered: 1959
Network: UPN, CBS
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2,9001,815Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson HanniganPremiered: 1997
Network: The WB
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1,9211,127Sherlock
Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin FreemanPremiered: 2010
Network: BBC One
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2,3771,607The X-Files
David Duchovny, Gillian AndersonPremiered: 1993
Network: Fox Broadcasting Company
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1,9711,128Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston, Aaron PaulPremiered: 2008
Network: AMC
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2,2571,538Doctor Who
Christopher Eccleston, David TennantPremiered: 1963
Network: British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC America, BBC One, S4C, BBC HD
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2,1121,254Supernatural
Jared Padalecki, Jensen AcklesPremiered: 2005
Network: The WB Television Network, The CW Television Network
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1,6461,148Twin Peaks
Kyle MacLachlan, Russ TamblynPremiered: 1990
Network: ABC, Showtime
11
1,364912Freaks and Geeks
Linda Cardellini, John Francis DaleyPremiered: 1999
Network: NBC
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1,046647Futurama
Billy West, John DiMaggioPremiered: 1999
Network: Comedy Central, Fox Broadcasting Company
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1,4751,021The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta, Nancy CartwrightPremiered: 1989
Network: Fox
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1,6551,291Star Trek: The Original Series
William Shatner, Leonard NimoyPremiered: 1966
Network: NBC
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950709Quantum Leap
Scott Bakula, Dean StockwellPremiered: 1989
Network: NBC
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1,291989Community
Joel McHale, Gillian JacobsPremiered: 2009
Network: NBC
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1,4601,093Arrested Development
Jason Bateman, Michael CeraPremiered: 2003
Network: Fox
18
795562The Office
Steve Carell, Rainn WilsonPremiered: 2005
Network: NBC
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1,3881,163Star Trek: The Next Generation
Patrick Stewart, Brent SpinerPremiered: 1987
Network: CBS
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1,072870Angel
David Boreanaz, Charisma CarpenterPremiered: 1999
Network: The WB Television Network
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1,259988Dexter
Michael C. Hall, Jennifer CarpenterPremiered: 2006
Network: Showtime
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1,105931Battlestar Galactica
Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnellPremiered: 2004
Network: Syfy
23
494387Fawlty Towers
John Cleese, Prunella ScalesPremiered: 1975
Network: British Broadcasting Corporation
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1,3681,089The Walking Dead
Andrew Lincoln, Jon BernthalPremiered: 2010
Network: AMC
25
1,3851,219Lost
Naveen Andrews, Emilie de RavinPremiered: 2004
Network: American Broadcasting Company
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