Top 100 TV Shows of the 21st Century

Seeded from The New York Times · September 2026

The Top 10

1
Breaking Bad poster

Breaking Bad

2008–2013 · Created by Vince Gilligan

DramaCrime
2
The Wire poster

The Wire

2002–2008 · Created by David Simon

CrimeDrama
3
Mad Men poster

Mad Men

2007–2015 · Created by Matthew Weiner

Drama
4
Succession poster

Succession

2018–2023 · Created by Jesse Armstrong

DramaComedy
5
Fleabag poster

Fleabag

2016–2019 · Created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge

ComedyDrama
6
Game of Thrones poster

Game of Thrones

2011–2019 · Created by David Benioff, D. B. Weiss

Sci-Fi & FantasyDramaAction & Adventure
7
Veep poster

Veep

2012–2019 · Created by Armando Iannucci

ComedyWar & Politics
8
30 Rock poster

30 Rock

2006–2013 · Created by Tina Fey

Comedy
9
Curb Your Enthusiasm poster

Curb Your Enthusiasm

2000–2024 · Created by Larry David

Comedy
10
Atlanta poster

Atlanta

2016–2022 · Created by Donald Glover

ComedyDrama

11–100

11
The Office (U.S.) poster

The Office (U.S.)

2005–2013 · Created by Greg Daniels

Comedy
12
Arrested Development poster

Arrested Development

2003–2019 · Created by Mitchell Hurwitz

Comedy
13
Girls poster

Girls

2012–2017 · Created by Lena Dunham

DramaComedy
14
Friday Night Lights poster

Friday Night Lights

2006–2011 · Created by Brian Grazer, Peter Berg

Drama
15
Six Feet Under poster

Six Feet Under

2001–2005 · Created by Alan Ball

Drama
16
The Office (U.K.) poster

The Office (U.K.)

2001–2002 · Created by Stephen Merchant, Ricky Gervais

Comedy
17
The Americans poster

The Americans

2013–2018 · Created by Joe Weisberg

CrimeDrama
18
I May Destroy You poster

I May Destroy You

2020 · Created by Michaela Coel

Drama
19
Chernobyl poster

Chernobyl

2019 · Created by Craig Mazin

Drama
20
The Crown poster

The Crown

2016–2023 · Created by Peter Morgan

Drama
21
The White Lotus poster

The White Lotus

2021–2025 · Created by Mike White

ComedyDramaMystery
22
Lost poster

Lost

2004–2010 · Created by J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, Jeffrey Lieber

MysteryAction & AdventureDrama
23
The Comeback poster

The Comeback

2005–2026 · Created by Michael Patrick King, Lisa Kudrow

ComedyDrama
24
Deadwood poster

Deadwood

2004–2006 · Created by David Milch

WesternCrimeDrama
25
The Leftovers poster

The Leftovers

2014–2017 · Created by Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta

Sci-Fi & FantasyDrama
26
Black Mirror poster

Black Mirror

2011–2025 · Created by Charlie Brooker

Sci-Fi & FantasyDramaMystery
27
Better Call Saul poster

Better Call Saul

2015–2022 · Created by Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould

CrimeDrama
28
Band of Brothers poster

Band of Brothers

2001

DramaWar & Politics
29
Key & Peele poster

Key & Peele

2012–2015 · Created by Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele

Comedy
30
Severance poster

Severance

2022–2025 · Created by Dan Erickson

DramaMysterySci-Fi & Fantasy
31
Survivor poster

Survivor

2000–2026 · Created by Charlie Parsons, Mark Burnett

Reality
32
Andor poster

Andor

2022–2025 · Created by Tony Gilroy

Sci-Fi & FantasyAction & AdventureDrama
33
Enlightened poster

Enlightened

2011–2013 · Created by Mike White, Laura Dern

ComedyDrama
34
Schitt's Creek poster

Schitt's Creek

2015–2020 · Created by Eugene Levy, Dan Levy

Comedy
35
True Detective (Season 1) poster

True Detective (Season 1)

2014–2024 · Created by Nic Pizzolatto, Issa López

DramaMystery
36
The Pitt poster

The Pitt

2025–2026 · Created by R. Scott Gemmill

Drama
37
Battlestar Galactica poster

Battlestar Galactica

2004–2009 · Created by Glen A. Larson, Ronald D. Moore

Sci-Fi & FantasyAction & AdventureDrama
38
Homeland poster

Homeland

2011–2020 · Created by Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon

DramaWar & PoliticsCrime
39
Watchmen poster

Watchmen

2019 · Created by Damon Lindelof

DramaCrimeSci-Fi & Fantasy
40
Adolescence poster

Adolescence

2025 · Created by Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne

DramaCrime
41
Louie poster

Louie

2010–2015 · Created by Louis C.K.

ComedyDrama
42
Hacks poster

Hacks

2021–2026 · Created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky

ComedyDrama
43
Peaky Blinders poster

Peaky Blinders

2013–2022 · Created by Steven Knight

DramaCrime
44
BoJack Horseman poster

BoJack Horseman

2014–2020 · Created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg

AnimationComedyDrama
45
Happy Valley poster

Happy Valley

2014–2023 · Created by Sally Wainwright

CrimeDramaMystery
46
Broad City poster

Broad City

2014–2019 · Created by Ilana Glazer, Abbi Jacobson

ComedyDrama
47
Twin Peaks: The Return poster

Twin Peaks: The Return

1990–2017 · Created by Mark Frost, David Lynch

DramaMystery
48
House of Cards poster

House of Cards

2013–2018 · Created by Beau Willimon

Drama
49
Normal People poster

Normal People

2020

Drama
50
Parks and Recreation poster

Parks and Recreation

2009–2015 · Created by Michael Schur, Greg Daniels

Comedy
51
The Good Place poster

The Good Place

2016–2020 · Created by Michael Schur

Sci-Fi & FantasyComedy
52
Downton Abbey poster

Downton Abbey

2010–2015 · Created by Julian Fellowes

Drama
53
Stranger Things poster

Stranger Things

2016–2025 · Created by Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer

Action & AdventureMysterySci-Fi & Fantasy
54
The Bureau poster

The Bureau

2015–2020 · Created by Éric Rochant

CrimeDrama
55
Insecure poster

Insecure

2016–2021 · Created by Issa Rae, Larry Wilmore

ComedyDrama
56
Nathan for You poster

Nathan for You

2013–2017 · Created by Nathan Fielder, Michael Koman

ComedyDocumentary
57
I Think You Should Leave poster

I Think You Should Leave

2019–2023 · Created by Zach Kanin, Tim Robinson

Comedy
58
Chappelle's Show poster

Chappelle's Show

2003–2006 · Created by Neal Brennan, Dave Chappelle

Comedy
59
PEN15 poster

PEN15

2019–2021 · Created by Anna Konkle, Sam Zvibleman, Maya Erskine

Comedy
60
Peep Show poster

Peep Show

2003–2015 · Created by Sam Bain, Andrew O'Connor, Jesse Armstrong

Comedy
61
RuPaul's Drag Race poster

RuPaul's Drag Race

2009–2026 · Created by RuPaul, Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato

Reality
62
Slow Horses poster

Slow Horses

2022–2026

CrimeDramaMystery
63
The Thick of It poster

The Thick of It

2005–2012 · Created by Armando Iannucci

Comedy
64
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown poster

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

2013–2018

Documentary
65
Mare of Easttown poster

Mare of Easttown

2021 · Created by Brad Ingelsby

DramaCrimeMystery
66
The Rehearsal poster

The Rehearsal

2022–2025 · Created by Nathan Fielder

ComedyDocumentary
67
The Handmaid's Tale poster

The Handmaid's Tale

2017–2025 · Created by Bruce Miller

DramaSci-Fi & FantasyAction & Adventure
68
Ozark poster

Ozark

2017–2022 · Created by Bill Dubuque, Mark Williams

CrimeDrama
69
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations poster

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

2005–2012

DocumentaryTalkReality
70
The Shield poster

The Shield

2002–2008 · Created by Shawn Ryan

CrimeDramaAction & Adventure
71
Beef (Season 1) poster

Beef (Season 1)

2023–2026 · Created by Lee Sung Jin

ComedyDrama
72
Squid Game poster

Squid Game

2021–2025 · Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk

Action & AdventureMysteryDrama
73
Barry poster

Barry

2018–2023 · Created by Alec Berg, Bill Hader

ComedyCrimeDrama
74
The Bear poster

The Bear

2022–2026 · Created by Christopher Storer

DramaComedy
75
Ted Lasso poster

Ted Lasso

2020–2026 · Created by Bill Lawrence, Jason Sudeikis, Joe Kelly, Brendan Hunt

DramaComedy
76
Somebody Somewhere poster

Somebody Somewhere

2022–2024 · Created by Hannah Bos, Paul Thureen

ComedyDrama
77
Modern Family poster

Modern Family

2009–2020 · Created by Steven Levitan, Christopher Lloyd

Comedy
78
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia poster

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

2005–2026 · Created by Rob Mac

Comedy
79
The Good Wife poster

The Good Wife

2009–2016 · Created by Michelle King, Robert King

Drama
80
How To With John Wilson poster

How To With John Wilson

2020–2023 · Created by John Wilson

ComedyDocumentary
81
The Queen's Gambit poster

The Queen's Gambit

2020 · Created by Scott Frank, Allan Scott

Drama
82
Better Things poster

Better Things

2016–2022 · Created by Pamela Adlon, Louis C.K.

ComedyDrama
83
Justified poster

Justified

2010–2015 · Created by Graham Yost

CrimeDrama
84
Planet Earth poster

Planet Earth

2006

Documentary
85
The Great British Baking Show poster

The Great British Baking Show

2010–2016

Reality
86
Shōgun poster

Shōgun

2024 · Created by Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks

DramaWar & Politics
87
Reservation Dogs poster

Reservation Dogs

2021–2023 · Created by Taika Waititi, Sterlin Harjo

DramaComedy
88
Dexter poster

Dexter

2006–2013 · Created by James Manos Jr.

CrimeDramaMystery
89
Baby Reindeer poster

Baby Reindeer

2024 · Created by Richard Gadd

Drama
90
Eastbound & Down poster

Eastbound & Down

2009–2013 · Created by Danny McBride, Jody Hill, Ben Best

ComedyDrama
91
Catastrophe poster

Catastrophe

2015–2019 · Created by Rob Delaney, Sharon Horgan

Comedy
92
The Night Of poster

The Night Of

2016 · Created by Richard Price, Steven Zaillian

CrimeDramaMystery
93
Station Eleven poster

Station Eleven

2021–2022 · Created by Patrick Somerville

DramaMystery
94
The Diplomat poster

The Diplomat

2023–2025 · Created by Debora Cahn

DramaWar & Politics
95
House poster

House

2004–2012 · Created by David Shore

Drama
96
Halt and Catch Fire poster

Halt and Catch Fire

2014–2017 · Created by Christopher C. Rogers, Christopher Cantwell

Drama
97
Community poster

Community

2009–2015 · Created by Dan Harmon

Comedy
98
The OA poster

The OA

2016–2019 · Created by Brit Marling, Zal Batmanglij

Sci-Fi & FantasyMysteryDrama
99
Gilmore Girls poster

Gilmore Girls

2000–2007 · Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino

ComedyDrama
100
Scandal poster

Scandal

2012–2018 · Created by Shonda Rhimes

Drama