The New York Times has unveiled its ranking of the 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century. As per NYT, it has polled more than 500 people from the television industry to compile the list. It covers shows that premiered from year 2000 onward and includes dramas, comedies, limited series, reality television and other formats.
At the top of the list is Breaking Bad, the acclaimed AMC crime drama starring Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul which premiered between 2008 to 2013. It is followed by The Wire at No. 2 and Mad Men at No. 3.
Succession, a satirical comedy-drama series that ran for four seasons from 2018 to 2023, occupies the fourth spot, while Fleabag rounds out the top five. The remaining shows in the top 10 are Game of Thrones, Veep, 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Atlanta.
The list also features several newer shows alongside established hits. The White Lotus ranks No. 21, The Bear is at No. 74, while Shogun comes in at No. 86. Squid Game, one of the biggest international television hits of recent years, ranks No. 72.
Other notable entries include Lost at No. 22, Black Mirror at No. 26, Better Call Saul at No. 27, Band of Brothers at No. 28, Severance at No. 30 and Peaky Blinders at No. 43.
The ranking also includes shows outside the conventional scripted-drama format. Survivor is at No. 31, RuPaul's Drag Race at No. 61, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown at No. 64 and Planet Earth at No. 84.
Some surprising entries
The lower half of the list includes several critically discussed and cult-favorite series. Community is ranked No. 97, Halt and Catch Fire No. 96, Station Eleven No. 93 and Justified No. 83.
At No. 100 is Scandal, while Gilmore Girls is ranked No. 99 and The OA No. 98.
More than 500 television professionals were asked to participate, making the final list a reflection of industry members' selections rather than a single editorial panel's ranking.
The result is a list spanning more than two decades of television, from early-2000s shows such as The Office (U.K.) and Six Feet Under to recent series including The Pitt, Adolescence, The White Lotus and The Diplomat.
NYT 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century Full List
- Breaking Bad
- The Wire
- Mad Men
- Succession
- Fleabag
- Game of Thrones
- Veep
- 30 Rock
- Curb Your Enthusiasm
- Atlanta
- The Office (U.S.)
- Arrested Development
- Girls
- Friday Night Lights
- Six Feet Under
- The Office (U.K.)
- The Americans
- I May Destroy You
- Chernobyl
- The Crown
- The White Lotus
- Lost
- The Comeback
- Deadwood
- The Leftovers
- Black Mirror
- Better Call Saul
- Band of Brothers
- Key & Peele
- Severance
- Survivor
- Andor
- Enlightened
- Schitt's Creek
- True Detective (Season 1)
- The Pitt
- Battlestar Galactica
- Homeland
- Watchmen
- Adolescence
- Louie
- Hacks
- Peaky Blinders
- BoJack Horseman
- Happy Valley
- Broad City
- Twin Peaks: The Return
- House of Cards
- Normal People
- Parks and Recreation
- The Good Place
- Downton Abbey
- Stranger Things
- The Bureau
- Insecure
- Nathan for You
- I Think You Should Leave
- Chappelle's Show
- PEN15
- Peep Show
- RuPaul's Drag Race
- Slow Horses
- The Thick of It
- Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
- Mare of Easttown
- The Rehearsal
- The Handmaid's Tale
- Ozark
- Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
- The Shield
- Beef (Season 1)
- Squid Game
- Barry
- The Bear
- Ted Lasso
- Somebody Somewhere
- Modern Family
- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
- The Good Wife
- How To with John Wilson
- The Queen's Gambit
- Better Things
- Justified
- Planet Earth
- The Great British Baking Show
- Shogun
- Reservation Dogs
- Dexter
- Baby Reindeer
- Eastbound & Down
- Catastrophe
- The Night Of
- Station Eleven
- The Diplomat
- House
- Halt and Catch Fire
- Community
- The OA
- Gilmore Girls
- Scandal
