Best TV of the 21st century

The New York Times asked twice

The best TV of the century, ranked by the NY Times and by its readers.

On September 22, 2026 the NY Times published The 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century. Then more than 100,000 readers responded with votes of their own, and on October 3, 2026, 11 days later, the Times released Readers Choose Their Top TV Shows of the 21st Century. 126 unique shows appeared between the two lists, 74 of them on both. We love data like this at Data Day Studio, so we enriched it a bit and put together a quick analysis. Most exciting for us, though, is the tool for building watch lists and sharing them with friends and family. We hope you enjoy!

The chartNY Times vs. Readers Every show on either list, one line each. Left is where the NY Times ranked it, right is where readers did. The steeper the line, the louder the disagreement.

Hover or tap any show to follow its line.

NY TIMESOfficial listTHE READERSReaders’ list1Breaking Bad1Breaking Bad2The Wire2The Wire3Mad Men3Mad Men4Succession4Succession6Game of Thrones5Game of Thrones27Better Call Saul6Better Call Saul11The Office (U.S.)7The Office (U.S.)5Fleabag8Fleabag12Arrested Development9Arrested Development75Ted Lasso10Ted Lasso50Parks and Recreation11Parks and Recreation7Veep12Veep830 Rock1330 Rock17The Americans14The Americans30Severance15Severance22Lost16Lost34Schitt's Creek17Schitt's Creek36The Pitt18The Pitt9Curb Your Enthusiasm19Curb Your Enthusiasm19Chernobyl20Chernobyl35True Detective (Season 1)21True Detective (Season 1)32Andor22Andor62Slow Horses23Slow Horses51The Good Place24The Good Place52Downton Abbey25Downton Abbey99Gilmore Girls26Gilmore Girls25The Leftovers27The Leftovers15Six Feet Under28Six Feet Under28Band of Brothers29Band of Brothers97Community30Community14Friday Night Lights31Friday Night Lights42Hacks32Hacks21The White Lotus33The White Lotus77Modern Family34Modern Family13Girls35Girls20The Crown36The Crown37Avatar: The Last Airbender78It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia38It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia44BoJack Horseman39BoJack Horseman53Stranger Things40Stranger Things74The Bear41The Bear85The Great British Baking Show42The Great British Baking Show24Deadwood43Deadwood38Homeland44Homeland45Derry Girls47Twin Peaks: The Return46Twin Peaks: The Return10Atlanta47Atlanta68Ozark48Ozark37Battlestar Galactica49Battlestar Galactica81The Queen's Gambit50The Queen's Gambit43Peaky Blinders51Peaky Blinders67The Handmaid's Tale52The Handmaid's Tale31Survivor53Survivor26Black Mirror54Black Mirror95House55House56Shrinking94The Diplomat57The Diplomat66The Rehearsal58The Rehearsal83Justified59Justified60Sherlock61Dark39Watchmen62Watchmen86Shogun63Shogun64The Big Bang Theory65New Girl48House of Cards66House of Cards88Dexter67Dexter73Barry68Barry69Brooklyn Nine-Nine70Widow's Bay71Grey's Anatomy72How I Met Your Mother56Nathan for You73Nathan for You46Broad City74Broad City75The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel76Pluribus79The Good Wife77The Good Wife78Mindhunter87Reservation Dogs79Reservation Dogs40Adolescence80Adolescence93Station Eleven81Station Eleven76Somebody Somewhere82Somebody Somewhere83Heated Rivalry49Normal People84Normal People85Abbott Elementary86Fargo (Season 1)87Mr. Robot65Mare of Easttown88Mare of Easttown89Scrubs90Broadchurch57I Think You Should Leave91I Think You Should Leave55Insecure92Insecure93The Walking Dead94Big Little Lies16The Office (U.K.)95The Office (U.K.)96The Expanse97This Is Us98Bob's Burgers99Silo61RuPaul's Drag Race100RuPaul's Drag Race18I May Destroy You23The Comeback29Key & Peele33Enlightened41Louie45Happy Valley54The Bureau58Chappelle's Show59PEN1560Peep Show63The Thick of It64Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown69Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations70The Shield71Beef (Season 1)72Squid Game80How To with John Wilson82Better Things84Planet Earth89Baby Reindeer90Eastbound & Down91Catastrophe92The Night Of96Halt and Catch Fire98The OA100Scandal
Readers ranked it higher Readers ranked it lower Within 3 placesLines that fade out are on only one list. Thicker, brighter lines are bigger disagreements.
The numbersBreakdown of the data Genres, years, streaming services, and exactly where the NY Times and readers part ways.

By genre

NY Times vs. Readers
51Drama49
43Comedy41
28Crime & Thriller28
12Sci-Fi & Fantasy18
11Period & War11
9Unscripted5
1Animation3

Many shows carry two genres, so these add up past 100. Genre tags are ours, not the Times'.

By platform

NY Times vs. Readers
32HBO Max26
24Netflix26
21Hulu24
9Peacock11
9Paramount+8
6AMC+4
3Apple TV7
3Disney+4
2Prime Video4
2BritBox2

US subscription services, October 2026. A show on two services counts twice.

By premiere year

NY Times vs. Readers
33
2000’00
34
2001’01
21
2002’02
31
2003’03
33
2004’04
66
2005’05
43
2006’06
12
2007’07
11
2008’08
65
2009’09
45
2010’10
45
2011’11
42
2012’12
56
2013’13
65
2014’14
44
2015’15
97
2016’16
37
2017’17
23
2018’18
43
2019’19
53
2020’20
66
2021’21
66
2022’22
23
2023’23
21
2024’24
24
2025’25
1
2026’26

Readers loved more

NY Times rank → readers' rank

  1. Gilmore Girls99→26+73
  2. Community97→30+67
  3. Ted Lasso75→10+65
  4. Modern Family77→34+43
  5. The Great British Baking Show85→42+43
  6. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia78→38+40
  7. House95→55+40
  8. Parks and Recreation50→11+39
  9. Slow Horses62→23+39
  10. The Diplomat94→57+37

Readers cooled on

NY Times rank → readers' rank

  1. The Office (U.K.)16→95−79
  2. Adolescence40→80−40
  3. RuPaul's Drag Race61→100−39
  4. Atlanta10→47−37
  5. Insecure55→92−37
  6. Normal People49→84−35
  7. I Think You Should Leave57→91−34
  8. Black Mirror26→54−28
  9. Broad City46→74−28
  10. Watchmen39→62−23

Readers added

Not on the NY Times list · top 10 of 26

  1. Avatar: The Last AirbenderNo. 37
  2. Derry GirlsNo. 45
  3. ShrinkingNo. 56
  4. SherlockNo. 60
  5. DarkNo. 61
  6. The Big Bang TheoryNo. 64
  7. New GirlNo. 65
  8. Brooklyn Nine-NineNo. 69
  9. Widow's BayNo. 70
  10. Grey's AnatomyNo. 71

Readers left off

Not on the readers' list · top 10 of 26

  1. I May Destroy YouNo. 18
  2. The ComebackNo. 23
  3. Key & PeeleNo. 29
  4. EnlightenedNo. 33
  5. LouieNo. 41
  6. Happy ValleyNo. 45
  7. The BureauNo. 54
  8. Chappelle's ShowNo. 58
  9. PEN15No. 59
  10. Peep ShowNo. 60
The full listCheck off what you've seen
0of 126 completed
NY Times 1000
Readers 1000

0 partway through · 0 on my watchlist · 0 rated

All 126 shows

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A checklist of either list with your own checkmarks and stars filled in. Keep it, print it, or send it to someone who still hasn’t watched The Wire.

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List

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Breaking Bad2008–2013Netflix, AMC+Crime & Thriller, Drama110
The Wire2002–2008HBO MaxCrime & Thriller, Drama220
Mad Men2007–2015HBO Max, AMC+Drama, Period & War330
Succession2018–2023HBO MaxDrama, Comedy440
Fleabag2016–2019Prime VideoComedy, Drama58▼ 3
Game of Thrones2011–2019HBO MaxSci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama65▲ 1
Veep2012–2019HBO MaxComedy712▼ 5
30 Rock2006–2013Peacock, HuluComedy813▼ 5
Curb Your Enthusiasm2000–2024HBO MaxComedy919▼ 10
Atlanta2016–2022HuluComedy, Drama1047▼ 37
The Office (U.S.)2005–2013PeacockComedy117▲ 4
Arrested Development2003–2019NetflixComedy129▲ 3
Girls2012–2017HBO MaxComedy, Drama1335▼ 22
Friday Night Lights2006–2011PeacockDrama1431▼ 17
Six Feet Under2001–2005HBO MaxDrama1528▼ 13
The Office (U.K.)2001–2003BritBoxComedy1695▼ 79
The Americans2013–2018HuluDrama, Crime & Thriller, Period & War1714▲ 3
I May Destroy You2020HBO MaxDrama18——
Chernobyl2019HBO MaxDrama, Period & War1920▼ 1
The Crown2016–2023NetflixDrama, Period & War2036▼ 16
The White Lotus2021–nowHBO MaxDrama, Comedy2133▼ 12
Lost2004–2010HuluDrama, Crime & Thriller, Sci-Fi & Fantasy2216▲ 6
The Comeback2005–2026HBO MaxComedy23——
Deadwood2004–2006HBO MaxPeriod & War, Drama2443▼ 19
The Leftovers2014–2017HBO MaxDrama, Crime & Thriller2527▼ 2
Black Mirror2011–nowNetflixSci-Fi & Fantasy2654▼ 28
Better Call Saul2015–2022Netflix, AMC+Crime & Thriller, Drama276▲ 21
Band of Brothers2001HBO MaxPeriod & War, Drama2829▼ 1
Key & Peele2012–2015Paramount+Comedy29——
Severance2022–nowApple TVSci-Fi & Fantasy, Crime & Thriller3015▲ 15
Survivor2000–nowParamount+Unscripted3153▼ 22
Andor2022–2025Disney+Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama3222▲ 10
Enlightened2011–2013HBO MaxComedy, Drama33——
Schitt's Creek2015–2020HuluComedy3417▲ 17
True Detective (Season 1)2014HBO MaxCrime & Thriller3521▲ 14
The Pitt2025–nowHBO MaxDrama3618▲ 18
Battlestar Galactica2005–2009PeacockSci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama3749▼ 12
Homeland2011–2020HuluCrime & Thriller3844▼ 6
Watchmen2019HBO MaxSci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama3962▼ 23
Adolescence2025NetflixCrime & Thriller, Drama4080▼ 40
Louie2010–2015HuluComedy41——
Hacks2021–2026HBO MaxComedy4232▲ 10
Peaky Blinders2013–2022NetflixCrime & Thriller, Period & War4351▼ 8
BoJack Horseman2014–2020NetflixAnimation, Comedy4439▲ 5
Happy Valley2014–2023Netflix, AMC+Crime & Thriller, Drama45——
Broad City2014–2019Paramount+Comedy4674▼ 28
Twin Peaks: The Return2017Paramount+Crime & Thriller, Drama4746▲ 1
House of Cards2013–2018NetflixDrama4866▼ 18
Normal People2020HuluDrama4984▼ 35
Parks and Recreation2009–2015PeacockComedy5011▲ 39
The Good Place2016–2020Netflix, PeacockComedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy5124▲ 27
Downton Abbey2010–2015PeacockDrama, Period & War5225▲ 27
Stranger Things2016–2025NetflixSci-Fi & Fantasy5340▲ 13
The Bureau2015–2020AMC+Crime & Thriller54——
Insecure2016–2021HBO MaxComedy, Drama5592▼ 37
Nathan for You2013–2017Paramount+Comedy, Unscripted5673▼ 17
I Think You Should Leave2019–nowNetflixComedy5791▼ 34
Chappelle's Show2003–2006Netflix, Paramount+Comedy58——
PEN152019–2021HuluComedy59——
Peep Show2003–2015HuluComedy60——
RuPaul's Drag Race2009–nowParamount+Unscripted61100▼ 39
Slow Horses2022–nowApple TVCrime & Thriller6223▲ 39
The Thick of It2005–2012BritBoxComedy63——
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown2013–2018HBO MaxUnscripted64——
Mare of Easttown2021HBO MaxCrime & Thriller, Drama6588▼ 23
The Rehearsal2022–nowHBO MaxComedy, Unscripted6658▲ 8
The Handmaid's Tale2017–2025HuluDrama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy6752▲ 15
Ozark2017–2022NetflixCrime & Thriller, Drama6848▲ 20
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations2005–2012HBO MaxUnscripted69——
The Shield2002–2008HuluCrime & Thriller, Drama70——
Beef (Season 1)2023NetflixComedy, Drama71——
Squid Game2021–2025NetflixCrime & Thriller, Drama72——
Barry2018–2023HBO MaxComedy, Crime & Thriller7368▲ 5
The Bear2022–2026Hulu, Disney+Comedy, Drama7441▲ 33
Ted Lasso2020–nowApple TVComedy7510▲ 65
Somebody Somewhere2022–2024HBO MaxComedy, Drama7682▼ 6
Modern Family2009–2020Hulu, PeacockComedy7734▲ 43
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia2005–nowHuluComedy7838▲ 40
The Good Wife2009–2016Paramount+Drama, Crime & Thriller7977▲ 2
How To with John Wilson2020–2023HBO MaxComedy, Unscripted80——
The Queen's Gambit2020NetflixDrama8150▲ 31
Better Things2016–2022HuluComedy, Drama82——
Justified2010–2015HuluCrime & Thriller, Period & War8359▲ 24
Planet Earth2006HBO MaxUnscripted84——
The Great British Baking Show2010–nowNetflixUnscripted8542▲ 43
Shogun2024–nowHulu, Disney+Drama, Period & War8663▲ 23
Reservation Dogs2021–2023HuluComedy, Drama8779▲ 8
Dexter2006–2013Paramount+Crime & Thriller8867▲ 21
Baby Reindeer2024NetflixDrama, Crime & Thriller89——
Eastbound & Down2009–2013HBO MaxComedy90——
Catastrophe2015–2019Prime VideoComedy91——
The Night Of2016HBO MaxCrime & Thriller, Drama92——
Station Eleven2021–2022HBO MaxSci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama9381▲ 12
The Diplomat2023–nowNetflixCrime & Thriller9457▲ 37
House2004–2012PeacockDrama9555▲ 40
Halt and Catch Fire2014–2017AMC+Drama, Period & War96——
Community2009–2015Netflix, HuluComedy9730▲ 67
The OA2016–2019NetflixSci-Fi & Fantasy, Crime & Thriller98——
Gilmore Girls2000–2007NetflixDrama, Comedy9926▲ 73
Scandal2012–2018HuluCrime & Thriller100——
Avatar: The Last Airbender2005–2008Paramount+, NetflixAnimation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy—37—
Derry Girls2018–2022NetflixComedy—45—
Shrinking2023–nowApple TVComedy, Drama—56—
Sherlock2010–2017NetflixCrime & Thriller—60—
Dark2017–2020NetflixSci-Fi & Fantasy, Crime & Thriller—61—
The Big Bang Theory2007–2019HBO MaxComedy—64—
New Girl2011–2018Hulu, NetflixComedy—65—
Brooklyn Nine-Nine2013–2021Peacock, HuluComedy—69—
Widow's Bay2026–nowApple TVSci-Fi & Fantasy, Comedy—70—
Grey's Anatomy2005–nowHulu, NetflixDrama—71—
How I Met Your Mother2005–2014HuluComedy—72—
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel2017–2023Prime VideoComedy, Period & War—75—
Pluribus2025–nowApple TVSci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama—76—
Mindhunter2017–2019NetflixCrime & Thriller—78—
Heated Rivalry2025–nowHBO MaxDrama—83—
Abbott Elementary2021–nowHuluComedy—85—
Fargo (Season 1)2014HuluCrime & Thriller—86—
Mr. Robot2015–2019Prime VideoCrime & Thriller, Drama—87—
Scrubs2001–2010HuluComedy—89—
Broadchurch2013–2017BritBoxCrime & Thriller—90—
The Walking Dead2010–2022Netflix, AMC+Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama—93—
Big Little Lies2017–2019HBO MaxDrama, Crime & Thriller—94—
The Expanse2015–2022Prime VideoSci-Fi & Fantasy—96—
This Is Us2016–2022Hulu, PeacockDrama—97—
Bob's Burgers2011–nowHulu, Disney+Animation, Comedy—98—
Silo2023–nowApple TVSci-Fi & Fantasy, Crime & Thriller—99—

Rankings and list names are from The New York Times (2026): the official list, the readers’ list, and their Instagram. The Times also offers a printable checklist. This is an independent companion, not affiliated with or endorsed by the Times. Genres and streaming services are our own additions, US subscription availability as of October 2026, and deals change, so every show also links to JustWatch.