There aren't many things more fun than binging a good TV show in one sitting. But then, what arises is the problem of what to watch next. There are s
There aren’t many things more fun than binging a good TV show in one sitting. But then, what arises is the problem of what to watch next. There are several ways of figuring that out, but what many television fans will turn to is IMDb. The website has a handy list of the 250 highest-rated shows on the platform, and the top 10 are all a must-see for those who love the medium.
Thankfully, for those who like to keep their television-watching diverse, there’s a surprisingly wide variety of shows on IMDb’s top 10 TV shows list. From kid-friendly animated series like Avatar: The Last Airbender to revolutionary crime dramas like The Sopranos, these are shows whose quality is backed up by the incredibly high ratings they have received from users on IMDb.
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‘Seinfeld’ (1989–1998)
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Not only is Seinfeld one of the best sitcoms of all time, it downright revolutionized the genre. Whereas most time-honored sitcoms from before 1989 typically revolved around a core emotional lesson or a clear A-plot and B-plot structure, Seinfeld turned all of those traditions on their head. There’s no learning here, no real character growth, and no situation where storylines don’t intersect in all sorts of hilariously messy ways.
That messiness and comedic chaos is precisely the source of Seinfeld‘s timeless charm, and it’s precisely why it’s still such a beloved show on IMDb all these many years after its conclusion. Fans love how the show blends the mundanity of everyday life with comedy that borders on being outlandish, all with hysterical dialogue and some of the most memorable characters television has ever seen.
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‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ (2023–Present)
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Based on the manga series of the same name written by Kanehito Yamada and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is one of the best fantasy anime of all time. The ongoing television adaptation has been lauded as one of the best anime series of the 2020s so far, and it seems like it’s only going to get better as it goes on.
What really sets Frieren apart from other old-school Hero’s Journey fantasy stories is that it doesn’t actually follow the team’s epic quest to save the world. Rather, it’s all about the quieter, more human moments that transpire after the world has been saved. There’s melancholy, joy, laughter, and some of the most gorgeous animation the medium has ever seen.
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‘Death Note’ (2006–2007)
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Death Note is one of those anime masterpieces that are sort of rites of passage for fans, a show so good that it’s widely credited with having contributed to bringing anime into the mainstream in the behind schedule 2000s and early 2010s. Almost two decades after its conclusion, it’s still every bit as enthralling today as it was back in its day.
It’s a hugely influential and irresistibly entertaining cat-and-mouse game that brings up crucial questions on justice, morality, and how power corrupts. It’s psychologically intense and incredibly fast-paced, making for an utterly engrossing 37 episodes of top-tier television that never let up. It’s a highly philosophical psychological thriller that refuses to spoonfeed its thought-provoking themes to its audience, which has largely contributed to its exceptional rating on IMDb.
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‘Gravity Falls’ (2012–2016)
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Proof that children’s media can enchant audiences of all ages, Gravity Falls is perhaps the biggest cult classic series that Disney has ever put out. It’s some sort of family-friendly Twin Peaks in all the right ways, a true masterpiece of a show that balances humor, world-building, and character development in exactly the right ways from start to finish.
It’s also the kind of mystery show that gets better on rewatch, and that timelessness has no doubt contributed to its becoming one of the highest-rated TV shows in history on IMDb. It wears its influences out on its sleeve yet is still delightfully artistic throughout, with a genuinely riveting tone of mystery and a sense of humor that should be able to make anyone cackle at least once, no matter their age.
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‘Firefly’ (2002–2003)
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Unfortunately for fans of the genre, it’s often science fiction that gets the brief end of the stick when it comes to networks not allowing them to flourish and find their artistic footing past a single season. There are still plenty of single-season sci-fi shows that are masterpieces; chief among them the cult classic Firefly.
Even though this enrapturing space Western still had a tank full of gas by the time it was canceled, it has still managed to attain an IMDb rating that most sci-fi series with multiple seasons would be jealous of. The production values are fantastic, and the plotting is thoroughly entertaining, but what has really allowed Firefly to remain in fans’ hearts for so long is just how endearing and fascinating its many characters are.
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‘Şahsiyet’ (2018–2024)
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Şahsiyet, which translates to “Persona,” is a Turkish crime psychological thriller that deserves far more recognition from mainstream audiences. After all, it takes something truly special to join the ranks of the highest-rated TV shows on IMDb; and, as it happens, those who give Şahsiyet a shot will find that it’s fully worth the hype.
Indeed, this is one of the highest-rated crime shows on IMDb, with terrific performances, top-tier writing, and great pacing. It takes its time with plenty of story beats and character arcs, but that’s precisely what makes it such an enrapturing show. For those looking to get into some great non-American dramatic television, this is a phenomenal place to start.
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‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (2026–Present)
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
It seems that George R.R. Martin still has plenty of TV shows left in the tank before he gets around to finishing his Song of Ice and Fire series. The most recent Westeros adventure is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is already a massive hit with fans. It’s an adaptation of the Tales of Dunk and Egg series of novellas, and there’s still more than enough material there to make this one of the longest-running fantasy series of newfangled times.
Whether that ends up being the case or not, though, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is sure to remain among the highest-rated series on IMDb. Reviews there call it one of the best fantasy shows of the 2020s thus far, praising its cast, its humor, and the fact that it goes for a far smaller and more focused scope than its predecessors.
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‘The Pitt’ (2025–Present)
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Medical dramas are a tried-and-true genre that can sometimes feel a bit trite, but now and then, an extraordinary one comes along that shakes things up and brings recent fans to the realm of these kinds of shows. The Pitt may go so far as being the single best medical drama ever made for television. It’s certainly the highest-rated on IMDb.
Praised for its admirable commitment to accuracy and realism, The Pitt manages to balance that spirit with emotionally investing character arcs, entertaining plots, and unexpected twists. It’s a perfect balance that makes for some of the most engrossing television IMDb users have been treated to in many years.
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‘My Mister’ (2018)
IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
K-dramas are an entirely different world unto themselves, and the family drama My Mister is one of the best-written K-dramas in recent memory. This is no feel-good comedy. In fact, it can often be a hopelessly bleak, absolutely gut-wrenching show, but that’s precisely why reviewers on IMDb seem to admire it as much as they do.
Everything about My Mister, from the performances to the cinematography to the music, has received ample praise on IMDb, and it’s hardly a surprise. It’s a slow-burning slice-of-life drama whose emotional power gradually creeps up on you, and by the time you’re getting to its last few episodes, you’re so compelled by the characters that everything that happens to them has a tremendous effect on you as well.
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‘Taskmaster’ (2015–Present)
IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
It’s not just narrative shows that have received the praise of IMDb reviewers over the years. There’s also the highest-rated game show on the platform, Taskmaster. Challenging the creativity and wit of a group of comedians every season, hosts Alex Horne and Greg Davies have created one of the most hilarious shows currently on television.
This British comedic masterpiece is perfect for those who want to sit down for an hour every night and laugh so raucous that they bother the neighbors. The simplicity of its concept allows its many comedian guests to keep every recent season fresh and artistic, offering several moments every episode that are absolutely hysterical.
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