Highest-rated series on 15 popular streaming sites

- IMDb user rating: 9.2
- On the air: 2005–2008

The celebrated Nickelodeon series tells the story of four nations—Water, Earth, Fire, and Air, and the benders who have the ability to control these natural elements. When the newest Avatar, the only bender with enough power to stop the Fire Nation from overtaking the world, is discovered, he must be safeguarded on his journey to mastery of all four elements. The cartoon ran for three seasons from 2005 to 2008, with a sequel series, “The Legend of Korra,” running from 2012 to 2014.

- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- On the air: 2020–present

Despite no experience with association football (also known as soccer), American college football coach Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) is recruited to coach an English Premier League team. The comedy series is based on a character Sudeikis portrayed in promos for NBC coverage of the Premier League back in 2013. The show, which has been praised for its charm, heart, and overall likeability, has garnered a number of awards nominations in 2021, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy, and a Globes win for Sudeikis in the Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy category.

- IMDb user rating: 8.9
- On the air: 1981–2003

Originally broadcast on BBC One, this British sitcom centers on two brothers and their uncle looking to get rich quick, and following along as they embark on numerous money-making schemes that almost always backfire. The series ran officially from 1981 to 1991, with 16 Christmas episodes airing until 2003. Its enduring popularity in British culture allowed for numerous spin-offs, including a stage musical adaptation that launched in February 2019.

- IMDb user rating: 8.9
- On the air: 2012–2016

Twins Dipper and Mabel are two adventure-seeking kids spending their summer in the mysterious town of Gravity Falls, where they help their great uncle “Grunkle” Stan run his Mystery Shack tourist site. However, there’s more to Gravity Falls than meets the eye, and the twins become intent on unlocking the town’s secrets. Despite voluntarily ending after only two seasons, the show was immensely popular and critically acclaimed, garnering numerous awards nominations, including two Emmy wins, and releasing a graphic novel continuation of the series in 2018.

- IMDb user rating: 9.2
- On the air: 2013–present

Mad scientist Rick Sanchez suddenly appears at the home of his daughter Beth after being missing for 20 years, moving in with her family and forming an unconventional bond with his grandson, Morty, who accompanies him on adventures across the galaxy. From Justin Roiland and "Community" creator Dan Harmon, the ongoing Adult Swim cartoon originated from a parody short of "Back to the Future" called "The Real Animated Adventures of Doc and Mharti."

- IMDb user rating: 8.8
- On the air: 2005–present

The degenerate proprietors of South Philly bar Paddy’s Pub seem to do anything but manage their own bar, while their unending depravity, narcissism, and greed land them into one ludicrous, hilarious situation after the next. Infamously dubbed “‘Seinfeld’ on crack,” the now-longest running live-action comedy series in American history has continued to elude most awards nominations, despite its lasting influence on pop culture and adoration from fans and critics.

- IMDb user rating: 9.4
- On the air: 2001

This 10-part series, executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, chronicles the experiences of the young men in the E “Easy” Company, or the 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, during World War II. Based on the nonfiction book of the same name by Stephen E. Ambrose, the series features an extensive cast of main and supporting actors, including Damien Lewis, Ron Livingston, David Schwimmer, Colin Hanks, Michael Fassbender, and James McAvoy.

- IMDb user rating: 9.3
- On the air: 2014

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson takes you on a voyage through the cosmos in this limited documentary series, which is presented in such a way as to render the concept of our infinite universe accessible to all viewers. The show is a follow-up to “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage” presented by astrophysicist Carl Sagan in 1980. “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey” won a Peabody Award for its educational content and saw its sequel series, “Cosmos: Possible Worlds,” air on National Geographic in 2020.

- IMDb user rating: 9.5
- On the air: 2008–2013

Ordinary high school chemistry teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston) is diagnosed with terminal cancer, making the already tenuous financial stability of his family life even more fragile. Desperate to make money, White teams up with a troubled former student of his and joins the meth-making business. Frequently cited as one of the best shows of all time, the series won a total of 16 Emmy awards during its run.

- IMDb user rating: 9.0
- On the air: 1959–1964

This classic anthology show, hosted by program creator Rod Serling, takes viewers on a journey through the strange and unusual. Each episode falls under the genre of sci-fi, fantasy, or horror, and features a stand-alone story, typically with a shocking ending and moral. The enduring popularity of the mid-20th century series led to three reboots in 1985, 2002, and 2019.

- IMDb user rating: 8.9
- On the air: 2005–2013

Bumbling branch manager Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) leads the Scranton, Pennsylvania leg of the Dunder Mifflin paper company while a documentary crew attempts to capture the life and times of these dysfunctional coworkers. The mockumentary-style sitcom is adapted from the U.K. series of the same name and was met with critical acclaim and a massive cultural impact. The show led to Scranton becoming something of a tourist site, even spawning a fan convention there.

- IMDb user rating: 9.0
- On the air: 2006–2007

Teenager Light Yagami discovers an ordinary notebook that grants an extraordinary power—the ability of its owner to kill the people whose names they write on the pages. The show follows Light and the book’s original owner, the bored spirit Ryuk, as Light attempts to use the notebook to rid the world of immoral people. Adapted from the manga series of the same name, the popularity of the 37-episode program led to a novel, video games, four live-action Japanese films, a television drama, miniseries, and an American live-action film.

- IMDb user rating: 8.8
- On the air: 1990–1991

David Lynch’s seminal hybrid drama follows determined FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) as he attempts to uncover the mystery behind the murder of high school prom queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). Laura's small hometown of Twin Peaks harbors dangerous secrets, and not all of them are of this world. Combining horror, the surreal, comedy, melodrama, and mystery, the lauded series was canceled after two seasons and spurred a devoted cult following, cementing it in pop culture history. Further interest in the show during the streaming age helped grant it a revival season in 2017—over 25 years after it ended—which was met with widespread acclaim and was considered one of the best shows of the year.

- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- On the air: 1989

Adapted from the 1985 novel of the same name, this series follows two retired Texas Rangers as they drive a herd of cattle from Texas to Montana. The four-part miniseries stars Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones and was originally intended to be a film starring John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, and Henry Fonda. However, the film was scrapped, and the script was reworked into the novelization.

 - IMDb user rating: 9.4
- On the air: 1983–1994

Everyone's favorite big-haired American painter Bob Ross takes us along as he paints landscapes full of happy little trees in this instructional television series, which has captured the adoration of painting hobbyists and casual viewers alike. Ross's warm positivity in the relaxing series has had a lasting legacy on pop culture, inspiring countless memes and gaining popularity among the ASMR community.