Even with so many new and acclaimed shows coming out all the time, there are plenty of viewers who like to return to old favorites when looking for the best TV shows to binge-watch. With the rise of streaming services, fans can watch entire seasons or even entire shows in the binge-watching era. However, it takes a certain kind of show to be truly binge-worthy and there are a variety of aspects to consider. From the tone and the number of episodes available to the way episodes lead into each other, these qualities help to determine the best TV shows to watch again and again.

The binge-watching model works for new shows that have become the latest obsession or for revisiting classic shows from beginning to end. If people have a relaxing weekend planned or some time off to fill with some binging, they are in luck with plenty of options out there in the streaming world. Those looking for a perfect sitcom to put a smile on their face and make them laugh can watch Parks and Recreation. Those looking for more edge-of-the-seat thrills can go through the epic storytelling of Breaking Bad. No matter the audience's tastes, there are always some great shows to binge-watch.

RELATED: The 50 Best TV Shows Of All Time, Ranked

30 30 Rock (2006 - 2013)

Shows about the making of shows always make for an intriguing setup but that is just where the fun begins with 30 Rock. Based loosely on Tina Fey's time as head writer on Saturday Night Live, the sitcom featured an amazing ensemble of funny people in a behind-the-scenes look at a late-night sketch show. However, after quickly finding its footing in the first season, 30 Rock began to embrace the most absurd humor, ignoring the confines of reality and just going for an endless barrage of great jokes. 30 Rock's running gags, live episodes, and guest stars like Matt Damon, Jennifer Aniston, and Jerry Seinfeld helped to create seven seasons of non-stop laughs.

Available to stream on Hulu and Peacock Premium

29 Yellowstone (2018 - Present)

Yellowstone went from a little-known modern Western series to one of the biggest shows on television and it is not hard to see why. The series stars Kevin Costner as John Dutton, the patriarch of a family who owns a Montana ranch and who goes to great lengths to ensure his family holds onto that land. Creator Taylor Sheridan infuses the show with his modern cowboy aesthetic and compelling dialogue while the cast of talented actors fill the series with complex characters. The gripping storylines will make it hard to resist diving right into the next episode and with Yellowstone season 5 wrapping up this portion of the story, now is the perfect time to get caught up.

Available to stream on Peacock Premium

28 The Crown (2016 - 2023)

The public's obsession with the Royal Family makes The Crown one of the most addictive shows on television. The series details the life of Queen Elizabeth throughout her reign as Queen and the various important figures in her life. Each season details a new era with different actors stepping into key roles. The format works incredibly well and makes for a unique binging experience as the audience gets to follow these big moments in history and see the legacy of the Royal Family take shape in the modern age.

27 Schitt's Creek (2015 - 2020)

The Canadian sitcom Schitt's Creek had an interesting journey on television as it began as a small show that didn't have a big fanbase. Schitt's Creek improved over time with its funny characters and warm-hearted vibes. But just as it was becoming a huge hit and raking in the award, the series decided to come to an end. Still, with five seasons of small-town fun, Schitt's Creek is a perfect binge-worthy sitcom with huge laughs and a sweetness that will leave a smile on the faces of the audience.

Available to stream on Netflix

26 Better Call Saul (2015 - 2022)

Few people thought a Breaking Bad spinoff was necessary and even fewer people expected Better Call Saul to be the better show. Bob Odenkirk steps out of the comic relief role to headline the series that explores how Jimmy McGill became the sleazy lawyer known as Saul Goodman. Like Breaking Bad, the show is filled with shocking story twists, unbearable tension, and a superb character arc. While there are a lot of returning characters from the original series, Better Call Saul stands on its own as a wholly satisfying character journey that viewers can now experience in its entirety with the show wrapping up its sixth season in 2022.

Available to stream on Netflix

25 Criminal Minds (2005 - Present)

The best TV shows to binge-watch have to be able to hold their premise over an extended period. Luckily, the original Criminal Minds series managed to hold up its case-of-the-week format for 15 seasons, with devoted fans staying hooked the entire time. The show lives on with the revival Criminal Minds: Evolution. The series follows a team of FBI criminal profilers who use their training in behavioral analysis to identify dangerous suspects. Given the rise in popularity of the true-crime genre, it is not surprising that Criminal Minds had such success as it would disturb and fascinate fans with one gruesome case after another, diving into what motivates these actions.

Available to stream on Paramount+ and Hulu

24 Shameless (2011 - 2021)

There are plenty of dysfunctional families on television that audiences can get to know, but there are few who are as out of control as the Gallaghers on Shameless. The show follows a massive and chaotic blue-collar family in Chicago, but as wild, unhinged, and troublemaking as the kids are, they pale in comparison to their father, Frank (William H. Macy), who makes a mess of everything. Part of the fun of binge-watching this 11-season show is seeing these characters grow over the years while dealing with all the mayhem in their lives. It is a perfect mix of dark comedy and outrageous family drama to keep viewers invested in these wild characters.

Available to stream on Netflix and Showtime

23 How To Get Away With Murder (2014 - 2020)

Recent years have seen a huge interest in murder mysteries and whodunnit stories, with some of them among the best TV shows to binge-watch. One such series that will keep audiences guessing is How To Get Away with Murder. The show follows Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) and the best students from her criminal defense class who becomes embroiled in a murder investigation. Davis leads the series with a commanding performance that earned her an Emmy Award and three other nominations. Whether fans are watching for the first time and trying to get to the bottom of the mystery, or rewatching it and enjoying the sexy and sleek vibe of the show, it is worth a binge.

Available to stream on Netflix

22 Band Of Brothers (2001)

Usually, shows that only last for one season don't make for the best TV shows to binge-watch. However, each episode of Band of Brothers is like a mini-movie, as the Steven Spielberg-produced series follows the soldiers of Easy Company through their training and into the European battlefield of World War II. The size and scope of Band of Brothers changed television by proving this type of production could work on the small screen. It's a powerful account of these real-life soldiers in a realistic and grounded depiction of war. An added bonus of binging the series now is seeing future stars like Tom Hardy, Michael Fassbender, and James McAvoy show up in bit parts.

Available to stream on Max

21 Gilmore Girls (2000 - 2007)

Some of the best TV shows to binge-watch provide comfort to viewers. Gilmore Girls fits this description as it follows the relationship between single mother Lorelai and her teenage daughter Rory living in a small town. The show doesn't demand too much from the audience but instead draws them in with quirky humor, sharp dialogue, and charming relationships. Lorelai and Rory feel like a unique and inspiring mother-daughter duo who the audience just wants to spend time with. It is a show that gives off a cozy feeling that makes for a pleasant binge-watch.

Available to stream on Netflix

20 Stranger Things (2016-Present)

The final season of Stranger Things is on the way, but even unfinished, it remains one of the best TV shows to binge-watch. Set in the 1980s in the fictional town of Hawkins, the show follows a group of young friends and their parents as they deal with various supernatural threats emerging from the realm known as the Upside Down. Each season of Stranger Things is like a super-sized blockbuster movie with plenty of monsters, action, and genre fun. The nostalgia factor cannot be ignored either, but it comes down to the sweet, heroic, and funny characters who fans have come to love and continue to cheer for as they try to save the day.

Available to stream on Netflix

19 Parks And Recreation (2009 - 2015)

Sitcoms are among the best TV shows to binge-watch as they are light and provide laughs. While most sitcoms tend to lose steam after a while, people can watch all of Parks and Recreation right to the end and enjoy every minute of it. In fact, the show has only gotten more popular thanks to the binge-watching era, with more fans finding it and original fans returning to it again and again. Parks and Rec's cast of characters have become among the most beloved in television history with April Ludgate, Ron Swanson, and of course, Leslie Knope. Their misadventures in the mundane world of local government make for many hilarious episodes like "Flu Season" and "The Comeback Kid."

Available to stream on Peacock Premium

18 The Wire (2002 - 2008)

While intense prestige dramas don't always make for the best TV shows to binge, The Wire manages to tell a grounded and layered story while still being engaging enough that fans return to it over and over. The crime series examines the police operations to take down the criminal drug element of Baltimore and how it affects different aspects of the city. The Wire's five-season run demanded the attention of the audience with dense stories and a more grounded look at police work than most shows. However, it was always gripping and filled with fascinating characters who broke stereotypes, from the business-minded drug lord Stringer Bell to the heart-of-gold Bubbles to the complex anti-hero Omar Little.

Available to stream on Max

17 Breaking Bad (2008 - 2013)

Breaking Bad is considered by many to be one of the best shows of all time, along with one of the best TV shows to binge-watch. In one of the most brilliant character arcs in television history, audiences watch as mild-mannered family man Walter White transforms into a ruthless drug kingpin. Breaking Bad has aged incredibly well since ending its five-season run and will grip audiences with its daring and unpredictable storytelling more than a decade later. It is also a great show to rewatch as fans can notice the many clever uses of foreshadowing throughout the series that show off the exceptional writing in the show.

Available to stream on Netflix

16 The Office (2005 - 2013)

It is funny how a show about the mundanity of working in an office is the kind of series that so many people want to watch endlessly. Though there are some who prefer the original and much shorter U.K. The Office, the remake balances that cringe-worthy comedy with heartwarming moments and genuinely likable characters. For instance, the Jim and Pam romance makes for one of the best will-they, won't-they couples, with fans completely invested in their journey. Dwight Schrute is also one of the strangest television creations and can be totally repulsive but show signs of humanity throughout. However, Michael Scott's endless antics, from his pointless meetings to his "that's what she said" jokes, are the kind of thing fans will never get tired of.

Available to stream on Peacock Premium

15 Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997 - 2003)

Teen drama shows were rampant in the '90s, but Buffy the Vampire is one of the best because it was a supernatural series that made its characters universally relatable through its "high school as hell" metaphor. The show follows Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), the Chosen One who must save the world from vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness. Buffy goes to school and fights these monsters with her best friends, and has a tumultuous love life along the way. The show is the perfect mix of camp, heartfelt drama, and iconic episodes like Buffy's musical "Once More with Feeling", making it an ideal binge-watch.

Available to stream on Hulu

14 Abbott Elementary (2021 - Present)

While many of the best shows to binge-watch have finished their run, binging can also be done to catch up on great current TV. Abbott Elementary centers on the titular Philadelphia public school as the keen, warm-hearted Janine Teagues (played by show creator Quinta Brunson) and her fellow teachers and colleagues deal with lack of funding and poor management as they try to shape the young minds of today. Workplace mockumentary sitcoms always make for excellent binge-watches, but in addition to the hilarity, Abbott Elementary has more heart than its contemporaries and delivers the laughs while still shedding light on real-life issues.

RELATED: Abbott Elementary Cast & Character Guide

Available to stream on Max and Hulu

13 Mad Men (2007 - 2015)

Set in the world of 1960s advertising in Manhattan, Mad Men is a complex, disturbing, hilarious, and aesthetically pleasing character study. Ad exec Don Draper (Jon Hamm) may be the moody protagonist trying to make sense of life as he hides his past, but it's the supporting characters who really shine, particularly fan favorites Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) and Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks). While the period-era costumes are spectacular, the drama series gives warts-and-all exposure to the social injustices of the time, particularly toward women. Mad Men won the Best Drama Emmy award for its first four seasons, making it a show not to be missed.

Available to stream on AMC+

12 Friends (1994 - 2004)

While typically it's drama TV shows that are the topic of water-cooler discussions, Friends proved that sitcoms can still generate passionate conversation amongst fans. The smash-hit '90s show follows the lives of six friends in their twenties living in New York as they navigate their professional and romantic lives. All the main cast became A-list celebrities, particularly Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green. Rachel's on-again, off-again relationship with Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) was one of Friends' most riveting storylines, with fans still debating "Were they on a break?" Add in some famous quotes — "Pivot!" — that are still being bandied about more than two decades later, and Friends is the perfect binge-watch for both those who missed it during its run and new fans wanting in on the laughs.

Available to stream on Max

11 Fleabag (2016 - 2019)

Viewers looking for a binge-watch typically want shows with hundreds of episodes to keep them going for a while, but there are some audiences who prefer a shorter binge that can be accomplished in a weekend or even an afternoon. At two seasons and 12 episodes, Fleabag definitely fits the bill of the latter camp. Based on Phoebe Waller-Bridge's one-woman show, she plays the titular character who struggles with grief, love, and sex in London. As emotional as it is whip-smart, Fleabag proves that a show doesn't need a ton of time and episodes to deliver characters who are fundamentally flawed yet beyond lovable.

Available to stream on Prime Video