Available Seasons: 1 | Episode Runtime: 30 minutes

Cast: Kelsey Grammer (Frasier Crane), Nicholas Lyndhurst (Alan Cornwall), Jack Cutmore-Scott (Freddy Crane), Anders Keith (David Crane), Jess Salgueiro (Eve), Toks Olagundoye (Olivia)

Described as the titular psychologist's "third act", the Frasier revival finds Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) back in Boston, the Cheers city where he was first introduced to audiences. Not much else is known about the revival's plot, other than Frasier's now-grown son Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott) playing a pivotal role. While Frasier's snobby younger brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce) sadly won't be appearing, there should be plenty of hilarity for fans of the original sitcom, which ran for 11 seasons and won 37 Emmys, proving its comedy pedigree.

Available Seasons: 4

Cast: Tawny Newsome (Ensign Beckett Mariner), Jack Quaid (Ensign Brad Boimler), Noël Wells (Ensign D'Vana Tendi), Eugene Cordero (Ensign Samanthan Rutherford), Dawnn Lewis (Captain Carol Freeman), Jerry O'Connell (Commander Jack Ransom), Fred Tatasciore (Lieutenant Shaxs), Gillian Vigman (Dr. T'Ana)

Created by Rick & Morty writer Mike McMahan Star Trek: Lower Decks returns for a fourth season in September 2023, reuniting the loveable cast of the Enterprise's considerably less celebrated cousin, the USS Cerritos. Immediately gilded with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score from early reviews, Lower Decks season 4 releases weekly after the 2-episode premiere, with a loving tribute to Voyager setting a high bar in episode 1. Watch if you love Star Trek, stay for a comedic twist on the live-action formula that really delivers on the promise of "strange new worlds".

Available Seasons: 1 | Episode Runtime: 38-42 minutes

Cast: Nicole Kidman (Kaitlyn Meade), Zoe Saldana (Joe), Laysla De Oliveira (Cruz Manuelos)

A thrilling spy drama courtesy of Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, Special Ops: Lioness is a welcome all-action addition to Paramount+'s library. Boasting an all-star cast, the series sees Zoe Saldana's Joe recruit a female special operations marine with the goal of befriending a suspected terrorist. Taut and tense throughout and written with Sheridan's signature flair for the dramatic, Special Ops: Lioness is carried by a swathe of superb supporting performances from the likes of Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman.

Available Seasons: 1 | Episode Runtime: 60 minutes

Cast: Harrison Ford (Jacob Dutton), Helen Mirren (Cara Dutton), Isabel May (Elsa Dutton), and Aminah Nieves (Teonna Rainwater)

Attracting talent as major as Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren is no easy task, yet the pair's appearance in 1923 underscores the series' status as one of the best TV shows on Paramount+. The Western is a prequel to Yellowstone that centers on the Dutton family as they deal with events related to Western expansion in the 20th century, the Prohibition era, and the Great Depression. Expanding the Dutton mythology, 1923 is a riveting story in its own right – proving that prequels don't have to be beholden to the original.

Available Seasons: 6 | Episode Runtime: 45 minutes

Cast: Christine Baranski (Diane Lockart), Sarah Steele (Marissa Gold), Audra McDonald (Liz Reddick), and Delroy Lindo (Adrian Boseman)

A spinoff of The Good Wife, the acclaimed drama series follows a woman having to rebuild her life and start over from scratch. This time around, the show centers on Baranski’s Diane, who has lost her life savings and whose reputation is tarnished by a ponzi scheme. The series blends interoffice and real-life politics as The Good Fight provides social commentary on the divisive nature of the political system in the United States. The cast all turn in exceptional performances, and it’s no wonder that The Good Fight was the first original scripted series commissioned for CBS All Access before it became Paramount+.

Available Seasons: 1 | Episode Runtime: 53 minutes

Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Kristin Ramsey), Rodrigo Santoro (Garrett Briggs), Armani Jackson (Everett), and Bella Shepard (Blake)

A surprise standout of the Paramount+ originals that debuted in 2023, Wolf Pack is an alternative take on the ever-popular werewolf subgenre from Teen Wolf showrunner Jeff Davis. The show takes its inspiration from a series of novels about teen werewolves and incorporates many of the tropes that define successful teen drama. However, it’s definitely a different take on lycanthropy than Teen Wolf, with a very different mythology built into the story. A star turn from Sarah Michelle Gellar as an arson investigator also helps elevate Wolf Pack above the ordinary.

Available Seasons: 6 | Episode Runtime: 40-53 minutes

Cast: Tyler Posey (Scott McCall), Dylan O'Brien (Stiles Stilinski), Holland Roden (Lydia Martin), and Crystal Reed (Allison Argent)

One of the better examples of supernatural teen drama, Teen Wolf was a phenomenon for MTV during its original run and boasts a massive online fandom that helped to usher in the modern era of how an audience interacts with television. The popularity of the show made stars of the cast, especially Dylan O’Brien, whose comic timing and capacity for pathos as Stiles really helped ground the action. The show was so popular at its zenith that Paramount+ even produced a movie sequel to the series that was added to the platform in January 2023. Teen Wolf remains highly binge-able and a great coming-of-age story courtesy of its ensemble of teen characters.

Available Seasons: 2 | Episode Runtime: 41-61 minutes

Cast: Melanie Lynskey (Shauna Shipman), Christina Ricci (Misty Quigley), Tawny Cyprwess (Taissa Turner), Juliette Lewis (Natalie Scatorrcio

With its harrowing subject matter and gripping premise, Yellowjackets became the water cooler show of 2021, and is definitely a show Paramount+ subscribers will want to catch up on. It tells two parallel storylines. one takes place in 1996 when a girls' high school soccer team is forced to survive in the Canadian wilderness after their plane crashlands, and they eventually resort to cannibalism to survive. The second storyline takes place in the present day as the survivors are trying to live their adult lives when a mysterious blackmailer threatens to expose their secrets. This is an intense enough story to hook anyone, but what makes Yellowjackets really soar is the spectacularly talented cast led by Melanie Lynskey, Christina Ricci, Tawny Cypress, and Juliette Lewis. As Yellowjackets gets darker and darker, it only becomes more addictive.

Available Seasons: 7 | Episode Runtime: 54-60 minutes

Cast: Paul Giamatti (Chuck Rhoades Jr.), Damian Lewis (Bobby Axelrod), Maggie Siff (Wendy Rhoades), David Costabile (Mike "Wags" Wagner), Asia Kate Dillon (Taylor Mason), Corey Stoll (Michael Thomas Aquinas Prince)

A modern-day clash of the titans, Billions centers on the ongoing battle between ambitious United States Attorney Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) and billionaire hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis). Often compared to its fellow TV prestige drama Succession, which is also about plotting billionaires, Billions is faster-paced and soapier. And though it's the less acclaimed of the two, Billions has been praised for its progressiveness, both in its accurate and safe portrayal of BDSM and for being the first American TV show to feature both a non-binary actor and character, the fan-favorite Taylor (Asia Kate Dillon), who elevated the already excellent show the second they appeared onscreen.

Available Seasons: 10 | Episode Runtime: 45-95 minutes

Cast: Brandon Walsh (Jason Priestley), Shannen Doherty (Brenda Walsh), Jennie Garth (Kelly Taylor), Luke Perry (Dylan McKay)

The series that pioneered the teen soap genre, Beverly Hills, 90210 is all about the California dream. It starts with teenage twins Brandon (Jason Priestly) and Brenda (Shannen Doherty) moving from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Beverly Hills, California, and dealing with the extreme culture shock. Eventually, they find their footing and befriend their beautiful and popular classmates. Beverly Hills, 90210 touched on a slew of teen issues, from pregnancy scares to eating disorders, but quickly became more about the main characters' tumultuous love lives. The lead actors became household names, and while the show may seem a little dated today, that's just part of its winning '90s charm.

Available Seasons: 1 | Episode Runtime: 51-68 minutes

Cast: Miles Teller (Albert S. Ruddy), Juno Temple (Bettye McCartt), Matthew Goode (Robert Evans)

A fascinating look behind the scenes during the making of one of the most significant films ever made, The Offer is a dramatized window into American cinematic history. The miniseries recounts the journey of getting The Godfather to the big screen, chronicling the background conflict between several major film studios, as well as the ominous involvement of real organized crime families. While the narrative can become somewhat convoluted thanks to its many intricate threads, The Offer's real strength is in its cast. Miles Teller, Juno Temple, Matthew Goode, Colin Hanks, and more give great performances, and Temple was even nominated for a Critics Choice Award and a Satellite Award for her work.

Available Seasons: 1 | Episode Runtime: 44-52 minutes

Cast: Peyton List (Maddie Nears), Kristian Ventura (Simon Elroy), Milo Manheim (Wally Clark)

A murder mystery with an inventive supernatural twist, School Spirits takes the novel premise of having a dead teen investigate her own disappearance from beyond the grave. The show follows Maddie, who finds herself stuck in the afterlife alongside a group of teen ghosts who band together to help solve the mystery. Full of twists and turns, the show is also an impressively refreshing take on the high school experience that subverts many of the genre's established tropes to great effect.

Available Seasons: 8 | Episode Runtime: 45-85 minutes

Cast: Claire Danes (Carrie Mathison), Damian Lewis (Nicholas Brody), Mandy Patinkin (Saul Berenson)

Based on the Israeli series Prisoners of War, Homeland electrified audiences right from season 1. Protagonist Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) is a young, brilliant CIA operative who investigates rescued prisoner of war Sergeant Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis), whom she is convinced has been turned into a terrorist during his capture. Full of political intrigue and thrills, Homeland also frankly depicts struggles with mental health, as Carrie attempts to hide her bipolar disorder from the agency. Like most long-running shows, Homeland loses its luster in later seasons, but Danes deserves to be spoken about in the same breath as TV legend actors like James Gandolfini and Bryan Cranston for her performance as the flawed genius, and sometimes anti-heroine, Carrie Mathison.

Available Seasons: 5 | Episode Runtime: 50-90 minutes

Cast: Dominic West (Noah Solloway), Ruth Wilson (Alison Bailey), Maura Tierney (Helen Butler), Joshua Jackson (Cole Lockhart)

Perception is everything in The Affair, a five-season twisty drama that kicks off when author Noah Solloway (Dominic West) meets waitress Alison Bailey (Ruth Wilson) while visiting his in-laws with his family in Montauk, New York. Both married to other people, Noah and Alison begin a tumultuous affair that has dramatic consequences for them, their spouses, and everyone around them. What sets The Affair apart from other infidelity dramas is its dramatic device of showing the same event through two characters' perspectives. Season 1 split the episodes between Noah and Alison's perspectives, but season 2 opened it up to spouses Helen (Maura Tierney) and Cole (Joshua Jackson), with other characters also getting perspectives in later seasons. The Affair is an intense study of memory's relationship to fact, and it's anchored by the four tour de force performances of the show's leads.

Available Seasons: 7 | Episode Runtime: 40-46 minutes

Cast: Juliana Marguiles (Alicia Florrick), Christine Baranski (Diane Lockart), Archie Panjabi (Kalinda Sharma), and Matt Czuchry (Cary Agos)

An atypical political drama, The Good Wife stars Julianna Marguiles as the wife of a politician who returns to work as a lawyer after he’s jailed following a political scandal. The series took a step away from the case-of-the-week format that was so popular in the early 2010s, following a serialized narrative with story arcs that played out over several episodes. This storytelling approach made it incredibly popular at the time and makes it a great binge-watch now that it’s concluded. Fans can watch the story play out in a few hours instead of having to wait week-to-week with Paramount+, making The Good Wife one of the most gripping shows on the service.

Available Seasons: 1 | Episode Runtime: 44-67 minutes

Cast: Sam Elliot (Shea Brennan), Tim McGraw (James Dillard Dutton), Faith Hill (Margaret Dutton), and Isabel May (Elsa Dutton)

Another prequel to Taylor Sheridan's wildly popular Yellowstone, 1883 set the precedent for expanding the Duttons' universe. The series stars country singers Tim McGraw and Faith Hill as the original Duttons, the family moving from Tennessee to Montana to establish the area that becomes Yellowstone Ranch in the flagship series. Sam Elliot, as the leader of the wagon train heading west, won a Screen Actors Guild Award for his turn in the series, while 1883's dark story was evocative of more classic Westerns than the original, more politically-infused Yellowstone show.

While shows like Yellowstone and its prequels are some of the most popular on TV today, the Western genre has always been a hit with TV audiences, as Gunsmoke can attest. The series premiered in 1955 and ran for 20 seasons, holding the record for longest-running live-action primetime series until it was dethroned by Law and Order: SVU in 2022. Originally a radio drama, Gunsmoke centers on U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) as he seeks to keep the peace in his town of Dodge City, Kansas. Those wanting a substantial binge-watch need look no further than Gunsmoke. Even though only 14 seasons are available on Paramount+, they're still packed with plenty of thrilling Western escapism.

The first live-action adaptation of the Archie Comics character, Sabrina the Teenage Witch centers on the magic misadventures of Sabrina Spellman (Melissa Joan Hart), a normal teenage girl in the '90s who discovers she is a witch who must hide her identity as she tries to live a normal high school life. Hart is full of affable charm and she's surrounded by a spectacular supporting cast including Caroline Rhea and Beth Broderick as her witch aunts, Hilda and Zelda, and Nick Backy who provides the voice of Sabrina's sarcastic talking cat, Salem. While more recent Archie Comics adaptations like Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (about the same witch), Sabrina the Teenage Witch succeeds because of its winning light humor. Originally part of ABC's TGIF lineup, Sabrina the Teenage Witch is wholesome witchy fun that made for the perfect Friday night in — and still can on Paramount+.

Available Seasons: 4 | Episode Runtime: 21 minutes

Cast: Nathan Fielder (Himself)

A hilarious and ingenious blend of documentary and comedy, Nathan For You is a truly innovative approach to reality TV. Starring the indefatigable Nathan Fielder as a fictionalized version of himself, the show follows Fielder as he attempts to help small local businesses with elaborate (and ultimately disastrous) advertising campaigns. Often painfully awkward, yet never less than side-splittingly funny, the show is actually a nuanced look at how interactions between people can quickly get out of hand thanks to our societal reluctance to cause undue upset. The result is four seasons of classic cringe comedy.

Available Seasons: 1 | Episode Runtime: 45 minutes on average

Cast: Seth Rogen (Ken Miller), Jason Segel (Nick Andopolis), Linda Cardellini (Lindsay Weir), and James Franco (Daniel Desario)

Freaks and Geeks only ran for a single season on NBC, with only 12 of the 18 produced episodes actually airing. Nonetheless, the series has gone on to secure cult status and is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential shows of the past 25 years. The show, which featured two main story arcs, focused on siblings played by Linda Cardellini and John Francis Daley and was praised for its more realistic portrayal of teens in high school instead of the more Hollywood-friendly shine that other series included. It finally gained recognition when it was rebroadcast in its entirety on ABC Family and eventually moved to streaming services.

Available Seasons: 2 | Episode Runtime: 16-26 minutes

Cast: Dave Chappelle, Donnell Rawlings, and Questlove

While Dave Chappelle had already earned acclaim for his stand-up work, it wasn't until Chappelle's Show arrived on Comedy Central that he truly became a comedy icon. Sketches featuring Chappelle as a Black white supremacist, the absurd concept of a racial draft, and of course "Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories," took the world by storm, making Chappelle's Show a massive hit. Chappelle famously walked away from the show at its height, but its existing two seasons make for some of the best TV shows on Paramount+.

Available Seasons: 6 | Episode Runtime: 23 minutes

Cast: Will Smith (Will Smith), James Avery (Philip Banks), Alfonso Ribiero (Carlton Banks)

Before 1990, Will Smith was better known for his music than his acting. That all changed with the arrival of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Though the series is primarily a comedy, the show elevated itself with nuanced storylines about teenagehood, racism, and belonging. Smith's pseudo-autobiographical protagonist is a classic fish-out-of-water, struggling to adapt to a new life of privilege with his wealthy aunt, uncle, and wider family. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air remains hilarious and poignant to this day, proving that great comedy can have a heart as well as deliver laughs.

Available Seasons: 2 | Episode Runtime: 20-22 minutes

Cast: Rose McIver (Samantha), Utkarsh Ambudkar (Jay Arondekar), Brandon Scott Jones (Captain Isaac Higgintoot), and Danielle Pinnock (Alberta Haynes)

Adapted from the acclaimed original British series, Ghosts had a slow rise to popularity while airing live on CBS. Nevertheless, the blend of modern sitcom shenanigans with the stories of several ghosts from different time periods trapped in a property with a young living couple eventually won audiences over. Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar give great performances in the series as the couple who inherit a rundown estate full of the titular bothersome and eccentric ghosts. Ghosts has been renewed for a third season, suspected to arrive later in 2023 – highlighting its continued success.

Available Seasons: 11 | Episode Runtime: 21-23 minutes.

Cast: Kelsey Grammer (Frasier Crane), Jane Leeves (Daphne Moon), David Hyde Pierce (Niles Crane), and John Mahoney (Martin Crane)

Perhaps the definitive example of a successful spinoff, Frasier took the original Cheers side character and turned him into a household name. Following Dr. Frasier Crane's misadventures in Seattle with his brother Niles and father Martin, the show won plaudits for its beautifully observed characters and sharp writing. Such is Frasier's legacy that the series is even returning for a belated revival – the perfect accompaniment to the original series.

Available Seasons: 5 | Episode Runtime: 21-22 minutes

Cast: Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele

Although Key & Peele is most famous for brilliantly simple sketches like "Substitute Teacher" and "East/West College Bowl", there's a lot more to the show than mispronouncing silly names. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele's well-observed comedy provides a biting analysis of contemporary social concerns like racism, inequality, and politics. In many ways a spiritual successor to Chappelle's Show, Key & Peele also exhibits the titular pair's flair for the cinematic, with impressive big-budget sketches satirizing alien invasion and horror tropes.

Available Seasons: 1 | Episode Runtime: 36-43 minutes

Cast: Sylvester Stallone (Dwight "The General" Manfredi), Andrea Savage (Stacy Beale), Martin Starr (Lawrence "Bodhi" Geigerman), and Jay Will (Tyson Mitchell)

Proof that Taylor Sheridan's talents extend beyond the world of cowboys, Tulsa King is a gripping organized crime thriller. Sylvester Stallone plays Dwight Manfredi, a Mafia capo who is sent from New York to Oklahoma to set up a criminal base of operations. The series relies on Stallone's brooding performance as the titular character as he navigates the brutal criminal underworld while also struggling to make a new life for himself after 25 years in prison. Following in the footsteps of Tony Soprano, Manfredi is a compelling and charismatic antihero who serves the story well.

Available Seasons: 2 | Episode Runtime: 34-66 minutes

Cast: Jeremy Renner (Mike McLusky), Dianne Wiest (Mirriam McLusky), Hugh Dillon (Ian Ferguson), and Tobi Bamtefa (Deverin Washington)

In the vein of Sons of Anarchy, or even The Sopranos, Mayor of Kingstown examines what it means when family and crime are inextricably tied to one another. Jeremy Renner shines in the lead role of Mike McLusky, who inherits the criminal family enterprise after playing second fiddle to his brother. Set in the fictional town of Kingstown, Michigan, “Mayor” McLusky acts as a go-between for law enforcement officers and the criminal element, attempting to maintain order among the different factions. Another show courtesy of Taylor Sheridan, Mayor of Kingstown is a wildly entertaining crime thriller.

Available Seasons: 2 | Episode Runtime: 45 - 90 minutes

Cast: Kyle MacLachlan (Dale Cooper), Madchen Amick (Shelly Johnson), Sherilyn Fenn (Audrey Horne), and Michael Ontkean (Sheriff Harry S. Truman)

Unquestionably one of the weirdest TV shows of all time, the David Lynch and Mark Frost-created Twin Peaks is also one of the best TV shows on Paramount+. What starts as FBI agent Dale Cooper's quest to uncover the truth about the murder of Laura Palmer evolves into a surreal journey of supernatural discovery. The titular town holds many secrets and many dangers, providing the perfect canvass for David Lynch's signature brand of strangeness. While only the original Twin Peaks series is on Paramount+, rather than the 2017 Showtime revival, the iconic 90s hit remains a must-watch.

Available Seasons: 25+ across 4 series | Episode Runtime: 40-64 minutes

Cast: William Peterson (Gil Grissom), Marg Helgenberger (Catherine Willows), David Caruso (Horatio Caine)

While crime procedurals and detective shows have been popular for decades, CSI perfected the format for a 21st-century audience. The franchise, which features shows set in Las Vegas, New York, and Miami, focuses on investigators who combine visits to crime scenes with forensic work in labs. While some of the technology and plot twists may require a certain suspension of disbelief, it is all inspired by real work done by crime scene technicians. Like other popular crime procedurals of the era, CSI focuses on character relationships as much as crime, giving the show more than individual mysteries of the week to drive it. The Las Vegas set series also saw a revival on Paramount+, further highlighting the franchise's enduring popularity.

Available Seasons: 16 | Episode Runtime: c.42 minutes

Cast: Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss), AJ Cook (Jennifer Jareau), Joe Mantegna (David Rossi), and Kristen Vangsness (Penelope Garcia)

CBS has a reputation for producing popular police procedurals, and Criminal Minds is arguably the jewel in the crown. Sporting a case-of-the-week format for most episodes, Criminal Minds focuses on the work of the FBI's behavior analysis unit, mostly their hunts for serial killers and other violent psychopaths. The show ended after 15 seasons in 2020 but received a revival series in Criminal Minds: Evolution, also on Paramount+. Focusing on darker subject matter than many of its competitors, Criminal Minds is a pulpy, undeniably entertaining crime show.

Available Seasons: 30+ across 4 series | Episode Runtime: 39-44 minutes

Cast: Mark Harmon (Leroy Jethro Gibbs), Scott Bakula (Dwayne Pride), LL Cool J (Sam Hanna), and Vanessa Lachey (Jane Tennant)

One of the longest-running crime procedurals, NCIS's slightly niche setting belies its popularity. Unlike many contemporary competitors, the show follows investigators who deal specifically with crimes connected to the military. The New Orleans set spinoff concluded in 2021 and the Los Angeles spinoff concludes in 2023, but the flagship series and NCIS: Hawai’i are still going strong, highlighting the franchise's staying power. Crossovers between the shows allow for an immersive storytelling experience for fans of serials instead of a by-the-numbers case-of-the-week format.

Available Seasons: 7 across 2 series | Episode Runtime: 23 minutes on average

Cast: Dante Basco (Zuko), Mae Whitman (Katara), Dee Bradley Baker (Various), and Janet Varney (Korra)

One of the most influential animated franchises in the 21st century, Avatar is a fantasy adventure on an epic scale. While fans often consider The Last Airbender to be the superior series, it’s hard to separate it from The Legend Of Korra when it comes to a complete viewing experience. Both Aang and Korra are powerful Avatars on very different journeys. While Aang has a coming-of-age story about learning where to fit in a divided world, Korra’s story tackles industrialization and post-traumatic stress. Despite being aimed at children, both shows tackle serious subjects and don’t shy away from showing the dark side of cultural division, nationalism, and the poisonous influence of power.

Available Seasons: 2 | Episode Runtime: 22 minutes on average

Cast: Cam Clarke (Leonardo), Barry Gordon (Donatello), Rob Paulsen (Raphael), Townsend Coleman (Michelangelo), Renae Jacobs (April O'Neil), Peter Renaday (Splinter), James Avery (Shredder)

The original and standard-bearer Turtles cartoon can be enjoyed as part of a Paramount+ subscription, as the first two seasons of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arrives more than 35 years after it debuted. Taking a lighter tone than the original TMNT comics that inspired it, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles remains the reason hordes of Turtles fans fell in love with the sprawling media franchise. Featuring stellar vocal performances - particularly from James Avery as Shredder - and most of the story beats fans hold most dear, it's the most wholesome of binge-watch candidates.

Available Seasons: 12 | Episode Runtime: 11 minutes, specials range from 22-44 minutes

Cast: Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), and Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick Star)

An animated classic that transcends its seemingly childish premise, SpongeBob SquarePants earns its place on a list of the best TV shows on Paramount+. SpongeBob and friends have been on the air and under the sea for an astonishing 20+ years, thanks to the show's surprisingly daring and genuinely hilarious comedy. While more recent episodes often fail to be as subversive as the early years, SpongeBob is by no means a show only kids will enjoy watching.

Available Seasons: 5 | Episode Runtime: 30 minutes

Cast: Ross Hull (Gary), Daniel DeSanto (Tucker), Jodie Resther (Kiki), JoAnna Garcia Swisher (Samantha)

This classic thriller series brings horror and spooky tales to kids courtesy of the Midnight Society. A group of teenagers meet in their secret spot in the woods every week, gather around a fire, and tell one another scary stories that may or may not be true. For most of the series run, the group of teens remained the same, but others were added as the series grew. Are You Afraid of the Dark? jump-started the careers of actors like Elisha Cuthbert and Vanessa Lengies, and taught young audiences the value of a good jump scare. Superior to the 2019 revival, it remains one of the best Paramount+ shows from a classic era of Nickelodeon programming.

Available Seasons: 3 | Episode Runtime: 40-57 minutes

Cast: Mike Colter (David Acosta), Aasif Mandvi (Ben Shakir), Katja Herbers (Dr. Kristen Bouchard), Michael Emerson (Dr. Leland Townsend)

One of the most buzz-worthy dramas to emerge from CBS in recent years, Evil centers on a skeptical psychologist (Katja Herbers), a priest in training (Luke Cage's Mike Colter), and a tech expert (Daily Show vet Aasif Mandvi), as they investigate purportedly supernatural cases. While on the surface it seems like a horror variant on the usual CBS procedural formula, one reason Evil works is that it likes to subvert those expectations. Its success lies in including genuinely scary and creepy content, lots of blood and violence, and a surprising amount of dark humor.

Available Seasons: 1 | Episode Runtime: 49-65 minutes

Cast: Whoopi Goldberg (Mother Abigail Freemantle), James Marsden (Stu Redman), Greg Kinnear (Glen Bateman), Amber Heard (Nadine Cross)

Based on one of Stephen King’s most acclaimed novels, The Stand is an apocalyptic thriller made all the more pertinent by recent events. The show focuses on the aftermath of a global pandemic – making it a fascinating watch in a post-covid world. A miniseries for TV adapted the book once in the 1990s, but this version features even more involvement by King. He actually penned a new ending for the story that works to tease the future of the characters and fixes complaints fans have had in the past. The series received mixed reviews when it first aired, but still stands tall as part of King’s legacy on screen.

Available Seasons: 1 | Episode Runtime: 22–26 minutes

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jennifer Flavin, Sophia Rose Stallone, Sistine Rose Stallone, Scarlet Rose Stallone, Frank Stallone

50 years after he burst onto the Hollywood scene with The Lords of Flatbush, The Family Stallone brings eternally popular action movie veteran Sylvester Stallone into a whole new world: of Reality TV. Following Sly and his wife and daughters and offering unprecedented direct access to their daily life. Putting aside some of the typical manufactured trappings of celebrity insider shows, The Family Stallone follows the 3 daughters carving their own way in the world as the Rocky Balboa star supports them as you'd expect from his most famous character. The show scores extra points for some truly incredible cameos.

The Price Is Right fans everywhere mourned the loss of the show's beloved original host Bob Barker in August 2023. But they can take comfort in watching the enduring legacy that Barker helped create, as The Price Is Right is still going strong over 50 years later since its premiere in 1972. Paramount+ subscribers can tune into The Price Is Right at Night on the streaming service. The Price Is Right at Night is the same great price-guessing game with the only difference being that celebrities are paired up with the general population contestants with a cash equivalent to the prize winnings being donated to a charity of the celebrity's choice. The Price Is Right has always been fun, but fun and philanthropic is a winning combination.

Available Seasons: 44 | Episode Runtime: 49 minutes

Cast: Jeff Probst (host)

Nominated for a huge 63 episodes, long-running Reality TV show Survivor is the gold standard of longevity in the genre, with a massive 44 seasons. All are hosted by Jeff Probst, who also executive produces and who remains one constant in a show perpetually evolving to introduce new rules and twists on the original premise in the interest of dialing up the drama. At its heart, Survivor is still about the dynamic of groups of strangers dropped into nature and forced to fend for themselves, while competing in challenges for a chance to win $1,000,000.

Available Seasons: 3 | Episode Runtime: 40-90 minutes

Cast: Matthew Hoffman (narrator)

Based on the incredibly popular but controversial UK dating show, Love Island USA is now into its fifth season. It follows a group of young, beautiful singles who are brought together to stay in a villa where they couple up for a chance to find romance and win the grand prize of $100k. Somewhat less consciously depraved than its British counterpart, the Hawaii-set show nonetheless delivers on the high drama of a revolving door of hungry contestants. The first three seasons, all narrated by Matthew Hoffman (before his replacement by UK narrator Iain Sterling in season 4), are available to watch on Paramount+.

Available Seasons: 10 | Episode Runtime: 42-60 minutes

Cast: RuPaul (host)

One of the most popular, and fabulous, shows in reality TV history, RuPaul's Drag Race sees the titular celebrity host the ultimate drag queen competition. America's most talented drag queens compete in a series of challenges, including lip-syncing and the ever-popular Snatch Game, to win the title of America's Next Drag Superstar. RuPaul's Drag Race has received universal acclaim for bringing the LGBTQ+ community into the mainstream and providing much-needed representation in the predominantly heterosexual landscape of reality TV.

Available Seasons: 1 | Episode Runtime: 40-59 minutes

Cast: Pablo Schreiber (Master Chief Petty Officer John-117), Shabana Azmi (Admiral Margaret Parangosky), Natasha Culzac (Riz-028), Jen Taylor (Cortana)

Based on the wildly popular sci-fi shooter games of the same name, Halo is further proof that video game-to-screen adaptations can be successful. As in the original games, the show revolves around a future conflict between humanity and the alien Covenant, with super soldiers like Master Chief featuring on the front lines for the human forces. Although the show takes some liberties with the source material, the impressive action sequences more than make up for the changes, with season 1 laying the groundwork for what could be a more recognizable story arc in future installments. With season 2 already confirmed, Halo could yet prove a stellar genre hit for Paramount+.

Available Seasons: 5 | Episode Runtime: 24-25 minutes seasons 1-3, with 51-minute episodes from season 4 onwards

Cast: Rod Serling (Presenter)

One of the most important and influential TV series of all time, The Twilight Zone remains daring and thought-provoking decades after its release. The unsettling stories ponder major scientific mysteries like the size of the universe, or tell singularly horrific tales that warn of the dangers of technology, acting as a precursor to shows like Black Mirror. With an iconic format and chilling theme song, The Twilight Zone is essential viewing for every sci-fi fan.

Available Seasons: 3 | Episode Runtime: 45 minutes.

Cast: Mike Vogel (Dale Barbara), Rachelle Lefevre (Julia Shumway), Natalie Martinez (Linda Esquivel)

Bringing together Lost creator Brian K. Vaughan and a Stephen King story was always likely to result in sci-fi fireworks, and Under The Dome certainly delivers. While its reception among more general audiences has been mixed, anyone interested in a mystery about a town being trapped under a glass dome (exactly like in The Simpsons movie, but taken seriously) won't be disappointed by Under the Dome. There is something to be said for how shallow its plot can get at times, especially in the third season, but this easy-watching aspect works in its favor – especially when binged.

Available Seasons: 30+ across 12 series | Episode Runtime: around 50 minutes, depending on series and season

Cast: William Shatner (Captain James T. Kirk), Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard), Various

When it comes to sci-fi, few franchises are more immediately recognizable than Star Trek. Starting in 1966 and still going strong thanks to Paramount+, Star Trek has had an immeasurable impact on science fiction and the wider world of TV and cinema, with dozens of cross-genre directors, showrunners, and acting talents counting it as a key influence. Paramount+ offers new content like Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: Prodigy, alongside classics like the 1966 Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation.