The 30 Best Drama TV Series, Ranked (2025)

Drama is one of television's most important and challenging genres. The best dramatic series can encompass a wide variety of topics, from politics to supernatural crime, but what sets them apart is the quality of their writing. Without strong dialogue, plots and characters, high-budget shows with incredible casts can quickly wither on the vine. It's incredibly challenging to tell a meaningful story in under an hour but it's every drama's chief goal.

A fair number of dramatic TV series are able to rise to the occasion. A skilled creative team is able to tell a cohesive story in each episode and expertly connect their separate plots into an overarching story that evolves and grows over the course of a whole season. Dramas are about telling human stories and making viewers care. These shows are some of pop culture's greatest triumphs.

Updated on May 30, 2024, by Arthur Goyaz: The best drama shows aren't created merely to entertain: their bigger-than-life characters and emotionally charged stories might as well change the lives of those who watch them. This list is regularly updated to add more of the most compelling drama series of all time and to meet CBR's most recent formatting standards.

30 Dexter Delves Into the Complex Psyche of a Psychopath

Unfortunately, Dexter's legacy as a psychologically charged drama was overshadowed by the show's controversial ending. However, its 8-season run has many more ups than downs to offer. The show is centered around Dexter, a forensic technician with homicidal tendencies. Unable to control his desire to kill, he hunts down criminals that escaped justice in the past.

Dexter's narration immerses the viewers into the mind of a serial killer, dissecting one of the best anti-hero protagonists of any TV show. Dexter progresses as a conventional procedural series, but each season is centered around a major antagonist. This way, episodes work as standalone stories but are essential to the big picture. The show challenges typical crime drama conventions with a dark sense of humor, constantly referencing the irony of a "good" serial killer, exploring what differentiates Dexter from the monsters he kills. Solely because of its disappointing final season, Dexter lands at the bottom of the list.

Dexter

TV-MA

He's smart. He's lovable. He's Dexter Morgan, America's favorite serial killer, who spends his days solving crimes and nights committing them.

Release Date

October 1, 2006

Cast

Michael C. Hall , Jennifer Carpenter , David Zayas

Main Genre

Crime

Seasons

8 Seasons

Creator

James Manos Jr.

29 Mare of Easttown Delivers the Most Compelling Murder Mystery in Recent Memory

A great drama show is Mare of Easttown. It brings Kate Winslet in one of the best performances of her career as the titular Mare, a detective in a small Pennsylvania town trying to find the missing link between a teenage girl's murder and the disappearance of another. The miniseries is low-key the best True Detective season that never happened, doing a great job at introducing its vast array of characters and their respective roles in the secrets that haunt the town.

Mare of Easttown excels at connecting the tension of the crimes on the outside with the interpersonal relationships at home. Mare is a fascinating protagonist who, different from those around her, insists on looking ahead instead of turning her eyes to the past. Inevitable, however, past and present become one.

Mare of Easttown

TV-MA

Release Date

April 18, 2021

Cast

Kate Winslet , Julianne Nicholson , Jean Smart , Angourie Rice

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

1

Creator

Brad Ingelsby

28 Big Little Lies is A Fascinating Small Town, Big Secrets Story

Big Little Lies is an example of a great drama TV show that relies entirely on actors' work. Thankfully, a star-studded cast made of veterans such as Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, and Meryl Streep delivers a feast of powerhouse performances. The show opens with the murder of an unidentified character, going back in time to show how the facade of a group of women's perfect lives harbored dangerous secrets.

Beyond the surface of a typical murder mystery lies a character-driven story with many different layers. Taking advantage of the "small town, big secrets" trope, Big Little Lies gradually reveals the darkness underneath perfect dresses and beautiful mansions. Above else, it's a show about strong-willed women finding the strength to fight against what society expects from them, exploring delicate themes such as domestic abuse and the hardships of being a single mother with a sensitive approach.

27 Peaky Blinders is a Raw Crime Epic with Morally Ambiguous Characters

Spanning across several decades, from the late 1910s to the years that preceded World War II, Peaky Blinders delves into the underworld of Birmingham, England as seen through the analytical eyes of Tommy Shelby. The Oscar-winning Cillian Murphy stars as the head of the family business, thriving in the black market with all sorts of illegal activities.

Peaky Blinders captures all the pessimism of industrial England in its gray years of progress. Focusing on a wealthy family who only managed to get rich through illegal means, the show is filled with the aggressiveness of characters who yearn for what they don't deserve. Tommy is a magnificent character: despite his violent nature, it's a delight to see him grow onscreen. Most notoriously, Peaky Blinders depicts many key events in British and world history from the perspective of the "bad guys."

Peaky Blinders

TV-MA

A gangster family epic set in 1900s England, centering on a gang who sew razor blades in the peaks of their caps, and their fierce boss Tommy Shelby.

Release Date

September 30, 2014

Creator(s)

Steven Knight

Cast

Cillian Murphy , Paul Anderson , Sophie Rundle , Ned Dennehy

Main Genre

Crime

Seasons

6

26 Mindhunter Offers A New Take on Serial Killers

With a boom of cheap true crime stories profiting on shock value and exploitative narratives, Mindhunter stands out for its humanist approach to the subject matter. Based on the real-life experiences of FBI agent John E. Douglas and writer Mark Olshaker, the show follows a detective duo that specializes in dissecting the minds of America's most vicious criminals.

The topic of serial killers tends to be fascinating because the idea cultivated about these "monsters" usually goes against who they really are: deeply troubled, confused human beings who gave in to their mind's darkest impulses. It's with this cautious, yet empathetic look that Mindhunter crafts a fascinating mosaic of well-known figures in crime history. With two great, consistent seasons, it's too bad that David Fincher's impeccably elaborated series won't be returning, but Mindhunter's short lifespan is enough to put it among the best drama shows of all time.

Mindhunter

TV-MA

Release Date

October 13, 2017

Cast

Jonathan Groff , Holt McCallany , Anna Torv , Hannah Gross

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

2

25 Grey's Anatomy Takes New Risks Every Season

When one thinks of dramatic television, Grey's Anatomy probably isn't the first to come to mind. The 20-season medical series is a high-quality soap opera that romanticizes the lives of surgeons. But with plane crashes, bombs in body cavities and hospital shooters, Grey's Anatomy is a total drama queen.

Grey's Anatomy has had a revolving door of cast members since its conception in 2005, whether it be because of rumored behind-the-scenes drama or character deaths. This means making or breaking new relationships in television's most romanticized fictional hospital. But the true reason people keep coming back for more? The disastrous medical cases and events that have made people believe Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital is cursed. These tension-filled storylines alone are enough to put Grey's Anatomy on this list.

Grey's Anatomy

TV-14

Romance

A drama centered on the personal and professional lives of five surgical interns and their supervisors.

Release Date

March 27, 2005

Cast

Ellen Pompeo , Chandra Wilson , James Pickens Jr. , Justin Chambers , Kevin McKidd , Jesse Williams , Patrick Dempsey

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

20 Seasons

Creator

Shonda Rhimes

Production Company

Shondaland, The Mark Gordon Company, ABC Studios, ABC Signature, Entertainment One

Number of Episodes

420 Episodes

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu , Netflix , SlingTV , Fubo TV

24 The Crown Doesn't Sugarcoat the Reign of Queen Elizabeth II

The Crown was one of Netflix's golden gooses before it ended in 2023. It was a human and honest depiction of Queen Elizabeth II's life and reign in England, along with the rest of the royal family. And while The Crown failed to keep an unbiased opinion in its final season, the rest of the series left room for new revelations about the most glorious royal family.

Over the course of six seasons, the series switched actors during new decades of the story. The transitions allowed for a surprisingly realistic and raw interpretation of the family, who are glorified in the real world. But The Crown's creator, Peter Morgan, makes the case that behind all the privileges, glamour and obsessive etiquette, the royals are still people too.

The Crown

TV-MA

Drama

History

Follows the political rivalries and romances of Queen Elizabeth II's reign and the events that shaped Britain for the second half of the 20th century.

Release Date

November 4, 2016

Cast

Claire Foy , Olivia Colman , Imelda Staunton , Matt Smith , Tobias Menzies , Jonathan Pryce , Vanessa Kirby , Helena Bonham Carter , Lesley Manville , Victoria Hamilton , Marion Bailey , Marcia Warren

Main Genre

Biography

Seasons

6 Seasons

Website

https://www.netflix.com/title/80025678

Cinematographer

Stuart Howell, Adriano Goldman

Creator

Peter Morgan

Distributor

Netflix

Main Characters

Peter Townsend, Prince Philip, Anthony Eden, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana, Queen Mary, Prince Charles, Princess Margaret

Producer

Andy Stebbing, Martin Harrison, Michael Casey, Andrew Eaton, Oona O'Beirn, Faye Ward

Production Company

Sony Pictures Television, Left Bank Pictures

Writers

Peter Morgan

On the surface, Friday Night Lights is a pretty simple show. It follows the Dillon Panthers high school football team in their small town after an accident that left their star quarterback paralyzed. As it takes place within a tight-knit community, the show offers insight into social issues such as religion, abortion and economic inequality -- making it one of the most inspiring sports dramas with an ensemble cast.

Anyone who's ever lived in a small town can relate to the drama that occurs in Friday Night Lights. A breakup would be the talk of the town within hours, and a player quitting the football team would make the front page of the newspaper. Friday Night Lights doesn't hold back on the double-edged sword that is the small town life.

Friday Night Lights

TV-14

Drama

Sport

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

A drama that follows the lives of the Dillon Panthers, one of the nation's best high school football teams, and their head coach Eric Taylor.

Release Date

October 3, 2006

Cast

Kyle Chandler , Connie Britton , Zach Gilford , Aimee Teegarden , Brad Leland , Taylor Kitsch , Jesse Plemons , Derek Phillips

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

5

22 The Walking Dead Questions Humanity Amid a Zombie Apocalypse

There is so much zombie media out there today, that it's hard to keep up with them. But once upon a time, The Walking Dead was the only consistent series in the post-apocalyptic genre. It quickly became the king of everything zombie-related -- not just because of its post-apocalyptic lore, but because of its analysis of humanity's downfall.

The Walking Dead is known as "the show that kills everyone" and for all the right reasons. Similar to Grey's Anatomy, The Walking Dead characters bite the dust due to the elements, the zombies (known as "walkers") in the series or another human. Every death hits harder than the last, not only because it's another loss of life, but because it pushes the remaining humans down a darker path. No other series has made a zombie apocalypse so hauntingly realistic than The Walking Dead.

The Walking Dead

TV-MA

Horror

Action

Drama

Thriller

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes wakes up from a coma to learn the world is in ruins and must lead a group of survivors to stay alive.

Release Date

October 31, 2010

Cast

Andrew Lincoln , Norman Reedus , Melissa McBride , Lauren Cohan , Christian Serratos , josh mcdermitt , Danai Gurira , Seth Gilliam

Main Genre

Horror

Seasons

11

Creator

Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Tony Moore

Network

AMC

Streaming Service(s)

AMC+ , Netflix

Franchise(s)

The Walking Dead

21 Chernobyl Is Horrifying at Telling the Truth

Chernobyl tells the true story of the disaster of the same name in 1986, which saw the worst explosion of a nuclear power plant in history. The HBO drama miniseries isn't just about the disaster, but about the scientists and rescue personnel who responded to it at their own personal risk. The premise itself is terrifying, to imagine that thousands of people had to evacuate their homes because of one mistake and many of those people died from the effects years later.

Chernobyl heightens that fear by adding in eerie music on top of scientific discussions about the plant's fragile state. The actors themselves stay calm and collected in their roles as official scientists, but demonstrate a profound level of urgency when the time is right.The sheer reality and the cast's ability to explore the tragedy believably earned it plenty of acclaim from fans and critics alike.

Chernobyl

Miniseries

Disaster

History

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Release Date

May 6, 2019

Cast

Jared Harris , Stellan Skarsgård , Emily Watson , Paul Ritter

Seasons

1

Creator

Craig Mazin

Number of Episodes

5

Streaming Service(s)

HBO Max

20 Lost Pays Off in Long-Term Suspense and Anticipation

Sometimes, a show can succeed at unfolding its mystery in just a matter of a few episodes, and it can still be executed perfectly. But other times, fans want the experience of being fed a few breadcrumbs over the course of several seasons, and letting the slow-burn pay off in a monumental way. Theorizing and conspiracies were a big part of making ABC's Lost successful, creating a rich fan community that is still active today.

Lost's ending will always be controversial, mainly due to a large portion of the fanbase misinterpreting the actual meaning of the finale. But overall, the experience of Lost's plot twists and creative storytelling through time manipulation makes it one of the best sci-fi shows of all time. It's certainly not up to the level of dramatism like Breaking Bad or Ozark because of comedic character moments, but Lost had its moments of tragedy and shattering suspense that earned its spot on this list of top dramatic shows.

Lost

TV-14

Drama

Adventure

Mystery

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

The survivors of a plane crash are forced to work together in order to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical island.

Release Date

September 22, 2004

Cast

Jorge Garcia , Josh Holloway , Yunjin Kim , Evangeline Lilly , Terry O'Quinn , Naveen Andrews

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

6

Creator

J.J. Abrahms, Damon Lindelof, Jeffrey Lieber

Number of Episodes

121

Network

ABC

Streaming Service(s)

Crackle , Hulu , Amazon Freevee , Prime Video , Plex

19 True Detective Always Keeps Viewers on Their Toes

Like most anthology series, True Detective has the benefit of changing things every season. If the current season flunks, the writers don't have to stick with the same characters or story for the next season. More often than not, True Detective always found a way to reinvent itself with a new case and characters that were enthralling to follow.

The first season has unanimously always been ranked as the best of the series due to its captivating but morally ambiguous cast led by Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey. Although the second season failed to live up to its predecessor, the mystery of every murder each season drives enough suspense to keep fans waiting until the next episode arrives, eventually leading to a satisfying (or possibly divisive) conclusion.

True Detective

TV-MA

Crime

Drama

Mystery

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

7

10

Anthology series in which police investigations unearth the personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within and outside the law.

Release Date

January 12, 2014

Cast

Matthew McConaughey , Woody Harrelson , Rachel McAdams , Colin Farrell , Mahershala Ali , Ray Fisher

Main Genre

Crime

Seasons

4

Creator

Nic Pizzolatto

Streaming Service(s)

HBO Max

18 Twin Peaks Is Remembered for Its Unconventional Storytelling

David Lynch is known as one of the greatest film directors of all time, having directed iconic films such as Dune (1984) and Mulholland Drive. But what television lovers admire Lynch for the most is the creation of Twin Peaks, a mysterious and bizarre series about the death of the homecoming queen Laura Palmer.

The mystery of the murder is often eclipsed by the strange nature of the town in Twin Peaks, which makes viewers puzzled about the direction the story goes in. Twin Peaks continually challenged viewers to think outside the norm and question reality. At the surface, it appears as a murder-mystery show. But the more episodes of typical Twin Peaks eeriness pass, the more viewers realize they have no idea what they got themselves into.

Twin Peaks

TV-MA

Drama

Mystery

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

An idiosyncratic FBI agent investigates the murder of a young woman in the even more idiosyncratic town of Twin Peaks.

Release Date

April 8, 1990

Cast

Kyle MacLachlan , Mädchen Amick , Dana Ashbrook

Main Genre

Crime

Seasons

3 Seasons

Creator

Mark Frost, David Lynch

Producer

Mark Frost, David Lynch, Sabrina S. Sutherland

Production Company

Lynch/Frost Productions, Propaganda Films, Spelling Television, Twin Peaks Productions, Showtime, Rancho Rosa Partnership

Number of Episodes

48 Episodes

17 Six Feet Under Isn't Afraid to Talk About Death

No one wants to talk about death. It's sad, depressing and brings up bad memories. But Six Feet Under wants to talk about every facet of death: the good, the bad and the ugly. For a family that runs a funeral home, death is par for the course, and there is plenty of drama to be explored.

Six Feet Under follows the Fisher family after the death of their funeral director patriarch passes away in an unexpected accident. Along with romantic partners and other employees of the funeral home, the family have to navigate their loss through other people's grief as they try to keep the family business running. With so much death, it's hard to ever run out of drama in Six Feet Under, but sometimes the Fishers like to joke about the irony of death always knocking on their door.

Six Feet Under

Comedy

Drama

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Release Date

June 3, 2001

Cast

Peter Krause , Michael C. Hall , Lauren Ambrose , Frances Conroy

Seasons

5

Number of Episodes

63

16 The Leftovers Never Loses Its Power

Speaking of death, The Leftovers is all about it as well. Except, unlike Six Feet Under, The Leftovers is hardly ever funny about it. This HBO drama is one of the darkest and most thought-provoking series in modern times, exploring grief and loss through a supernatural and religious perspective within three seasons.

The Leftovers takes place three years after an event known as the "Sudden Departure," in which 2% of the world's population disappeared unexpectedly and hasn't returned. The loss takes a toll on a small town's chief of police, Kevin Garvey, who struggles to maintain order and cope with his fractured family. Another character, Nora Durst, tries to pick up the pieces of her life after losing her entire family. Going in, most people will be asking, "Why did so many people disappear?" But after only a few episodes, the only thing that matters is the sanity of the shattered souls that stayed.

The Leftovers

TV-MA

Fantasy

Mystery

Drama

Three years after the disappearance of 2% of the global human population, a group of people in a small New York community try to continue their lives while coping with the tragedy of the unexplained nature of the event.

Release Date

June 29, 2014

Cast

Justin Theroux , Amy Brenneman , Christopher Eccleston

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

3

Creator

Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta

15 The Americans Intermixes a Spy and Family Drama

Everyone loves a good spy drama. The tension and suspense of getting caught on the mission races the hearts of viewers. But in The Americans, it's not just the dangerous possibility of being exposed that creates anxious storytelling -- it's the romantic subplot supporting the narrative.

Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys star as KGB spies posing as an American married couple with children in a suburban neighborhood. As the two get deeper into their mission, they face an unbearable passion that threatens their American-born children's lives. The thrill is what keeps the show on its toes, but it's also the study of two people developing unwanted compassion for each other that makes it a superb drama series. While it's definitely got plenty of drama, it lands in the middle of the list because there are far more dramatic series than The Americans.

The Americans

TV-MA

Drama

Mystery

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

At the height of the Cold War, two Russian agents pose as the average American couple, complete with family.

Release Date

January 30, 2013

Creator

Joseph Weisberg

Cast

Keri Russell , Matthew Rhys , Keidrich Sellati , Holly Taylor , Noah Emmerich

Main Genre

Crime

Seasons

6 Seasons

Production Company

Amblin Television, DreamWorks Television

Network

FX

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu

14 Band of Brothers Captures the Terrorizing Complexities of War

Band of Brothers isn't an easy show to watch. Each episode focuses on a different soldier in the "Easy" Company of the 101st Airborne Division in World War II, and almost always features an unexpected death. Just like in war, Band of Brothers tells viewers to not get attached to people quickly.

As an HBO miniseries, Band of Brothers was created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, based on the book of the same name by Stephen E. Ambrose. The characters are close interpretations of real soldiers who fought in World War II, and each episode features interviews with some of them. Heart-pumping, demanding, and grounded, Band of Brothers' extreme caution about understating the perils of war pays off.

Band of Brothers

TV-MA

History

War

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

The story of Easy Company of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and their mission in World War II Europe, from Operation Overlord to V-J Day.

Release Date

September 6, 2001

Creator

Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg

Cast

Rick Gomez , Kirk Acevedo , Elon Bailey , Dale Dye

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

1

Network

HBO Max

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix , Max

13 Ozark Is a Cold Drama About a Sketchy Family Business

Visually and metaphorically grim, Ozark is a top-notch narco drama. The series puts a spin on the typical crime series by putting the audience straight into the action, while also making them sympathize with the criminals who are front-and-center. But that's not to say Ozark's money launderers are all saints with the fullest of hearts.

The series takes place in Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks, where money launderer Marty Byrde moves his wife and children to continue his work for a Mexican drug cartel. Despite Marty's main goal to set his family free from the life of crime he dragged them into, it becomes progressively harder as they become more accustomed to the illicit lifestyle.

Ozark

TV-MA

Drama

Crime

Thriller

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

A financial advisor drags his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks, where he must launder money to appease a drug boss.

Release Date

July 21, 2017

Cast

Jason Bateman , Laura Linney , Julia Garner , Charlie Tahan

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

4

Network

Netflix

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

12 Succession Turns the Tables on the Broken Rich Family Narrative

Succession was HBO's hot ticket until it ended in 2023. The dramedy took a slow approach to gain traction, but by the fourth and final season, it had become one of the biggest shows in the world. The series' ending didn't fail to impress viewers, and it was a rare treat to have Succession end on the bittersweet note it deserved.

Succession follows the Roy family, headed by patriarch Logan Roy who founded one of the largest media conglomerates in the world. Throughout the series, his three youngest children fight to become the successor of the company in light of Logan's worsening health. Then there's the oldest sibling, Connor Roy, who's just happy to have been interested in politics from a young age.

Succession

TV-MA

Drama

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

The Roy family is known for controlling the biggest media and entertainment company in the world. However, their world changes when their father steps down from the company.

Release Date

June 3, 2018

Creator

Jesse Armstrong

Cast

Brian Cox , Nicholas Braun , Jeremy Strong , Sarah Snook

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

4

Number of Episodes

39

Network

HBO Max

Streaming Service(s)

Max

11 Better Call Saul Gives Every Spinoff a Run for Their Money

Spinoffs are a tricky beast to conquer. Most of the time, they're entirely unnecessary and are so obviously a cash-grab for networks and streaming services to take advantage of, especially if the original series was such a big hit. Better Call Saul, though, was one of the few exceptions that deserved its spot.

A prequel and sequel to Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul focused on Jimmy McGill as he transformed into the shady lawyer everyone knows as Saul Goodman. The series brought back fan-favorite characters such as Mike Ehrmantraut and Gus Fring, while also making audiences fall in love with new characters like Kim Wexler. One of the greatest things about Better Call Saul was how well it stood on its own two feet, introducing new characters that worked hand-in-hand with the source material to further flesh out many of Breaking Bad's established storylines.

Better Call Saul

TV-MA

Drama

Crime

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

The trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Jimmy McGill in the years leading up to his fateful run-in with Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.

Release Date

February 8, 2015

Cast

Bob Odenkirk , Jonathan Banks , Rhea Seehorn , Patrick Fabian , Michael Mando , Tony Dalton

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

6

Sequel

Breaking Bad

Network

AMC

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix