There are more new television shows now than ever before. According to FX Research, in 2022, a record 599 original scripted series for adults aired on streaming services and television – up from 210 in 2009. But with the nearly limitless options out there, some shows have seen unparalleled success.
“Breaking Bad,” a crime drama that has become the most critically acclaimed television show of all time, was so popular that it gave rise to a highly successful spinoff series, “Better Call Saul”. Both of these shows boast individual episodes that have been voted some of the best episodes in modern television.
To determine the best TV episodes of the 21st century, 24/7 Tempo reviewed IMDb data on audience reception for television episodes. Television episodes aired January 1, 2001 or later were ranked based on average IMDb user rating as of October 2023. Only episodes with at least 5,000 user reviews were considered. In the case of a tie, the show with more audience votes was ranked higher.
In addition to the many episodes of “Breaking Bad” and its offshoot, seven of the best TV episodes aired since 2001 are from the Japanese anime series “Attack on Titan,” which ran from 2013 to 2023. Other animated shows, including “BoJack Horseman” and “Avatar: The Last Airbender”, also made the list.
“Game of Thrones,” another of the most-watched series ever, has four episodes on the list – although none are from the controversial last season. Multiple fantasy series in the Star Wars universe make appearances, as do beloved comedies including “The Office” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” (Here are fan-favorite comedies that critics hated.)
50. “Twilight of the Apprentice: Part 2”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (6,959 votes)
- Television show: Star Wars Rebels (2014-2018)
- Original airdate: March 30, 2016
- Starring: Taylor Gray, Freddie Prinze Jr., Dave Filoni, Ashley Eckstein
49. “One For All”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (7,154 votes)
- Television show: My Hero Academia (2016-Present)
- Original airdate: May 11, 2019
- Starring: Daiki Yamashita, Kenta Miyake, Akio Ôtsuka, Jennifer Alyx
48. “Sozin’s Comet, Part 3: Into the Inferno”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (8,608 votes)
- Television show: Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
- Original airdate: July 19, 2008
- Starring: Zach Tyler Eisen, Mae Whitman, Jack De Sena, Michaela Jill Murphy
47. “Re;”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (9,566 votes)
- Television show: Code Geass (2006-2008)
- Original airdate: September 28, 2008
- Starring: Johnny Yong Bosch, Jun Fukuyama, Yuri Lowenthal, Takahiro Sakurai
46. “Anger × and × Light”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (9,660 votes)
- Television show: Hunter x Hunter (2011-2014)
- Original airdate: February 24, 2019
- Starring: Megumi Han, Mariya Ise, Kikuko Inoue, Ayumi Fujimura
45. “Zero × and × Rose”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (9,734 votes)
- Television show: Hunter x Hunter (2011-2014)
- Original airdate: January 20, 2019
- Starring: Banjô Ginga, Kôki Uchiyama, Takashi Matsuyama, Issei Futamata
44. “Charlie Work”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (9,788 votes)
- Television show: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-Present)
- Original airdate: February 4, 2015
- Starring: Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson
43. “House’s Head”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (10,873 votes)
- Television show: House (2004-2012)
- Original airdate: May 12, 2008
- Starring: Hugh Laurie, Lisa Edelstein, Omar Epps, Robert Sean Leonard
42. “Return 0”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (10,896 votes)
- Television show: Person of Interest (2011-2016)
- Original airdate: June 21, 2016
- Starring: Jim Caviezel, Kevin Chapman, Amy Acker, Sarah Shahi
41. “Time’s Arrow”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (12,817 votes)
- Television show: BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
- Original airdate: September 8, 2017
- Starring: Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Paul F. Tompkins
40. “If-Then-Else”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (13,109 votes)
- Television show: Person of Interest (2011-2016)
- Original airdate: January 6, 2015
- Starring: Jim Caviezel, Kevin Chapman, Amy Acker, Sarah Shahi
39. “Remedial Chaos Theory”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (13,212 votes)
- Television show: Community (2009-2015)
- Original airdate: October 13, 2011
- Starring: Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown
38. “Modern Warfare”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (13,736 votes)
- Television show: Community (2009-2015)
- Original airdate: May 6, 2010
- Starring: Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown
37. “Shattered”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (14,617 votes)
- Television show: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)
- Original airdate: May 1, 2020
- Starring: Ashley Eckstein, Katee Sackhoff, Dave Filoni, Dee Bradley Baker
36. “The Getaway”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (14,942 votes)
- Television show: Dexter (2006-2013)
- Original airdate: December 13, 2009
- Starring: Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, Desmond Harrington
35. “The Phantom Apprentice”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (16,222 votes)
- Television show: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)
- Original airdate: April 24, 2020
- Starring: Ashley Eckstein, Julian Holloway, Katee Sackhoff, Dee Bradley Baker
34. “Free Churro”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (17,416 votes)
- Television show: BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
- Original airdate: September 14, 2018
- Starring: Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Paul F. Tompkins
33. “Goodbye, Michael”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (17,490 votes)
- Television show: The Office (2005-2013)
- Original airdate: April 28, 2011
- Starring: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer
32. “Hello, Elliot”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (20,508 votes)
- Television show: Mr. Robot (2015-2019)
- Original airdate: December 22, 2019
- Starring: Rami Malek, Carly Chaikin, Portia Doubleday, Michael Cristofer
31. “Finale”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (20,778 votes)
- Television show: The Office (2005-2013)
- Original airdate: May 16, 2013
- Starring: Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Ed Helms
30. “Mizumono”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (20,933 votes)
- Television show: Hannibal (2013-2015)
- Original airdate: May 23, 2014
- Starring: Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, Laurence Fishburne
29. “I Will Never Give Up”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (21,100 votes)
- Television show: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019-Present)
- Original airdate: February 6, 2022
- Starring: Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kitô, Hiro Shimono, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
28. “Blink”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (22,584 votes)
- Television show: Doctor Who (2005-Present)
- Original airdate: September 14, 2007
- Starring: David Tennant, Freema Agyeman, Carey Mulligan, Lucy Gaskell
27. “The Ricklantis Mixup”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (34,440 votes)
- Television show: Rick and Morty (2013-Present)
- Original airdate: September 10, 2017
- Starring: Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke
26. “To’hajiilee”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (52,448 votes)
- Television show: Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
- Original airdate: September 8, 2013
- Starring: Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul, Dean Norris
25. “Saul Gone”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (54,162 votes)
- Television show: Better Call Saul (2015-2022)
- Original airdate: August 15, 2022
- Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorn, Barbara Rosenblat
24. “Midnight Sun”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (56,506 votes)
- Television show: Attack on Titan (2013-2023)
- Original airdate: June 3, 2019
- Starring: Yûki Kaji, Hiroshi Kamiya, Yui Ishikawa, Marina Inoue
23. “Chapter 16: The Rescue”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (61,395 votes)
- Television show: The Mandalorian (2019-Present)
- Original airdate: December 18, 2020
- Starring: Pedro Pascal, Omid Abtahi, Temuera Morrison, Gina Carano
22. “Vichnaya Pamyat”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (62,038 votes)
- Television show: Chernobyl (2019)
- Original airdate: June 3, 2019
- Starring: Douggie McMeekin, Jamie Sives, Michael Socha, Adam Nagaitis
21. “Memories of the Future”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (65,221 votes)
- Television show: Attack on Titan (2013-2023)
- Original airdate: January 30, 2022
- Starring: Yûki Kaji, Takehito Koyasu, Hiroshi Tsuchida, Yoshino Takamori
20. “Perfect Game”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (66,406 votes)
- Television show: Attack on Titan (2013-2023)
- Original airdate: May 20, 2019
- Starring: Yûki Kaji, Daisuke Ono, Hiroshi Kamiya, Yui Ishikawa
19. “The War Hammer Titan”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (68,800 votes)
- Television show: Attack on Titan (2013-2023)
- Original airdate: January 17, 2021
- Starring: Yûki Kaji, Yui Ishikawa, Kishô Taniyama, Yû Kobayashi
18. “Declaration of War”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (70,515 votes)
- Television show: Attack on Titan (2013-2023)
- Original airdate: January 10, 2021
- Starring: Yûki Kaji, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Natsuki Hanae, Jirô Saitô
17. “Assault”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (92,307 votes)
- Television show: Attack on Titan (2013-2023)
- Original airdate: January 24, 2021
- Starring: Yûki Kaji, Yui Ishikawa, Marina Inoue, Takehito Koyasu
16. “Hardhome”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (106,128 votes)
- Television show: Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
- Original airdate: May 31, 2015
- Starring: Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington
15. “Hero”
- IMDb user rating: 9.8/10 (115,617 votes)
- Television show: Attack on Titan (2013-2023)
- Original airdate: May 27, 2019
- Starring: Yûki Kaji, Marina Inoue, Tomohisa Hashizume, Yoshimasa Hosoya
14. “Everyone’s Waiting”
- IMDb user rating: 9.9/10 (11,492 votes)
- Television show: Six Feet Under (2001-2005)
- Original airdate: August 21, 2005
- Starring: Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy, Lauren Ambrose
13. “Sozin’s Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang”
- IMDb user rating: 9.9/10 (14,489 votes)
- Television show: Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
- Original airdate: July 19, 2008
- Starring: Zach Tyler Eisen, Mae Whitman, Jack De Sena, Michaela Jill Murphy
12. “End of The Prologue”
- IMDb user rating: 9.9/10 (14,691 votes)
- Television show: Vinland Saga (2019-2023)
- Original airdate: December 29, 2019
- Starring: Mike Haimoto, Yûto Uemura, Naoya Uchida, David Wald
11. “Victory and Death”
- IMDb user rating: 9.9/10 (17,368 votes)
- Television show: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)
- Original airdate: May 4, 2020
- Starring: Ashley Eckstein, Dave Filoni, Dee Bradley Baker, Sam Witwer
10. “The View from Halfway Down”
- IMDb user rating: 9.9/10 (19,987 votes)
- Television show: BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
- Original airdate: January 31, 2020
- Starring: Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Paul F. Tompkins
9. “407 Proxy Authentication Required”
- IMDb user rating: 9.9/10 (33,006 votes)
- Television show: Mr. Robot (2015-2019)
- Original airdate: November 17, 2019
- Starring: Rami Malek, Elliot Villar, Christian Slater, Young M.A.
8. “Connor’s Wedding”
- IMDb user rating: 9.9/10 (33,488 votes)
- Television show: Succession (2018-2023)
- Original airdate: April 9, 2023
- Starring: Nicholas Braun, Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin, Dagmara Dominczyk
7. “Plan and Execution”
- IMDb user rating: 9.9/10 (53,999 votes)
- Television show: Better Call Saul (2015-2022)
- Original airdate: May 23, 2022
- Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorn, Patrick Fabian
6. “Face Off”
- IMDb user rating: 9.9/10 (71,587 votes)
- Television show: Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
- Original airdate: October 9, 2011
- Starring: Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul, Dean Norris
5. “The Rains of Castamere”
- IMDb user rating: 9.9/10 (114,401 votes)
- Television show: Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
- Original airdate: June 2, 2013
- Starring: Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Richard Madden, Iain Glen
4. “Felina”
- IMDb user rating: 9.9/10 (134,588 votes)
- Television show: Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
- Original airdate: September 29, 2013
- Starring: Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul, Dean Norris
3. “The Winds of Winter”
- IMDb user rating: 9.9/10 (156,791 votes)
- Television show: Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
- Original airdate: June 26, 2016
- Starring: Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey, Kit Harington
2. “Battle of the Bаstards”
- IMDb user rating: 9.9/10 (220,268 votes)
- Television show: Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
- Original airdate: June 19, 2016
- Starring: Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, Liam Cunningham
1. “Ozymandias”
- IMDb user rating: 10.0/10 (207,408 votes)
- Television show: Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
- Original airdate: September 15, 2013
- Starring: Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul, Dean Norris