When the show “Lost” came out in 2004, it took the world by storm. On the surface, the show was about a group of survivors who landed on a deserted island after a plane crash. They get to know each other and learn how to survive. However, it only takes a little while to find that the island isn’t as it seems. There’s a lot of supernatural stuff going on and more questions than answers. Fans of this show watched the series from beginning to end and were glued to every moment. While the series finale was divisive, there were many great moments, and today, we’ll show you the best episodes of “Lost.”
This was considered to be a “watercooler show,” meaning that after each new episode, coworkers around the country would talk about what happened. Many great episodes sparked a lot of conversation, including the fantastic pilot episode where we saw the chaos of the plane crash and the amazing drama that came along with it. There’s also the three-part finale of Season 1, where the crew discovers a mysterious hatch and finds that there are other people on the island. One of the most exciting episodes was called “The Man Behind the Curtain,” where we learn the intriguing backstory of the main villain, Ben.
There’s a lot to love about this show. It became such a hit that many other shows tried to copy the formula of mysteries and science fiction, but none came close. As you go through this list, you may even discover some favorite memories you have since forgotten. Most of “Lost” took place on an island. (If you’d like to discover other TV shows about islands, check out our list of every winner of “Survivor” and what they’re doing today.)
To determine the best episodes of Lost, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on audience reception from IMDb. Episodes were ranked based on average IMDb user rating as of March 2024. In the case of a tie, the episode with the greater number of audience ratings was ranked higher.
25. The Shape of Things to Come (Season 4, Episode 9)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10
- IMDb user reviews: 6,209
24. The Brig (Season 3, Episode 19)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10
- IMDb user reviews: 6,254
23. Deus Ex Machina (Season 1, Episode 19)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10
- IMDb user reviews: 6,880
22. Exodus: Part 1 (Season 1, Episode 23)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10
- IMDb user reviews: 6,934
21. Numbers (Season 1, Episode 18)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10
- IMDb user reviews: 7,043
20. Walkabout (Season 1, Episode 4)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10
- IMDb user reviews: 8,614
19. The Man from Tallahassee (Season 3, Episode 13)
- IMDb user rating: 9.1/10
- IMDb user reviews: 6,379
18. The Incident: Part 1 (Season 5, Episode 16)
- IMDb user rating: 9.1/10
- IMDb user reviews: 6,840
17. Greatest Hits (Season 3, Episode 21)
- IMDb user rating: 9.1/10
- IMDb user reviews: 6,975
16. Flashes Before Your Eyes (Season 3, Episode 8)
- IMDb user rating: 9.1/10
- IMDb user reviews: 7,143
15. Man of Science, Man of Faith (Season 2, Episode 1)
- IMDb user rating: 9.1/10
- IMDb user reviews: 7,344
14. Pilot: Part 2 (Season 1, Episode 2)
- IMDb user rating: 9.1/10
- IMDb user reviews: 9,596
13. There’s No Place Like Home: Part 3 (Season 4, Episode 14)
- IMDb user rating: 9.2/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,848
12. The Incident: Part 2 (Season 5, Episode 17)
- IMDb user rating: 9.2/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,854
11. There’s No Place Like Home: Part 2 (Season 4, Episode 13)
- IMDb user rating: 9.2/10
- IMDb user reviews: 6,838
10. The Man Behind the Curtain (Season 3, Episode 20)
- IMDb user rating: 9.2/10
- IMDb user reviews: 6,943
9. Ab Aeterno (Season 6, Episode 9)
- IMDb user rating: 9.2/10
- IMDb user reviews: 7,581
8. Exodus: Part 2 (Season 1, Episode 24)
- IMDb user rating: 9.2/10
- IMDb user reviews: 7,618
7. Pilot: Part 1 (Season 1, Episode 1)
- IMDb user rating: 9.2/10
- IMDb user reviews: 12,525
6. Exodus: Part 3 (Season 1, Episode 25)
- IMDb user rating: 9.3/10
- IMDb user reviews: 4,561
5. Live Together, Die Alone: Part 2 (Season 2, Episode 24)
- IMDb user rating: 9.4/10
- IMDb user reviews: 925
4. Live Together, Die Alone: Part 1 (Season 2, Episode 23)
- IMDb user rating: 9.4/10
- IMDb user reviews: 8,298
3. Through the Looking Glass: Part 2 (Season 3, Episode 23)
- IMDb user rating: 9.7/10
- IMDb user reviews: 1,055
2. Through the Looking Glass: Part 1 (Season 3, Episode 22)
- IMDb user rating: 9.7/10
- IMDb user reviews: 13,149
1. The Constant (Season 4, Episode 5)
- IMDb user rating: 9.7/10
- IMDb user reviews: 14,727