Finales for long-running TV shows offer loyal fans an opportunity to say an often emotional goodbye to a beloved series, like watching a loved one finally passing on. The best finales sum up the spirit of the series, tie up loose ends deftly, and may provide resolutions for characters in conflict.
To determine the greatest TV finales of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed IMDb data on audience reception for television finales. Series finales with at least 1,000 audience reviews were ranked based on average IMDb user rating as of October 2023. In the case of a tie, the show with more audience votes was ranked higher.
All of the finales on this list pulled off the achievement of scoring at least 9.3 in the IMDb series finale rating. Every series closer also exceeded its full series rating on IMDb, some by as many as 1.9 points. Comedies and drama/crime series composed more than 60% of the shows on the list. All of the series aired in the 21st century.
“Breaking Bad,” which aired on AMC from 2008 to 2013, was clearly the favorite among IMDb voters. The series was about a chemistry teacher stricken with cancer who chooses to provide for his family by making home-grown crystal meth. “Breaking Bad” tallied the most show finale votes (2,049,821) and full series votes (134,615) of any show on our list. “Breaking Bad” had twice the number of finale votes than No. 2 “Friends” and more than 80,000 full series votes ahead of its series progeny, “Better Call Saul”. (Also See The Most Memorable Career Criminals in TV History.)
The comedy “The Big Bang Theory” had the longest run of any series at 12 seasons (2007-2019), and the animated adventure show “Adventure Time” (2010-2018) posted the most episodes with 289 before both programs closed their final curtain.
50. Veep, “Veep”
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office
- Series finale rating: 9.3/10 (1,893 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.4/10 (61,071 votes)
- Original airdate: May 12, 2019
49. White Collar, “Au Revoir”
Source: Courtesy of USA Network
Source: Courtesy of USA Network
- Series finale rating: 9.3/10 (2,159 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.2/10 (137,730 votes)
- Original airdate: December 18, 2014
48. Schitt’s Creek, “Happy Ending”
Source: Courtesy of Fox Television Studios
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Fox Television Studios
- Series finale rating: 9.3/10 (2,366 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.5/10 (136,960 votes)
- Original airdate: April 7, 2020
47. Downton Abbey, “Christmas Special”
Source: Courtesy of Public Broadcasting Service
Source: Courtesy of Public Broadcasting Service
- Series finale rating: 9.3/10 (2,408 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.7/10 (217,609 votes)
- Original airdate: March 6, 2016
46. Mad Men, “Person to Person”
Source: Courtesy of American Movie Classics
Source: Courtesy of American Movie Classics
- Series finale rating: 9.3/10 (4,549 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.7/10 (253,477 votes)
- Original airdate: May 17, 2015
45. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, “Chosen”
Source: Courtesy of United Paramount Network
N/A
Source: Courtesy of United Paramount Network
- Series finale rating: 9.3/10 (4,691 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.3/10 (155,353 votes)
- Original airdate: May 20, 2003
44. Fleabag, “Episode #2.6”
Source: Courtesy of Amazon Prime Video
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Amazon Prime Video
- Series finale rating: 9.3/10 (5,777 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.7/10 (185,217 votes)
- Original airdate: May 17, 2019
43. Psych, “The Break-Up”
Source: Courtesy of USA Network
Source: Courtesy of USA Network
- Series finale rating: 9.4/10 (1,811 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.4/10 (103,156 votes)
- Original airdate: March 26, 2014
42. Forever, “The Last Death of Henry Morgan”
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
- Series finale rating: 9.4/10 (1,936 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.2/10 (60,667 votes)
- Original airdate: May 5, 2015
41. The Spectacular Spider-Man, “Final Curtain”
Source: Courtesy of Disney
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Disney
- Series finale rating: 9.4/10 (2,068 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.4/10 (18,406 votes)
- Original airdate: March 18, 2009
40. Atlanta, “It Was All a Dream”
Source: Courtesy of FX Network
N/A
Source: Courtesy of FX Network
- Series finale rating: 9.4/10 (2,132 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.6/10 (83,756 votes)
- Original airdate: November 10, 2022
39. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., “What We’re Fighting For”
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
- Series finale rating: 9.4/10 (3,085 votes)
- Full series rating: 7.5/10 (223,185 votes)
- Original airdate: August 12, 2020
38. Star Wars Rebels, “Family Reunion – and Farewell”
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company and Disney
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company and Disney
- Series finale rating: 9.4/10 (3,357 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.1/10 (54,920 votes)
- Original airdate: March 5, 2018
37. Suits, “One Last Con”
Source: Courtesy of USA Network
N/A
Source: Courtesy of USA Network
- Series finale rating: 9.4/10 (3,569 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.4/10 (454,389 votes)
- Original airdate: September 25, 2019
36. Futurama, “Meanwhile”
Source: Courtesy of Comedy Central
Source: Courtesy of Comedy Central
- Series finale rating: 9.4/10 (4,414 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.5/10 (255,000 votes)
- Original airdate: September 4, 2013
35. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, “The Last Day Pt 2”
Source: Courtesy of Fox Network
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Fox Network
- Series finale rating: 9.4/10 (4,805 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.4/10 (344,394 votes)
- Original airdate: September 16, 2021
34. Homeland, “Prisoners of War”
Source: Courtesy of Showtime Networks
Source: Courtesy of Showtime Networks
- Series finale rating: 9.4/10 (5,252 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.3/10 (354,442 votes)
- Original airdate: April 26, 2020
33. Community, “Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television”
Source: Courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment
Source: Courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment
- Series finale rating: 9.4/10 (6,353 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.5/10 (283,992 votes)
- Original airdate: June 2, 2015
32. Star Trek: Picard, “The Last Generation”
Source: Courtesy of CBS
Source: Courtesy of CBS
- Series finale rating: 9.4/10 (6,628 votes)
- Full series rating: 7.5/10 (91,575 votes)
- Original airdate: April 20, 2023
31. Ted Lasso, “So Long, Farewell”
Source: Courtesy of Apple TV+
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Apple TV+
- Series finale rating: 9.4/10 (11,418 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.8/10 (313,290 votes)
- Original airdate: May 31, 2023
30. The Sopranos, “Made in America”
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office
- Series finale rating: 9.4/10 (12,359 votes)
- Full series rating: 9.2/10 (443,049 votes)
- Original airdate: June 10, 2007
29. Superstore, “All Sales Final”
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
- Series finale rating: 9.5/10 (2,318 votes)
- Full series rating: 7.9/10 (65,307 votes)
- Original airdate: March 25, 2021
28. Angel, “Not Fade Away”
Source: Courtesy of The WB Television Network
Source: Courtesy of The WB Television Network
- Series finale rating: 9.5/10 (3,517 votes)
- Full series rating: 7.9/10 (74,057 votes)
- Original airdate: May 19, 2004
27. How to Get Away with Murder, “Stay”
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
- Series finale rating: 9.5/10 (3,655 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.1/10 (161,880 votes)
- Original airdate: May 14, 2020
26. Banshee, “Requiem”
Source: Courtesy of Cinemax
Source: Courtesy of Cinemax
- Series finale rating: 9.5/10 (3,698 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.4/10 (118,147 votes)
- Original airdate: May 20, 2016
25. Parks and Recreation, “One Last Ride”
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
- Series finale rating: 9.5/10 (5,180 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.6/10 (278,279 votes)
- Original airdate: February 24, 2015
24. The Good Place, “Whenever You’re Ready”
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
- Series finale rating: 9.5/10 (6,173 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.2/10 (179,843 votes)
- Original airdate: January 30, 2020
23. BoJack Horseman, “Nice While It Lasted”
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- Series finale rating: 9.5/10 (7,524 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.8/10 (177,988 votes)
- Original airdate: January 31, 2020
22. Sons of Anarchy, “Papa’s Goods”
Source: Courtesy of FX Network
Source: Courtesy of FX Network
- Series finale rating: 9.5/10 (8,477 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.6/10 (314,202 votes)
- Original airdate: December 9, 2014
21. The Big Bang Theory, “The Stockholm Syndrome”
Source: Courtesy of CBS
Source: Courtesy of CBS
- Series finale rating: 9.5/10 (10,181 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.2/10 (844,024 votes)
- Original airdate: May 16, 2019
20. Daredevil, “A New Napkin”
Source: Courtesy of Netflix and Disney
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Netflix and Disney
- Series finale rating: 9.5/10 (10,322 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.6/10 (462,343 votes)
- Original airdate: October 19, 2018
19. Friday Night Lights, “Always”
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
- Series finale rating: 9.6/10 (1,212 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.7/10 (70,603 votes)
- Original airdate: February 9, 2011
18. 12 Monkeys, “The Beginning Part 2”
Source: Courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment
Source: Courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment
- Series finale rating: 9.6/10 (1,902 votes)
- Full series rating: 7.7/10 (47,506 votes)
- Original airdate: July 6, 2018
17. Justified, “The Promise”
Source: Courtesy of FX Network
N/A
Source: Courtesy of FX Network
- Series finale rating: 9.6/10 (2,859 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.6/10 (114,199 votes)
- Original airdate: April 14, 2015
16. The Shield, “Family Meeting”
Source: Courtesy of FX Network
Source: Courtesy of FX Network
- Series finale rating: 9.6/10 (3,552 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.7/10 (85,477 votes)
- Original airdate: November 25, 2008
15. Friends, “The Last One”
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
- Series finale rating: 9.6/10 (16,101 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.9/10 (1,049,512 votes)
- Original airdate: May 6, 2004
14. Dark, “Das Paradies”
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- Series finale rating: 9.6/10 (24,141 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.7/10 (423,101 votes)
- Original airdate: June 27, 2020
13. Adventure Time, “Come Along With Me”
Source: Courtesy of Cartoon Network
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Cartoon Network
- Series finale rating: 9.7/10 (4,121 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.6/10 (106,672 votes)
- Original airdate: September 3, 2018
12. The Americans, “START”
Source: Courtesy of FX Network
Source: Courtesy of FX Network
- Series finale rating: 9.7/10 (4,568 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.4/10 (107,474 votes)
- Original airdate: May 30, 2018
11. Spartacus, “Victory”
Source: Courtesy of Starz
Source: Courtesy of Starz
- Series finale rating: 9.7/10 (8,266 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.5/10 (251,357 votes)
- Original airdate: April 12, 2013
10. Regular Show, “A Regular Epic Final Battle”
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Television
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Television
- Series finale rating: 9.8/10 (6,107 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.5/10 (53,682 votes)
- Original airdate: January 16, 2017
9. Code Geass, “Re;”
Source: Courtesy of Adult Swim
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Adult Swim
- Series finale rating: 9.8/10 (9,569 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.7/10 (76,106 votes)
- Original airdate: September 28, 2008
8. Person of Interest, “Return 0”
Source: Courtesy of CBS
Source: Courtesy of CBS
- Series finale rating: 9.8/10 (10,897 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.5/10 (185,000 votes)
- Original airdate: June 21, 2016
7. Mr. Robot, “Hello, Elliot”
Source: Courtesy of USA Network
N/A
Source: Courtesy of USA Network
- Series finale rating: 9.8/10 (20,512 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.5/10 (407,235 votes)
- Original airdate: December 22, 2019
6. The Office, “Finale”
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
- Series finale rating: 9.8/10 (20,782 votes)
- Full series rating: 9.0/10 (671,355 votes)
- Original airdate: May 16, 2013
5. Better Call Saul, “Saul Gone”
Source: Courtesy of American Movie Classics
N/A
Source: Courtesy of American Movie Classics
- Series finale rating: 9.8/10 (54,169 votes)
- Full series rating: 9.0/10 (610,453 votes)
- Original airdate: August 15, 2022
4. Six Feet Under, “Everyone’s Waiting”
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office
- Series finale rating: 9.9/10 (11,494 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.7/10 (141,624 votes)
- Original airdate: August 21, 2005
3. Avatar: The Last Airbender, “Sozin’s Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang”
Source: Courtesy of Nickelodeon Network
Source: Courtesy of Nickelodeon Network
- Series finale rating: 9.9/10 (14,494 votes)
- Full series rating: 9.3/10 (344,743 votes)
- Original airdate: July 19, 2008
2. Star Wars: The Clone Wars, “Victory and Death”
Source: Courtesy of Disney+
Source: Courtesy of Disney+
- Series finale rating: 9.9/10 (17,371 votes)
- Full series rating: 8.4/10 (114,246 votes)
- Original airdate: May 4, 2020
1. Breaking Bad, “Felina”
Source: Courtesy of American Movie Classics
Source: Courtesy of American Movie Classics
- Series finale rating: 9.9/10 (134,615 votes)
- Full series rating: 9.5/10 (2,049,821 votes)
- Original airdate: September 29, 2013