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The Most Memorable TV Show Endings in History

The Most Memorable TV Show Endings in History

Updated: by

Courtesy of AMC

50. Veep, "Veep"

Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office

49. White Collar, "Au Revoir"

Source: Courtesy of USA Network

48. Schitt's Creek, "Happy Ending"

Source: Courtesy of Fox Television Studios

47. Downton Abbey, "Christmas Special"

Source: Courtesy of Public Broadcasting Service

46. Mad Men, "Person to Person"

Source: Courtesy of American Movie Classics

45. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Chosen"

Source: Courtesy of United Paramount Network

44. Fleabag, "Episode 2..6"

Source: Courtesy of Amazon Prime Video

43. Psych, "The Break-Up"

Source: Courtesy of USA Network

42. Forever, "The Last Death of Henry Morgan"

Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company

41. The Spectacular Spider-Man, "Final Curtain"

Source: Courtesy of Disney

40. Atlanta, "It Was All a Dream"

Source: Courtesy of FX Network

39. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., "What We're Fighting For"

Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company

38. Star Wars Rebels, "Family Reunion – and Farewell"

Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company and Disney

37. Suits, "One Last Con"

Source: Courtesy of USA Network

36. Futurama, "Meanwhile"

Source: Courtesy of Comedy Central

35. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, "The Last Day Pt 2"

Source: Courtesy of Fox Network

34. Homeland, "Prisoners of War"

Source: Courtesy of Showtime Networks

33. Community, "Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television"

Source: Courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment

32. Star Trek: Picard, "The Last Generation"

Source: Courtesy of CBS

31. Ted Lasso, "So Long, Farewell"

Source: Courtesy of Apple TV+

30. The Sopranos, "Made in America"

Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office

29. Superstore, "All Sales Final"

Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

28. Angel, "Not Fade Away"

Source: Courtesy of The WB Television Network

27. How to Get Away with Murder, "Stay"

Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company

26. Banshee, "Requiem"

Source: Courtesy of Cinemax

25. Parks and Recreation, "One Last Ride"

Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

24. The Good Place, "Whenever You're Ready"

Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

23. BoJack Horseman, "Nice While It Lasted"

Source: Courtesy of Netflix

22. Sons of Anarchy, "Papa's Goods"

Source: Courtesy of FX Network

21. The Big Bang Theory, "The Stockholm Syndrome"

Source: Courtesy of CBS

20. Daredevil, "A New Napkin"

Source: Courtesy of Netflix and Disney

19. Friday Night Lights, "Always"

Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

18. 12 Monkeys, "The Beginning Part 2"

Source: Courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment

17. Justified, "The Promise"

Source: Courtesy of FX Network

16. The Shield, "Family Meeting"

Source: Courtesy of FX Network

15. Friends, "The Last One"

Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

14. Dark, "Das Paradies"

Source: Courtesy of Netflix

13. Adventure Time, "Come Along With Me"

Source: Courtesy of Cartoon Network

12. The Americans, "START"

Source: Courtesy of FX Network

11. Spartacus, "Victory"

Source: Courtesy of Starz

10. Regular Show, "A Regular Epic Final Battle"

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Television

9. Code Geass, "Re;"

Source: Courtesy of Adult Swim

8. Person of Interest, "Return 0"

Source: Courtesy of CBS

7. Mr. Robot, "Hello, Elliot"

Source: Courtesy of USA Network

6. The Office, "Finale"

Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

5. Better Call Saul, "Saul Gone"

Source: Courtesy of American Movie Classics

4. Six Feet Under, "Everyone's Waiting"

Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office

3. Avatar: The Last Airbender, "Sozin's Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang"

Source: Courtesy of Nickelodeon Network

2. Star Wars: The Clone Wars, "Victory and Death"

Source: Courtesy of Disney+

1. Breaking Bad, "Felina"

Source: Courtesy of American Movie Classics

50. Veep, "Veep"
49. White Collar, "Au Revoir"
48. Schitt's Creek, "Happy Ending"
47. Downton Abbey, "Christmas Special"
46. Mad Men, "Person to Person"
45. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Chosen"
44. Fleabag, "Episode 2..6"
43. Psych, "The Break-Up"
42. Forever, "The Last Death of Henry Morgan"
41. The Spectacular Spider-Man, "Final Curtain"
40. Atlanta, "It Was All a Dream"
39. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., "What We're Fighting For"
38. Star Wars Rebels, "Family Reunion – and Farewell"
37. Suits, "One Last Con"
36. Futurama, "Meanwhile"
35. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, "The Last Day Pt 2"
34. Homeland, "Prisoners of War"
33. Community, "Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television"
32. Star Trek: Picard, "The Last Generation"
31. Ted Lasso, "So Long, Farewell"
30. The Sopranos, "Made in America"
29. Superstore, "All Sales Final"
28. Angel, "Not Fade Away"
27. How to Get Away with Murder, "Stay"
26. Banshee, "Requiem"
25. Parks and Recreation, "One Last Ride"
24. The Good Place, "Whenever You're Ready"
23. BoJack Horseman, "Nice While It Lasted"
22. Sons of Anarchy, "Papa's Goods"
21. The Big Bang Theory, "The Stockholm Syndrome"
20. Daredevil, "A New Napkin"
19. Friday Night Lights, "Always"
18. 12 Monkeys, "The Beginning Part 2"
17. Justified, "The Promise"
16. The Shield, "Family Meeting"
15. Friends, "The Last One"
14. Dark, "Das Paradies"
13. Adventure Time, "Come Along With Me"
12. The Americans, "START"
11. Spartacus, "Victory"
10. Regular Show, "A Regular Epic Final Battle"
9. Code Geass, "Re;"
8. Person of Interest, "Return 0"
7. Mr. Robot, "Hello, Elliot"
6. The Office, "Finale"
5. Better Call Saul, "Saul Gone"
4. Six Feet Under, "Everyone's Waiting"
3. Avatar: The Last Airbender, "Sozin's Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang"
2. Star Wars: The Clone Wars, "Victory and Death"
1. Breaking Bad, "Felina"

Week after week we tune in to see our favorite shows on the small screen, often feeling like we've become members of the circle, the friend group, or the family. Privy to the gossip, the highs and lows, the action and adventure, while being able to step back and safely remain in our living rooms watching from afar. Some of these shows have become part of our lives, getting us through our own hard times, often becoming part of our routines.

When a program decides to end its run, it can be a heartbreaking disappointment for many of us. But with a finale, long-running TV shows offer loyal fans an opportunity to say an often emotional goodbye to a beloved series, almost like saying goodbye to a loved one, knowing that this is the end, the final goodbye.

To determine the most memorable TV show endings in history, 24/7 Tempo reviewed IMDb data on audience reception for television finales. Those 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.

One series was the clear favorite among IMDb voters. Airing on AMC from 2008 to 2013, "Breaking Bad" was a series about chemistry teacher Walter White who was stricken with cancer and chooses to provide for his family by making home-grown crystal meth. The final episode tallied the most show finale votes (2,049,821) and full series votes (134,615) of any show listed here. (Also See The Most Memorable Career Criminals in TV History.)

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