Best TV Series by Rating: Ultimate Guide to Top-Ranked Shows & Rating Systems (2025)

Ever find yourself scrolling through streaming services for hours, paralyzed by choice? You're not alone. That's why so many of us turn to ratings when deciding what to watch. But here's the thing I've learned after years of binge-watching: not all ratings are created equal. When we talk about the best tv series by rating, we need to dig deeper than just a shiny number. Let's cut through the noise and look at what really makes a show stand out according to critics, fans, and actual viewing data.

Why Ratings Matter (And Why They Sometimes Don't)

I used to ignore ratings completely until I wasted three evenings on a show that looked great in trailers but turned out to be unwatchable. Now I check ratings religiously – but with context. The highest-rated shows usually deliver exceptional writing, acting, or originality. But here's my controversial take: some cult classics with mid-range scores (like The Office US, sitting at 81% on Rotten Tomatoes) became my all-time favorites. Ratings give you a starting point, not the final answer.

The Rating Systems Decoded: IMDb vs Rotten Tomatoes vs Metacritic

Not all rating platforms work the same way, and misunderstanding this got me burned before. Let me break it down:

IMDb User Ratings

This is where regular viewers rule. Shows are rated 1-10 based on millions of votes. What I like: You see raw audience love. Downside? Franchise shows get fanboy boosts (looking at you, Marvel series). Still, when hunting for best tv shows by rating, IMDb's Top 250 is my first stop.

Rotten Tomatoes

Their "Tomatometer" measures the percentage of positive critic reviews. A 95% score means 95% of critics gave it thumbs up. Helpful for quality consensus, but doesn't show how much they loved it. I learned this when comparing Fleabag (100%) with Stranger Things (93%) – both brilliant but very different audience experiences.

Metacritic

They assign weighted scores (0-100) to critic reviews. More nuanced than RT but with fewer votes. I use this when I want critical depth, especially for complex dramas.

The Current Highest-Rated TV Series According to Multiple Metrics

After cross-referencing IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic scores from 2023-2024, here are the undisputed champions. I've included where to stream them because nothing's worse than discovering an amazing show you can't actually watch.

Notice something? Documentary series dominate the absolute top tier. While researching this, I rewatched Planet Earth II and finally understood why – the production value is insane. That said, I'd argue miniseries like Chernobyl deliver more concentrated brilliance than some longer shows.

Hidden Gems: Top-Rated Shows You Might Have Missed

Everyone knows Breaking Bad, but what about these 90+ scored masterpieces that fly under the radar? I found these through deep dives into niche forums:

• Patriot (Amazon Prime) - 96% RT: Dark spy comedy with a folk-singing protagonist. Absurdist brilliance that made me laugh and cry unexpectedly. Only two seasons though.
• Mr Inbetween (FX/Hulu) - 98% RT: Australian crime drama about a hitman balancing work and parenting. More depth than most Hollywood blockbusters. Three perfect seasons.
• Detectorists (BBC) - 100% RT: Gentle comedy about metal detector enthusiasts. Sounds boring? Trust me, it's pure magic. Like therapy in show form.

Genre-Specific Standouts: Finding Your Perfect Match

Looking for the highest-rated tv series in your favorite category? Here's where ratings become super practical:

Best Fantasy Series by Rating

• Game of Thrones (Seasons 1-4): 94% RT (Avoid mentioning later seasons in polite company)
• His Dark Materials: 91% RT - Better than the books? Fight me.
• The Witcher (Season 1): 89% RT (Just pretend Season 2 never happened)

Top Sci-Fi Shows

• Black Mirror: 94% RT (Skip the Waldo Moment episode though)
• Stranger Things: 93% RT (Season 1 remains perfect)
• The Expanse: 91% RT - Hard sci-fi done right

The Biggest Rating Discrepancies: Critics vs Audiences

Sometimes scores tell conflicting stories. When researching best rated television series, these mismatches fascinated me:

The She-Hulk divide taught me something important: audience scores can be weaponized. I actually enjoyed its fourth-wall breaks, but the ratings war made objective discussion impossible.

Where to Watch These Top-Ranked Shows

Finding these gems matters more than their scores. After tracking availability across 15+ countries:

• Netflix: Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Stranger Things
• HBO Max: The Wire, Sopranos, Chernobyl
• Disney+: The Bear (via Hulu), Bluey (shockingly high ratings!)
• Free options: Pluto TV has classic high-rated sitcoms like Cheers (84% RT)

Budget tip: Many libraries now offer free Kanopy access with killer catalogs. I watched all of Mr. Robot this way.

Your Top Questions About Best TV Series by Rating Answered

Do higher-rated shows always mean better quality?

Not necessarily. A niche masterpiece might score higher than a broadly appealing show. I've loved 70% RT shows more than 95% ones because they matched my personal taste.

How recent should ratings be for new shows?

Check scores 4-6 weeks after premiere. Early reviews often come from superfans or critics screening only select episodes. Remember Westworld? Started at 95%, crashed to 55% by final season.

Why do documentary series dominate the all-time lists?

They appeal universally without needing cultural context. Nobody argues about the penguins in Planet Earth. Meanwhile, my friends debate The Sopranos ending weekly despite its 92% rating.

Can I trust IMDb ratings?

Mostly yes – except for franchise content. Marvel shows have artificial score inflation (look at Secret Invasion's 64% critic vs 85% user split). For unbiased best tv series by rating, combine sources.

Red Flags in High Ratings: Lessons Learned the Hard Way

After getting burned by overhyped shows, I developed these rules:

• Beware instant 10/10s: New shows often get fanatical early ratings that normalize later. I fell for this with Invasion (2021) – started at 9.2, now at 5.4.
• Check episode count: Limited series (<10 eps) often rate higher than multi-season shows. Comparing Watchmen (96% RT) to The Walking Dead (79%) isn't fair.
• Genre matters: Comedies rarely break 90% on RT. Fleabag at 100% is the exception, not the rule.

How I Use Ratings in Real Life

My personal decision matrix for choosing shows:

• Anything below 60% on RT? Skip unless a trusted friend insists
• 85%+ on RT with 8.0+ IMDb score? Priority watch
• Massive critic-audience gap? Read actual reviews to understand why

Just last week this system saved me from Velma (39% RT) and led me to Beef (98% RT) – one of my best viewing decisions this year.

Beyond the Numbers: When to Ignore Ratings

Some of my most rewarding watches broke rating "rules":

• The OA (79% RT): Canceled after two seasons but created the most passionate fanbase I've seen
• Riverdale (Season 1: 87% RT): Objectively terrible later seasons, but gloriously weird entertainment

Sometimes a flawed show with one brilliant element (acting, cinematography) deserves attention despite mediocre scores. I almost skipped Andor because of Obi-Wan's bad ratings – that would've been tragic.

The Final Verdict on Finding Best TV Series by Rating

Ratings work best as filters, not absolutes. The true magic happens when aggregate scores align with your tastes. After analyzing thousands of data points for this guide, here's my cheat sheet for different viewers:

At the end of the day, the best tv series by rating should serve your preferences, not define them. I'd love to hear your personal high-rated discoveries that don't make the typical lists – drop me an email with your hot takes!