Top Rated Comedy Series of All Time You Need to Binge Now

Picture this: you’re wrapped in your favorite blanket, mug of something warm in hand, and you’ve got the whole evening to yourself. The only thing left to decide? What to watch. If laughing until your stomach hurts is on the agenda, you’re in exactly the right place.

Comedy television has given us some of the most iconic characters, unforgettable catchphrases, and culturally defining moments in entertainment history. But with thousands of shows across streaming platforms, cable, and classic TV, finding the truly great ones can feel overwhelming.

That’s where we come in. We’ve put together the most comprehensive guide to the top rated comedy series of all time — spanning classic sitcoms, modern mockumentaries, workplace comedies, animated masterpieces, and everything in between. Whether you’re a first-time viewer or a seasoned binge-watcher looking for your next obsession, this list has you covered.

What Makes a Comedy Series “Top Rated”?

Before diving in, it’s worth understanding how these series earn their legendary status. The best comedy shows tend to tick several boxes:

• Timeless writing — Jokes and storylines that hold up across decades
• Memorable characters — People you genuinely feel you know
• Cultural impact — Phrases and moments that enter everyday language
• Critical and audience acclaim — High scores on IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Emmy recognition
• Rewatchability — Episodes you can revisit and still laugh at every time

With those criteria in mind, here are the top rated comedy series of all time, organized from the legendary classics to brilliant modern gems.

1. Friends (1994–2004)

Network: NBC | Seasons: 10 | Episodes: 236 | IMDb: 8.9/10

If there’s one comedy series that transcends generations, it’s Friends. Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, the show follows six friends — Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Chandler, and Joey — as they navigate love, careers, heartbreak, and everything in between while living in New York City.

Starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer, the ensemble cast had a chemistry that felt genuinely electric. Every character brought something distinct: Rachel’s growth from pampered princess to independent woman, Chandler’s self-deprecating humor, Phoebe’s quirky charm, Monica’s competitive perfectionism, Joey’s lovable cluelessness, and Ross’s endearingly nerdy sincerity.

Why it’s legendary: Friends ran for a decade and never lost its audience. The series finale in 2004 was watched by nearly 52 million American viewers, making it one of the most watched TV episodes in history. It introduced phrases like “We were on a break!” and “How you doin’?” into everyday conversation. Even today, it remains among the most streamed TV shows globally, proving that great comedy truly does age like fine wine.

Best episodes to start with: “The One Where Everybody Finds Out,” “The One with the Embryos,” “The One with the Prom Video”

2. Seinfeld (1989–1998)

Network: NBC | Seasons: 9 | Episodes: 180 | IMDb: 8.9/10

Often described as a “show about nothing,” Seinfeld is paradoxically one of the most everything shows in television history. Created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, the series follows neurotic New York comedian Jerry Seinfeld alongside his hilariously self-absorbed friends: George Costanza (Jason Alexander), Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and the wildly unpredictable Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards).

The brilliance of Seinfeld lies in its refusal to follow TV conventions. There are no life lessons, no tidy resolutions, and the characters barely grow across nine seasons — and yet that’s precisely what makes it genius. It turned the mundane — waiting for a table at a restaurant, getting a bad haircut, losing a parking spot — into comedic gold.

Why it’s legendary: Rotten Tomatoes readers crowned Seinfeld as their all-time favorite comedy series. It broke the mold of what a sitcom could be, inspiring decades of shows that followed. It won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series and is widely credited with reinventing observational comedy for television. Many critics consider it the single greatest live-action sitcom ever made.

Best episodes to start with: “The Contest,” “The Soup Nazi,” “The Parking Garage”

3. The Office (US) (2005–2013)

Network: NBC | Seasons: 9 | Episodes: 201 | IMDb: 9.0/10

Adapted from Ricky Gervais’s brilliant British original, The Office (US) took a bold concept — a mockumentary set inside the mundane world of a paper company — and turned it into one of the most beloved comedies in television history. Set in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of Dunder Mifflin, the show is anchored by the painfully cringeworthy yet oddly lovable Regional Manager Michael Scott, played with genius by Steve Carell.

The supporting cast is just as extraordinary: Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), the lovable everyman; Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer), the quietly grounded receptionist; and Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), the obsessive, beet-farming Assistant (to the) Regional Manager. The romantic arc between Jim and Pam became one of the most rooted-for love stories in TV history.

Why it’s legendary: The Office holds an IMDb rating of 9.0, making it one of the highest-rated comedies on the platform. It redefined the workplace comedy, proved that the mockumentary format could work in long-form American television, and produced countless iconic moments — from “Prison Mike” to the Pretzel Day episode. Even 12+ years after its finale, it remains among the most streamed shows in the world.

Best episodes to start with: “Diversity Day,” “The Injury,” “Casino Night,” “Goodbye, Michael”

4. Arrested Development (2003–2019)

Network: Fox / Netflix | Seasons: 5 | Episodes: 84 | IMDb: 8.7/10

Arrested Development is the comedy nerd’s comedy. Created by Mitchell Hurwitz, it follows the dysfunctional Bluth family — once wealthy, now broke and morally bankrupt — as the only sensible son, Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman), attempts to hold them together. The supporting cast includes Jessica Walter, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Portia de Rossi, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, David Cross, and Jeffrey Tambor.

What sets this show apart is its extraordinary density of jokes. Callbacks, foreshadowing, visual gags, and layered running jokes reward attentive viewers and make the show genuinely better on rewatch. A single 22-minute episode can contain more deliberate comedic craft than entire seasons of other shows.

Why it’s legendary: When Fox canceled the show after three seasons, fan outrage was so intense that Netflix later revived it — a rare honor in the streaming era. It’s been cited as a groundbreaking series that made shows like Schitt’s Creek and Santa Clarita Diet possible.

Best episodes to start with: “Pier Pressure,” “Afternoon Delight,” “Fakin’ It”

5. The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019)

Network: CBS | Seasons: 12 | Episodes: 279 | IMDb: 8.1/10

Created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, The Big Bang Theory became one of the most commercially successful comedies of the 21st century. The show centers on four socially awkward, intellectually brilliant scientists — Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg), and Rajesh Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) — whose carefully ordered lives are upended when bubbly, street-smart Penny (Kaley Cuoco) moves in next door.

The show built its comedy around the contrast between extreme academic intelligence and everyday social cluelessness. Sheldon Cooper, in particular, became one of TV’s most recognizable characters — spawning the successful spinoff Young Sheldon.

Why it’s legendary: The Big Bang Theory ran for 12 seasons and remains the longest-running multi-camera comedy series in US TV history. Jim Parsons won four Primetime Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Sheldon Cooper. The series finale in 2019 drew over 18 million viewers.

Best episodes to start with: “The Pancake Batter Anomaly,” “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis,” “The Tenure Turbulence”

6. Modern Family (2009–2020)

Network: ABC | Seasons: 11 | Episodes: 250 | IMDb: 8.4/10

Modern Family brought the mockumentary format to the family sitcom and redefined what a “family show” could look like. The series follows three interrelated families: Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neill) and his much younger Colombian wife Gloria (Sofía Vergara); his daughter Claire (Julie Bowen) and her bumbling but lovable husband Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrell); and his gay son Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and his flamboyant partner Cameron (Eric Stonestreet), who are raising an adopted Vietnamese daughter.

The show’s genius was in showing that “modern family” meant many different things — and finding universal humor in all of them. Phil Dunphy became one of the decade’s most beloved sitcom dads, while Jay and Gloria’s dynamic delivered comedy gold in virtually every episode.

Why it’s legendary: Modern Family won five consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series (2010–2014), a record run. It helped mainstream LGBTQ+ family representation on primetime network TV and consistently delivered laugh-out-loud moments across its entire 11-season run.

Best episodes to start with: “Fizbo,” “The Kiss,” “Caught in the Act”

7. Parks and Recreation (2009–2015)

Network: NBC | Seasons: 7 | Episodes: 125 | IMDb: 8.6/10

Initially dismissed as an Office clone, Parks and Recreation evolved into something entirely its own — and for many fans, even better. Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, the show follows the absurd bureaucracy of a small Indiana town’s Parks Department, led by the relentlessly optimistic Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler).

The cast is a powerhouse: Nick Offerman as the libertarian anti-government Ron Swanson, Aziz Ansari as the egotistical Tom Haverford, Chris Pratt as the lovable Andy Dwyer, Aubrey Plaza as the deadpan April Ludgate, and Rashida Jones as the warm-hearted Ann Perkins.

Why it’s legendary: Parks and Rec is widely considered the gold standard for optimistic, character-driven comedy. Unlike many shows that rely on cynicism for laughs, this one found humor in genuine warmth and earnestness — and pulled it off brilliantly. It’s among the most rewatched comedies on streaming and frequently tops “most underrated comedies” lists.

Best episodes to start with: “The Flu,” “Hunting Trip,” “Leslie and Ben”

8. Schitt’s Creek (2015–2020)

Network: CBC / Pop TV | Seasons: 6 | Episodes: 80 | IMDb: 8.5/10

Canadian comedy Schitt’s Creek, co-created by Eugene Levy and his son Dan Levy, took a simple premise — a wealthy family loses everything and is forced to move to a rundown town they once bought as a joke — and turned it into one of the most heartwarming, critically adored comedy series in recent memory.

The cast, which includes Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Levy, and Annie Murphy, delivers performances ranging from deliciously campy to genuinely tender. O’Hara’s portrayal of the over-the-top former soap opera actress Moira Rose is widely regarded as one of the funniest performances in TV history.

Why it’s legendary: At the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards, Schitt’s Creek made history by sweeping all seven major comedy categories — a feat never before accomplished by any show. In just six seasons, it won nine Primetime Emmys, proving that quality matters far more than quantity of episodes.

Best episodes to start with: “The Dress,” “Roadkill,” “Happy Ending”

9. Ted Lasso (2020–Present)

Network: Apple TV+ | Seasons: 3+ | IMDb: 8.8/10

Ted Lasso arrived at exactly the right moment — during the pandemic — and gave audiences something they didn’t know they desperately needed: optimism. Created by Bill Lawrence, Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly, the show follows an American college football coach (Sudeikis) who is hired to manage an English Premier League soccer team despite having zero experience in the sport.

What could have been a one-joke premise instead became a layered, emotionally intelligent, deeply funny series about leadership, vulnerability, mental health, and the power of believing in people. Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Juno Temple, and Nick Mohammed round out a stellar supporting cast.

Why it’s legendary: Ted Lasso won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in its first two seasons. Critics and audiences alike have called it the most refreshing comedy of the 2020s — a show that dares to be kind in an era of cynical humor. It has directly inspired a wave of “optimistic comedy” imitators, a testament to its cultural impact.

Best episodes to start with: “Biscuits,” “The Diamond Dogs,” “No Weddings and a Funeral”

10. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021)

Network: Fox / NBC | Seasons: 8 | Episodes: 153 | IMDb: 8.4/10

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is the definitive modern police comedy. Also co-created by Michael Schur, the show follows the lovably immature but gifted detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) and his diverse squad at the NYPD’s 99th Precinct under the command of the stoic-but-warm Captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher).

The ensemble cast — Terry Crews, Stephanie Beatriz, Melissa Fumero, Chelsea Peretti, and Joe Lo Truglio — is one of the most balanced and genuinely funny in TV history. The show also tackled serious social issues — racial profiling, LGBTQ+ rights, workplace discrimination — without losing its comedic tone.

Why it’s legendary: When Fox canceled the show in 2018, fan outrage erupted so powerfully on social media that NBC picked it up within 31 hours — one of the fastest reversals in TV history. That’s the mark of a truly beloved show. Andre Braugher’s portrayal of Captain Holt is considered one of the finest comedic performances of his era.

Best episodes to start with: “Pilot,” “The Bet,” “Halloween,” “Moo Moo”

11. Frasier (1993–2004)

Network: NBC | Seasons: 11 | Episodes: 264 | IMDb: 8.1/10

A spinoff of Cheers, Frasier followed the pompous but lovable psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) as he returned to Seattle to host a radio advice show, reconnect with his gruff policeman father Martin (John Mahoney), and navigate his hilariously dysfunctional social life alongside his equally intellectual brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce).

The show was built on the comedy of pretension — the gap between Frasier and Niles’s refined self-image and their very human failings. Its writing was among the sharpest in TV history, blending farce, wordplay, and character comedy to brilliant effect.

Why it’s legendary: Frasier won 37 Primetime Emmy Awards during its run, including five consecutive wins for Outstanding Comedy Series — a record it still holds. It remains the gold standard for dialogue-driven, character-based comedy.

12. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005–Present)

Network: FX / FXX | Seasons: 16+ | IMDb: 8.8/10

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is the longest-running live-action comedy series in American television history. Created by Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day, the show follows five deeply selfish, morally bankrupt friends — “The Gang” — who run an unsuccessful bar in Philadelphia and constantly scheme their way into increasingly catastrophic situations.

Unlike most sitcoms, It’s Always Sunny never softens its characters or gives them redemption arcs. They are genuinely terrible people, and the humor comes entirely from their obliviousness and escalating bad decisions. Danny DeVito joined the cast in Season 2 as the equally depraved Frank Reynolds.

Why it’s legendary: The show’s longevity alone is remarkable — going strong for over 16 seasons with no sign of slowing down. It holds a passionate cult following and is regularly cited as one of the most daring comedies in television for refusing to sanitize its characters.

13. Fleabag (2016–2019)

Network: BBC Three / Amazon Prime | Seasons: 2 | Episodes: 12 | IMDb: 8.7/10

Fleabag, created by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, is a masterclass in compact, emotionally devastating comedy. Set in London, the show follows the unnamed protagonist (Fleabag) as she navigates grief, bad relationships, family dysfunction, and a complicated attraction to a charming priest — all while breaking the fourth wall to address the audience directly.

Two seasons. Twelve episodes. An absolute tour de force that left audiences completely floored.

Why it’s legendary: Fleabag won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, Lead Actress, Writing, and Directing in 2019 — all for its second season. Phoebe Waller-Bridge became the first woman to win the Emmy for writing in a comedy series as a solo writer.

14. The Good Place (2016–2020)

Network: NBC | Seasons: 4 | Episodes: 53 | IMDb: 8.2/10

Created by Michael Schur (the mastermind behind Parks and Rec and Brooklyn Nine-Nine), The Good Place is a genuinely original comedy that managed to make moral philosophy laugh-out-loud funny. Kristen Bell stars as Eleanor Shellstrop, a morally questionable woman who is accidentally sent to “The Good Place” (heaven) after her death and must figure out how to become a good person — or get away with pretending she already is.

The show continuously subverted expectations with major plot twists every season, and its exploration of ethics through comedy was unlike anything else on TV.

Why it’s legendary: The Good Place demonstrated that comedy could be intellectually ambitious and still enormously entertaining. Its series finale is widely considered one of the most emotionally satisfying conclusions in modern television.

15. Abbott Elementary (2021–Present)

Network: ABC | Seasons: 4+ | IMDb: 8.2/10

Abbott Elementary is the show that proved the mockumentary format still has plenty of life left in it. Created by Quinta Brunson, who also stars as the earnest and dedicated teacher Janine Teagues, the show follows the underfunded and overworked staff of a Philadelphia public school.

Drawing clear inspiration from The Office, the show distinguishes itself through its setting, its heart, and Brunson’s outstanding writing. It’s consistently funny while also delivering a pointed commentary on underfunded public education.

Why it’s legendary: The show has won four Primetime Emmy Awards and made Quinta Brunson one of the most celebrated voices in modern comedy. Critics have called it the best network comedy in years.

The Top Rated Comedy Series — Quick Reference Table

How to Pick the Right Comedy for Your Mood

Not every comedy hits the same way. Here’s a quick guide to matching a show to your vibe:

• If you want a cozy, classic group-of-friends sitcom: Friends or How I Met Your Mother
• If you want smart, rapid-fire, quote-worthy humor: Seinfeld or Arrested Development
• If you want a workplace comedy that feels real: The Office or Abbott Elementary
• If you want to laugh AND feel good about humanity: Ted Lasso, The Good Place, or Schitt’s Creek
• If you prefer dark, no-apologies comedy: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia or Fleabag
• If you want something you can rewatch endlessly: Parks and Recreation or Friends

FAQs

What is the highest-rated comedy series of all time on IMDb?

The Office (US) holds one of the highest IMDb ratings for a comedy series at 9.0/10, followed closely by Friends and Seinfeld at 8.9/10.

Which comedy series has won the most Emmy Awards?

Frasier holds the record with 37 Primetime Emmy Awards, including five consecutive wins for Outstanding Comedy Series.

What is the longest-running live-action comedy series?

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is the longest-running live-action comedy in US television history, currently in its 16th+ season.

Which is the best comedy series to binge in a weekend?

Fleabag (12 episodes), Schitt’s Creek (6 short seasons), or The Good Place are all perfectly binge-able in a weekend.

What comedy series is best for someone who doesn’t usually watch TV comedies?

Ted Lasso is widely recommended for comedy skeptics — it combines humor with emotional intelligence in a way that transcends genre.

The top rated comedy series of all time share a common thread: they make you feel something. Whether it’s the bittersweet nostalgia of Friends, the relentless wit of Seinfeld, the workplace chaos of The Office, or the unexpected warmth of Ted Lasso — great comedy does more than make you laugh. It connects you to characters, to stories, and to the universal experience of being wonderfully, messily human. So grab that mug, find your spot on the couch, and start watching. Your next favorite show is on this list.