When searching for “best Empire TV,” you’re likely looking for one of two very different things: Empire Magazine’s authoritative rankings of the greatest television shows of all time, or information about the FOX musical drama series “Empire” that aired from 2015 to 2020.
This guide focuses primarily on Empire Magazine’s celebrated TV show rankings while also clarifying the distinction and providing streaming information for both. Empire Magazine has been one of the world’s leading film and entertainment publications for over 35 years, and their critics’ television rankings carry significant weight in the industry.
After spending years analyzing television criticism and watching countless series, I can tell you that Empire’s rankings stand apart because they consider cultural impact, innovation, and lasting influence alongside pure entertainment value. Their list of the 100 greatest TV shows has become a reference point for serious television discussion.
What follows is a comprehensive guide to Empire’s top-ranked television shows, where you can watch them, and why these rankings matter for anyone who cares about quality television.
Empire Magazine’s 20 Greatest TV Shows of All Time
Empire Magazine’s critics have consistently ranked certain shows at the top of their lists, with specific choices emerging as consensus picks across multiple ranking iterations. These aren’t just popular shows—they’re series that fundamentally changed television as a medium.
1. Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad tops Empire’s rankings because it represents perhaps the most perfectly executed character study in television history. Walter White’s transformation from mild-mannered chemistry teacher to ruthless drug lord unfolds over five meticulously crafted seasons, with each episode building toward an inevitable yet shocking conclusion.
What makes Breaking Bad exceptional is its visual storytelling. The show used color theory, camera angles, and symbolism to convey meaning without dialogue. I’ve rewatched the series three times, and each viewing reveals new details I missed previously.
The acting performances, particularly Bryan Cranston’s portrayal of Walter White and Aaron Paul’s Jesse Pinkman, set new standards for television drama. The show won 16 Emmy Awards and established AMC as a home for prestige television.
Why it ranked #1: Complete creative vision executed flawlessly from pilot to finale.
Streaming: Netflix (US/International)
2. The Sopranos
The Sopranos invented modern television drama. Before Tony Soprano entered our living rooms in 1999, television was fundamentally different—episodic, formulaic, and limited in scope. David Chase’s mob drama changed everything by proving TV could handle complex character development over long-form storytelling.
The show follows New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano as he balances criminal enterprise with family life, all while attending therapy sessions with Dr. Melfi. This therapy conceit allowed the series to explore psychology, mental health, and the American dream in unprecedented depth.
I’ve studied television writing extensively, and The Sopranos remains the masterclass in subtext. Characters rarely say what they mean, and the tension between dialogue and subtext creates incredible dramatic power.
Why it ranked #2: The show that launched the golden age of television.
Streaming: Max (HBO)
3. The Wire
David Simon’s The Wire is often described as a novel for television, and for good reason. Each of its five seasons explores a different institution of Baltimore—the drug trade, the port, city government, the school system, and the media—with a sociologist’s eye for detail and a novelist’s gift for character.
The Wire refuses to simplify complex issues. There are no clear heroes or villains, only individuals navigating broken systems. This complexity frustrated some viewers initially, but the show’s reputation has grown significantly since its 2008 conclusion.
What sets The Wire apart is its commitment to authenticity. Simon, a former Baltimore Sun reporter, populated the cast with people who actually lived the experiences depicted—former police, recovered addicts, real Baltimore residents.
Why it ranked #3: The most comprehensive examination of American urban life ever committed to screen.
Streaming: Max (HBO)
4. Mad Men
Mad Men uses the advertising world of 1960s Manhattan as a lens to examine American identity, gender roles, and the lies we tell ourselves to survive. Don Draper, the show’s charismatic but deeply troubled protagonist, embodies the conflict between who we are and who we present to the world.
The show’s visual precision is legendary. Every detail of costume, set design, and props was carefully researched and selected to create a fully realized world. I’ve worked in advertising, and the show’s depiction of the creative process and agency culture is eerily accurate despite the period setting.
Mad Men moved at its own deliberate pace, prioritizing atmosphere and character moments over plot advancement. This slow-burn approach influenced countless subsequent prestige dramas.
Why it ranked #4: Visual storytelling and character study of the highest order.
Streaming: AMC+ (varies by region)
5. Game of Thrones
For its first seven seasons, Game of Thrones represented television’s most ambitious project—a massive fantasy epic with production values rivaling major films, an ensemble cast spanning multiple continents, and intricate political storytelling that captivated mainstream audiences.
The show’s cultural impact cannot be overstated. “Winter is Coming” entered the cultural lexicon, viewing parties became weekly events, and watercooler discussion the next day was inevitable. For a period in the 2010s, Thrones was simply appointment viewing.
While the final season proved controversial among fans and critics, Empire’s ranking acknowledges the show’s unprecedented scale and its role in bringing fantasy to mainstream television respectability.
Why it ranked #5: Changed what television could accomplish in terms of scope and ambition.
Streaming: Max (HBO)
6. Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul faced skepticism as a Breaking Bad spinoff but exceeded expectations to become, in many critics’ eyes, a worthy peer to its predecessor. The show traces Jimmy McGill’s transformation into the morally flexible lawyer Saul Goodman, taking its time to develop characters and themes with remarkable depth.
What impresses me most about Better Call Saul is its visual invention. The show employs techniques that would never have worked in Breaking Bad—black-and-white sequences, experimental transitions, stylized montages—creating its own distinct identity while enriching its parent series.
The performances across the board are exceptional, with Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn, and the returning Breaking Bad characters all given moments of profound character development.
Why it ranked #6: A spinoff that transcended its origins to become something equally great.
Streaming: Netflix
7. Succession
Succession turned family drama into Shakespearean tragedy through the lens of a media empire. The Roy family’s battles for control of Waystar RoycoCo provided some of the most biting satire of wealth and power in television history, while also functioning as genuinely compelling drama.
The dialogue in Succession is uniquely crafted—a mix of corporate speak, profanity, and genuine emotional revelation that sounds like nothing else on television. I’ve watched writers analyze the show’s distinct verbal patterns, and the consistency of character voice is remarkable.
Across four seasons, the show maintained remarkable quality, balancing its satirical elements with real emotional stakes. The ensemble cast, particularly Brian Cox as patriarch Logan Roy, created unforgettable portraits of damaged people wielding outsized power.
Why it ranked #7: The definitive portrayal of wealth, power, and family dysfunction in contemporary America.
Streaming: Max (HBO)
8. The Simpsons
The Simpsons occupies a unique place in television history as both a cultural phenomenon and a genuinely innovative comedy. For roughly its first ten seasons (often called “The Golden Age”), The Simpsons produced some of the finest half-hours of comedy ever created, influencing virtually every animated comedy that followed.
The show’s peak seasons combined sharp satire, genuine heart, and visual gags that rewarded multiple viewings. I’ve seen classic episodes like “Marge vs. the Monorail” and “Homer’s Enemy” dozens of times, and they still reveal new jokes and details.
While The Simpsons has continued for decades beyond its creative peak, Empire’s ranking acknowledges those early seasons as revolutionary television that proved animation could address adult themes with sophistication.
Why it ranked #8: Redefined what animation could accomplish and influenced all comedy since.
Streaming: Disney+
9. Fleabag
Fleabag began as a modest one-woman show and evolved into one of television’s most complete artistic statements. Across two seasons, Phoebe Waller-Bridge created a portrait of grief, guilt, and redemption that managed to be hilarious, devastating, and ultimately hopeful.
The show’s use of direct address—Fleabag speaking directly to the camera—creates an intimacy with the viewer that’s unlike anything else in television. This device evolves throughout the series, gaining new meaning as we learn more about the character’s history.
The second season of Fleabag, which introduces the “Hot Priest” character, is nearly perfect television. I’ve recommended it to dozens of people, and the emotional impact of the finale is consistently powerful.
Why it ranked #9: Complete artistic vision with two perfectly formed seasons.
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
10. The Shield
The Shield preceded The Sopranos by just a few years but carved out its own space in television history with its grittier, more action-oriented approach to anti-hero drama. The show follows Vic Mackey, a corrupt but effective detective in Los Angeles, and pioneered the “shaky-cam” visual style that influenced countless police procedurals.
What makes The Shield remarkable is its consistency. Across seven seasons, the show maintained its edge while deepening its characters and escalating the consequences of Vic’s choices. The series finale remains one of television’s most satisfying conclusions.
The performance by Michael Chiklis as Vic Mackey deservedly won an Emmy and set the template for the charismatic but morally compromised protagonists that defined prestige television for the next decade.
Why it ranked #10: Pioneered the cable drama model with unmatched intensity.
Streaming: Hulu (varies by region)
11-20. Excellence in Television
11. The West Wing – Aaron Sorkin’s idealistic portrayal of the White House created the template for the “walk-and-talk” dialogue style and proved that political drama could be genuinely inspiring rather than purely cynical.
12. True Detective Season 1 – While later seasons disappointed, the first season of True Detective represented a new form of anthology television, with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson delivering career-defining performances.
13. Sherlock – Benedict Cumberbatch’s modern take on Holmes created a new form of condensed storytelling, with each episode functioning as a miniature mystery movie.
14. Deadwood – David Milch’s profane, poetic Western created a fully realized historical world that elevated the Western genre beyond its traditional boundaries.
15. The Office UK – Ricky Gervais’s cringe comedy established the mockumentary format that would be copied endlessly, with its two seasons remaining perfectly formed.
16. Stranger Things – Netflix’s flagship series revitalized 80s nostalgia and proved streaming services could produce watercooler programming equal to traditional networks.
17. Chernobyl – A five-hour masterpiece that demonstrated how limited series could tell historical stories with both accuracy and devastating emotional power.
18. Atlanta – Donald Glover’s series used its dramedy framework to explore race, class, and American culture in ways no other show has attempted.
19. Lost – Despite a controversial conclusion, Lost changed how audiences engaged with television through its mystery-box storytelling and online fan communities.
20. Twin Peaks – David Lynch’s surreal mystery proved television could embrace true artistic experimentation and inspired countless creators to push boundaries.
Honorable Mentions: Shows That Just Missed the Cut
Empire’s full list of 100 greatest TV shows includes many series that deserve recognition even if they didn’t crack the top 20. These honorable mentions represent some of the best television across various genres and eras.
The Crown – Netflix’s lavish royal drama has maintained consistent quality across multiple seasons, with different actresses portraying the Queen at different life stages. The show’s attention to historical detail and its exploration of how power shapes personality make it essential viewing for drama fans.
Seinfeld – The “show about nothing” reinvented sitcom comedy by embracing the selfishness of its characters. Its influence on subsequent comedy is impossible to overstate, and its “no hugging, no learning” philosophy paved the way for shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Band of Brothers – This WWII miniseries set the standard for war dramas on television. Produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, its ten episodes follow Easy Company from training through the European theater, combining historical authenticity with deeply human character work.
Narcos – Netflix’s drug war drama proved that international productions could find global audiences. The first two seasons, chronicling the hunt for Pablo Escobar, remain some of the most tense viewing experiences in streaming history.
Black Mirror – Charlie Brooker’s anthology series tapped directly into contemporary anxieties about technology and social media. Each standalone episode functions as a small film, with the best entries becoming part of the cultural conversation.
Mindhunter – David Fincher’s exploration of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit in the 1970s brought cinematic precision to television. The show’s attention to period detail and its psychological approach to criminal profiling elevated the crime genre.
The Americans – This Cold War spy drama used the premise of KGB spies living as a typical American family to explore marriage, identity, and loyalty. Its six-season run maintained quality while building to one of television’s most satisfying finales.
Halt and Catch Fire – A show that grew from a Mad Men-style period drama into something unique, following the personal computer revolution through characters who evolved in surprising ways. Its patient character development earned it a dedicated following.
Rectify – Perhaps the most meditative show in television history, Rectify follows a man released from death row after 19 years. Its slow, compassionate approach to trauma and redemption made it a critical darling despite low viewership.
Pose – This groundbreaking series centered New York’s ballroom culture and featured the largest cast of transgender actors in television history. Its celebration of chosen family and queer history made it both culturally significant and emotionally powerful.
Where to Watch Empire’s Ranked TV Shows: Streaming Guide
One major gap in most television ranking guides is streaming availability. You read about amazing shows but have no idea where to actually watch them. This guide breaks down where you can find Empire’s top-ranked shows.
Streaming Platform Breakdown
Max (HBO): Home to The Sopranos, The Wire, Game of Thrones, Succession, Deadwood, The West Wing, and True Detective. If you’re serious about prestige television, Max is essentially mandatory. At $15.99 monthly, it offers perhaps the strongest collection of acclaimed dramas of any streaming service.
Netflix: Carries Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Black Mirror, and various other high-ranked shows depending on your region. Netflix’s library changes frequently as licenses expire, but its original content like Stranger Things and Black Mirror ensure its relevance.
Disney+: The home of The Simpsons and family-friendly content. At $7.99 monthly, it’s the most affordable major streamer, though its focus on family entertainment means it lacks the prestige drama depth of Max.
Amazon Prime Video: Includes Fleabag, The Boys, and various other acclaimed series. The benefit here is that Prime Video comes included with Amazon Prime shipping, so many viewers already have access without realizing it.
Hulu: Offers The Shield, various FX series, and next-day streaming for current network shows. Its combination of library content and current programming makes it valuable for keeping up with television as it airs.
AMC+: The home of Mad Men, Better Call Saul, and various other AMC originals. It’s a supplementary service rather than a primary platform, but essential for certain specific shows.
International Viewing Considerations
Streaming availability varies significantly by country. What’s available on Netflix in the United States may be on a different service entirely in the UK or Australia. International viewers should use services like JustWatch.com to find current availability in their region.
Some shows, particularly older series, may be unavailable for streaming in certain territories due to complex regional licensing arrangements. In these cases, digital purchase or physical media may be the only viewing options.
Why Empire Magazine’s Rankings Matter
You might wonder why Empire Magazine’s opinions carry weight in television criticism. The answer lies in the publication’s history, methodology, and consistent track record of identifying quality.
Empire’s Authority and History
Empire Magazine has been covering film and television since 1989, making it one of the longest-running entertainment publications in the English-speaking world. Over 35 years, the magazine has built a reputation for thoughtful criticism and deep engagement with popular culture.
What sets Empire apart from online rankings is that their lists are compiled by professional critics who watch television as their job. These aren’t popularity contests or fan polls—they’re considered assessments by people who have analyzed thousands of hours of programming.
The magazine’s television rankings typically involve consensus among multiple critics, ensuring personal biases don’t overwhelm the selections. Shows are evaluated based on writing quality, performances, innovation, cultural impact, and rewatch value.
Ranking Methodology
Empire’s rankings consider both immediate quality and lasting influence. A show might not have been the most popular during its run but receives recognition for its influence on subsequent programming. This is why shows from the 1990s like The Sopranos continue to top lists—they fundamentally changed what television could be.
The rankings also balance different types of television. Dramas, comedies, miniseries, and animated shows all receive consideration, with each evaluated against the best examples of their respective formats.
Empire updates its rankings periodically to reflect new series and changing critical perspectives. The golden age of television that began in the late 1990s shows no sign of ending, and contemporary series like Succession and Fleabag have already earned spots alongside all-time classics.
Industry Recognition
Empire’s television rankings align closely with other critical consensus, including Emmy wins, Peabody Awards, and placement in similar lists from publications like The Guardian, Rolling Stone, and IGN. This cross-publication agreement suggests that Empire’s selections reflect genuine critical consensus rather than contrarianism.
When Empire Magazine ranked Breaking Bad as the greatest TV show of all time, they weren’t making a controversial statement—they were reflecting the widespread critical belief that Vince Gilligan’s achievement represented television at its absolute peak.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Empire Magazine related to the Empire TV show on FOX?
No, they are completely unrelated. Empire Magazine is a British film and entertainment publication that has been around since 1989. The FOX series “Empire” was a musical drama about a hip-hop music company that ran from 2015 to 2020. The shared name is coincidental.
Where can I stream the FOX TV series ‘Empire’?
As of 2025, Empire streams on Hulu in the United States. All six seasons are available. International availability varies by region, with some territories offering the show on Disney+ or local streaming platforms.
How often does Empire Magazine update their TV rankings?
Empire typically publishes major television lists annually or in conjunction with significant anniversaries. Their “100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time” list receives periodic updates to include new series worth ranking alongside classics.
What is the number 1 TV show according to Empire Magazine?
Breaking Bad consistently ranks as Empire’s number 1 greatest TV show. The magazine’s critics have praised its complete character arc, visual storytelling, and perfect conclusion as representing television at its absolute peak.
Are Empire’s rankings based on popularity or quality?
Empire’s rankings are based on critical assessment of quality, not popularity or viewership numbers. The magazine’s professional critics evaluate shows based on writing, performances, innovation, cultural impact, and artistic achievement rather than how many people watched.
Final Recommendations
Whether you’re new to prestige television or a longtime viewer looking for recommendations, Empire Magazine’s rankings provide an excellent roadmap through television’s golden age. The shows listed here represent countless hours of the medium’s finest work.
My recommendation for newcomers: start with Breaking Bad or The Sopranos. These series established the template for modern television drama and remain accessible entry points. From there, follow your interests—comedy fans should prioritize Fleabag and The Simpsons, while viewers who enjoy complex plotting will appreciate The Wire and Better Call Saul.
The fragmentation of streaming services makes accessing these shows more expensive than in the cable era, but the quality justifies the cost. Consider rotating subscriptions month-to-month based on what you want to watch, or take advantage of free trials to binge specific series.
Television has never been better than it is right now, and Empire’s rankings help separate the essential viewing from the merely good. These shows have earned their places in television history, and they’re waiting for you to discover why critics and audiences continue celebrating them years after their original broadcasts.