Entertainment outlet TVLine released two new lists on January 9, 2026, highlighting the 15 most rewatchable TV shows of all time and the 15 best historical series, ranked. The rewatchable list features classics like The Sopranos and The Simpsons, while the historical ranking tops with Chernobyl. These compilations celebrate enduring programs that blend entertainment with cultural impact.
On January 9, 2026, TVLine published its selections for the 15 most rewatchable TV shows, emphasizing series that reward repeated viewings through strong characters and memorable moments. The list includes HBO's The Sopranos, praised for James Gandolfini's portrayal of Tony Soprano and creator David Chase's writing, which ended in 2007 but remains a mob drama benchmark. The Simpsons, with 37 seasons on Fox, offers quotable lines and classic episodes ideal for background viewing. Other entries span genres: AMC's Breaking Bad tracks Bryan Cranston's Walter White transforming into Heisenberg amid complex supporting roles like Giancarlo Esposito's Gus Fring; NBC's Friends showcases the ensemble timing of Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, and others, embedding '90s phrases into pop culture; and HBO's The Wire delivers detailed social critiques in a Baltimore setting, as noted by creator David Simon.
Later that evening, TVLine ranked the 15 best historical TV shows, prioritizing dramatizations of real events and figures. Topping the list is HBO's 2019 miniseries Chernobyl, written by Craig Mazin, which closely recounts the 1986 Soviet nuclear disaster with performances from Stellan Skarsgård and Jessie Buckley, blending factual accuracy with gripping tension. Band of Brothers, the Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks WWII production, follows an American battalion with an ensemble including Damian Lewis and Michael Fassbender, noted for its heroism and scale. Roots, the 1977 miniseries based on Alex Haley's book, traces African-American lineage from Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton) through slavery's harsh realities, impacting generations despite fictionalized elements.
The historical list also covers diverse eras, from FX's Shōgun, which earned 18 Emmys for its feudal Japan depiction with Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai, to BBC's Peaky Blinders, featuring Cillian Murphy as fictional gangster Tommy Shelby amid real figures like Winston Churchill. TVLine's rewatchable picks extend to modern fare like Apple TV+'s Ted Lasso, with Jason Sudeikis exploring mental health over three seasons, and Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House, Mike Flanagan's chilling adaptation of Shirley Jackson's novel. These rankings underscore television's evolution, inviting viewers to revisit shows that shaped the medium without sensationalizing their legacies.