Top TV Shows 2024: Most Watched & Best Series Right Now

Critic consensus and raw viewership data tell two different stories about 2024’s TV landscape. Shōgun dominated year-end critic lists with 87 mentions and 29 first-place votes, while live events like the Super Bowl drew the largest single audiences.

Most popular series on aggregated lists: Shōgun (87 critic lists, 29 first-place votes via CriticsTop10 critic list aggregation) ·
Top Metacritic score: Baby Reindeer (88/100 via VGTimes summary of Metacritic ranking) ·
Most-watched U.S. telecast: Super Bowl LVIII (121M viewers, Variety year-end ratings tracker) ·
Most-viewed entertainment broadcast: Oscars (Variety year-end ratings tracker)

Four key facts, one pattern: critic consensus and viewership data diverge — Shōgun dominates critic lists, while live events like the Super Bowl draw the largest audiences.

The table below maps the key data points across critics and viewership metrics.

Which TV series was most watched worldwide in 2024?

The answer shifts depending on whether you measure by critic acclaim or audience reach.

Consensus from critic lists

• Shōgun is the most frequently ranked #1 across 150+ aggregated critic lists, with 87 mentions and 29 first-place votes (CriticsTop10 critic list aggregation).
• Baby Reindeer ranks second with 49 mentions (CriticsTop10 critic list aggregation).
• Industry, The Penguin, and Fallout also appear in the top 10 (CriticsTop10 critic list aggregation).

Data from streaming platforms

• Super Bowl LVIII was the most-watched U.S. telecast of 2024 with 121,009,000 viewers (Variety year-end ratings tracker).
• The Oscars were the year’s most-viewed entertainment broadcast (Variety year-end ratings tracker).
• Netflix’s most-watched scripted series according to platform data was Baby Reindeer, but exact hours are not publicly verified by a third party.

The pattern: live sports and events still command the largest single audiences, while streaming viewership is more fragmented and harder to compare directly.

What are the top 10 TV series to watch right now?

Current top 10 as of late 2024

• Shōgun – FX/Hulu (historical drama, #1 on CriticsTop10)
• Baby Reindeer – Netflix (psychological thriller, Metacritic 88/100)
• Fallout – Amazon Prime (post-apocalyptic, #8 on CriticsTop10)
• The Penguin – HBO Max (crime drama, #5 on CriticsTop10)
• Slow Horses – Apple TV+ (spy thriller, unranked but widely cited)
• One Day – Netflix (romantic drama, social media buzz)
• The Day of the Jackal – Peacock (thriller, unranked but notable)
• Industry – HBO Max (finance drama, #3 on CriticsTop10)
• Interior Chinatown – Hulu (satirical crime drama, Rotten Tomatoes best new series)
• Landman – Paramount+ (drama, unranked but listed)

Where to stream each title

• Shōgun: Hulu (FX)
• Baby Reindeer: Netflix
• Fallout: Amazon Prime Video
• The Penguin: HBO Max
• Slow Horses: Apple TV+
• One Day: Netflix
• The Day of the Jackal: Peacock
• Industry: HBO Max
• Interior Chinatown: Hulu
• Landman: Paramount+

What was the most watched TV programme in 2024?

Global viewership data

• Super Bowl LVIII led all U.S. telecasts with 121,009,000 total viewers (Variety year-end ratings tracker).
• NFC Championship (San Francisco vs. Detroit) drew 56,632,000 viewers (Variety year-end ratings tracker).
• The Oscars were cited as the most-viewed entertainment broadcast (Variety year-end ratings tracker).

Platform-specific metrics

• Netflix has not released a single cross-platform viewership ranking for scripted series. Baby Reindeer is widely reported as its top title, but no third-party audit confirms this.
• Amazon Prime reported Fallout as its highest-viewed premiere of 2024, though specific numbers are internal.

The catch: live events draw the largest single audiences, while streaming viewership remains fragmented across platforms.

What are the top 25 TV series of 2024?

Full top 25 list from Guardian compilation

• The Guardian published a top 50 list on December 9, 2024, placing Shōgun at #1. Other notable entries include Baby Reindeer (#2 among critics), Industry, The Penguin, and Fallout.
• RogerEbert.com published its “25 Best TV Series of 2024” on December 17, 2024, featuring many of the same titles (RogerEbert.com streaming coverage).

Notable entries from other sources

• CriticsTop10 aggregation includes 100+ lists and ranks Shōgun first, Baby Reindeer second, Industry third (CriticsTop10 critic list aggregation).
• Metacritic’s top 20 (based on critic scores) has Baby Reindeer at 88, Shōgun at 85, and Rivals and Wise Guy tied at 84 (VGTimes summary of Metacritic ranking).

The implication: the top 25 lists from different outlets share a core of about 10 shows, but the order varies — Shōgun is the consistent anchor.

What is everyone binge watching in 2024?

Trending series on social media

• Baby Reindeer generated widespread discussion on social platforms, particularly for its psychological thriller elements.
• One Day became a romantic drama hit on Netflix, driving social buzz.
• Shōgun’s historical epic format drew viewers who prefer longer, immersive series.

Binge-worthy shows by genre

• Drama: Shōgun, Industry, Slow Horses
• Thriller: Baby Reindeer, The Day of the Jackal
• Comedy-drama: Interior Chinatown
• Post-apocalyptic: Fallout
• Crime: The Penguin

Quotes from critics

Shōgun is a magnificent, sprawling epic that redefines the historical drama for a new generation.

— Lucy Mangan, Guardian TV critic (as paraphrased in Guardian’s top 50 list)

Baby Reindeer is a masterclass in uncomfortable storytelling — it’s the series that everyone needed to see.

— Rotten Tomatoes editors, summarizing the best new series of 2024

For viewers in the U.S. and beyond, the choice depends on what you value: if critic consensus matters, Shōgun leads; if audience impact matters more, Baby Reindeer or the Super Bowl are your bets. Streaming fragmentation means multiple subscriptions are needed, but the rewards are there for those willing to explore.

Frequently asked questions