The most popular SITCOMS of all time revealed… so, can YOU guess which on-screen hit came out on top?
- World of Statistics has ranked the most popular sitcoms of all time
- The top 10 list consists of a mixture of both live-action and animated sitcoms
- So did your favorite sitcom make the list that was compiled from IMBD ratings?
Sitcoms have been a staple on TV for decades now. Viewers gravitate toward them during tough times for when they need a laugh.
The genre was especially popular in the 90s and 2000s. But with the dominance of streaming platforms, some of these sitcoms have had a resurgence and have become even more popular now.
Now World of Statistics has ranked the best sitcoms of all time based on its IMDB popularity, and it may surprise you to see which TV shows made the top 10.
While there are many good sitcoms out there, only the best of the best were able to make the cut as the most popular of all time.
For the top ten 10, Community just fell short, coming in eleventh place while How I Met Your Mother came up right behind in the 12th slot
Some iconic sitcoms came close but didn’t make the cut.
Community just fell short, coming in 11th place, while How I Met Your Mother came up right behind in the 12th slot.
Some of the most renowned adult animated sitcoms like Family Guy and South Park ranked 13th and 14th place respectively.
The top 10 list consists of a mixture of both live-action and animated sitcoms.
Their premieres range from the years 1989 to 2013.
However, the majority of them premiered in either the early 1990s or late 2000s.
So did your favorite make the cut? Found out below.
10. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a workplace sitcom following the lives of the quirky characters at the fictional 99th precinct
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a workplace sitcom following the lives of the quirky characters at the 99th precinct.
The series initially begins with Detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) who’s used to getting away with slacking off due to his successful track record.
However, the dynamic sifts when Ray Holt (Andre Braugher) takes over as the new commanding officer and everyone has to change their approach as cops.
The rest of the fun cast of characters include perfectionist Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero), family man Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews), tough and intimidating Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz), and Jake wannabe Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio).
Brooklyn Nine-Nine first premiered on Fox in 2013. It almost faced an untimely death five years later in 2018 when the network canceled the show.
Fortunately, NBC picked up the series in 2019. It ran for three more seasons up until 2021.
The series initially begins with Detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) who’s used to getting away with slacking off due to his successful track record
In order to avoid another sudden cancellation like in its days with Fox, the series’ creator Dan Goor decided to pull the plug after season eight
In 2020, the Black Lives Matter protests impacted the common outlook on the police force and how the media portrayed it.
The show’s lead, Samberg, addressed how the show planned on handling the matter.
Speaking to Variety, he said: ‘The challenge is going to be being honest about what is going on in the world and not shying away from the fact that there are serious problems, and also not punishing viewers who like our show and care about our characters.
‘Our characters need to examine their roles in the world. They’re going to be forced to look in the mirror and see who they’re complicit with.’
In order to avoid another sudden cancellation like in its days with Fox, the series’ creator, Dan Goor, decided to pull the plug after season eight.
‘Ending the show was a difficult decision, but ultimately, we felt it was the best way to honor the characters, the story and our viewers,’ he said in a statement at the time.
‘I know some people will be disappointed it’s ending so soon, but honestly, I’m grateful it lasted this long. Title of my sex tape.’
The series was best known for its kooky cast of characters and silly style of comedy.
It was also revered for being one of the pioneers in sitcoms that didn’t have a laugh track or a three-camera format.
9. The Simpsons (1989-present)
The Simpsons is notoriously the longest-running sitcom of all time so it’s not surprising that the animated cartoon made this list
The Simpsons is notoriously the longest-running sitcom of all time so it’s not surprising that the animated cartoon made this list.
It premiered in 1989 and still runs to this day.
The show follows none other than The Simpsons family: dopey patriarch Homer (Dan Castellaneta), matriarch Marge (Anke Engelke), their smart-mouthed son Bart (Nancy Cartwright), genius daughter Lisa (Yeardley Smith) and baby Maggie, also voiced by Cartwright.
The Simpsons is best known for its satirical commentary and witty writing.
The animated sitcom has been on Fox for the entirety of its 35-season run. It became part of the network’s Animation Domination program in 2005.
The programming runs on Sunday evenings and has featured series like Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers and more.
It follows none other than The Simpson family which consists of dopey patriarch Homer (Dan Castellaneta), matriarch Marge (Anke Engelke), smart-mouthed son Bart (Nancy Cartwright), genius daughter Lisa (Yeardley Smith) and baby Maggie
The show has been running for so long that many believe it has ‘predicted’ monumental events that have happened
The show has been running for so long that many believe it has ‘predicted’ monumental events that have happened during episodes.
For instance, the series featured a pandemic similar to the COVID-19 pandemic in season four, which aired in 1993.
It also predicted Donald Trump’s presidency with an episode featuring him as president in 2000.
While there have been murmurs over the years that the show could be canceled, writer and producer Mike Reiss reassured fans that the probability of that is low in 2021.
‘The show could run forever… and even if The Simpsons gets cancelled, five years later it’ll get rebooted, or spin-offs. Certainly, there would be another movie. We haven’t even had a chance to go and come back again,’ he told Metro.co.uk.
He added: ‘Cartoons go forever. The only reason a hit show goes off the air is because the cast gets tired. That is not an issue on cartoons.’
8. Rick and Morty (2013-present)
The adult animated sitcom is a parody of the renowned 80s film Back To The Future
While Rick and Morty may not have been on air for as long, it managed to beat The Simpsons on the list of most popular sitcoms.
The adult animated sitcom is a parody of the renowned 80s film Back To The Future.
It follows Rick Sanchez (Justin Roiland) who arrives at daughter Beth’s (Sarah Chalke) doorstep after years of traveling across dimensions.
He connects with grandson Morty, also voiced by Roiland, and occasionally granddaughter Summer (Spencer Grammer) by taking them on wild adventures to the dismay of their dad, Jerry (Chris Parnell).
The series is still currently running. It started in 2013 and is now prepping for its seventh season.
The series became a hit due to its absurd humor and unique storytelling as it explores an infinite amount of universes through the characters’ dimension-hopping journeys.
The adult animated series follows Rick Sanchez (Justin Roiland) who arrives at daughter Beth’s (Sarah Chalke) doorstep after years of traveling across dimensions
The series became a hit due to its absurd humor and unique storytelling as it explores an infinite amount of universes through the characters’ dimension-hopping journeys
While it has been on air for 10 years, it is only on season seven due to a number of delays over the years.
The show’s most recent scandal almost put the entire series in jeopardy.
The series’ co-creator and the voice of Rick and Morty, Roiland, faced domestic violence charges in 2020.
While the charges were dropped in early 2023, allegations of him creating a toxic workplace and sexually harassing a minor led to him being fired from the Adult Swim network and show.
For now, the show is set to move forward as intended with new, unannounced voices for Rick and Morty, with seven season premiering in October.
‘It’s happening,’ Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen said in a statement to Deadline of the series’ return.
‘Thanks to the talent of the entire show team, we can all enjoy 10 new episodes that yet again raise the bar for comedy and animation. This season proves that the geniuses at work on Rick and Morty are just getting started.’
7. Ugly Betty (2006-2010)
Ugly Betty marked America Ferrera’s foray into the spotlight and takes the seventh spot on this list
Ugly Betty marked America Ferrera’s foray into the spotlight and takes the seventh spot on this list.
The series followed wannabe writer Betty Suarez (Ferrera) who is trying to make it at a fashion magazine, even though she has a quirky look.
The show also stars Eric Mabius as Betty’s boss Daniel, Vanessa Williams as creative director Wilhelmina, Becki Newton as the office’s receptionist, Ana Ortiz as Betty’s sister Hilda and Mark Indelicato as Betty’s nephew Justin.
The show ran for four seasons from 2006 to 2010. While some may be surprised to see the short-lived series on this list, many consider it to be underrated and a hidden gem.
Produced by Salma Hayek, and created by Silvio Horta and Fernando Gaitan, the show featured authentic Latinx representation during a time when it was rare.
It paved the way for shows like Jane The Virgin to have a place in the industry.
Ferrera even won an Emmy for it when she was just 22 years old in 2007. However, she can’t help but look at her Emmy win as a disappointment.
The series followed wannabe writer Betty Suarez (Ferrera) who is trying to make it at a fashion magazine even though she has a quirky look
Unfortunately, the show was canceled ahead of its fourth season due to its low ratings
‘When I won the Emmy, I can’t bring myself to go back and watch that because the only thing I remember about being on that stage, accepting that Emmy, was the feeling that no one in the room thought I deserved it,’ she told ET in 2020. ‘And that’s a shame.’
‘”She doesn’t really deserve that,”‘ Ferrera continued about the comments she felt were directed at her. ‘”What is she really doing in that role? That role is not interesting enough, it’s not dark enough, it’s not edgy enough.”‘
‘Like, you know, all of the bulls*** of like, “Oh, she got it is because it’s a good story, not because she deserves it.”‘
‘There were people in my life perpetuating those narratives and making me feel like I hadn’t earned this moment.’
Unfortunately, the show was canceled ahead of its fourth season due to its low ratings.
‘We’ve mutually come to the difficult decision to make this Ugly Betty’s final season, and are announcing now as we want to allow the show ample time to write a satisfying conclusion,’ Horta and ABC president Steve McPherson said in a statement to EW at the time.
‘We are extremely proud of this groundbreaking series, and felt it was important to give the fans a proper farewell.’
6. Seinfeld (1989-1998)
Seinfeld has been famously described as the show about nothing and ranks in sixth place on this list
Seinfeld has been famously described as the show about nothing and ranks in sixth place on this list.
It follows four friends Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), George (Jason Alexander), Kramer (Michael Richards) and Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) as they navigate the daily shenanigans of life in New York City.
The show was Seinfeld’s brain child and the show mimicked his real life in some ways.
The cold open would feature his main character, also named Jerry, performing stand-up comedy as he did in real life.
The irreverent sitcom first premiered in 1989 and ran for nine seasons up until 1998.
Many love this show for its eccentric characters and its relatability. The problems may have been mundane but the characters’ over-the-top reactions are what made the comedy a success.
It follows four friends Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), George (Jason Alexander), Kramer (Michael Richards) and Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) as they navigate the daily shenanigans of life in NYC
Seinfeld didn’t meet the fate that most shows do by being canceled. Rather, the lead actor and creator decided the show had run its course in 1998
Seinfeld didn’t meet the fate that most shows do by being canceled.
Rather, the lead actor and creator decided the show had run its course in 1998 and that he was ready to step away from the world – even though he was offered a whopping $110 million to make season 10.
‘I remember when I was in the ninth season and I was thinking maybe it’s time to wrap this up, and I remember inviting Michael [Richards] and Julia [Louis-Dreyfus] and Jason [Alexander] to my dressing room and we all just sat there and we stared at each other,’ Seinfeld recalled at a press conference in 2021.
‘We’ve had a lot of good fortune here. Maybe we shouldn’t push our luck too far. And we all agreed that this was the right moment.
‘And I remember it’s the only time we all got together in a dressing room, the four of us, to make that decision. That was powerful.’
Even though he turned down a good amount of money to continue, Seinfeld has no regrets about ending the show when he did.
‘It was the perfect moment, and the proof that it was the right moment is the number of questions you’re still asking me about it,’ he said during interview with The New York Times in 2018.
5. Modern Family (2009-2020)
Modern Family is told in a mockumentary format from the perspective of an unseen filmmaker and takes fifth place on this list
Modern Family is told in a mockumentary format from the perspective of an unseen filmmaker and takes fifth place on this list.
Within that lens, it follows three unique families. The first, and most typical family, consists of Phil (Ty Burrell) and Claire (Julie Bowen) Dunphy and their children: Haley (Sarah Hyland), Alex (Ariel Winter) and Luke (Nolan Gould).
It also includes gay couple Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) who go through the struggle of adopting a daughter, Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons).
Another featured is Jay (Ed O’Neill) – who’s Claire and Mitchell’s father – and Gloria (Sofia Vergara), a couple who differ vastly in age and culture and raise son Manny (Rico Rodriguez).
The hit sitcom ran for 11 years on ABC from 2009 all the way up until 2020.
The hit sitcom ran for 11 years on ABC from 2009 all the way up until 2020
The series was wholesome and filled with family values, but wasn’t your stereotypical sitcom, which was what made it so popular
The series was wholesome and filled with family values, but wasn’t your stereotypical sitcom, which was what made it so popular.
As the title implies, it features contemporary ideas of family that break away from the traditional mold and are more relatable in today’s world.
Also, the mockumentary format helped it from falling into the cheesy sitcom trope filled with laugh tracks and three-camera shooting.
The show reached its ending point towards season 10 after the ninth season was met with poor ratings.
The creators, Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, debated pulling the plug after season 10, but since it received such good ratings, they decided to add one more season and make the 11th its last.
4. The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)
The Big Bang Theory ran for an impressive 12 seasons and has secured fourth place on this list
The Big Bang Theory ran for an impressive 12 seasons and has secured fourth place on this list.
It follows the lives of incredibly intelligent and equally nerdy friends Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Howard (Simon Helberg) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar).
Also featured are their love interests Penny (Kaley Cuoco), Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Bernadette (Melissa Rauch).
The show first kicked off on CBS in 2007 and ran for an impressive 12 seasons up until 2019.
Unlike most of the other comedies on the list, this is the rare laugh track, three-camera sitcom to make the top 10.
While it didn’t break boundaries with its format, it did appeal to a demographic that isn’t traditionally valued in Hollywood.
While most series feature cool, attractive people, many found this sitcom about awkward and nerdy people to be refreshing
Much like Seinfeld, the decision for the show to end came down to its lead actor, Parsons
While most series feature cool, attractive people, many found this sitcom about awkward and nerdy people to be refreshing.
In fact, the series was so successful that it inspired the 2017 spinoff series, Young Sheldon, which depicted the titular character’s childhood days as a kid genius.
Much like Seinfeld, the decision for the show to end came down to its lead actor, Parsons.
‘I was exhausted, and I was really upset about, more than anything, one of our dogs was getting really at the end of his life around then,’ he said of the moment he realized he was ready to move on David Tennant’s podcast.
‘I had this moment of clarity that I think you’re very fortunate to get in a lot of ways, of going “Don’t keep speeding by.” You know? “Use this time to take a look around.” And I did. I was like, “I gotta make a move,”‘ Parsons said.
‘And this is what I said to Chuck Lorre and Steve Molaro when I talked to them when I went back to work next year. I said, “If you told me that like my father, I had six years left to live, I think there’s other things I need to try and do.”‘
3. Futurama (1999-present)
Futurama is the highest-ranking adult animated sitcom on this list. It has been on and off the air multiple times over the past couple of decades
Futurama is the highest-ranking adult animated sitcom on this list. It has been on and off the air multiple times over the past couple of decades.
However, due to its popularity, it was revived in 2023 and is therefore currently running its eleventh season.
The show’s first run occurred from 1999 to 2003 on Fox. It made a resurgence five years later on Comedy Central in 2008 and also had a five-year run lasting until 2013.
Futurama follows Fry (Billy West) who is accidentally frozen and wakes up 1,000 years in the future.
His elderly descendent, Professor Farnsworth (also voiced by West), takes him in and along the way, Fry gets to know the other crew members: Leela (Katey Sagal), Hermes (Phil LaMarr), Amy (Lauren Tom) and Bender (John DiMaggio).
Fans love the show’s blend of science fiction and satire depicted by a well-balanced cast of unique characters.
Futurama follows Fry (Billy West) who is accidentally frozen and wakes up 1,000 years in the future
Fans love the show’s blend of science fiction and satire depicted by a well-balanced cast of unique characters
In fact, many people on IMDB compare the show to The Simpsons, but claim they like it better.
They feel this series is more original and gets better over time while The Simpsons has gotten lazier.
While many shows don’t tend to come back as strong when revived, many are claiming the latest 2023 Hulu reboot is better than ever.
However, the reboot was at risk when DiMaggio, the voice of Bender, almost didn’t return.
The actor openly discussed how he was trying to negotiate a higher pay in order to return.
Eventually, he accepted what was offered to him, even though it wasn’t as high as he had hoped.
‘Like I’ve said before, it was a situation where it was better to be in the room eating Thanksgiving dinner as opposed to standing outside in the cold, wet rain across the street, looking in through the window,’ DiMaggio told EW at the time.
‘But I’m happy to be back on the show. I’m not knocking it… It’s just great to get to work with these people again, and I’m grateful for it. It’s always exciting to get back on this bike every time. It’s just like, these are new tires.’
2.Friends (1994-2004)
Friends is one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time so it’s no surprise that it holds the number-two spot
Friends is one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time so it’s no surprise that it holds the number-two spot.
The sitcom followed six friends – Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Joey (Matt LeBlanc), Monica (Courteney Cox), Chandler (Matthew Perry), Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) and Ross (David Schwimmer) – who live in the same apartment building.
The hit comedy ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004.
While Friends hasn’t aged as well as other sitcoms, it’s still popular to this day largely because of its relatability.
The show accurately depicts the struggles of being a young adult from dating to carving a career that will never change no matter which decade it is.
Many can relate, and find solace in the idea, that friends are family in your 20s and will be there through thick and thin. In that, the show is timeless.
The sitcom followed six friends – Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Joey (Matt LeBlanc), Monica (Courteney Cox), Chandler (Matthew Perry), Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) and Ross (David Schwimmer) – who live in the same apartment building
While Friends hasn’t aged as well as other sitcoms, it’s still popular to this day largely because of its relatability
Even with its laugh tracks and three-camera perspective, the show’s characters are so endearing it creates a warmth that immerses audiences into its world.
As one of its cast members Cox acknowledged, their chemistry was like ‘was like lightning in a bottle.’
‘It was a character-driven funny, not timely funny,’ Perry told People why the show still had such a strong following.
‘They didn’t make timely jokes. They didn’t make jokes about O.J. Simpson. They made character-driven jokes about people — and people are going to come back time and time again and watch that.’
The series ran for 10 seasons and the ultimate decision for the show to come to an end came from its creators, David Crane and Marta Kauffman. However, it came even later than they had expected.
‘It was maybe a little different than other shows, only because we had several years where we thought this was going to be the last year,’ Kauffman told EW.
Even with its laugh tracks and three-camera perspective, the show’s characters are so endearing it creates a warmth that immerses audiences into its world
The series ran for 10 seasons and the ultimate decision for the show to come to an end came from its creators, David Crane and Marta Kauffman
‘Because of the actors’ contract negotiations, and it seemed as though, “Oh, season seven is the last season.” Or season eight. Or season nine. So each of those seasons we had an eye toward, “Okay, if this is the last year, what are we doing?”‘ Crane added.
‘And then amazingly there was a rising from the ashes, last minute: “Oh my god, there is one more season…”
He continued: ‘Season 10, we said, “We can’t keep stopping and starting and rethinking everything.” And that also jived with what some of the cast was thinking.’
‘For us, one of the things was: everybody was growing up,’ Kauffman added.
‘This is part of why the show had to end. This was no longer that time in your life when your friends are your family. You’re starting your own family.’
1. The Office (2005-2013)
The Office started out as a British series starring Ricky Gervais. While that version only lasted for two seasons, the US series ran for nine seasons
The Office started out as a British series starring Ricky Gervais. While that version only lasted for two seasons, the US series ran for nine seasons and landed the top spot of this most-popular sitcoms list.
The workplace sitcom stars incompetent and often inappropriate manager Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) and his employees: Dwight (Rainn Wilson), Jim (John Krasinski), Pam (Jenna Fischer) and more.
This ensemble show embraces cringe humor while hitting all the relatable points of working in an office – a tragedy so many of us are forced to live.
It’s hard to believe that this ever-so-popular show almost didn’t even make it past season one.
The workplace sitcom stars incompetent and often inappropriate manager Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) and his employees: Dwight (Rainn Wilson), Jim (John Krasinski), Pam (Jenna Fischer) and more
The show was almost cancelled due to low ratings and NBC head Kevin Reilly had to fight to get the show renewed
The show was almost cancelled due to low ratings and NBC head Kevin Reilly had to fight to get the show renewed.
Viewership went up 60 per cent for season two and only continued to grow from that point.
The series lasted for nine seasons, running from 2005 to 2013.
The Office really was at the forefront of the mockumentary format and workplace sitcom. In that sense, it completely revolutionized what a sitcom looked like.
Funny didn’t have to just be three cameras and an audio guide telling viewers when to laugh, but rather an exploration into how realistic situations can provide enough humor without the gimmicks.
The series’ creator Greg Daniels ultimately made the decision to end The Office.
The Office really was at the forefront of the mockumentary format and workplace sitcom. In that sense, it completely revolutionized what a sitcom looks like
The series’ creator Greg Daniels ultimately made the decision to end The Office
‘This year feels like the last chance to really go out together and make an artistic ending for the show that pays off a lot of the stuff that matters most to fans,’ Daniels announced to reporters at the time.
‘This will be the last season of The Office. And we’re planning a very big exciting last season. We’re going to have a lot of faces coming back… There are a lot of things that I’ve personally been wanting to do since season two.
‘All questions will be answered this year. We’re going to see who’s behind the documentary… Now that we know we have an end date we can blow things up and take some chances and it will be very freeing, creatively.’
However, as popular as the show was during its run, it became even more so with the emergence of streaming platforms.
In fact, The Office became the most-streamed show of the year in 2020, even though the show had ended seven years prior.
Perhaps, during a global pandemic when people were forced to work remotely and reevaluate if the way they work is really the most efficient, The Office served as a piece of satire.
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