- 4 hours ago
Get ready for edge-of-your-seat entertainment as we explore the most gripping television shows ever made! From supernatural mysteries to psychological thrillers, these series changed how we experience suspense on the small screen. Which nerve-wracking drama kept you glued to your TV?
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00What you said to me last night, it was cruel.
00:04Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most gripping TV shows of all time.
00:10Beware of spoilers.
00:12The place is here. The time is now.
00:17Number 10. The X-Files.
00:19Agent Mulder, I'm Dana Scully. I've been assigned to work with you.
00:23Oh, isn't it nice to be suddenly so highly regarded?
00:26Not many shows have left an imprint on sci-fi television like this peak 90s series.
00:31Unlike traditional procedurals like CSI,
00:33The X-Files dives into Dana Scully and Fox Mulder's investigation of weird, unexplained cases.
00:39So, lunch?
00:42Mulder, toads just fell from the sky.
00:45I guess their parachutes didn't open.
00:47You were saying something about this place not feeling odd?
00:50Their findings are often spooky, intriguing, gross, and downright bizarre.
00:55From the monster-of-the-week thrills to alien invasions and deep-cut conspiracies,
00:59every episode drags you right in.
01:01Its gothic atmosphere and layered characters only add to the show's overall appeal.
01:05How do you lie to them?
01:06I would never lie.
01:08I willfully participate in a campaign of misinformation.
01:11But, beyond the tight plots,
01:13the show's real magic lies in its razor-sharp writing
01:15and the undeniable chemistry between one of TV's most iconic duos.
01:19A game-changer for sci-fi,
01:21The X-Files remains a benchmark for intelligent and slow-burn suspense decades later.
01:26Mulder, the truth is out there.
01:29But so are lies.
01:32Number 9. Hannibal
01:33Good morning, Will.
01:35May I come in?
01:36The Silence of the Lambs gave us an unforgettable villain.
01:39But Hannibal took that horror to haunting new heights.
01:42A cerebral terror that's visually stunning,
01:44deeply unsettling,
01:45and disturbingly poetic.
01:46It defied expectations to become one of the best psychological thrillers ever made.
01:51I don't find you that interesting.
01:53You will.
01:55Anthony Hopkins' Lecter was phenomenal,
01:57but Mads Mikkelsen's dangerously subtle take made him even deadlier.
02:00His cat-and-mouse games with Hugh Dancy are tense and mesmerizing,
02:03every moment laced with creeping dread.
02:06What we are doing here is the right thing.
02:12In time, this will be the only story any of us cares to tell.
02:16There's no telling where the show will take you,
02:18but one thing is certain.
02:19It is a descent into darkness.
02:21With its trophy case of awards,
02:23stunning direction,
02:24and gripping performances,
02:25Hannibal truly is horror at its most refined.
02:28But be warned,
02:29its unflinching brutality is not for the faint-hearted.
02:32When life becomes maddeningly polite,
02:35think about me.
02:41Think about me, Will.
02:43Number 8. True Detective
02:44Ever been so drawn into a story
03:05that it stays with you long after the screen fades to black?
03:08That's the powerful pull of True Detective.
03:10So you, uh, need to go, or what?
03:15No, there's nothing.
03:16Can't wait till tomorrow.
03:18While each season brings new mysteries,
03:20characters, and themes,
03:21none quite matches the brilliance of the first season.
03:24Widely praised,
03:25it follows two enigmatic detectives
03:27thrust into a ritualistic murder investigation
03:29over 17 years.
03:31But it isn't just about solving a murder.
03:33It is a haunting exploration of human nature,
03:36and the darkness lurking beneath society.
03:38I don't think I've been very clear with you, Russ.
03:41If you were drowning,
03:42I'd throw you a f***ing barbell.
03:45Why would I ever help you?
03:54Because you have a debt.
03:57Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson
03:59deliver spectacular performances
04:00that turn this character-driven saga
04:02into an unforgettable experience.
04:04Although later seasons don't feel the same without them,
04:06the entire series is still a must-watch
04:09for crime-solving enthusiasts.
04:11Someone once told me time is a flat circle.
04:17Everything we've ever done or will do,
04:20we're gonna do over and over and over again.
04:23Number 7. Lost
04:25Last week, most of us were strangers.
04:30But we're all here now.
04:33And God knows how long we're gonna be here.
04:35But if we can't live together,
04:41we're gonna die alone.
04:46This captivating TV series began
04:48as a simple story about survivors of a plane crash
04:50stranded on an island.
04:51Strange occurrences,
04:53hidden bunkers,
04:54eerie whispers,
04:55and menacing monsters
04:56suggested that something far more complex was at play.
04:58Why would any one of us block an attempt to get home?
05:02We're so intent on pointing the finger at one another
05:05that we're ignoring the simple, undeniable truth
05:08that the problem isn't here,
05:10it's there!
05:11They've attacked us!
05:13As the series progressed,
05:14it gradually transformed into a wild mix of sci-fi,
05:18supernatural intrigue,
05:19and psychological drama
05:20that kept many fans on the edge.
05:22With the character's backstory
05:24weaving into the larger mystery,
05:25many viewers couldn't help digging deeper
05:27even as the puzzle grew more complicated.
05:30You're a lie.
05:32Yes, I am.
05:35I knew it.
05:38I knew that this would happen.
05:41Then why are you so surprised to see me?
05:44Sure, the ending may have left fans divided,
05:46but Lost remains a hit show
05:48that holds up even today.
05:49Its mind-bending mysteries
05:50and compelling characters
05:51make it well worth revisiting.
05:53We have to go back, Kate.
05:56Number 6.
05:57Homeland.
05:58Oh, where's the exact words, please?
06:00An American prisoner of war has been turned.
06:02He said this in English.
06:03Yes, he whispered it into my ear
06:05right before the guards pulled me away.
06:06Howard Gordon and Alex Gonza's espionage thriller
06:09may have its ups and downs,
06:10but one thing it definitely does
06:12is grab you from the start
06:13and never let go.
06:15It all begins with Sergeant Nicholas Brody
06:17returning home after years of captivity,
06:19but bipolar CIA agent Kerry
06:21believes he has turned against his country.
06:22Do you know Afzal Hamid?
06:25Yes.
06:26Did you meet him in Syria?
06:28Yes.
06:29Did you slip him a razor blade?
06:32No.
06:33Ask him again.
06:35What follows is a mix of paranoia,
06:37mind games, and shifting loyalties,
06:39making it impossible to look away.
06:41What's going on?
06:42I can't talk.
06:44We're on an open line.
06:46As the series progresses,
06:47it evolves from a taut psychological drama
06:49into a high-stakes global conflict.
06:51Some seasons hit harder than others,
06:53but the tension, powerhouse performances,
06:55and real-world political themes
06:57make Homeland one rollercoaster ride
06:59until the very end.
07:01Will you visit me in prison?
07:02I'll probably be in the cell next to you.
07:11Number 5.
07:11The Twilight Zone
07:12You're traveling through another dimension.
07:15A dimension not only of sight and sound,
07:17but of mind.
07:18A journey into a wondrous land
07:20whose boundaries are that of imagination.
07:22Your next stop,
07:23the Twilight Zone.
07:25Strangely eerie, provocative,
07:27and wildly entertaining,
07:28Rod Serling's anthology
07:29is indeed one of the greatest
07:31sci-fi shows ever seen.
07:33Play some more music.
07:35It's good what you've done to Dan.
07:37It's real good.
07:39It was swell.
07:40It's just swell.
07:42It was really good.
07:45With solid stories
07:46that can either leave you smiling
07:47or send shivers down your spine,
07:49The Twilight Zone
07:50is spellbinding in every aspect.
07:52No matter the plot,
07:53the ending will almost always
07:55catch you off guard.
07:56That unpredictability
07:57is part of its charm.
07:58What is this?
07:59Some kind of a game?
08:01What?
08:01That is your bag, lady.
08:03You checked it.
08:04Oh, no, that isn't my bag.
08:05It looks just like my bag,
08:06but my...
08:07From aliens to time loops,
08:11almost every tale
08:12taps into unexpected fear
08:14and leaves you questioning reality.
08:15You also can't help but connect
08:17with the characters' inner struggles
08:19and the unsettling situations
08:20they find themselves in.
08:21It's no surprise
08:22this timeless gem reshaped
08:24the horror and sci-fi genres,
08:26inspiring multiple reboots,
08:28a radio series,
08:29and even theme park attractions.
08:30Thank you and good night.
08:33Number 4.
08:3424.
08:34The following takes place
08:35between midnight and 1 a.m.
08:38on the day of the California
08:39presidential primary.
08:42Events occur in real time.
08:45Few shows deliver suspense
08:47like this adrenaline-fueled journey,
08:49teeming with mystery,
08:50drama,
08:51and unexpected twists.
08:52It keeps you hooked
08:53as Jack Bauer
08:54and his counter-terrorist unit
08:55race against time
08:56to stop deadly threats.
08:58I thought you said
08:58CTU's been compromised.
09:00It has been.
09:02Then who are you calling?
09:07The only person
09:08I can trust right now.
09:09With its real-time format,
09:10relentless pacing,
09:12and intense drama,
09:1324 truly redefined
09:14TV storytelling.
09:15Each season unfolds
09:17throughout 24 hours,
09:18meaning every second counts.
09:20Talk about intense.
09:21The constant twists,
09:25nerve-wracking cliffhangers,
09:26and innovative editing
09:27made this really unpredictable
09:29and entertaining.
09:30Even though Kiefer Sutherland's
09:32Jack is a flawed hero,
09:33his grit and sacrifice
09:35will have you rooting
09:35and thinking about him
09:37for a long time.
09:38I made so many mistakes.
09:41And I always thought
09:42that I would have the time
09:43to crack them.
09:49You have the time.
09:52Right now.
09:53Number 3.
09:54The Fugitive.
09:55The name,
09:56Dr. Richard Kimball.
09:58The destination,
09:59Death Row State Prison.
10:01The irony,
10:03Richard Kimball is innocent.
10:05Wrongfully convicted
10:06for murdering his wife,
10:08a doctor goes on the run
10:09to clear his name.
10:10That is the gripping premise
10:12of The Fugitive,
10:12one of TV's greatest thrillers,
10:14which had a most rewarding ending.
10:17We've had a complaint
10:17against you,
10:18Mr. Lincoln.
10:20Complaint?
10:21A show like this
10:22should not have lasted
10:23for four years,
10:24but fresh ideas
10:25kept it alive.
10:26As Dr. Kimball
10:26journeyed cross-country,
10:28meeting fascinating people,
10:29the series managed
10:30to stay engrossing.
10:31Good evening, doctor.
10:33Welcome to the Madison Estate.
10:36I'm the lady of the house,
10:38as the saying goes.
10:39His hunt for the elusive
10:41one-armed man
10:41and Lieutenant Gerard's
10:42never-ending pursuit
10:43made nearly every episode
10:45a nail-biter.
10:46And let's face it,
10:46the series wouldn't be the same
10:48without David Jansen's
10:49terrific performance
10:50pulling viewers
10:50into Kimball's predicament.
10:52The Fugitive stands
10:53as one of TV's
10:54most arresting classics.
10:55All right, we're going back.
10:57You won't shoot me.
10:59You need me alive.
11:01Number two, Breaking Bad.
11:03But you know the business.
11:06And I know the chemistry.
11:11I'm thinking
11:12maybe you and I
11:15could partner up.
11:16The endless praise
11:17and stack of awards
11:19say it all.
11:20This Bryan Cranston-led
11:21crime drama
11:21is a masterclass
11:23in storytelling.
11:24Breaking Bad starts
11:25slow,
11:25with Walter White
11:26as a dispirited
11:27chemistry teacher.
11:28Once he steps
11:29into the drug trade,
11:30it becomes utterly riveting.
11:32What's your name?
11:35Heisenberg.
11:36The show was so iconic,
11:37it made the Guinness
11:38World Records in 2013
11:39as the most acclaimed
11:41TV series of all time.
11:43It even spawned
11:43a top-tier prequel series
11:45and a spectacular sequel film.
11:47Honestly,
11:47if any show defines
11:49prestige television,
11:50it's Vince Gilligan's
11:51masterpiece.
11:52We don't want people
11:53to start wondering
11:53about you, right?
11:54The characters
11:55are well-developed,
11:56the story unravels
11:57brilliantly,
11:58and the ending
11:59hits just right.
12:00From the visuals
12:00and music
12:01to the acting
12:02and writing,
12:03everything clicks
12:03perfectly to create
12:04a truly transformative
12:06experience.
12:06before we unveil our top pick,
12:24here are some
12:24honorable mentions.
12:25Mindhunter,
12:26because it is a masterclass
12:28in psychological tension
12:29and real-life horror.
12:30I liked Mary the best.
12:33I was lukewarm
12:34on Anita.
12:36What was wrong
12:37with her?
12:38Nothing in particular.
12:40It was more
12:41that Mary was
12:42really quite struck
12:46by her personality
12:47and her looks.
12:48Dexter.
12:49This serial killer series
12:50is one immersive
12:51and deliciously complex journey.
12:53I'm very
12:54fond of her.
12:59You can't be a killer
13:00and a hero.
13:02It doesn't work that way!
13:04Fargo.
13:04This twisted tale
13:05has an exceptional blend
13:07of crime,
13:07dark humor,
13:08and suspense.
13:09I figured it out.
13:12Good for you.
13:14Mr. Robot,
13:15because it nails
13:16the mind-bending mystery
13:17perfectly with its unique tale.
13:18At my fingertips,
13:20the zero day
13:21is wrapped in code
13:22like a Christmas present
13:23then becomes an exploit.
13:25The programmatic expression
13:27of my will.
13:28I live for this s***.
13:30Before we continue,
13:32be sure to subscribe
13:33to our channel
13:33and ring the bell
13:34to get notified
13:35about our latest videos.
13:36You have the option
13:37to be notified
13:38for occasional videos
13:39or all of them.
13:40If you're on your phone,
13:41make sure you go
13:42into your settings
13:43and switch on notifications.
13:46Number 1.
13:48Twin Peaks.
13:48Diane,
13:4911.30 a.m.,
13:50February 24th.
13:52Entering the town
13:53of Twin Peaks.
13:54It's five miles south
13:55of the Canadian border,
13:5612 miles west
13:57of the state line.
13:58Daring and surreal,
14:00this mind-boggling series
14:01shattered the standards
14:02of most TV dramas.
14:03From the beginning,
14:04you may never know
14:05what you're getting into.
14:06Once you do,
14:07there is no turning back.
14:09Oh my god.
14:11This is why
14:12I had to see you.
14:15It all makes
14:16some kind of terrible sense
14:17that she died.
14:18Set in the fictional town
14:20of Twin Peaks,
14:21it follows Dale Cooper's
14:22investigation into
14:23the murder of Laura Palmer.
14:24Sounds like a pretty
14:25straightforward detective story,
14:26right?
14:26But nothing is ever
14:28that simple in Twin Peaks.
14:29Are you Laura Palmer?
14:30With cryptic characters,
14:43strange happenings,
14:45eerie doppelgangers,
14:46and hidden meanings,
14:47the show is anything
14:48but ordinary.
14:49David Lynch and Mark Frost's
14:50fusion of small-town drama,
14:52murder mystery,
14:52and the supernatural
14:53led to something
14:54one of a kind.
14:55Even after the show's
14:56cancellation and return
14:57in 2017,
14:59its legendary status
15:00remained unshaken.
15:05What TV series
15:06do you consider
15:07the greatest of all time?
15:08Let us know
15:08in the comments section.
15:09Get the hell
15:10off my property.
15:11What?
15:11I'm just saying.
15:12Don't come back.
15:14Did you enjoy this video?
15:15Check out these other clips
15:16from WatchMojo,
15:17and be sure to subscribe
15:19and ring the bell
15:19to be notified
15:20about our latest videos.
15:27And if you're lying,
15:53Let us know
15:54you.
Recommended
1:34:17
|
Up next
1:34:16
22:58
35:26
28:15
1:48
1:36:15
2:10:00
14:10
28:15
29:21
1:49:40
12:29
1:37:18
13:02
19:42
13:37
1:41:17
0:44
1:31:52
2:29:02
27:38
10:29
Be the first to comment