15 Best ‘Masterpiece’ Shows, Ranked
Let the trumpets play that Mouret theme song — we’re rounding up the 15 best Masterpiece series from the half-century-plus history of the PBS drama anthology.
Masterpiece was previously titled Masterpiece Theatre, and as you might deduce from that spelling, the franchise specializes in British imports — usually costume dramas and period mysteries, with contemporary stories thrown in occasionally for good measure.
Of the Masterpiece productions with more than 10,000 user votes on IMDb, here are the top 15, ranked by average user rating.
The Paradise
Based on Au Bonheur des Dames by Émile Zola, this series stars Joanna Vanderham as a small-town woman who gets a job at the first English department store in 1875 and falls for its dashing owner. “Witty, moving, adorable, suspenseful, intriguing, and the list goes on,” one viewer said on IMDb. “Hats off — pun intended.”
Sanditon
An unfinished Jane Austen manuscript inspired this series about a young woman (played by Rose Williams) who moves to a fishing town that aspires to become a seaside resort. “Yet again the Brits prove that nobody can do a period piece like they can!” one fan raved. “They always have the right balance of love, drama, relatable emotion, scandal, heartbreak, etc.”
Grantchester
A series of clergymen (played by James Norton, Tom Brittney, and — soon — Rishi Nair) investigate local crimes with the help of a detective inspector (played by Robson Green) in the titular Cambridgeshire village in this series. “I came to Grantchester after a few seasons of Father Brown,” said one IMDb user. “While another ‘priest plus cop’ series seemed redundant, Grantchester is brilliantly written and acted.”
Sense and Sensibility
In this adaptation of the classic Austen story — a more overtly sexual one than others, according to screenwriter Andrew Davies — then-newcomers Hattie Morahan and Charity Wakefield played polar-opposite sisters at the start of their 19th-century romantic journeys. “This serial … is my favorite rendition of its novel,” one viewer wrote. “In the first hour, it’s my favorite by far.”
Emma
Romola Garai, Jonny Lee Miller, and the late Michael Gambon starred in this Austen adaptation, with Garai playing the meddlesome would-be matchmaker (and earning a Golden Globe nomination for her performance). “Everything — the acting, the costumes, storyline, and music — was just so superbly done,” an IMDb user enthused. “This version of Emma far surpasses its predecessors.”
Wolf Hall
Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis, and Claire Foy brought Hilary Mantel’s historical novel to life, with Rylance portraying Thomas Cromwell as the lawyer becomes a close advisor to Henry VIII (Lewis) amid the king’s relationship with Anne Boleyn (Foy). “Mark Rylance was just mesmerizing,” one viewer said. “From the moment he appeared, he held me in thrall.”
Victoria
Jenna Coleman portrayed a young Queen Victoria in this series that tracked the monarch’s ascension to the throne and her marriage to Prince Albert (Tom Hughes). “This has been the most amazing series since Downton Abbey I have watched,” an IMDb user wrote. “I laughed, I cried, I got angry. I felt every emotion humanly possible through watching it.”
The Durrells in Corfu
Simply titled The Durrells across the pond, this comedy-drama follows a widow and her four children as they adapt to life on a Greek isle, taking inspiration from the memoirs of real-life British naturalist Gerard Durrell. “Overall it is just charming, crammed full of dry wit, and a bit of a page-turner, as I can’t wait for the next episode,” one fan opined.
Bleak House
Twenty years after giving Masterpiece one Bleak House adaptation, the BBC sent over another, written by Davies, with Gillian Anderson and Carey Mulligan in the cast of a Charles Dickens tale that the network deemed a “passionate indictment” of England’s 19th-century legal system. “450+ minutes of a film is a long time to have your breath taken away,” a viewer said, “but that’s what happened when I first watched this magnificent adaptation.”
Cranford
Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, and an Emmy-winning Eileen Atkins played village women living on the verge of the Industrial Revolution in this five-part series based on Elizabeth Gaskell novellas. “Not a dry eye in the house as this came to a close last night,” one viewer said. “Absolute perfection.”
Poldark
Aidan Turner gained fans on both sides of the Atlantic with this series about a British Army officer returning to Cornwall after the American Revolution and finding his family home nothing like how he left it. “I use IMDb all the time to look at reviews, but I never leave them,” one user wrote. “I signed up for an account just so I could rate this series because it is that awesome.”
Downton Abbey
A Masterpiece series so popular it inspired two big-screen movies, this upstairs-downstairs drama followed the aristocratic Crawley family and their staff as they navigate the turbulent early 20th century. “Downton Abbey is the embodiment of excellence,” a fan said. “Well written with intelligent and inspiring storylines.”
I, Claudius
Based on the Robert Graves novel of the same name and its sequel, this miniseries chronicled the early Roman Empire through decades of Claudius’ reign. Derek Jacobi starred as the title emperor, and the supporting cast included a still-up-and-coming Patrick Stewart. “I, Claudius is the ultimate soap opera — vicious, cruel, manipulative — and this famous English miniseries grabs the attention and holds fast throughout the entire length of its complex tale of ancient intrigue,” one viewer said.
Sherlock
A modern-day take on the Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective, Sherlock stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the title character and Martin Freeman as sidekick Watson, with Andrew Scott stealing scenes as the archenemy Moriarty. “[This] will have Conan Doyle spinning in his grave… with delight,” one fan said. “A brilliantly written, well-acted program. Well done to all concerned.”
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services
Conversation44 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Register or sign in to join the conversation.
CyanPin
All Creatures Great and Small missing and should be near the top, if not first.
Reader
Love this
RedCoffee
Sanditon has no business being on this list. So many shows are way better such as Unforgotten, Annika, Endeavor, Miss Scarlet & The Duke, and Last Tango in Halifax just to name a few off the top of my head.
RedWrench
All Creatures Great and Small should be on the list!!! It's like watching a hug❤️
GoldBug
Where were all the old ones? Masterpiece used to be "appointment television" we NEVER watched anything else on Sunday night. Now we can record it and watch when we want, but back then we introduced a LOT of people to PBS by watching with them. The Six Wives of Henry the Eighth will always be a highlight, as is/was Elizabeth R. And Upstairs/Downstairs isn't even MENTIONED?????
PurpleLeaf
I couldn’t agree more and in my humble opinion, Endeavour earned that spot by far.
Reader
Inspector Morse was missed
GoldWheel
Glad they got "I, Claudius" in there, but I agree, there are plenty of the 1970s ones they overlooked, particularly the ORIGINAL "Forsyte Saga" which started it all. Also, "Six Wives of Henry VIII", "Elizabeth R" with the great recently deceased Glenda Jackson.
GreenCloud
Have only watched two of these 15-- different tastes for different folks, I guess. How about Miss Scarlett & the Duke, Prime Suspect, The Unforgotten, and DCI Banks, or don't they count? They were all on PBS.
OrangeTree
Downton Abbey is IMO the second best tv show in history, right behind MASH.
GreenBulb
MASH was really good for a few early seasons, but then went far downhill, fast. Instead of Radar or Burns, it would've been a lot better if Hawkeye had left.
CyanPin
I, Claudius is worthy of being #1. I have a soft spot for some probably mostly forgotten oldies: By The Sword Divided, and To Serve Them All My Days.
GreenBulb
Sherlock is so overrated, there's no way it should be #1. I can't even agree about Sanditon... unless the show's writers are really, really good, it shouldn't really have been made to begin with: the original work by Jane Austen was never completed, and what she did write was unpolished and unedited, and thus not very good. Certainly not up to usual Austen standards.
Also, some of these are limited 'series,' based on a novel and only lasting three or four or five episodes-- hardly the definition of a 'series.'
Reader
Agree that Sherlock should not be on the list even though I enjoyed it. Good luck on any Sherlock Holmes portrayals standing up to what Jeremy Brett brought to the character. Sandition was ridiculous. Couldn’t finish the first episode. I understand the times in which we live but that was more than I could take.
Reader
The Sherlock version that is referred to here is the remake with Benedict Cumberbatch.... Good, but not worthy of a Top15 slot, in the opinion of many, myself included.
PurpleCorn
This site really needs to get some writers with longer memories.
PurpleMustache
Upstairs Downstairs. I still miss the Bellamys. They are the reason Masterpiece (theatre) is my go to comfort program. And the dinner for the King episode is still my favorite. The cooking downstairs was amazing. Mrs Bridges made lamb which the King was partial to
And all the offerings have been brilliant ever since. Love the Farnon household at the moment!
Reader
So many episodes of Downton Abbey were reminiscent of Upstairs Downstairs. I can't believe that has never been mentioned before
CyanScissors
This list was obviously done by a fiffteen year old or something, you really need to be immature and daft to put Sherlock on this list at all let alone on number one spot. Also Sanditon, which was utter superficial crap.ee
GreenSeahorse
Sanditon is a lie trying to rewrite history.
Reader
I think Endeavor should have been on this list
OliveDice
1.Jane Eyre. 2.Poldark. 3.Downton Abbey. 4.Victoria. 5. Sherlock
Thank God for Masterpiece.
BlueUmbrella
Flame Trees of Thika? A Town Like Alice?
Reader
I lived in Kenya on two occasions, for a total of ten years. Flame Trees of Thika capture what it was like in the early 70's, when we first arrived there. Nothing makes me feel that way, except maybe, Out Of Africa.
GoldTrumpet
Absolutely love Poldark with Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson. I've watched the series twice now. I probably will again.
BlueFan
Lilly; Duchess of Duke Street; All Creatures Great and Small
OliveBox
Where o where is Seaside Hotel?!?!
Reader
The Paradise should not have made this list at all. It was a mini-series at best... and terribly boring after 3 episodes when the main plot was regurgitated over and over again with no headway made. Certainly NOT Binge-Worthy, more like Cringe-Worthy!! These results seem voted by very young viewers with little history of Masterpiece Theatre... So many great series to mention... I'd rather have seen some of these sadly overlooked titles make the list: Prime Suspect, The Bletchley Circle, To The Manor Born, To Serve Them All My Days, Unforgotten, Annika, Magpie Murders, Wuthering Heights (Tom Hardy), Persuasion, Van Der Valk, Brideshead Revisited, Bleak House, North and South, Broadchurch, Wallender/Young Wallender, or The Hour!! And how could they have left out of the #1 spot...the best-ever version of Pride and Prejudice with brilliant performances by Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth?? Definitely a criminal oversight!!!
OrangeAirBalloon
I can't believe that To Serve Them All My Days, All Creatures Great and Small and Upstairs Downstairs aren't on this list. They were all fabulous shows that deserve a place on this list.
BlueBullhorn
Miss Scarlett and the Duke should be on the list
Reader
Please please the first thing on your list should be Upstairs Downstairs. It was the forerunner to Downton Abbey. And probably one of the best series I had ever seen for its time. Second of all the Forsyth Saga to me was one of my all-time favorites and hasn't even made this list. I have become a lifelong masterpiece theater fan because of Upstairs Downstairs
OliveCactus
No Jewel in the Crown or Upstairs Downstairs anywhere????!
CyanBus
Loved a town like Alice
Reader
Endeavor should have been close to the top of this list.
Reader
Don't agree at all with this list sanditon is so boring. The only thing worse was Victoria really really really boring I could go on but the fact is when Masterpiece is good it's exceptional and when it's bad they should return your donation
M.L.
I, Claudius; The Durrells; the Jane Austen dramatizations -- all yes! But Sherlock? It was good, but the mysteries don't belong on this list. PBS never should have combined them. Where is "Upstairs, Downstairs"? "The Jewel in the Crown"? So many greats have been forgotten, but I'd love to see them again!
Reader
While I agree with some, off the top of my head, I don't see how Endeavor/Sean Evans, Endeavor/John Thaw, Inspector Lewis, Upstairs Downstairs, Downton Abbey, Riley Ace of Spies, Prime Suspect, Unforgotten, All Creatures Great and Small, Grandtchester or Call the Midwife were overlooked!
Reader
To have a top list without ENDEAVOR is preposterous....It's a show of magnificent complexity, characters, storylines and blows 90% of this list away.....
Reader
Geantchester should've been higher up the list.
Carol
A wonderful list, I agree whole-heartedly!
Reader
Forgot to include Brideshead Revisited and Danger UXB.
Reader
What about Jewel in the Crown or Brideshead Revisited????
GoldFlame
This is almost a complete list of my favorites 😀 only ones missing are Little Dorit with Clair Foy and Pride and Prejudice with Matthew McFadyen❤️❤️ I haven't seen "I Claudius" or "Grantchester" yet but they're on my radar now‼️
PurpleCocktail
What about Fortunes of War?