The 25 Best Paramount+ Original Series, Ranked

You’ll have to hit up Freevee to watch it nowadays, but Jordan Peele‘s 2019 reboot of The Twilight Zone originated at Paramount+, so it counts. The new master of sci-fi horror served as both creator and host of the show’s two seasons, which showed the utmost respect to Rod Serling‘s original vision but brought the new stories well into the 21st Century (and sometimes beyond). Some of the segments are terrifying, some are hilarious, but all are undeniably eerie. They’re also brimming with Easter eggs for fans of the original series to dive into, and there are some masterclass performances to be found from TV favorites like Topher Grace, Jurnee Smollett, John Cho, Rhea Seehorn, Ethan Embry, and so many more. —Amanda Bell

Where fairy tales meet scary stories to tell in the dark, this horror anthology thriller reimagines some of your favorite childhood tales and sets them in modern-day New York City. From “Little Red Riding Hood” to “Hansel and Gretel,” this subversive series tackles themes of love, loss, greed, and murder. Despite it being an anthology, the series well balances the interweaving of its various characters as well as its modern takes on tales as old as time. Some familiar favorites can be found in the cast as well from Sex and the City’s Kim Cattrall to Black Mirror and Into the Woods actor Billy Magnussen. All we can say if you dare to watch is: Don’t bring the kids. —Katie Song

Originally hailing from Spectrum, the series shifted to Paramount+ for its second (and, unfortunately final) season. The series followed the titular game warden (played by Michael Dorman) who is based on the character from C.J. Box’s books. Set in Wyoming, the series serves up small-town charm juxtaposed with intense wilderness-set crime scenarios. —Meaghan Darwish

Returning in 2022, the ‘90s classic saw the titular animated duo back and being dumber than ever. Created by Mike Judge, he also lends vocals to the cartoon characters who remain a classic for a reason. —Meaghan Darwish

Brought back from the beloved 2006 series, The Game follows the game of football through a closer look at the challenges the Black community still faces today, from racism and wrongful convictions to mental health and family. Starring Wendy Raquel Robinson as Tasha Mack, the “momager” of the show’s lead quarterback, The Game has captivated audiences for nearly two decades as the characters must bare and protect their souls at the cost of, well, the game. While the show was not renewed for a third season, the first two are considered almost a continuation of the first series, offering both old and new fans a deeper look into the world of these complex players. —Katie Song

The former Nickelodeon series got a grown-up revival as Miranda Cosgrove, Nathan Kress, and Jerry Trainor reprised their roles as the titular Carly, Freddie, and Spencer. Now dealing with he challenges of adulthood, they continue to put on webcasts with a more mature angle. Despite the show’s renewed success, it was cut short after three seasons. —Meaghan Darwish

From the mind of Desperate Housewives’ Marc Cherry, this anthology series ran for three seasons and followed women across different decades as they dealt with infidelity and other betrayals. Lasting for two seasons, the casts for this anthology included Allison Tolman, Lucy Liu, Lana Parilla, and more. —Meaghan Darwish

Fan outrage saved this series from being erased for good after Paramount+ canceled it less than one month after its Season 1 finale aired in 2023. It’s now available to watch on DVD. The smart and addictive songs of this Grease spinoff are earworms (“Crushing Me” became a viral sensation thanks to TikTok), and the choreography snagged the series two Emmy nominations post-cancellation. Any lovers of musical theater will thoroughly enjoy this well-crafted production. —Kelli Boyle

Based on the real historical figure, this 2023 series finds the nuances and humanity of Bass Reeves, the first Black deputy U.S. Marshall in the upper Midwest Territory. Set in the 1870s, Lawman: Bass Reeves boasts smart writing, immersive sets, and fantastic performances from actors David Oyelowo, Lauren E. Banks, Demi Singleton, Dennis Quaid, and more. The eight-episode season has texture, fitting for the setting of a gritty Western, bouncing back and forth between Reeves’ domestic life as well as his professional one. For viewers looking for their next great Western adventure, we suggest you saddle up. —Katie Song

This ambitious series based on the video game and starring Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief is action-packed, full of mystery and adventure, and something that new fans can enjoy as well. (It also touches on themes like identity and finding purpose.) One of the big things that had people talking right from the start was Master Chief removing his helmet (and so early!). It’s because the show follows his journey that it’s something anyone can enjoy, though video game fans will enjoy the Easter eggs sprinkled throughout. —Meredith Jacobs

Tackling the ever-important issue of America’s carceral state, Mayor of Kingstown follows the McLusky family where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry. Within a 10-mile radius, the city boasts 7 prisons with 20,000 prisoners behind their walls – just to paint how bleak the picture really is. The first two seasons are praised for strong performances and a twisted script, brought to you by Yellowstone writer Taylor Sheridan. Starring Jeremy Renner, Hugh Dillon, Dianne Wiest, Tobi Bamtefa, and more, this series holds intentional conversations with its audience while still wrapped up in a compelling narrative that almost rings as if The Wire and Prison Break had a crime thriller baby. —Katie Song

Everyone has heard of The Godfather, but have you heard the story behind the making of it? This 10-episode limited series from 2022 features an all-star cast including Miles Teller, Juno Temple, Giovanni Ribisi, Matthew Goode, and more. —Meaghan Darwish

Not only does All Stars turn in some of the best fashion on TV, but it’s also one of the funniest hours of television available week after week as talented drag queens (all formerly eliminated competitors from RuPaul’s Drag Race) fight to win the crown and cash prize bestowed by the Queen of Drag, RuPaul, who now has a record-setting seven Emmy wins under his belt as host of this franchise. Don’t miss the All Stars all-winners season, Season 7, which crowned the queen of all queens in 2022. —Kelli Boyle

This comedy makes me laugh just like the original did. Kelsey Grammer reprises the titular role, with his character now back in Boston, trying to repair his relationship with his son (Jack Cutmore-Scott‘s Freddy) and now teaching. Original series stars like Peri Gilpin and Bebe Neuwirth have already appeared, and there’s the possibility of others (the executive producers haven’t ruled out Cheers cast members either!) going forward. There’s even another slow-burn romance to track. And Frasier and his old friend Alan (Nicholas Lyndhurst) together? Gold.  —Meredith Jacobs

Listen, I loved seeing Kiefer Sutherland back on television, and I couldn’t stop watching this show not just for him and the rest of the cast—including Charles Dance, Meta Golding, Enid Graham, Jason Butler Harner, and Rob Yang—but also because it had me second guessing what was real and what wasn’t until the very end. With reveal after reveal in the finale, I—as was Sutherland!—was very game to go down the rabbit hole once again, but while that wasn’t in the cards at least the series left me with some answers. —Meredith Jacobs

The perils of Westward expansion leave little room for levity in the first Yellowstone spinoff, but fans love the wild spirit at the center of the tale: Elsa Dutton (Isabel May). The eldest child of James and Margaret Dutton (played by real-life couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill) carries the limited series as she comes of age on the Great Plains. Her fate decides where the Duttons settle in Montana in this Yellowstone origin story filled with natural disasters and human struggle, which also features a standout performance from Sam Elliott as he leads a wagon train across the country. —Kelli Boyle

MTV‘s competition show just keeps expanding, with the original version continuing with varying themes each season, but it’s this one on the streaming service that I love to watch. It brings back legends to compete, and there’s just something special about seeing Challengers who have proven themselves back in the game and reuniting with fellow competitors (especially when they return after years). Plus, even though they should know what to expect, what continues to make The Challenge a hit is that there’s always a twist to come. I come for the challenges and eliminations, can’t help but get hooked on the drama, and stay to find out who will walk away victorious time and time again. —Meredith Jacobs

It didn’t take long for the team of profilers of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) to get back to doing what they do best: solving oftentimes disturbing cases and catching serial killers in a sequel series. Starting with its first season on the streaming service (and coming back for more!), Joe Mantegna (Rossi), A.J. Cook (JJ), Kirsten Vangsness (Garcia), Aisha Tyler (Tara), Adam Rodriguez (Luke), and Paget Brewster (Prentiss) all reprise their roles from the original series. And yes, there are cases-of-the-week, including ones with things I’d rather never think about again (like the UnSub who severs spinal cords), but what makes Evolution stand out is the introduction of the season-long Sicarius, eerily played by Zach Gilford. I may never look at Matt Saracen the same way!  —Meredith Jacobs

This military drama (which started off its run on CBS) is about more than the team’s missions or what happens in the time away from home, though these characters do bring that back with them. It’s about the characters, their losses, and what they’re going through as a result of what they do on those missions (such as the effects of TBIs and PTS), and that is what makes the show as powerful as it is. Led by David Boreanaz, the cast also includes Neil Brown, A.J. Buckley, and Toni Trucks (I still miss Max Thieriot‘s Clay!). —Meredith Jacobs

One of the best character journeys on television in recent years is Michael Burnham’s (Sonequa Martin-Green), from mutineer and someone no one wanted on Discovery to its captain who has her crew’s respect. Discovery is the Star Trek show that launched the franchise’s newest group of programming (on the streaming service), and the success of all the others is owed to it. Propelling the crew into the future at the end of Season 2 results in a reset of sorts, one that has allowed for bigger missions with implications across the Federation (and beyond). From fan-favorite couple Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Culber (Wilson Cruz)—one of Trek‘s best romances—to the real sense that this crew is a family to key relationships at every turn (especially Michael and Doug Jones‘ Saru) to representation across the show, it will certainly be remembered long after it ends with the upcoming fifth season. —Meredith Jacobs

Take what you love about The Good Wife, move it to streaming, bring in Audra McDonald to star alongside Christine Baranski, and it’s a recipe for another success from Robert and Michelle King. Then add in Cush Jumbo, Delroy Lindo, Michael Boatman, Sarah Steele, Nyambi Nyambi, Charmaine Bingwa, John Slattery, Andre Braugher, and more, and you have something that’s not just any other legal drama. Over its six seasons, it tackled important political and social issues, including the Me Too movement, online harassment, and fake news. —Meredith Jacobs

Let’s be honest: There’s no way I wasn’t going to love however Sir Patrick Stewart returned to Star Trek as Jean-Luc Picard (he’s just so good!), so fortunately, his series was satisfying. The highlight is, of course, the reunion of The Next Generation cast—LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, and Brent Spiner—in the third and final season. But the new characters, played by Jeri Ryan and Michelle Hurd, are just as intriguing as well, making me hope that they could return in another series in the future.—Meredith Jacobs

1883 revealed how the Duttons arrived in Montana. 1923 reveals how they continued the legacy amid the struggles of the Great Depression. Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren are the performances to watch, but it’s the sweeping romance between their nephew, Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar), and his English noble love, Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer), that gives the best narrative. Love at first sight leads to a dangerous adventure as the couple tries to make it back to Montana to help save the family ranch. It’s the best romance of Taylor Sheridan’s Western franchise (sorry, Beth and Rip!). —Kelli Boyle

This is easily one of the most entertaining shows on right now, and it is all thanks to how much fans loved Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, and Ethan Peck as Pike, Number One, and Spock in Discovery Season 2. Now, Strange New Worlds takes them and the rest of the crew of the Enterprise on new adventures each week as they explore, you know, the title of the show, and nothing is too out there. The fairytale episode? Just the start. Not only is there a crossover with the animated Lower Decks, but Strange New Worlds has a first for Star Trek: a musical episode that was one of our picks for Best Episodes of 2023. Plus, with Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding, a Best Performance of 2023) and Kirk (Paul Wesley) also part of the show, there are hints to what’s to come as well.  —Meredith Jacobs

Another CBS-turned-Paramount+ series, this thriller certainly found its home on the streaming service (and I’m not ready to say goodbye!) with scares, humor, and Mike Colter playing a priest (yes, really). The series will have you guessing what’s real and what’s not, unable to look away when it comes to a demon baby, fear elevators, and absolutely love everything about the central trio—Katja Herbers‘ Kristen, Colter’s David, and Aasif Mandvi‘s Ben. Add in Michael Emerson as the chilling Leland, Christine Lahti as Kristen’s mom with her own agenda, Andrea Martin as a nun, and Kurt Fuller as Kristen’s psychiatrist (with a disturbing way of dealing with writers’ block), and you have Robert and Michelle King’s best series. I’m really going to miss it (though maybe not Kristen’s kids as much as the rest). —Meredith Jacobs