The 30 Best TV Shows On Paramount+ (September 2024)

Following a comprehensive rebrand in 2021, Paramount+ is now known for hosting some of the best TV shows of any streaming platform. Where once the triumvirate of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu dominated the landscape, there has been a boom of studio-backed services. This race, kicked into high gear by Disney+ and then furthered by the likes of Max and Peacock, is only continuing to pick up speed. The best shows on Paramount+ show why it stands out among the newer streaming services, with a range of classic content and high-quality originals available for subscribers.

With access to TV shows from the likes of Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and MTV, as well as CBS and Paramount favorites, the Paramount+ library is impressive and varied. With new TV shows available on Paramount+ every month, Viacom promises it will only get bigger going forward, providing plenty of options for customers from as little as $5.99 a month. Whether you’re a fully up subscriber or are considering a subscription, here’s Screen Rant’s guide to the best shows to watch on Paramount+ right now.

Best Drama TV Shows On Paramount+

Fire Country (2022-Present)

While legal thrillers and cop shows make up the bulk of dramas that cover the risky lives of those working in emergency response professions, firefighters also make for compelling narratives — and one of the best shows about those who tackle infernos for a living, Fire Country, is on Paramount+. Starring Max Thierot, Kevin Alejandro, and Jordan Calloway (among others), Fire Country stands out for its solid character development as well as its engaging procedural narrative.

While shows focusing on firefighters seem to be invariably entertaining, Fire Country mixes up the formula by focusing on a convict (Thierot’s Bode Leone) who volunteers for a program that sees him tackling blazes across the wilderness of California in exchange for a shorter prison sentence. It’s a truly unique premise that makes for an incredibly engaging drama. While many critics didn’t warm to Fire Country, and there have been some controversy surrounding its accuracy, it’s been a hit with CBS viewers and Paramount+ subscribers thanks both to the great performances of the cast and the explosive action in every single episode.

Twin Peaks (1990-1991)

Of all the classic mystery thrillers out there, few have had as much of an impact on the last few decades of television as David Lynch and Mark Frost’s Twin Peaks, and thanks to its availability on Paramount+, subscribers can find out why. The show won 15 awards (including the coveted Golden Globe for Best Television Sseries – Drama) during its initial two-season run, being nominated for 59. However, while its admirable contemporary success was one thing, where Twin Peaks really shines is its legacy.

The surreal show laid the foundation for many series that came after, including mega-hits such as Lost and Black Mirror. The plot of Twin Peaks focuses on events that transpire in the titular Washington town after a naked body wrapped in plastic is discovered by a local logger. The FBI are called in to investigate, and what starts as an already-complex murder case quickly unravels into an incredibly bizarre sequence of events that still has fans talking decades later.

Blue Bloods (2010 – Present)

Paramount+ is a solid streaming option for fans of crime dramas and police procedurals, and one of the best it has to offer is Blue Bloods, a cop show focusing on an esteemed family within the NYPD. Blue Bloods focuses on several members of the Irish Catholic Reagan family, many of whom are either serving or former police officers, and the toll the job takes on their various relationships both with each-other and their partners. The show first debuted in 2010 and, over a decade later, is still going strong.

The cast of Blue Bloods includes several notable heavy-hitters, including the likes of Donnie Wahlberg as detective Danny Reagan, Bridget Moynahan and ADA Erin Reagan, and TV veteran Tom Selleck as family patriarch and NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan. The show offers everything that fans of crime procedurals love about the genre, with the interpersonal relationships of the law-enforcement officers balanced expertly with the many intriguing and, at times, harrowing crimes they solve.

The Offer (2022)

Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is one of the most iconic movies ever made, but the behind-the-scenes production was just as much of an intriguing tale as the movie itself. This is why 2022 miniseries The Offer is one of the best dramas currently on Paramount+, as it tells a dramatized version of the highs and lows of the incredible journey taken by the creative team getting The Godfather to completion.Miles Teller and Juno Temple star in The Offer, and recurring roles include Frank John Hughes as Frank Sinatra and Justin Chambers as Marlon Brando.

While The Offer wasn’t a huge hit when it came to awards, it did manage to receive a few accolades, including a Satellite Award for Juno Temple. and nominations at the Critics Choice Awards for Best Limited Series, Best Supporting Actor (Matthew Goode) and Best Supporting Actress (Temple once more).

Evil (2019-Present)

Evil is one of the best horror TV shows to arrive in the last five years, and among the most chilling dramas currently available on Paramount+. Mike Colter stars as David, a Catholic priest-in-training who takes hallucinogenic substances to have divine visions. He works with Dr. Kristen Bouchard, played by Katja Herbers, a forensic psychologist and — initially — skeptic non-believer. The show has been described as Supernatural meets The X-Files, with the pair investigating various unsettling events and phenomena.

Paramount+ subscribers wanting a show that’s tense, thrilling, and has solid writing, performances, and visual effects throughout need look no further than Evil. Season 4 arrived in May 2024 too, making it the perfect time for the uninitiated to delve into the show’s haunting universe.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves (2023-Present)

Originally meant to be a spinoff of 1883, Lawmen: Bass Reeves is officially not part of the Yellowstone universe, though Taylor Sheridan still serves as an executive producer. The Paramount+ series sees David Oyelowo as real-life historical figure Bass Reeves, the first Black US Marshal west of the Mississippi River. Reeves faces struggles and triumphs alike as he fights for justice, brings down criminals, and keeps his family safe in an ever-changing Wild West.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves has been praised for its fully fleshed-out portrait of Reeves, with much adulation going to Oyelowo and his layered performance. It stands out from Sheridan’s Yellowstone series while also appealing to Western fans.

Special Ops: Lioness (2023)

A thrilling spy drama courtesy of Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, Special Ops: Lioness is a welcome all-action addition to Paramount+’s library. Boasting an all-star cast, the series sees Zoe Saldaña’s Joe recruit a female special operations marine with the goal of befriending a suspected terrorist.

Taut and tense throughout and written with Sheridan’s signature flair for the dramatic, Special Ops: Lioness is carried by a swathe of superb supporting performances from the likes of Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman.

1923 (2022-2023)

Attracting talent as major as Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren is no easy task, yet the pair’s appearance in 1923 underscores the series’ status as one of the best TV shows on Paramount+. The Western is a prequel to Yellowstone that centers on the Dutton family as they deal with events related to Western expansion in the 20th century, the Prohibition era, and the Great Depression.

Expanding the Dutton mythology, 1923 is a riveting story in its own right — proving that prequels don’t have to be beholden to the original. While incredibly well received by audiences and critics alike, 1923 surprisingly hasn’t had the same luck when it comes to awards as its parent show Yellowstone. However, it did receive a Golden Globe Nomination for Best Drama Television Series, and Helen Mirren also received the Golden Globe nod for Best Actress.

Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-2000)

When it comes to 90s teen dramas, few shows had more of an impact than Beverly Hills, 90210. Spanning 10 seasons between 1990 and 2000, 90210 spawned a franchise that includes an additional 6 spin-offs. While it was by no means ignored by critics, it wasn’t a massive awards smash either, but that didn’t stop BH90210 gaining a hugely loyal following that remains to this day, especially now it’s found new life as one of the best shows on Paramount+.

Beverly Hills, 90210 initially followed the Walsh family, recent arrivals in the lush and wealthy Beverly Hills, California. Son Brandon Walsh (Jason Priestly) was the main character throughout almost all seasons. Though the cast was extensive, with other characters like Donna (Tori Spelling) equally central to the many, many dramatic plots. Paramount+ subscribers looking for a TV show that’s dripping with 1990s nostalgia and teen drama will feel right at home.

Best Comedy TV Shows On Paramount+

Why Women Kill (2019-2021)

Why Women Kill may have been canceled before season 3 could arrive, but the dark comedy from creator Marc Cherry has consistently remained one of the most popular shows on Paramount+. The first season of the show focuses on three women from different eras, but all of whom reside in the same Pasadena Mansion. That’s not all the trio have in common though, as they also learn that each of their respective husbands has been unfaithful. What’s more, their various circumstances lead them to turn to murder as a solution.

The second season only focuses on one character, though the show loses none of its juicy, soap opera-like charm. The cast includes the likes of Lucy Liu, Alexandra Daddario, Alicia Coppola, and Ginnifer Goodwin, among others, all of whom bring some of their best performances to Why Women Kill. Dark, intriguing, and full of shocking twists and turns throughout, Why Women Kill is sure to appeal to Paramount+ subscribers who enjoy thrilling crime stories but also want a slightly more light-hearted take on death and murder.

Colin From Accounts (2022)

The Australian comedy Colin from Accounts initially released in 2022 and was something of a cult gem. However, since the second season arrived in June 2024, the show has gradually gained a much greater following. While only the first season is available on Paramount+, plenty of subscribers have been catching up with the show, meaning it’s going through something of a second-life while the second season is broadcast in Australia.

The show is a comedy of unfortunate events that spiral out of control though, somehow, end up bringing two single people together. While a car crash and injured dog isn’t exactly a classic meet-cute, it serves as the perfect set-up for the relationship between Ashley (Harriet Dyer) and Gordon (Patrick Brammall). Few comedy shows on Paramount+ are as fresh and surprising as Colin from Accounts, and while it’s been something of a sleeper hit, it looks set to gain an even larger following when Season 2 becomes available in the US.

Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005)

Spanning 210 episodes across nine seasons between 1996 and 2005, Everybody Loves Raymond is one of the best classic sitcoms currently available on Paramount+. The show, which is filmed entirely in front of a live audience, stars Ray Romano as the titular Ray, a sports journalist who lives with his wife Debra, daughter Ally, and twin sons Michael and Geoffrey, with his parents Marie and Frank living just across the street.

Everybody Loves Raymond ticks all the classic sitcom boxes, and while it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it does guarantee a smooth journey for Paramount+ subscribers seeking an easy show to sit back and unwind to over a long binge watch. The show was nominated for and won multiple Primetime Emmys during the later years of its run, picking up its stride from around season 3 onwards. While it’s not the most acclaimed 1990s/2000s sitcom, it is one of the most fondly remembered.

Beavis And Butt-Head (1993-1997)

Before creating King of the Hill, Mike Judge introduced the world to two of the laziest, unintelligent cartoon characters ever conceived in Beavis and Butt-Head — and the pair became an instant cultural phenomenon. It cannot be overstated just how lazy and stupid Beavis and Butt-Head are as characters, though the show itself is a scathingly sharp critique of society and modern culture (as it was in the 1990s, at least).

Despite the rest of the characters in the show loathing them, Beavis and Butt-Head are incredibly endearing as far as audiences are concerned, and a source of near-endless laughs whether they’re critiquing music videos or causing general anarchy in their home-town of Highland, Texas. Few shows are as hilarious or culturally impactful on Paramount+ as Beavis and Butt-Head, and despite two decades passing since its debut, the show hasn’t lost its edge.

Cheers (1982-1993)

Cheers was one of the most successful sitcoms of the 1980s. Starring Ray Romano, Shelly Long, Ted Danson, and more, Cheers is set almost entirely at the same bar. The quirky comedy focuses on the lives and struggles of the regulars, which also includes Kelsey Grammar as Frasier Crane before he received his own spin-off, Frasier.

While Cheers hasn’t undergone the same reboot treatment as its spin-off, it remains an incredibly solid sitcom in its own right, and the 11 seasons on Paramount+ will certainly satisfy subscribers looking for a few laughs at the bar where everbody knows your name.

Frasier (2023-Present)

Described as the titular psychologist’s “third act”, the Frasier revival finds Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) back in Boston, the Cheers city where he was first introduced to audiences. Here he takes a professorship role at Harvard University while trying to repair his fractured relationship with his son Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scottt).

While Frasier’s snobby younger brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce) sadly isn’t in the revival, there’s be plenty of hilarity for fans of the original sitcom, which ran for 11 seasons and won 37 Emmys, proving its comedy pedigree. The original Frasier is also available to stream on Paramount+.

Freaks And Geeks (1999-2000)

Freaks and Geeks only ran for a single season on NBC, with only 12 of the 18 produced episodes actually airing. Nonetheless, the series has gone on to secure cult status and is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential shows of the past 25 years.

The show, which featured two main story arcs, focused on siblings played by Linda Cardellini and John Francis Daley and was praised for its more realistic portrayal of teens in high school instead of the more Hollywood-friendly shine that other series included. It finally gained recognition when it was rebroadcast in its entirety on ABC Family and eventually moved to streaming services.

Ghosts (2021-Present)

Adapted from the acclaimed original British series, Ghosts had a slow rise to popularity while airing live on CBS. Nevertheless, the blend of modern sitcom shenanigans with the stories of several ghosts from different time periods trapped in a property with a young living couple eventually won audiences over.

Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar give great performances in the series as the couple who inherit a rundown estate full of the titular bothersome and eccentric ghosts. Ghosts has been renewed for a third season, suspected to arrive later in 2023 – highlighting its continued success. The British version of the show is also available on Paramount+.

Key & Peele (2012-2015)

Although Key & Peele is most famous for brilliantly simple sketches like “Substitute Teacher” and “East/West College Bowl”, there’s a lot more to the show than mispronouncing silly names. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele’s well-observed comedy provides a biting analysis of contemporary social concerns like racism, inequality, and politics. In many ways a spiritual successor to Chappelle’s Show, Key & Peele also exhibits the titular pair’s flair for the cinematic, with impressive big-budget sketches satirizing alien invasion and horror tropes.

Best Crime TV Shows On Paramount+

Elsbeth (2024-Present)

Carrie Preston won a Primetime Emmy award for her portrayal of Elsbeth Tascioni on The Good Wife and its spin-off The Good Fight, but when it comes to the franchise it’s her own spinoff, Elsbeth, that stands out as the best (The Good Wife and The Good Fight are also both available to stream on Paramount+). Elsbeth arrived on Paramount+ in early 2024, and follows Preston’s titular character as she leaves behind the life of a conventional attorney and starts working as an ad-hoc detective for the NYPD.

Elsbeth is one of the most highly regarded new procedural crime dramas of the past few years, and has a slightly different formula from the traditional “whodunit”. In Elsbeth, the audience finds out early on exactly who is responsible for the crime-of-the-week, and each episode instead focuses on how Elsbeth ends up identifying them and assisting the NYPD in their capture. The show has been favorably praised by critics and viewers alike, and while it differs in tone from The Good Wife this isn’t to its detriment, as Elsbeth manages to be both incredibly lighthearted and comedic at times without losing its core values as a crime series.

FBI (2018-Present)

When it comes to thrilling procedurals few names are as prominent as Dick Wolf, the creative mind behind the Law & Order and One Chicago franchises. Paramount+ is home to many Dick Wolf shows, and among the best of them is FBI, which — as the title suggests — focuses on the high-stakes cases members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation solve. FBI debuted on CBS in 2018 and remains one of the best crime TV shows available on Paramount+, offering episode-by-episode drama that’s bound to keep subscribers hooked.

FBI specifically focuses on the New York City criminal division of the bureau, though they sometimes veer into cases across the country. The two central characters are Special Agen’s Maggie Bell and Omar Adom Zidan (or, as he’s more commonly known, O.A.). FBI delivers all the familiar tropes of a Dick Wolf procedural that fans will come to expect, though this is by no means to its detriment, as it’s a masterful execution of everything that makes shows of its genre so compelling.

Tulsa King (2022-Present)

Proof that Taylor Sheridan’s talents extend beyond the world of cowboys, Tulsa King is a gripping organized crime thriller. Sylvester Stallone plays Dwight Manfredi, a Mafia capo who is sent from New York to Oklahoma to set up a criminal base of operations.

The series relies on Stallone’s brooding performance as the titular character as he navigates the brutal criminal underworld while also struggling to make a new life for himself after 25 years in prison. Following in the footsteps of Tony Soprano, Manfredi is a compelling and charismatic antihero who serves the story well.

Mayor Of Kingstown (2021-Present)

In the vein of Sons of Anarchy, or even The Sopranos, Mayor of Kingstown examines what it means when family and crime are inextricably tied to one another.Jeremy Renner shines in the lead role of Mike McLusky, who inherits the criminal family enterprise after playing second fiddle to his brother.

Set in the fictional town of Kingstown, Michigan, “Mayor” McLusky acts as a go-between for law enforcement officers and the criminal element, attempting to maintain order among the different factions. Another show on Paramount+ courtesy of Taylor Sheridan, Mayor of Kingstown is a wildly entertaining crime thriller.

Criminal Minds (2005-2020)

CBS has a reputation for producing popular police procedurals, and Criminal Minds is arguably the jewel in the crown. Sporting a case-of-the-week format for most episodes, Criminal Minds focuses on the work of the FBI’s behavior analysis unit, mostly their hunts for serial killers and other violent psychopaths.

The show ended after 15 seasons in 2020 but received a revival series in Criminal Minds: Evolution, also on Paramount+. Focusing on darker subject matter than many of its competitors, Criminal Minds is a pulpy, undeniably entertaining crime show.

NCIS Franchise (2003-Present)

One of the longest-running crime procedurals, NCIS‘s slightly niche setting belies its popularity. Unlike many contemporary competitors, the show follows investigators who deal specifically with crimes connected to the military. Paramount+ offers 20 seasons of the core show, 7 seasons of NCIS: New Orleans, the first season of NCIS: Sydney, and 2 seasons of NCIS: Hawai’i.

The New Orleans set spinoff concluded in 2021 and the Los Angeles spinoff wrapped in 2023, but the flagship series and NCIS: Hawai’i are still going strong, highlighting the franchise’s staying power. Crossovers between the shows allow for an immersive storytelling experience for fans of serials instead of a by-the-numbers case-of-the-week format.

Best Animated TV Shows On Paramount+

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)

While Avatar: The Last Airbender may have gained a new audience with the recent live-action Netflix adaptation, Netflix isn’t the only platform where the original animated show can be streamed, as all three seasons are currently available for Paramount+ subscribers to enjoy too. The show has always had a loyal following ever since its 2005 debut — and with its deep yet digestible plot, well-rounded characters, and incredibly fleshed out original fantasy world, it’s not difficult to see why.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is set in a world where the various nations are built around the ability to manipulate, or “bend” certain elements. As the title suggests, the main focus is Aang, the only surviving airbender, and also the current avatar (meaning he can bend all four elements). Aang is reawakened after spending many years frozen in ice to find that the Fire Nation has thrown the world into chaos, and so must learn to master all four elements to return the planet to a state of harmony and balance once more.

SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-Present)

An animated classic that transcends its seemingly childish premise, SpongeBob SquarePants earns its place on a list of the best TV shows on Paramount+. SpongeBob and friends have been on the air and under the sea for an astonishing 20+ years of SpongeBob SquarePants seasons, thanks to the show’s surprisingly daring and genuinely hilarious comedy.

While more recent episodes often fail to be as subversive as the early years, SpongeBob is by no means a show only kids will enjoy watching. The absurdist humor is filled with plenty of jokes that only adults will pick up on. Even the jokes that are appropriate for all ages are genuinely hilarious, however, and there’s something about every resident of Bikini Bottom that’s strangely relatable, despite how bombastic the likes of SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward actually are.

Best Sci-Fi & Horror Shows On Paramount+

Knuckles (2024)

When Paramount’s live-action Sonic The Hedgehog movie arrived in 2020, few could predict that it would eventually lead to a live-action buddy-cop TV spin-off starring serious character actor Idris Elba as the voice of Sonic’s crimson counterpart, Knuckles, alongside Adam Pally of Happy Endings fame. Yet, in 2024, this exact thing happened on Paramount+, and Knuckles has already won the hearts of many Paramount+ subscribers. Taking place between the second movie and the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Knuckles sees the titular echidna taking on deputy sheriff Wade (Pally) as an apprentice to teach him the ways of the warrior.

Knuckles is a light-hearted fun-filled ride that Paramount+ subscribers of all ages will enjoy. It has the same vein of humor as the live-action Sonic movies, both of which have been highly successful. There are high stakes involved too of course, and the bonding between Knuckles and Wade is buoyed by the pair having to evade one of Dr. Robotnik’s minions (played by Rory McCann) who wants to extract Knuckles’s power for himself. There are also several heartfelt moments too, especially when it comes to Wade’s relationship with his mother and sister.

Halo (2022-Present)

Based on the wildly popular sci-fi shooter games of the same name, Halo is further proof that video game-to-screen adaptations can be successful. As in the original games, the show revolves around a future conflict between humanity and the alien Covenant, with super soldiers like Master Chief featuring on the front lines for the human forces.

Although the show takes some liberties with the source material, the impressive action sequences more than make up for the changes, with season 1 laying the groundwork for what could be a more recognizable story arc in future installments. Halo season 2 arrived on Paramount+ in 2024, so there are now two full chapters for subscribers to sink their teeth into.

The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)

One of the most important and influential TV series of all time,The Twilight Zone remains daring and thought-provoking decades after its release. The unsettling stories ponder major scientific mysteries like the size of the universe, or tell singularly horrific tales that warn of the dangers of technology, acting as a precursor to shows like Black Mirror.

With an iconic format and chilling theme song, The Twilight Zone is essential viewing for every sci-fi fan.

Star Trek Franchise (1966-Present)

When it comes to sci-fi, few franchises are more immediately recognizable than Star Trek. Starting in 1966 and still going strong thanks to Paramount+, Star Trek has had an immeasurable impact on science fiction and the wider world of TV and cinema, with dozens of cross-genre directors, showrunners, and acting talents counting it as a key influence.

Paramount+ offers new content like Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: Prodigy, alongside classics like the 1966 Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation. April 2024 is a particularly exciting month for the Star Trek fans among Paramount+ subscribers, as Star Trek: Discovery season 5 arrived on the platform.

Star Trek Series Available On Paramount+:

• Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969)
• Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1974)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999)
• Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001)
• Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005)
• Star Trek: Discovery (2017-Present)
• Star Trek: Short Treks (2018-Present)
• Star Trek: Picard (2020-2023)
• Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020-Present)
• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022-Present)