Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
Copy

Most Popular TV Series of the 1980s

by IMDb-Editors • Created 8 months ago • Modified 8 months ago
These TV series are considered the best of the the decade, according to IMDb users. How many have you seen?
List activity
11K views
• 238 this week
Create a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
  • 20 titles
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards in Seinfeld (1989)

    1. Seinfeld

    1989–1998172 epsTV-PGTV Series
    8.9 (369K)
    The continuing misadventures of neurotic New York City stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his equally neurotic New York City friends.
    CreatorsLarry DavidJerry SeinfeldStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael Richards
  • Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, and Yeardley Smith in The Simpsons (1989)

    2. The Simpsons

    1989– 849 epsTV-14TV Series
    8.6 (453K)
    The satiric half-hour adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.
    CreatorsJames L. BrooksMatt GroeningSam SimonStarsDan CastellanetaNancy CartwrightJulie Kavner
  • Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

    3. Star Trek: The Next Generation

    1987–1994176 epsTV-PGTV Series
    8.7 (144K)
    Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.
    CreatorGene RoddenberryStarsPatrick StewartBrent SpinerJonathan Frakes
  • Angela Lansbury in Murder, She Wrote (1984)

    4. Murder, She Wrote

    1984–1996264 epsTV-PGTV Series
    7.2 (31K)
    Professional writer and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher uses her intellect, charm, and persistence to get to the bottom of every crime she encounters.
    CreatorsPeter S. FischerRichard LevinsonWilliam LinkStarsAngela LansburyWilliam WindomRon Masak
  • Twin Peaks (1990)

    5. Twin Peaks

    1990–199130 epsTV-MATV Series
    8.7 (232K)
    An idiosyncratic FBI agent investigates the murder of a young woman in the even more idiosyncratic town of Twin Peaks.
    CreatorsMark FrostDavid LynchStarsKyle MacLachlanMichael OntkeanMädchen Amick
  • Ted Danson, Shelley Long, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt, Nicholas Colasanto, and Rhea Perlman in Cheers (1982)

    6. Cheers

    1982–1993270 epsTV-PGTV Series
    8.0 (65K)
    The regulars of the Boston bar "Cheers" share their experiences and lives with each other while drinking or working at the bar where everybody knows your name.
    CreatorsJames BurrowsGlen CharlesLes CharlesStarsTed DansonRhea PerlmanJohn Ratzenberger
  • David Suchet in Poirot (1989)

    7. Poirot

    1989–201370 epsTV-14TV Series
    8.6 (56K)
    Hercule Poirot, a famous Belgian detective, who has an impeccable knack for getting embroiled in a mystery, solves crimes along with Captain Hastings and Scotland Yard Chief Inspector James Japp.
    StarsDavid SuchetHugh FraserPhilip Jackson
  • Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, and Betty White in The Golden Girls (1985)

    8. The Golden Girls

    1985–1992177 epsTV-PGTV Series
    8.2 (50K)
    Four previously married women live together in Miami, sharing their various experiences together and enjoying themselves despite hard times.
    CreatorSusan HarrisStarsBea ArthurBetty WhiteRue McClanahan
  • Christina Applegate, David Faustino, Katey Sagal, and Ed O'Neill in Married... with Children (1987)

    9. Married... with Children

    1987–1997263 epsTV-PGTV Series
    8.1 (115K)
    Al is the quintessential working class dad. Peggy, his wife, always wants more from him. With their children, they go through the highs and lows of ordinary life.
    CreatorsRon LeavittMichael G. MoyeStarsEd O'NeillChristina ApplegateKatey Sagal
  • Tom Selleck in Magnum, P.I. (1980)

    10. Magnum, P.I.

    1980–1988158 epsTV-PGTV Series
    7.5 (30K)
    The adventures of a Hawaii-based private investigator.
    CreatorsDonald P. BellisarioGlen A. LarsonStarsTom SelleckJohn HillermanRoger E. Mosley
  • George Peppard, Mr. T, Dirk Benedict, and Dwight Schultz in The A-Team (1983)

    11. The A-Team

    1983–198797 epsTV-PGTV Series
    7.5 (44K)
    Four ex-Army Special Forces soldiers become heroes for hire, after being branded as war criminals for a crime they didn't commit. After breaking out of Prison, they end up helping the downtrodden while on the run from the Military Police.
    CreatorsStephen J. CannellFrank LupoStarsGeorge PeppardMr. TDwight Schultz
  • John Goodman, Roseanne Barr, Sara Gilbert, Michael Fishman, Alicia Goranson, and Laurie Metcalf in Roseanne (1988)

    12. Roseanne

    1988–2018230 epsTV-PGTV Series
    7.1 (48K)
    A revival of the popular 1990s sitcom "Roseanne," which centered on the everyday life of an American working-class family.
    CreatorsRoseanne BarrMatt WilliamsStarsRoseanne BarrJohn GoodmanLaurie Metcalf
  • Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas in Miami Vice (1984)

    13. Miami Vice

    1984–1989111 epsTV-14TV Series
    7.6 (32K)
    Resplendent with authentic 1980s music, fashion, and vibe, "Miami Vice" follows two undercover detectives and their extended team through the mean streets of Miami, Florida.
    CreatorAnthony YerkovichStarsDon JohnsonPhilip Michael ThomasSaundra Santiago
  • David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, and Lennard Pearce in Only Fools and Horses (1981)

    14. Only Fools and Horses

    1981–200364 epsTV-PGTV Series
    9.0 (61K)
    Comedy that follows two brothers from London's rough Peckham estate as they wheel and deal through a number of dodgy deals and search for the big score that'll make them millionaires.
    CreatorJohn SullivanStarsDavid JasonNicholas LyndhurstRoger Lloyd Pack
  • Richard Dean Anderson in MacGyver (1985)

    15. MacGyver

    1985–1992139 epsTV-PGTV Series
    7.6 (44K)
    Follows the adventures of Angus MacGyver, a secret agent for a national security agency, who solves complicated missions with his resourcefulness and knowledge of applied sciences (oh and his ever-present Swiss Army knife).
    CreatorLee David ZlotoffStarsRichard Dean AndersonDana ElcarBruce McGill
  • Elizabeth Berkley, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, Leanna Creel, Dustin Diamond, Dennis Haskins, Mario Lopez, and Lark Voorhies in Saved by the Bell (1989)

    16. Saved by the Bell

    1989–199286 epsTV-PGTV Series
    7.1 (39K)
    A close-knit group of six friends get through their teens together while attending Bayside High School in Palisades, California.
    CreatorSam BobrickStarsMark-Paul GosselaarMario LopezDustin Diamond
  • Fred Savage, Olivia d'Abo, Danica McKellar, Jason Hervey, Dan Lauria, Alley Mills, and Josh Saviano in The Wonder Years (1988)

    17. The Wonder Years

    1988–1993115 epsTV-PGTV Series
    8.4 (42K)
    Kevin Arnold recalls growing up during the late 60s and early 70s; the turbulent social times make the transition from child to adult unusually interesting.
    CreatorsCarol BlackNeal MarlensStarsFred SavageDan LauriaAlley Mills
  • Michael J. Fox, Justine Bateman, Meredith Baxter, Tina Yothers, and Michael Gross in Family Ties (1982)

    18. Family Ties

    1982–1989172 epsTV-GTV Series
    7.3 (21K)
    Chronicles liberal ex-hippies Steven and Elyse Keaton, their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew.
    CreatorGary David GoldbergStarsMichael J. FoxMichael GrossMeredith Baxter
  • Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Ray Fearon, Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn, and Norman Lovett in Red Dwarf (1988)

    19. Red Dwarf

    1988– 75 epsTV-14TV Series
    8.4 (38K)
    The adventures of the last human alive and his friends, stranded three million years into deep space on the mining ship Red Dwarf.
    CreatorsRob GrantDoug NaylorStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-Jules
  • Paul Fusco and Mihaly 'Michu' Meszaros in ALF (1986)

    20. ALF

    1986–1990104 epsTV-GTV Series
    7.4 (41K)
    When an ugly creature, who loves eating cats, crash-lands into the Tanner family's garage, they treat him as a guest and allow him to live with them as he comments on the stupidity of mankind.
    CreatorsTom PatchettPaul FuscoStarsMihaly 'Michu' MeszarosPaul FuscoMax Wright

More to explore

Recently viewed

Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
Get the IMDb app
Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
Follow IMDb on social
Get the IMDb app
For Android and iOS
Get the IMDb app
  • Help
  • Site Index
  • IMDbPro
  • Box Office Mojo
  • License IMDb Data
  • Press Room
  • Advertising
  • Jobs
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Ads Privacy Choices
IMDb, an Amazon company

© 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.