Often referred to as the guilty-pleasure genre of television, reality TV allows viewers to let go of their minds while watching. These series are often purely for entertainment, and unlike episodic fictional shows or documentaries, don’t require the focus investment of the viewer. That is not to say that viewers aren’t engaged, rooting for their favorite contestant to win or even mimicking the lifestyle choices of reality stars.
Reality audiences are solid judges of character when deciding if a series will last or not, and these series have withstood the test of time: some have broken off into spinoffs or secondary series. From survival, competition, partying lifestyles, and everything in between, there’s a reality TV series for everyone. Based on their entertainment value, cultural impact, or a combination of these assets, these are the best reality series of all time.
Updated on October 23, 2023, by Jom Elauria:
Reality TV continues to be the irresistible guilty pleasure that keeps viewers glued to their screens, with the latest seasons of stalwarts like Survivor and Big Brother proving they’ve still got it in their 45th and 25th outings, respectively. The thrill of real people in unreal situations, the drama, the laughs, and the unpredictability will always garner an audience. In the ever-evolving world of TV, reality shows will remain a staple in the entertainment diet of viewers.
20 ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ (2007 – 2021)
Keeping Up with the Kardashians is a reality TV show that birthed one of the most prominent celebrity families in the 21st century – the Kardashian-Jenner clan. From family drama and stylish fashion ventures to jaw-dropping extravagant vacations, Keeping Up with the Kardashians takes viewers on a rollercoaster ride through the lives of the Kardashians and the Jenners.
The show not only catapulted the family to global stardom but also sparked a cultural phenomenon. The Kardashians’ unfiltered lives, personal struggles, and triumphs kept viewers glued to their screens. While Keeping Up with the Kardashians ended in 2021, fans can catch up with the famous clan in their new Hulu TV show aptly titled The Kardashians.
Watch on Peacock
19 ‘Fear Factor’ (2001 – 2018)
Those who wanted to push themselves to their limits joined the reality TV show Fear Factor. Since its premiere in 2001, Fear Factor put people through a pulse-pounding concoction of daredevil stunts, creepy-crawly challenges, and extreme gross-out tests.
This adrenaline-pumping show didn’t just make hearts race, as the series also garnered multiple awards, including an Emmy for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program. Because it tapped into the viewers’ fascination with the extreme and desire to see people overcome their deepest fears, Fear Factor had an undeniable enduring appeal.
Watch on Hulu
18 ‘Love Island’ (2015 – )
Love Island features British reality TV romance at its best and at its worst. The premise of Love Island is simple, a group of memorable single islanders is whisked away to a sun-soaked villa where they’re expected to couple up – and sometimes recouple – while navigating love, competition, and drama.
Islanders must forge connections, survive «re-coupling» ceremonies, and avoid being «dumped» to win the ultimate prize. The dating show became a cultural phenomenon because it combined relationship drama with strategic gameplay. With its memorable catchphrases and juicy gossip, Love Island has nurtured a loyal following of reality TV fans.
Watch on Hulu
17 ‘America’s Next Top Model’ (2003 – 2018)
Hosted by Tyra Banks, America’s Next Top Model is a high-fashion modeling competition show that follows aspiring models through a series of challenges, photoshoots, and runway walks. But in order to win, contestants must prove to Tyra and the judges that both have the look and personality to survive in the cutthroat industry.
What makes America’s Next Top Model a hit reality TV show is its conversations about body positivity and diversity in the modeling industry. While there have been plenty of eyebrow-raising challenges, its infamous makeover episodes, the iconic «smizing» lessons from Tyra, and the sometimes fiery contestant rivalries make it a very entertaining watch.
Watch on Hulu
16 ‘Taxicab Confessions’ (1995 – 2006)
Taxicab Confessions is a show that takes a candid look at the lives of everyday people as they share their most intimate thoughts and secrets while riding in a taxi. Using hidden cameras and microphones, Taxicab Confessions featured unscripted conversations between passengers and their cab drivers – often capturing tearful and emotional moments.
Although it’s a reality TV show most have forgotten, Taxicab Confessions was a trailblazer in the genre as it set the stage for unfiltered, reality-based storytelling. By revealing personal stories, confessions, and unique experiences from people from all walks of life, Taxicab Confessions allowed viewers to connect with the human experience on a deeper level.
15 ‘The Great British Bake Off’ (2010 – )
No reality series stirs the craving for sweets more than a trip inside the white tent for The Great British Bake Off. Also referred to as The Great British Baking Show by Netflix viewers, this competition series features 12 amateur bakers who must complete a series of weekly challenges in hopes of becoming the UK’s Best Amateur Baker.
Currently judged by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, both culinary and artisan baking experts, the bakers are put to the test with a signature bake that demonstrates baking ability, a technical bake where they must all follow the same recipe, and a showstopper bake featuring elaborate and creative showcases.
Watch on Netflix
14 ’90 Day Fiancé’ (2014 – )
Testing the limits of love, 90 Day Fiancé features couples who embark on the 90-day engagement visa process in the United States. Often meeting over the Internet or on epic international vacations, an American and their global partner get engaged and begin the process of reuniting in the United States with the hopes of getting married after three months.
Over the course of the nine seasons, it’s a mixed bag on whether the 90 Day couples remain messy partners, tie the knot, part ways, or stay together post-nuptials. The wildly popular 90 Day Fiancé has produced double-digit spin-offs like 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days, 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?, and 90 Day Fiancé: The Single Life.
Watch on TLC GO
13 ‘Shark Tank’ (2009 – )
To a non-reality viewer, this may seem like a nature series, but to reality TV fanatics, Shark Tank is one of the all-time best. A Primetime Emmy-winning reality series, the contestants are passionate entrepreneurs who pitch investment opportunities to a room of some of the wealthiest and most successful investors like Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran.
The «Sharks,» like Cuban and Corcoran, rotate throughout the seasons with guest «Sharks» making appearances. Successful brands like Bombas and Scrub Daddy saw their entrepreneur owners receive offers from investors featured on the ABC series.
Watch on Hulu
12 The ‘Real Housewives’ Franchise (2006 – )
What started in Orange County, California, bloomed into a nationwide phenomenon in reality TV. The Real Housewives of Orange County aired from 2006-2022. It featured the daily lives and drama of the five housewives and their families living in the wealthiest planned communities in the United States.
Since its inception, the franchise has cast bold personas, with numerous famous Real Housewives stars emerging from several major cities like New York City, Atlanta, New Jersey, Beverly Hills, and more. The women of this franchise are fierce and opinionated, providing dramatic reality entertainment to audiences around the globe.
Watch on Peacock
11 ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ (2005 – )
Only mincing ingredients, not words, world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay has graced the reality TV screen for decades. Hell’s Kitchen features aspiring chef contestants competing in various intense culinary challenges, narrowing down double-digit competitors to a single winner.
Inspiring Ramsay’s restaurant chain, Hell’s Kitchen has entertained audiences for decades with Ramsay’s bluntly explosive antics, dramatized for reality entertainment. The American version aired on Fox and entered its 21st late 2022 into early 2023.
Watch on Hulu
10 ‘The Voice’ (2011 – )
Equal parts singing and competition, The Voice features four chart-topping musicians on the hunt for the best voices in the country. In a blind audition process, each coach faces away from the auditioning singer and must base their choice to turn the chair solely on the sound of the singing voice. If multiple chairs turn, the contestant chooses which famous artist they’d like as a coach.
Music sensations like Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Alicia Keys, Miley Cyrus, and more have taken the chairs for a spin throughout the seasons. The Voice is an Emmy-winning competition series that changed the singing competition game.
Watch on Peacock
9 ‘Top Chef’ (2006 – )
Airing for two decades, this long-running culinary competition series is reality royalty. As they prepare savory and mouthwatering dishes, 15 best of the best aspiring chefs compete for the title of Top Chef with contestants (sometimes more than one) eliminated each week. A panel of food and wine experts judges the contestants and their dishes.
Padma Lakshmi has hosted Top Chef almost in the series’ entirety, with head judge Tom Colicchio a staple from the beginning. Like any successful reality series, this cooking competition has forged multiple spin-offs like Top Chef Jr. and Top Chef Masters.
Watch on Peacock
8 ‘The Real World’ (1992 – )
One of MTV’s longest-running series, The Real World remains a foundational reality series. Featuring a combination of personalities, seven or eight young adults are filmed 24/7 as they move into a temporary home in a new city. Just as it took inspiration from series like Beverly Hills, 90210, and Melrose Place, The Real World inspired MTV series like The Challenge, which still airs today.
The Real World aired on MTV from 1992 until 2017. The iconic series took a turn on Facebook Watch in 2019 and is currently in development at Paramout+. Trailblazing in its day, The Real World was hailed for capturing the cast as they confronted varying beliefs among roommates and for depicting an authentic young adult experience.
Watch on Paramount+
7 ‘Project Runway’ (2004 – )
Putting fashion at the forefront of reality TV, this series launched fashion designers like Christian Siriano and Leanne Marshall into notable careers. Project Runway features amateur stylists and designers as they compete in various challenges to create stunning pieces, with a designer eliminated each week by a panel of judges.
Long-running judges of Project Runway include Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Tim Gunn, and Michael Kors. The winning prize package has evolved over the decades of airing, but Project Runway winners seek a cash prize to help launch their own fashion line and break into the industry.
Watch on Hulu
6 ‘The Bachelor’ (2002 – ) & ‘The Bachelorette (2003 – )
Reality dating at its finest, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, may be cringe-worthy for outsiders, but the gossip is oh-so juicy for those inside Bachelor Nation. ABC’s crowning achievement in reality TV, The Bachelor, features a single man dating several women over multiple weeks with the hope of eventually getting down on one knee at the end and finding his wife. The same concept goes for the woman lead on The Bachelorette.
Almost none of the relationships last, with only a few marriages happening and still going. Throughout 27 seasons of The Bachelor and 19 seasons of The Bachelorette, the pair of dating series have faced their fair share of controversy, from numerous scandals to a lack of diversity. While it’s a very «what’s the point?» type…