The best '90s TV shows and where to stream them now

When it aired: 1990-1991, 2017

Where to stream it today: Paramount+

This horror drama series, created by David Lynch back in 1990, follows the murder investigation of homecoming queen Laura Palmer in the fictional town of Twin Peaks. Although the show was canceled due to declining ratings after two seasons, it established a cult following that led to a 2017 revival on Showtime. Many original cast members, including Kyle MacLachlan, reprised their roles almost three decades later. You'll only have access to the first two original seasons on these streaming platforms, but why not see what all the fuss is about?

When it aired: 1989-1998

Where to stream it today: Netflix

Seinfeld famously referred to itself as a ‘show about nothing’. In truth, it was a show about everything: the annoyances, banalities and seemingly trivial social rules that govern daily life. Across nine seasons, series co-creators Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David reinvented TV comedy. No longer did sitcoms feel pressure to teach us any grand life lessons, nor was it even a prerequisite to have protagonists that were actually good people. And yet, it was nearly impossible to dislike the Seinfeld crew, because deep down, you always sort of agreed with their point of view, even if you’d never behave like them. In other words, it was gold, Jerry! Gold!

When it aired: 1990-today

Where to stream it today: Disney+

The longer it continues to air, the less The Simpsons seems to belong to any particular era. But if you were a kid in the early ‘90s, you know the degree to which America’s favorite jaundiced family absolutely ruled popular culture. The Bartman? ‘Who Shot Mr. Burns’? The Butterfinger commercials? The bootleg Bart Simpson shirts sold on every boardwalk in America? And then, of course, there’s the consensus that the show’s first nine seasons represent its undisputed ‘golden years’. Maybe some people prefer everything that’s come after 1999. We don’t know. Frankly, we don’t want to know. It’s a market we can do without.   

When it aired: 1999-2007

Where to stream it today: Max

The Sopranos is considered by many critics to have kicked off the golden age of television. The late James Gandolfini plays Tony Soprano, a mobster living in New Jersey, as he tries to balance his family life with his life of crime. Since its pilot first aired, The Sopranos has gone on to become a favorite of critics and mobsters alike—members of organized crime groups would often call Gandolini to commend him for his authentic performance, so you know you’re getting the real deal. In 2021, a prequel film, The Many Saints of Newark, was released, starring the late James Gandolfini's son Michael as Tony Soprano. 

When it aired: 1993-2018

Where to stream it today: Hulu

The science-fiction drama centers around Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, two FBI agents investigating paranormal-related cases, and it is clearly worth catching. After a nine-season run following its first premiere in 1993, The X-Files concluded; however, in 2016, a successful revival led executives to work on a previously unplanned eleventh season, which aired in 2018. The show continues to be a mainstay of pop culture as fans relish the comradery between Mulder and Scully as they crack the most occult cases.

When it aired: 1998-2004

Where to stream it today: Max

Its later seasons devolved into slapstick-y fashion porn, the movies were abysmal and the recent revival not much better, so it’s easy to forget that when it first premiered, Sex and the City was every bit as revolutionary as The Sopranos. Women had never spoken so frankly about sex and their personal and professional desires on television before. Maybe most importantly, the show allowed its female characters to be flawed: as The New Yorker’s Emily Nussbaum has argued, Carrie Bradshaw was an antihero on the level of Tony Soprano and Walter White, only instead of killing people and selling drugs, she cheated on good guys, slept with bad ones, and used it all as magazine-column fodder.   

When it aired: 1997-2003

Where to stream it today: Hulu

This supernatural drama stars Sarah Michelle Gellar as the title character, a regular teenage girl chosen by fate to become a literal slayer of vampires. While the show was snubbed for several Emmys, it has been named the most studied pop culture work in academia. To this day, feminist think pieces and cultural essays delight fans and scholars who seek to dissect the various metaphors peppered throughout each episode.

When it aired: 1994-2009

Where to stream it today: Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max

Hospital shows had existed before, but none were ever quite so authentic to the medical profession as this primetime phenomenon. Author Michael Crichton originally conceived of the series in the 1970s, drawing on his own experiences as a Chicago med student to portray the high-stakes, high-stress environment of a big-city emergency room with bracing immediacy. A powerful cast, including George Clooney in the role that propelled him to megastardom, made the series a ratings juggernaut for well over a decade. Its spirit of realism lives on in HBO’s The Pitt, a sort of unofficial spinoff starring cast alum Noah Wylie – although if you ask the Crichton estate, they’ll argue the connections are more than spiritual.

When it aired: 1994-2004

Where to stream it today: Max, Hulu, Prime

Friends is arguably the biggest sitcom of all time. About a group of six friends who live in New York City, it helped turn its cast – Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer – from relative newcomers into household names. Even 27 years after it premiered, the show is still beloved, gaining a whole new cohort of fans when it was previously streaming on Netflix. It remains so popular that there are constantly calls for a movie sequel or reboot, and the cast even got together in 2021 for an emotional reunion special, which not only served up some delicious gossip from behind the scenes but was a reminder of just how much we all still love Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe.

When it aired: 1990-2000

Where to stream it today: Paramount+

The teen drama that spawned hundreds of others, Beverly Hills, 90210 is still referenced today as an emblem of the '90s. Over its four seasons, we’re able to see the characters transition from high school through college and into the adult world in a spiraling development of friendships and romantic relationships. The show was notable for tackling a variety of topical issues including teen pregnancy, divorce, drugs, sex, homophobia, eating disorders, and more.  As such, it stands the test of time. 

When it aired: 1990-2010

Where to stream it today: Peacock, Hulu

Not only did Law & Order air for 20 years, but current reruns still gather huge audiences—and for good reason. The police and legal drama centered around the legal system and was filmed on location in New York. The majority of the episodes are inspired by actual media headlines, and the show led to plenty of different spin-offs, including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: LA, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

When it aired: 1992-1997

Where to stream it today: Max, Netflix, Peacock, BET Plus

Based in Detroit, Martin stars Martin Lawrence, the show's star and namesake, who plays a radio DJ with a bit of a smart mouth. The show centers around Martin's escapades with his girlfriend, played by Tisha Campbell, and his friends. Importantly, Martin was influential in showing that TV shows centered on African American culture could be successful. However, it should be noted that co-worker Tichina Arnold filed against Lawrence for sexual harassment and abuse by the show's fifth season.

When it aired: 1998-2020

Where to stream it today: Hulu

Will & Grace, a sitcom about the friendship between a gay lawyer (Eric McCormack) and a straight interior designer (Debra Messing) in New York City, aired on NBC until 2006 for a total of eight seasons. In 2017, the show was revived with the same cast on the same network, picking up 10 years after the end of the first run and running for three additional seasons (also streaming on Hulu). Will & Grace was influential in normalizing LGBTQ+ relationships, as it was the first prime-time show with a gay lead character. 

When it aired: 1993-1999

Where to stream it today: Peacock

The always great Fran Drescher became a household name by playing a Jewish ‘fashion queen’ from Queens who becomes a nanny to three upper-class, New York British kids. The show was developed by Drescher and her husband at the time Peter Marc Jacobson and is based on her experience growing up in Queens, with characters based on real people in her life. The show has won an Emmy and Rose d’Or, and Drescher was nominated twice for a Golden Globe and Emmy.

When it aired: 1993-2000

Where to stream it today: Disney+

On the surface, Boy Meets World seems like just another touchy-feely Friday evening sitcom about a suburban family living, learning and loving in the corniest way possible. And to a certain degree, that’s what it was. As the show went on, though, with its young cast graduating from middle school to high school to college, it grew along with its audience, evolving into a surprisingly clever, sometimes touching, sometimes straight-up weird generational touchstone. It might even be considered lightly influential: watch the very meta Halloween episode with the Jennifer Love Hewitt cameo and tell me it doesn’t remind you of a teenage version of Community.

When it aired: 1993-2004

Where to stream it today: Hulu, Paramount+

A spin-off of Cheers, Frasier became one of the most critically acclaimed sitcoms of all time, winning a total of 37 Emmys through its 11-year run. The series follows the life of psychiatrist-turned-radio advice show host Frasier Crane, played by the always remarkable Kelsey Grammer, as he reconnects with his family and makes new friends. The show takes place in Seattle, which is about as far away from Boston as one could get, but clearly, it was the right choice to let Dr. Crane shine.

When it aired: 1993-2005

Where to stream it today: Hulu, Disney+

If any show from the decade helped pave the path toward television’s grittier future, it’s this cop drama, starring Dennis Franz as basically Archie Bunker with a badge. Created by Steven Bochco, whose previous series, Hill Street Blues, also pushed the boundaries of the medium in the 1980s, it contained more swearing and shots of naked butts heretofore unseen on network TV. But its influence is more than, ahem, skin deep: Franz’s hard-drinking, ill-tempered Detective Andy Sipowicz primed audiences for flawed, morally complex antiheroes like Walter White and Don Draper years before they became commonplace.

When it aired: 1998-2006

Where to stream it today: Peacock

Seventies nostalgia boomed in the ’90s, powering this beloved sitcom about a group of dazed-and-confused teenagers coming-of-age in the era of disco, Star Wars and Schlitz to a nearly decade-long run. (If you think it could’ve worked in any time period, look at the fates of That ’80s Show and That ’90s Show.) While delving into the social issues of the day, like the oil crisis and women’s lib, the show’s main concerns were the things that preoccupy kids of any generation: getting high, getting laid and getting out of town.

When it aired: 1999-2000

Where to stream it today: Paramount+ 

To this day, critics lament the premature cancellation of Freaks and Geeks after a single season. Few people know that the now-renowned Judd Apatow actually executive produced this show, or that many of today’s stars, including Seth Rogen, Linda Cardellini, James Franco, Jason Segel, and Busy Philipps, were part of the cast. This is also a must-watch for music lovers since its rock-heavy soundtrack features hits from Van Halen, Joan Jett, The Who, and more.

When it aired: 1997-today

Where to stream it today: Max, Hulu

What started off as a quirky animated film from two college kids in Colorado wound up as the third longest-running animated tv series—and it’s still going strong. The cartoon sitcom uses four fictional boys to explore a range of topics defining the world of today and to remind us of the mischief and innocence that childhood brings. Profanity and dark humor lead to a lot of laughs.

When it aired: 1994-1995

Where to stream it today: Hulu

To this day, over 25 years from the end of the first and only season of My So-Called Life, fans are upset about the cliffhanger ending. The show follows the lives of a set of teenagers—notably played by Claire Danes and Jared Leto, among others—who live in the suburbs near Pittsburgh. Show creator Winnie Holzman expected ABC to pick up a second season, which never happened, despite critical acclaim and receiving multiple major award nominations, including Danes winning the Golden Globe for her performance in the series.

When it aired: 1994-1998

Where to buy it today: Prime, Apple TV

Ellen follows an erratic bookstore owner as she navigates eccentric friendships, family members, and daily life in sunny LA; and the show introduced Ellen DeGeneres to mainstream America. Ellen has earned its spot on TV's best-of canon after becoming the first US series with the main character to come out as gay with "The Puppy Episode", which aired shortly after DeGeneres decided to come out in real life.

When it aired: 1994-2000

Where to buy it today: Apple TV, Prime

Five siblings, ranging in age from one to 24, are forced to fend for themselves and take over the family restaurant after their parents get killed in a car crash. The show follows the siblings as they deal with their new responsibilities, the effects of parental loss, and substance abuse. A reboot on Freeform just wrapped up with a similar premise: five siblings must learn to take care of themselves after their parents get deported to Mexico.

When it aired: 1995-1999

Where to stream it today: Roku, Pluto TV

Wit is the name of the game on this NBC sitcom about the personal and professional travails of a New York AM news radio station's staff. Episodes often satirize pop culture events or take a surreal turn, like setting the cast onboard the Titanic. Expect a young Andy Dick, an always great Maura Tierney, and a wonderful Dave Foley to round out the cast. In a total of 97 episodes with farcical storylines, often playing off a satirical take on pop culture, news, and historical events, the show presented a laugh-out-loud way to take in current events.

When it aired: 1996-2001

Where to buy it today: AppleTV, Prime

An extraterrestrial family is sent to Earth, which they deem an "insignificant" planet, to observe human behavior. Everyday events and emotions (like just the sensation of sneezing) become humorous ordeals for the alien family as they navigate our quotidian social customs and culture while getting used to their human forms. The premise might sound weird, but it will certainly tickle your fancy as early as season one.

When it aired: 1996-2003

Where to stream it today: Hulu, Paramount+

Melissa Joan Hart plays Sabrina Spellman, a teenager with a big secret which is that—you guessed it—she is a teenage witch. In addition to jamming out to No Doubt and Britney Spears, Sabrina also has to deal with magical spells gone awry, family secrets, and failing her test for her witch's permit. As cherished as Hart's character was, fans still fondly remember Sabrina's 600-year-old aunts, Hilda and Zelda, and her talking cat, Salem.

When it aired: 1996-2005

Where to stream it today: Peacock, Paramount+

The classic, super successful sitcom stars Ray Romano as the central character, an Italian-American Newsday sports writer from Long Island juggling family life with work. While Ray's dry and sarcastic demeanor is clearly loved in the states, it also was quite successful abroad, with spin-offs popping up in The Netherlands, Egypt, Poland, and Russia; the latter became one of the most beloved shows in the country.

When it aired: 1997-2002

Where to stream it today: Paramount+

The animated series is a spin-off of the popular show Beavis and Butt-Head, ordered by MTV to speak to a young, female audience. Today, Daria, the brainy and sarcastic title character, enjoys a sort of cult-following since the show’s depiction of teen angst, family life, relationships, and other social issues still strike a remarkable chord with the modern world. Fans are currently anticipating a reboot that follows Daria's friend Jodie, which was recently picked up by Comedy Central, courtesy of Tracee Ellis Ross.

When it aired: 1997-2002

Where to stream it today: Hulu

Ally McBeal, played by Calista Flockhart, is a funny—and dramatic—lawyer seeking love, self-fulfillment, and happiness in Boston. The program took home the Golden Globe for best TV Series, Musical or Comedy in 1997 and 1998, and it won an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1999. Ally McBeal is still referenced in modern TV shows such as The Good Place, and it could be returning to the small screen soon—word on the street is that a reboot is possibly in the works.

When it aired: 1998-2000

Where to buy it today: Prime, Apple TV

Anything by Aaron Sorkin is worth a watch, but this half-hour comedy-drama about a fictional sports news show is some of his best work. Unfortunately, it was canceled after a mere two seasons, and then Sorkin went on to better things (namely The West Wing). Nonetheless, Sports Night still enjoys a cult-like following, and we’re so thankful we can still enjoy it in the age of streaming.

When it aired: 1998-2002

Where to stream it today: Hulu

New York is as much of a character in this drama as Felicity Porter (Keri Russell), a high school graduate who follows her crush to the Big Apple and attends the University of New York (yes, that would be the fictional version of New York University). As a critic’s darling, Felicity was nominated for 38 awards and continues to make it on to ‘Best Of’ lists.

When it aired: 1998-2003

Where to stream it today: Hulu

Dawson’s Creek is loosely based on the adolescence of Kevin Williamson, the shows’ creator, albeit with a few creative liberties. Yes, the supposed ‘teen’ characters have a tendency to talk like very smart, very responsible, very witty adults. Yes, the storylines are (mostly) unrealistic. But, it introduced the ever-popular love triangle to teen dramas, and for that alone, we promise that this show is so worth watching.

When it aired: 1998-2006

Where to stream it today: Peacock, Hulu

We all need a little magic in our lives, and who better to deliver it than a trio of witchy, demon-fighting sisters? Charmed was full of drama both onscreen and off; following a falling out, Shannen Doherty dropped out after starring as Prue Halliwell for three seasons. She was eventually replaced by Rose McGowan, who took on the role of a fourth sister.

When it aired: 1999-2013

Where to stream it today: Hulu

No one expected Matt Groening to produce another The Simpsons, but the fact he got this close is pretty remarkable. Transferring the smart-aleck humour of his epoch-defining hit from suburbia to space, Groening’s sci-fi followup follows Philip J Fry, a young-adult, Bart-styled slacker who is cryogenically frozen and wakes up in a distant future full of caustic robots, humanoid lobsters and hot one-eyed mutants. At its best, the show, which has had several revivals, could be as funny as its predecessor, and sometimes more emotional. The episode about Fry’s dog? Gut-punch.