CrossBinge
Explore CrossBinge →
The best series of the 1990s
The defining series of the 1990s, ranked by rating.
The 1990s produced television that ranged from intimate family drama to international spectacle, and the decade's best series reflect that breadth. From Hong Kong romance anthologies to Spanish quiz-show endurance records, from kids' animation to underground wrestling captured on official bootleg footage — the era rewards curious viewers willing to range widely. These series earned their ratings through staying power and specificity, not formula. The decade belonged to shows that knew exactly what they were.
Best series of the 1990s
Series
Family Squad
A multi-generational police family drama centred on a talkative patriarch whose lack of confidence costs him his post.
Series
Saber y Ganar
Spain's longest-running daily quiz show, sixteen years on air, hosted throughout by Jordi Hurtado on La 2.
Series
MTV Europe Music Awards
Launched in 1994 as a European alternative to the American MTV Video Music Awards, celebrating popular music videos across the continent.
Series
ECW Extreme Fancam
The official bootleg series of ECW events, running from 1995 until the company's closure in 2001.
Series
Energetic Explosion Ganbaruger
Three boys — ninja-in-training, baseball prospect, scholar — accidentally break the seal linking their village to an unseen world.
Series
Fort Boyard Russia
A Russian game show adapted directly from the original French Fort Boyard format.
Series
The Modern Love Story
A collection of love stories starring Hong Kong's most famous singers and stars of the 1990s.
Series
George & Leo
A short-lived CBS sitcom pairing Bob Newhart and Judd Hirsch as an odd couple on Martha's Vineyard.
Frequently asked
Where should I start with 1990s TV if I've never explored the era?
If you want warmth and character, The Modern Love Story or Family Squad offer accessible entry points — both are grounded in recognisable human dynamics and don't demand prior knowledge of the decade.
What made 1990s series so distinct from later television?
The decade favoured formats built around specific, contained ideas — a family in a police force, a quiz show with a single long-running host — rather than serialised arcs. Staying power came from consistency, not complexity.
Are any of these series still running or available internationally?
Saber y Ganar holds the record as Spain's longest-running daily programme. Availability for the other titles varies by region — check local streaming catalogues for each.