With hit series like Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, and Invincible, many fans consider the last decade to be the "Golden Age of Television." While these series have been excellent entertainment, the 1990s still contains some of the all-time greatest series in the history of the medium. From smash hit sitcoms to legendary science fiction shows, '90s series continue to be enjoyable and relevant.
Many great '90s series have seen reunions, spin-offs, and continuations decades later that prove their excellence. The era was not only a gold standard of comedy on television, but it also defined subgenres. Many '90s shows have remained the best that their respective genres offer fans.
10 Friends Laid The Groundwork For Sitcoms To Come
The still-popular sitcom, Friends, has stood the test of time since its release in 1994. The show laid the groundwork for sitcoms to come because of its focus on the core six friends, amusing supporting characters, and ongoing storyline of a will-they-won't-they romance.
With plenty of hilarious moments that had viewers glued to their screens, the series has stayed in the public's consciousness ever since. While Friends has been criticized in recent years for its lack of diversity and outdated jokes, the 2020 reunion between the main cast showcased its enduring fan base.
9 Spider-Man: The Animated Series Brought Spider-Man To A New Generation
8 years before Sam Raimi turned in his phenomenal Spider-Man trilogy, Fox adapted a five-season animated series on par with Batman: The Animated Series. Spider-Man: The Animated Series showcased Spider-Man's greatest villains, his relationships, and his struggles with being Peter Parker.
With a healthy amount of attention on both Spider-Man and Peter Parker, the show demonstrated all the best aspects of the Marvel superhero and his mythos. This was one of the many kids' animated series of the time that set the bar for future shows. Spider-Man: The Animated Series was a success, both critically and commercially, and went on to inspire several comic books.
8 Family Guy Created An Entire Comedy Cartoon Universe
Seth MacFarlane's Family Guy, which has since spawned multiple spin-off shows, followed in the footsteps of another adult cartoon,The Simpsons. While taking on a more mature tone, Family Guy retained the comedic and light-hearted atmosphere of family dynamics and silly antics.
Whether it's Peter Griffin's nonsensical parenting or Brian and Stewie's outlandish adventures, the series firmly cemented itself in pop culture. While the show has lasted well into the 21st century, many of its greatest episodes and moments were in its earliest seasons.
7 The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air Made Will Smith A Household Name
1990's Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was a perfect fish-out-of-water series that saw Will move away from the tough streets of Philadelphia to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle in Bel Air. The series focused on the culture clash between Will and his upper-class relatives.
Fresh Prince was, at its heart, a great family show, and each member of the family had their own stories for fans to follow. The growing friendship between Will and Carlton and Will's growing maturity as he adjusted to a new life is what helped make the show so great. The Fresh Prince Reunion took place in 2020 and saw the cast and crew come back together.
6 Frasier Is The Greatest Spin-Off In History
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Following the comedy hit series Cheers, Kelsey Grammer's Frasier Crane received his own spin-off series. Moving from Boston to his hometown Seattle, Frasier established himself as a local radio personality, bringing his skills as a psychiatrist to the airwaves.
After Frasier's former cop father was forced to move in with him, adjusting to his new life became more difficult than Frasier had expected. However, the series remains one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, with some of the smartest writing in television comedy to date.
5 South Park Mastered Cartoon Satire
Matt Stone and Trey Parker's South Park has proven to be one of the funniest adult cartoons available. With a keen focus on satire, the show has poked fun at several celebrities, ideologies, and trends that leave no one safe from the series' comedy.
South Park's amusing commentary on current events, politics, and society have made the animated series a household name. With a slew of specials, a movie, and games, and 25 seasons to its name, South Park is as firmly rooted in pop culture as it was when it began in 1997.
4 Seinfeld Is An Infinitely Quotable Comedy Series
Arguably the greatest sitcom of all time, Seinfeld followed a fictionalized version of Jerry Seinfeld as he navigated life in the shallow world of 1990s Manhattan. The series had a masterful way of turning mundane situations and events into hilarious stories between Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer.
The brainchild of Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, Seinfeld ran throughout most of the 1990s and enjoyed critical and commercial success. It also boasted a great cast of supporting characters, including the ever-funny Newman and Jerry Stiller's talented performance as Frank Costanza, who paved the way for future sitcom characters.
3 Batman: The Animated Series Delivered Some Of Batman's Best Stories
Batman: The Animated Series was released while the Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher Batman films were in full swing. However, the animated series proved far more popular and had better staying power than the films, which are now seen as inferior to the show.
Using a combination of new stories and strong adaptations of the source material, BTAS helped redeem The Caped Crusader in the eyes of many fans. The series has proven so popular that it received a sequel series, a comic book series, and is set for a revival.
2 The Simpsons Created A Universally Recognized Cartoon Family Comedy
Matt Groening's The Simpsons started as a skit on the Tracey Ullman Show but was soon turned into its own series. With talented voice actors like Hank Azaria, Dan Castellaneta, Harry Shearer, and Nancy Cartwright, The Simpsons expertly crafted an iconic cartoon family.
Not only did the series unite millions of viewers around the world with a lovable family and relatable issues, but The Simpsons has also been one of the longest-running cartoons ever with 34 seasons. The series remains a staple of comedy and cartoons alike, and a master class in voice talent.
1 X-Files Defined The X-Cop Subgenre
Chris Carter's The X-Files debuted in 1993 and starred David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. While the series followed a complicated conspiracy arc, fans largely know and love it for its suspenseful monster-of-the-week format that it executed brilliantly.
The X-Files offered fans some of the best sci-fi stories, which were combined with thriller elements. The series has led to spin-off shows, comic book series, games, and a 2016 revival. The X-Files is a must-see '90s series for fans of thriller and sci-fi alike, and it inspired several hit shows like Lost, Supernatural, and Gravity Falls.