The year’s halfway over and IMDb has just dropped its official list of the top-rated TV shows of 2025 so far. Based on ratings from millions of users around the world, this list isn’t just another streaming popularity contest. Actually, it’s a reflection of what viewers actually love. And this time, there are some real surprises.
Taking the number one spot is When Life Gives You Tangerines, a Korean drama that’s been quietly dominating Netflix and global conversation alike. Not only did it top the list for 2025, but it also broke into the all-time IMDb Top 250 TV Shows list at #74. That’s nearly unheard of for a first-season show and speaks to its massive emotional resonance and sharp storytelling.
Coming in at #2 is The Pitt, another breakout show that no one really saw coming. Despite being a newcomer, it already sits at #42 on IMDb’s all-time list. That puts it higher than a lot of beloved classics and shows with far longer runs.
There’s a little something for every kind of viewer here. Amazon’s Invincible continues to fly high in its sophomore outing, holding strong at #2, while Disney+ gets a win with Andor at #4. Apple TV+ sneaks in again with the mind-bending Severance at #5, proving that its slow-burn sci-fi series still has plenty of staying power.
For anime fans, Solo Leveling sits confidently at #6, showing that Korean and Japanese storytelling continue to make waves outside their home markets. It’s another example of how non-English series are no longer niche… they’re mainstream.
The rest of the top 20 is a wild mix of high-stakes drama, crime thrillers, genre-defying sci-fi, and even a few returning heavyweights. Black Mirror is back in the top 10 with a new season that clearly resonated. Meanwhile, Daredevil: Born Again at #11 proves Marvel still has juice left when it actually tries.
Shows like American Primeval, Adolescence, and The Studio round out a list that feels less algorithmic and more organic. The Studio, in particular, is an interesting one, as it won a Fan Favorite Ensemble award at SXSW before the show really even hit mainstream buzz. Now it’s sitting comfortably at #17.
Here’s the full Top 20 from IMDb:
- When Life Gives You Tangerines
- Invincible
- The Pitt
- Andor
- Severance
- Solo Leveling
- MobLand
- Black Mirror
- Dept. Q
- 1923
- Daredevil: Born Again
- American Primeval
- Adolescence
- Reacher
- Paradise
- The White Lotus
- The Studio
- Your Friends & Neighbors
- The Residence
- The Eternaut
One thing’s clear, folks, audiences aren’t just rewarding flashy production values or familiar IP anymore. They’re responding to originality, depth, and emotional weight. Whether that’s in the form of a gritty Spanish sci-fi (The Eternaut), a moody Scandinavian detective series (Dept. Q), or a heartfelt coming-of-age K-drama, the global TV landscape is shifting.
And for anyone still asking whether streaming fatigue has kicked in, this list is a pretty loud “no.” There’s plenty of good TV. You just have to know where to look.
