Although the vast majority of the most acclaimed TV shows by the mainstream are from the US,great television is by no means an exclusively American phenomenon. Indeed, the medium is significantly more expansive than many people give it credit for, and several of the greatest TV series ever made were produced outside the American system. Thankfully, for those looking to expand their scope of television-watching, many of these shows have received users' praise on IMDb.
The significant majority of international shows on IMDb’s Top 250 list are anime series. For diversity’s sake—and because the best anime series are deserving of a separate ranking—no anime was considered for this list. Instead, these areIMDb reviewers' favorite shows from all around the globe. From the funny to the thrilling to the shocking, these are proof that the concept of outstanding television doesn’t have a nationality.
10’El Chavo del Ocho' (1972–1983)
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Created by and starringRoberto “Chespirito” Gómez Bolaños, arguably the most iconic figure in the history of Mexican television,El Chavo del Ochowas—and still is—a massive cultural phenomenonnot just in Mexico, but across all of Latin America and Spain. It’s a charming little sitcom, following theadventures and misadventures of a poor, fumbling boy and his friends in their humble “vecindad,” or neighborhood.There’s certainly some element to the series' sense of humor that would be lost to non-Spanish speakers, butEl Chavostill has more than enoughcolorful characters, entertaining plots, and universally hilarious jokesto be considered one ofthe best sitcoms of all time. After all, it takes something truly special to be so highly rated on IMDb. Today,El Chavois arguably the single most popular Mexican TV show, and it came back to the pop culture lexicon thanks to a biographical miniseries on HBO Max, which premiered this year.
9’Dark' (2017–2020)
Netflix’s first German-language series,Dark, is perhaps best known for having a narrative so complex and chaotic that it’s easy to get lost if one doesn’t have a notebook on hand. That quality only makes this show all the more fascinating: The fact that a series that demandssomuch thought and attention from its audience was able to hook them and keep them thrilled all throughout its run.
Simply put,Darkis one ofthe best international sci-fi showsof all time. Anchored by an intricately complex tone, someengrossing and delightfully labyrinthine storytelling, and all manner of nuanced philosophical themes,Darkis easily one of the streaming giant’s best original offerings. It’s daunting to keep track of everything going on, but it’s oh so worth it to try.
8’Das Boot' (1985)
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
Hearing the titleDas Bootis likely to make people think, first and foremost, of the iconic 1981 German WWII film, but the theatrical cut doesn’t show everything thatWolfgang Petersen’s submarine masterpiece has to offer. Instead, those interested in the premise ought to check out the 1985 miniseries, comprised of three 100-minute episodes that make up the entirety of the story that was actually shot.
Das Bootis one ofthe most realistic war movies ever, and its miniseries counterpart is logically no different. With a perfectbalance between masterfully written character moments and big action set pieces, the show has proved itself deserving of the highest praise of IMDb users, who love it thanks to its historical accuracy and terrifying tone.
7’Dekalog' (1989–1990)
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Krzysztof Kieślowskiwas a filmmaker like no other, and to this day, he’s still remembered as one of the most important auteurs to have ever come out of Poland. He made plenty of excellent films throughout his career, but only one of his works was called"the only film masterpiece"byStanley Kubrickhimself:Dekalog, a miniseries composed of ten one-hour films, each one inspired by a different one of the Ten Commandments. Fun fact: the series is also included inthe Vatican’s film list.
Dekalogis fully deserving of the tremendous praise it has always gotten. Deeply poignant and thematically intricate, it’s one ofthe best 10-episode miniseriesof all time, full of profound emotion and gorgeous direction by Kieślowski. The pacing of each episode is certainly slow, butfor those who like slow-burn shows and arthouse cinema,Dekalogis a must-see.
6’Panchayat' (2020–)
IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
One of the most recent additions to IMDb’s list of the Top 250 highest-rated TV shows, Amazon Prime Video’sPanchayatis a Hindi-language Indian satire. Itexplores the journey of an engineering graduate, Abhishek, who serves as secretary of a Panchayat office (a village council) in a remote village of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
It’s fair to guess that the majority of IMDb users who have ratedPanchayathighly are from India, but just watching a couple of episodes will make it clear why it’s such a beloved show.A universally sympathetic and amusing tale about rural lifeand the silliness of bureaucracy,Panchayatis a hugely effective satire that has just the right mixture of clever comedy and heartfelt drama.
5’Şahsiyet' (2018–2024)
Şahsiyet, which translates toPersona, is amongIMDb’s 25 highest-rated non-documentary shows. It’s hardly surprising. This Turkish crime drama has been referred to asthe country’s single greatest drama in television history, making it obligatory viewing for fans of the genre. It’s a psychological thriller abouta man diagnosed with Alzheimer’s who decides to punish criminals.
Şahsiyetis an absolutely fascinating drama that should be perfectly able to make any viewer, no matter their origin, want to binge it all in one sitting.
With its excellent performances, heavy tone, and lean plotting,Şahsiyetis an absolutely fascinating drama that should be perfectly able to make any viewer, no matter their origin, want to binge it all in one sitting.With top-tier production qualities and a story that’s as exciting as it is emotionally compelling,Şahsiyetisa masterclass in crime drama television, proving that there’s more to the genre than justBreaking BadandThe Sopranos.
4’As If' (2021–2025)
Watching a foreign comedy can sometimes be a difficult experience. While there are some whose sense of humor translates remarkably well to several languages (including English), there are others that are simply impossible to appreciate without cultural context. Thankfully, the Turkish sitcomAs If, about two friends who are constantly bickering with each other, belongs to the former group.
Also known asBibi, the series has been hailed asthe TurkishSeinfeld, and the comparisons are easy to understand. It’s undeniable that some jokes are lost in translation, but, for the most part,As Ifisan absolute delight for anyone who enjoys sitcoms. Intelligent, hilariously absurd, and with some surprising social commentary,As Ifis one of the most underrated sitcoms of the 2020s.
3’TVF Pitchers' (2015–2022)
IMDb Rating: 9.1/10
The Viral Fever, a.k.a. TVF, is an Indian Internet and video-on-demand media service that was created to target younger viewers who might not otherwise be quite as interested in traditional televisual entertainment as previous generations. They’ve come out with a solid number of great shows, but their highest-rated on IMDb isTVF Pitchers, a dramedy aboutfour young entrepreneurs who quit their day jobs to pursue a start-up venture.Critically acclaimed and hugely successful in India,Pitchersisan ideal watch for those who like workplace comedies. Many reviewers on IMDb refer to it as a comfort watch, while still praising its ability to interweave effective jokes with equally effective serious moments. It’s always appreciated when a comedy show treats its audience like they’re smart.
2’When Life Gives You Tangerines' (2025)
The appeal of K-dramas started branching out of South Korea during the 1990s, and today, the genre has a loyal, global fanbase thatreallyshould check outWhen Life Gives You Tangerines. One ofthe best K-dramasof not just the 2020s, but perhaps of all time, the show is abouta spirited girl and a steadfast boy, whose lifelong tale of setbacks and triumphs proves that love endures across time.The show,the highest-rated K-drama on IMDb, is an absolute roller coaster of emotions. It’s as sad as it is hopeful and tender, and its romantic tone shouldhave even the coldest-hearted of viewers swooning. It’s not often that a show earns this much significant praise this shortly after its release, but then again,When Life Gives You Tangerinesis something quite unique.
IMDb Rating: 9.2/10
Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Storyis another hugely acclaimed Indian show, amongthe highest-rated miniseriesof all time on IMDb. Based on a true story, it depictsthe rise and fall ofHarshad Mehta, a stockbroker who single-handedly took the stock market to tremendous heights. For those who loveMartin Scorsese’sThe Wolf of Wall Street, this is a phenomenal binge-worthy show to add to the watchlist.Boosted by a fantastic lead performance byPratik Gandhi,Scam 1992is one ofthe best biographies committed to television in recent memory. The writing is amazing (the dialogue in particular receiving high praise from IMDb reviewers), the production qualities are top-notch, and the story is perfectly structured. It’s an enthralling drama through and through, which makes it unsurprising that it’s the highest-rated non-anime international show on IMDb.
