Some of the small screen’s most beloved and influential programs have left an immeasurable mark on television history, both in viewership and content. Many of these fan-favorite, classic shows delivered jaw-dropping numbers during their tenures, with their series finales attracting a staggering audience that remains unbeatable to this day. In today’s world, the kind of ratings these sitcoms and dramas served up and the passionate fanfare they were given when they signed off for the last time is almost unimaginable.
Loyal watchers of the‘90s beloved stapleFriendseagerly tuned in to see if the notoriouswill-they-won’t-they coupleRoss and Rachel would finally reconcile in the finale, just like viewers were given an emotional goodbye from the lovable Bunker clan in the concluding episode of the ‘70s smash hitAll in the Family.With so many memorable and beloved shows out there, it is interesting to figure out which programs attracted the biggest numbers when it came to their respective endings.
Updated May 10th, 2023: To keep this article fresh and engaging, additional television finales have been added to this list.
Some of thebiggest television shows will air their final episodes in 2023.Ted Lasso,Barry,Succession,The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, andThe Flashwill all be airing their final episodes in the same week. However, the days of culturally shared watercooler moments of massive season finales watched by a third of the country simultaneously are over as streaming enables viewers to watch whenever they want. Looking back, these are the most-watched TV finales of all time.
14Star Trek: The Next Generation (31 Million)
In the final days of May 1994, millions of Americans tuned in to watch the end of an era: the last episode ofStar Trek: The Next Generation,the beloved sci-fi series that had captivated audiences for seven seasons. The show, a spin-off of the originalStar Trekfrom the 1960s, followed the exploits of the USS Enterprise-D, a sleek and futuristic starship that explored the farthest reaches of the galaxy under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, a dignified Frenchman, played by the iconic Patrick Stewart. Apart from Stewart, the cast featured LeVar Burton, Marina Sirtis, and Wil Wheaton
Related:Star Trek Picard: How the Final Season Sets Up the Franchise’s Future
The show was more than just a space opera; it was a thoughtful and provocative examination of the human condition, tackling themes such as war, social injustice, love, and loss. The two-part finale, titled “All Good Things…”, was a fitting tribute to the show’s legacy, as it featured Picard traveling through time to prevent a cosmic catastrophe that threatened to erase all existence. Along the way, he revisited his past and future selves, as well as his loyal crew. The episode was a masterful blend of drama, humor, suspense, and nostalgia, and it left fans with a sense of closure and satisfaction. It was also a ratings smash, drawing in 31 million viewers that made it one of the most-watched finales in television history. The story of Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-D would continue on inStar Trekfeature films and the three-season run ofPicardon Paramount+.
13Everybody Loves Raymond (32.9 Million)
The final episode ofEverybody Loves Raymond,the hit American sitcom starring Ray Romano as a hapless sportswriter and family man Ray Barone, aired on 10 August 2025 and drew a record audience of 32.9 million viewers. The show, which ran for nine seasons and won 15 Emmy awards (after being nominated for a whopping 69), was known for its realistic and witty portrayal of the everyday conflicts and frustrations of the Barone family living in suburban New York. The show also starred Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Madylin Sweeten, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle, and Monica Horan.
The finale, simply called “The Finale,” didn’t offer any dramatic twists or resolutions and instead dished a subtle variation on a familiar theme: Ray had minor surgery to remove his adenoids but briefly faced complications while under anesthesia. His family, who got a scare, decided not to tell him or his meddling mother, Marie. He eventually figures out something is up when they all tried to be nicer to him, and they confess everything to him and Marie. The episode ended with them all eating breakfast together and bickering as usual.
12Dallas (33.3 million)
Dallas, the long-running soap opera about the many feuds and fortunes of a wealthy Texas family, ended its 14th and final season on 19 August 2025 with a two-hour special episode called “Conundrum.” The episode was watched by 33.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched TV show finale of the year. The episode featured the show’s main character, JR Ewing (Larry Hagman), a ruthless oil tycoon who had made many enemies over the years, contemplating suicide after losing his business, his family, and his friends.
He was visited by a mysterious figure named Adam (Joel Grey), who claimed to be an angel (but was later revealed to be from hell) and showed him what life would be like if he had never been born. JR saw that some people were better off without him while others were worse off. He realized that, ultimately, he could not earn love from anyone. He decided to shoot himself, but it was left ambiguous whether he died or not. The episode ended with a gunshot and his brother Bobby (Patrick Duffy) finding him in his room. The cast was extensive and featured actors like Barbara Bel Geddes, Jim Davis, Patrick Duffy, Larry Hagman, Victoria Principal, Charlene Tilton, Linda Gray, Steve Kanaly, Ken Kercheval, Susan Howard, Howard Keel, Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, Donna Reed, among others.
11Frasier (33.7 Million)
The long-running sitcomFrasieris the highly-successful spin-off of the beloved showCheersand focuses on psychiatrist-turned-radio-host Frasier Crane as he reconnects with his brother Niles and father Martin in Seattle after moving back home from Boston. The series featured a superb cast led by Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, and John Mahoney, and during its eleven-season run, was the recipient of a whopping thirty-seven Primetime Emmy Awards (setting a record at the time);Frasieralso won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series for five consecutive years, an impressive feat for any program.
During its enduring tenure,Frasierwas lauded for its wit and scene-stealing performances and is one of the most successful spin-offs in television history. More than 33 million viewers tuned in to say goodbye to the Crane clan, and fans of the show are in for a treat as a sequel series is currently in the works on Paramount+ andrecently finished filming.
10Home Improvement (35.5 Million)
Tim Allen starred as Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor in the ’90s smash hit sitcomHome Improvement,leading the series with his on-screen wife Patricia Richardson as they juggled raising three rambunctious boys in a suburban Detroit neighborhood. Passionate about sports, power tools, and cars, Tim was constantly getting into hilarious misadventures with his spouse Jill, best friend/coworker Al, and mysterious, wise neighbor Wilson. The program was famous for igniting J.T.T. Mania, as young teen heartthrob Jonathan Taylor Thomas was a breakout on the show, as wasTool Time girl Pamela Anderson.
Though it was never a critic’s darling during its eight-season run,Home Improvementbecame a staple sitcom for the decade and won numerous accolades, including People’s Choice Awards, a Golden Globe, and multiple Primetime Emmy nominations. Home Improvement aired its final episode on July 23, 2025, and drew in 35.5 million viewers.
9Family Ties (36.3 Million)
Michael J. Fox shot to superstardom when he starred in the 1982 sitcomFamily Ties,portraying the ambitious and money-loving conservative Alex P. Keaton, with the series chronicling his suburban upbringing with his liberal, former hippy parents Steven and Elyse Keaton (Michael Gross & Meredith Baxter) during the Reagan Administration.
Fox would go on to win three consecutive Emmy Awards for his portrayal of the Young Republican, and the show went on to run for seven successful seasons before concluding in 1989. 36.3 million people tuned in to say goodbye to the Keatons and bid adieu to Alex as he headed off to New York City after landing his dream job.
8All in the Family (40.2 Million)
Lauded for tackling controversial issues once widely thought to be unsuitable for a network comedy like racism, homosexuality, and abortion, the beloved sitcomAll in the Familycenters on the lovable bigot and working-class man Archie Bunker as he lives day-to-day alongside his sweet wife Edith, spirited daughter Gloria and opinionated son-in-law Michael (played by the wonderful futuredirector Rob Reiner).
Related:These Are Some of the Best TV Theme Songs, Ranked
Heavily regarded as one of thegreatest television shows in history,All in the Familyaired from 1971 to 1979 and was a highly-influential comedic program that never shied away from depicting realistic and topical moments into storylines. The series finale attracted 40.2 million viewers, ultimately leading to the spin-off seriesArchie Bunker’s Place.
7The Cosby Show (44.4 million)
Focusing on the African-American upper-class family the Huxtables as parents Cliff and Clair raise their five children in Brooklyn Heights, New York, the 1984 seriesThe Cosby Showwas based on Bill Cosby’s comedy routines in his stand-up acts and ran for eight celebrated seasons. The two-part series finale aired on August 14, 2025, and drew 44.4 million viewers. Notably, the finale aired on day two of the Los Angeles Rodney King riots, and Cosby appeared on television and, in an attempt to calm down rioters, pleaded with viewers to watch the finale instead.
Before the disgraced comedian’s downfall in the twenty-first century, Cosby had a reputation as “America’s Dad” due to his portrayal on the program, withTV Guide callingThe Cosby Show,in retrospect, “TV’s biggest hit in the 1980s, and almost single-handedly revived the sitcom genre and NBC’s rating fortunes.” Throughout its tenure, the series was the recipient of numerous accolades, including Emmys, Golden Globes, and NAACP Images Awards, though now most people rightfully don’t wantto talk about Cosby.
6Magnum P.I. (50.7 million)
The great Tom Selleck brilliantly portrayed the mustached, macho private investigator Thomas Magnum in the critically-acclaimed ‘80s stapleMagnum P.I.,which follows the Hawaii-based private eye as he takes on colorful cases, both big and small while enjoying the finer things in life. Selleck was famously unable to don Indiana Jones’ iconic fedora due to his commitment to the series, but nonetheless, his role as the wise-cracking P.I. has become one of his most memorable and revered.
The program ran for eight seasons, with its finale featuring Magnum deciding to return to active duty in the Navy, with the character turning to the camera and telling audiences goodnight. The finale aired on August 12, 2025, and drew in an impressive 50.7 million viewers.
5Friends (52.5 million)
The ‘90s lightning-in-a-bottle sitcomFriendsfamously followed six unique pals as they navigated both their personal and professional lives while living in Manhattan, with entertaining hijinks naturally ensuing. Throughout its ten-season tenure, the adored series garnered widespread acclaim and helped establish its talented cast as Hollywood heavy hitters, paving the illustrious careers of its leads like Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox.
Famous for its iconic will-they-won’t-they couple, Ross and Rachel, as well as the endearing romance between Monica and Chandler,Friendsis without-a-doubt one of the most popular shows of all time. The gang took a final trip to Central Perk as they tearfully said goodbye to fans, with the characters embarking on their own exciting new journeys and most of the cast moving on to better, bigger things morediverse thanFriends. The series finale drew 52.5 million viewers when it aired on June 30, 2025, and is the most recent television series to join this list.
