It might be almost 20 years since Friends came to an end in 2004, but love for the classic sitcom has never waned. If anything it keeps growing.
Many of us diehard fans frequently find ourselves rewatching it, whether that means going all the way from start to finish or picking out specific episodes depending on our mood.
So it might come as a surprise to find out that the show – which starred Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc – is apparently not even in the top five most bingeable programmes of all time.
What’s more, it’s also not even been deemed the most bingeable sitcom ever… so can you guess which other classic comedy series pipped it at the post?
Website Ranker, which describes itself as the ‘worldwide leader in fan-powered rankings’, created a list titled ‘The 440+ Best Binge Worthy Shows Of All Time’… and there are some brilliant contenders on there.
After almost 120,000 votes were reportedly submitted for the ranking, the epic fantasy series Game of Thrones secured the top spot, even in spite of the mass criticism that it received for its final season in 2019.
In second place came Stranger Things, which is set to draw to a close in 2024 with fifth and final season, as the gang’s battle against the evil forces plaguing Hawkins comes to a head.
Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul’s Breaking Bad achieved the third spot, after receiving critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including Emmys, Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards.
Then, in fourth place, the first sitcom on the list… and rather than Friends, as many fans might have suspected, it’s the US version of The Office.
Don’t get us wrong – The Office is a brilliant series that will forever be rewatchable and make us cry with laughter.
Nonetheless, Friends being in sixth place on the list, behind Sherlock in fifth place, did leave us slightly shocked, SHOCKED! (As Phoebe would say).
To complete the top 10, The Sopranos placed seventh, followed by Supernatural in eighth, The Big Bang Theory in ninth and House clinching the 10th spot.
Describing the expansive poll, Ranker wrote: ‘Our dynamic list expands across genres and eras, providing a universe of over 440 shows crafted to satiate your TV appetite, with more than 120K fans from around the world having cast their votes to form this extensive guide.’
They add: ‘Whether it’s the epic sagas of Game of Thrones, the mysterious happenings in Stranger Things, the compulsive saga of Breaking Bad, or the heart-warming narratives in My Name Is Earl, every show is a unique journey. Though each is binge-worthy, you’ll encounter detailed descriptions and related lists for each show to help you make your decision.’
What are the top 10 most binge-worthy TV shows?
According to Ranker, here are the results of their poll:
- Game of Thrones
- Stranger Things
- Breaking Bad
- The Office
- Sherlock
- Friends
- The Sopranos
- Supernatural
- The Big Bang Theory
- House
The list still offers fans the chance to have their say, as they can vote on the up or down arrows to indicate whether they agree with the order in which shows have been placed.
We know what we’ll be turning to when trying to decide what to rewatch this holiday season.
Earlier this year, Friends fans across the globe were left heartbroken by the death of Chandler Bing star Perry.
The beloved actor died at the age of 54, with his death later ruled an accident from the ‘acute effects of ketamine’.
Following the tragic news, the five other lead stars of Friends released a joint statement expressing their heartbreak over their loss.
‘We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,’ they said in the statement sent to People.
‘There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.
‘In time we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.’
Friends is available to stream on Netflix.
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