One of the most important jobs of any fantasy story, irrespective of medium, is to provide its audience with an escape from the real world into one of great wonders. So, it’s no surprise that we keep returning to our favorite fantasy shows time and again, finding a much-needed escape from the pains of reality in their wondrous stories. This is also why the best fantasy shows also lend themselves to repeated watching, giving viewers a familiar yet fantastical place they can return to whenever they need.
From iconic classics to more modern fare, these shows take audiences on entertaining and mindbending journeys alongside relatable characters, sometimes even delivering some much-needed lessons about the real world along the way. Now, without further ado, here’s our ranked selection of the most rewatchable fantasy shows of all time, including some of the greatest ever made.
8
‘Carnival Row’ (2019–2023)
A fantasy drama series set in a steampunk, Victorian-inspired world, Carnival Row was created by René Echevarria and Travis Beacham, and is based on Beacham’s unproduced film spec script, A Killing on Carnival Row. Orlando Bloom stars as Rycroft “Philo” Philostrate, a detective investigating murders connected to mythological beings who have arrived in human society as refugees, encountering his lost love, the faerie Vignette Stonemoss (Cara Delevingne), in the process. Simon McBurney, Tamzin Merchant, David Gyasi, Andrew Gower, Karla Crome, Arty Froushan, Indira Varma, Jared Harris, and more star in other significant roles.
Both seasons of Carnival Row were generally panned by reviewers, who criticized it for its overstuffed story that attempts to combine themes of class politics, sexism, elitism, race, immigration, and more. While that may have been more ambition than a show could rightly be expected to fulfill, the series is still a vibrant and beautiful watch that lends itself to rewatching, and though the critics may have hated it, audiences received it much better. Whatever flaws the series may have in its narrative are more than excused by the sheer wonder of its complexly crafted world, and it’s an enjoyable fantasy series that’s worth returning to.
7
‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1997–2003)
Based on the 1992 film, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a supernatural drama series that’s easily one of the most iconic fantasy shows of all time. The series stars Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers, a young woman chosen by fate to battle the forces of darkness as the latest in a long line of Vampire Slayers, following her adventures and attempts to balance monster hunting with her normal life. The show also stars Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter, Anthony Stewart Head, David Boreanaz, and more in key roles.
While the show has become somewhat controversial in recent years due to accusations of workplace harassment by creator Joss Whedon, there’s no denying the fact that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of the greatest fantasy shows ever to hit television. Acclaimed by both critics and audiences during its original broadcast, the series is an evergreen favorite and a pop culture landmark that continues to entertain new generations of fans today. And even though some elements of the show certainly haven’t aged well, it’s still a generally fun watch every time you revisit it.
6
‘Supernatural’ (2005–2020)
A fantasy adventure-drama procedural, Supernatural was created by Eric Kripke and stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles as the monster-hunting Winchester brothers, Sam and Dean. The story begins when their father disappears during a hunting trip, forcing the brothers to travel the country in search of him and face off against various supernatural threats along the way. Besides Padalecki and Ackles, the series also stars Misha Collins, Mark A. Sheppard, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Alona Tal, Jim Beaver, and more in supporting roles.
With a whopping 15 seasons to its name, Supernatural is the longest-running American live-action fantasy show ever made. Of course, with so many seasons, the series has had its share of problems, but it’s an entertaining series overall that continues to enjoy the adoration of a huge global fan base. The first five seasons are decidedly the best, but every season makes for a fun rewatch, especially if you’re a fan.
5
‘What We Do in the Shadows’ (2019–2024)
Created by Jemaine Clement, What We Do in the Shadows is a horror comedy mockumentary show based on Clement and Taika Waititi’s 2014 film. The series follows four vampires who live together on Staten Island as roommates, exploring their various clashes with other supernatural beings, the unfamiliar modern world, and each other. The show stars Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch, and Kristen Schaal in main roles.
What We Do in the Shadows premiered on FX in 2019 to positive reviews, earning praise for its performances, writing, and humor. And it’s only gotten better since then, delivering six successful seasons over the course of its run that are all wildly entertaining and endlessly rewatchable. It’s a hilarious series with great characters and an absurd narrative (in a good way). The show has also received several accolades, including 35 nominations for Emmy Awards, four of which are for Outstanding Comedy Series.
4
‘Stranger Things’ (2016–2025)
One of the most successful shows of recent years, Stranger Things is a genre-bending coming-of-age adventure series created by the Duffer Brothers. Set in the 1980s in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, the show follows a group of young children who investigate strange paranormal events that are plaguing the town, eventually unearthing a connection to secret government experiments involving an alternate dimension. The series’ ensemble cast includes Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, and more.
Consisting of five seasons released over a nearly 10-year period, Stranger Things was extremely successful during its original run, though there were excruciating waits between seasons. Now that it’s ended, the series makes for an excellent rewatch for fans, and an uninterrupted binge for newcomers to the franchise. Almost universally acclaimed and hugely popular, the show is an entertaining, nostalgic mystery-adventure that blends fantasy, drama, sci-fi, and horror to create an immersive, enjoyable journey.
3
‘The Magicians’ (2015–2020)
Developed by Sera Gamble and John McNamara, The Magicians is a fantasy show adapted from Lev Grossman’s titular trilogy of books, exploring the world of Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy. Essentially a more mature Harry Potter, the series follows a graduate student who enrolls at the university and learns that his favorite childhood book series is based on real and dangerous truths. Simultaneously, his friend, who was denied entry to the school, finds her own path, creating even more danger. Jason Ralph and Stella Maeve lead the cast, which includes Olivia Taylor Dudley, Hale Appleman, Arjun Gupta, Summer Bishil, Rick Worthy, Jade Tailor, Brittany Curran, and Trevor Einhorn in key roles.
A hit Syfy fantasy show, The Magicians was widely acclaimed by critics and fans throughout its five-season run, earning praise for its maturity, weirdness, and unique approach to magic. All five seasons were nominated for Saturn Awards, and the show is widely acknowledged by fantasy fans as one of the best series ever made in the genre. It’s a visually stunning and brilliantly performed show with likable characters, mindbending adventures, and a dark sense of humor.
2
‘His Dark Materials’ (2019–2022)
Written by Jack Thorne and adapted from Philip Pullman’s book series, His Dark Materials is a fantasy drama set across multiple worlds of a multiverse, linked by an invisible cosmic substance called Dust. On one of these worlds, where souls manifest outside the body as animal companions and a corrupt theocracy rules all, a young girl named Lyra (Dafne Keene) sets out to find her missing friend, uncovering a complex conspiracy involving Dust and discovering her own destiny in the process. Ruth Wilson, Jame McAcoy, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anne-Marie Duff, Clarke Peters, James Cosmo, and more star in supporting roles.
The novels that inspired His Dark Materials are among the most thematically complex and intricately crafted fantasy series of all time, and the show masterfully adapts its source material for the screen as a gorgeous visual journey. Widely praised by critics and fans for its visual effects, music, performances, and story, the series is an immersive watch full of strange and fascinating phenomena that you could return to time and time again. It’s easily one of the best fantasy shows of the 21st century so far, and worth watching multiple times just to soak in all the details.
1
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ (2005–2008)
Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, Avatar: The Last Airbender is an animated fantasy action series set in a world where certain people can control each of the four classical elements: water, earth, fire, and air. After the Fire Nation wages war against the other nations, 12-year-old Aang, the current Avatar with the power to wield all four elements, sets out on a journey to stop their plan for world domination. Zach Tyler Eisen leads the voice cast as Aang, with Mae Whitman, Jack De Sena, Dante Basco, Jessie Flower, Dee Bradley Baker, Mako, Greg Baldwin, Grey Griffin, and Mark Hamill voicing key characters.
Arguably the most enduringly popular shows ever to air on Nickelodeon, Avatar: The Last Airbender is a hit animated series that combines anime influences and a Chinese-inspired world with classic cartoon action. Universally acclaimed for its animation, themes, performances, and story, the series commands an international fan following and is easily among the most popular fantasy shows of all time. The series continues to be a perennial comfort watch for its fans, and it has inspired a massive franchise that includes comics, novels, a sequel series, and a live-action remake.
