12 Addictive Fantasy Shows You Can Binge Over and Over Again, Ranked
Updated
Remus is a writer, editor, journalist, and author with an eye for detail and an extremely active imagination. He is an enthusiast of everything to do with the graphic medium, whether it's Western comics and their adaptations or manga and anime. Remus is also the author of the sci-fantasy novel Once Upon a Time in Hyperspace and several works of short fiction in the mystery, comedy, and horror genres.
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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 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 mind-bending 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.
12 '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.
11 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' (2008–2020)
According to franchise creator George Lucas, Star Wars is indeed fantasy, not sci-fi. Star Wars: The Clone Wars is the first animated series to come out in the modern canon, taking place between the second and third prequel films. While much of the plot focuses on Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor) and Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter), some episodes also focus on other side characters, including Jedi, bounty hunters, and clone troopers.
The first season starts off with a pretty rough and choppy animation, but as the show goes on, it gradually becomes smoother. There are tons of sweet battle scenes in this show, as it is pretty action-driven. What's more, each episode likes to focus on some sort of subtle moral takeaway, which is great since its target audience is kids, after all. That said, adults still find enjoyment in the show, too, as it is genuinely emotional, funny, and action-packed. —Dawson Nyffenegger
10 'The Fairly OddParents' (2001–2017)
The Fairly OddParents is a Nickelodeon cartoon about a 10-year-old boy named Timmy Turner (Tara Strong), who lives in the fictitious town of Dimmsdale. Between his two dim-witted parents, school bullies, his tyrannical teacher, and his evil babysitter, Timmy has a pretty miserable life. This causes him to be granted two fairy godparents, who are there to grant his every wish. The problem is, this frequently lands him in even more trouble.
The comedy series became a staple of the early 2000s, beloved for its quirky humour, iconic characters, catchy theme song, and hilarious punchlines. Much like a lot of Nickelodeon shows, it became something of a farm for memes, with the internet ensuring the show's legacy remains alive and well. It's not a very plot-driven show, and the later seasons really do suck, but for the most part, it's a nostalgic piece of television history. —Dawson Nyffenegger
9 'Death Note' (2006–2007)
Death Note is so popular that it's shocking to discover how short-lived it actually was. The anime is set in metropolitan Tokyo, where teenagers find a magical book labelled "Death Note." The book contains only empty pages, but states that writing someone's name in the book will instantly kill them. The protagonists try this out, and sure enough, it works. They hold the power of life and death in their hands, and must learn to use it responsibly, or succumb to using it for ill.
Death Note's success was so widespread that Netflix even attempted to remake it in live action, though this was an infamous disaster that bombed with critics. As for the original show, it's a little lighter on the fantasy aspects, but it still fits snugly into the genre. It's a classic anime that is often deemed one of the quintessential series to binge, and which is still being rediscovered and referenced two decades later. —Dawson Nyffenegger
8 'The Mighty Nein' (2025–Present)
The Mighty Nein is set in the same universe as The Legend of Vox Machina, but follows a different set of characters. Like the original series, this is based on a custom Dungeons & Dragons campaign played by the Critical Role podcast, specifically the one played during their second season. While it's set in the same world, the story unfolds on a totally different continent, yet still retains its lore-driven narrative.
Once again, the original crew returns to voice their in-game characters. This time, they play a group of misfit thieves who are tasked with pulling off the ultimate heist to steal an artifact. The problem is, this artifact holds the fate of the world inside of it. The scale might be a bit smaller than its predecessor, but The Mighty Nein still delivers in every way possible. It's a wild ride and tons of fun. —Dawson Nyffenegger
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 of Supernatural, 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, mind-bending adventures, and a dark sense of humor.
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