Rotten Tomatoes' Best TV Shows Of 2025 Has A New No. 1
If your watchlist is a mess right now, you're not alone. Rotten Tomatoes just reshuffled its Best TV of 2025 list, and there's a new show sitting at the top.
It's Pluribus. The Apple TV series from Vince Gilligan (movies and tv series) - yes, the mind behind Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul - dropped Friday and immediately lit up the board with a perfect 100% from critics.
Here's the twist: a bunch of 2025 shows have perfect scores. So how did Pluribus grab the crown? Volume. It's hard to keep a spotless rating when the review count climbs, and Pluribus is doing it with 70+ critic reviews. Compare that to something like Ballard, which is also at 100% but with a few dozen fewer takes. Different level of stress test.
If you need a quick hit list for your coverage or your queue, here's where things stand at the top right now:
- 1) Pluribus season 1 - 100%
- 2) Pee-Wee As Himself (miniseries) - 100%
- 3) The Chair Company season 1 - 100%
- 4) The Narrow Road to the Deep North (miniseries) - 100%
- 5) Long Story Short season 1 - 100%
- 6) Platonic season 2 - 100%
Maybe it's just timing, but the quick ascent here says two things. One, critics were primed for Gilligan's return to TV. Two, the early episodes are landing across the board - not just with a handful of raves, but with wide agreement.
And here's what this could mean. For streamers, it's a reminder that premiere windows still matter - drop a buzzy title with a strong first wave of reviews, and you can own the conversation for days. For news desks and social teams, this list is a fast way to steer readers toward what's actually working right now.
If you want to see the full rankings or dig into the review spread, check the official roundups:
Quick reality check: perfect scores this early can wobble as more critics file. But holding 100% with dozens and dozens of reviews isn't a fluke. It's momentum.
If you're programming weekend picks, Pluribus is the headline. Keep an eye on Pee-Wee As Himself and The Chair Company too - they're sitting pretty, and one strong episode could nudge the order again.
Bottom line: the list shifted, the buzz is real, and viewers now have a clear first stop. Your move.
