When The Pitt premiered, it quickly reminded audiences how compelling medical (and workplace) dramas are when done well. Rather than relying on soap-opera twists, the show grounded itself in the relentless reality of emergency medicine, following healthcare workers through one intense shift where every decision carried weight. Its real-time structure, authentic atmosphere, and deeply human characters turned what could have been a standard melodrama into one of television's most gripping new shows.

The back half of 2026 is shaping up to be an embarrassment of riches for drama fans. Westeros is going back to war, the Bennet sisters are getting yet another glow-up, and somehow Timothy Olyphant is in not one, but two shows on this list. Who’s #Blessed? We are.

There's something so inherently striking and dynamic about the '80s as a period of filmmaking that made it one of the absolute best times for compelling family movies. Whether it was massive cultural milestones like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial or beloved cult classics like Time Bandits, the decade continuously brought its best when it came to family entertainment. Even some of the bad family movies of the era like Mac and Me and The Wizard have secured distinct niches as extremely memorable, so-bad-they're-good classics.