10.SeaQuest DSV(1993–1996)
SeaQuest DSVis set on a world where humanity occupies the seas, with the level-headed Captain Nathan Bridger commanding the SeaQuest DSV submarine. Steven Spielberg reunited with hisJawsco-star Roy Scheider for this sci-fi TV series.
WhatStar Trekis to space exploration,SeaQuest DSVis to sea exploration. Every episode has its own undersea adventure that requires the crew to explore mysterious corners underwater and stop opposing forces that get in their way.
While it wasn’t ever as successful as his other shows, it’s worth watching to see Steven Spielberg’s vision imprinted on every quest.
9.Amazing Stories(1985–1987)
Spielberg is a master storyteller who can flawlessly adapt to any genre. Need proof? Look no further than his 1985 anthology series,Amazing Stories, that mixes many genres into its episodes, including fantasy, sci-fi, comedy, horror, family drama, or thriller.
Often described as a blend ofThe Twilight ZoneandAlfred Hitchcock Presentsbut never as dark as those shows,Amazing Storiesdoes tackle hard subject matter with lighthearted moments.
Case in point: the Spielberg-directed segment entitled “The Mission,” where a WWII gunner uses his imagination to outwit his foes!
Related:The Best Sci-Fi TV Series to Rewatch
8.Tiny Toon Adventures(1990–1995)
Tiny Toon Adventuresis Steven Spielberg’s first animated TV series. It follows a ragtag gang of young characters at Acme Looniversity who are training to be the next generation ofLooney Tunes.
The show features beloved characters like Buster Bunny, Plucky Duck, Babs Bunny, Hamton J. Pig, Dizzy Devil, Elmyra, and many more who are all younger versions of famousLooney Tunescharacters.
While it follows the same formula of any kids' show that features de-aged characters (e.g.Muppet BabiesorFlintstones Kids), its charm is in its unique humor and Spielberg’s inventive storytelling.
7.Falling Skies(2011–2015)
This post-apocalyptic sci-fi TV series follows a simple scenario: What if aliens invaded Earth and won? Can humanity fight back? Do we have what’s needed to overcome the aliens?
We see humanity’s last stand through the eyes of Tom Mason, a former history professor who becomes the second-in-command of a Boston freedom-fighting militia.
The show builds up to and answers those questions, all while taking us on sharp twists and turns that raise the stakes further.
6.Freakazoid!(1995–1997)
But back to animation, before superheroes become meta figures on their own, there isFreakazoid!
Created by the same minds behindBatman: The Animated Series—Bruce Timm and Paul Dini—Freakazoid!is an animated TV show centered on a teenager named Dexter Douglas who transforms into a manic superhero with super strength, speed, and sanity (or not).
Much likeTiny Toon AdventuresandAnimaniacs,Freakazoid!boasts over-the-top humor. From its fourth-wall breaks to its pop culture parodies, the show is surprisingly more adult than it might seem at first. And it rightfully became a cult hit!
Related:The Best DC Animated TV Shows
5.United States of Tara(2009–2011)
Toni Collette is an outstanding talent to behold. IfHereditaryandLittle Miss Sunshinedidn’t sway your opinion of her, then her performance on the comedy-drama seriesUnited States of Tarawill.
In it, Collette plays a suburban mother and aspiring artist, Tara Gregson, who’s struggling with dissociative identity disorder (DID).
Spielberg’s idea forUnited States of Tarawas a way to explore the human psyche and the challenges of mental illness—and it became Collette’s acting showcase. See her transition from feisty teenager to 50s housewife to drunken veteran; it’s hilarious and heartbreaking.
Related:The Best Showtime TV Shows of All Time, Ranked
4.Taken(2002)
Not to be confused with the Liam Neeson action movie,Takenwas one of Spielberg’s many explorations of extraterrestrials. In this case, he explores the idea of alien abduction and its consequences.
TheTakenminiseries is set between 1944 to 2002, centering on three families who all have close encounters with aliens and a connection to a mysterious device called the “Artifact.”
From the Roswell crash to human experimentations, Spielberg stretched his creative sensibilities as he depicted all possible angles of extraterrestrial encounters. And given its intriguing angle, this is one of the best sci-fi TV series for geeks!
3.Five Came Back(2017)
This Netflix documentary miniseries finds Spielberg highlighting five American filmmakers from Hollywood’s Golden Era—John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, Frank Capra, and George Stevens—and their involvement in World War II with their war propaganda films.
Spielberg brought in four other directors to help him out: Francis Ford Coppola talks about Huston; Guillermo del Toro showed Capra’s legacy; Paul Greengrass discusses Ford; Lawrence Kasdan emphasizes Stevens' efforts. Spielberg himself focused on Wyler, who lost his hearing during the war.
Five Came Backis more than a treat for cinephiles. It’s an eye-opener about war, sacrifice, and the power of film.
2.Animaniacs(2020–2023)
Arguably Spielberg’s most memorable TV effort,Animaniacsfollows the Warner siblings—Yakko, Wakko, and Dot—and their unabashed musical misadventures around the Warner movie lot.
Other characters also join in the fun, including Slappy Squirrel, The Goodfeathers, Dr. Otto Scratchansniff, and Pinky and the Brain.
Every episode is everything you’d expect from a totally insane 90s equivalent toLooney Tunes: slapstick, parodies, meta humor, fourth-wall breaks, social commentary, and innuendos.
It’s clear why this show is a touchstone of 90s animation, and we wouldn’t fault anyone for saying thatAnimaniacsis one of the best Steven Spielberg TV shows of all time.
Related:The Best 90s Cartoon and Animated TV Shows, Ranked
1.Band of Brothers(2001)
AfterSaving Private Ryan, Spielberg and Tom Hanks teamed up for another WWII project, this time based on Stephen E. Ambrose’s non-fiction book about Easy Company, 2nd Battalion on their skirmish from Normandy to Bastogne.
Much like inSaving Private Ryan, it’s the harrowing portrait of war that’s the highlight of this HBO miniseries, most of which is based on Ambrose’s in-depth research and interviews of E Company veterans.
The soldiers from E Company have endured the hardest hurdles of their lives, and their sacrifices are dutifully honored in this miniseries. If you loveBand of Brothers, you should also catch the companion seriesThe Pacificand the upcoming seriesMasters of the Air.
Read next:The Best War TV Shows of All Time, Ranked
