Bryan Cranston on Breaking Bad Is Named the Greatest TV Show of the 21st Century
Following Breaking Bad, HBO’s The Wire claimed second place, while Mad Men ranked third. HBO’s Succession landed at No. 4, with Fleabag completing the top five.
Bryan Cranston has reacted to a major honor for Breaking Bad after The New York Times named the acclaimed crime drama the greatest television series of the 21st century. The actor says he is “exceedingly proud” of the achievement, which recognises the collective work behind one of television’s most celebrated dramas.
Nearly two decades after Breaking Bad first premiered, Walter White’s transformation from a high school chemistry teacher into a ruthless drug kingpin continues to leave its mark on television history.
Cranston, who portrayed White across all five seasons, recently reflected on the show’s latest milestone while attending ArtPrize, an annual art competition and cultural festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Speaking to PEOPLE, the 70-year-old actor welcomed the recognition but emphasized that the honor belongs to everyone who helped bring the series to life.
“I’m exceedingly proud of that,” Cranston said, adding that the ranking was something bestowed upon the entire creative team rather than an achievement the cast and crew awarded themselves.
Breaking Bad Beats The Wire and Mad Men in Major TV Ranking
The New York Times placed Breaking Bad at No. 1 on its list of the 100 best television shows of the 21st century, released last month.
The ranking was based on votes from 516 television industry professionals, including actors, writers, showrunners and producers. Eligible shows had to premiere on or after January 1, 2000.
Following Breaking Bad, HBO’s The Wire claimed second place, while Mad Men ranked third. HBO’s Succession landed at No. 4, with Fleabag completing the top five.
The list puts the AMC drama ahead of several influential series that have shaped modern television. Its top position also highlights the enduring appeal of a story that combined crime, family conflict, moral compromise, and a slow-burning character transformation.
The ranking reflects the collective votes of industry professionals rather than a universal consensus, but it provides another major accolade for a series that has remained influential long after its finale.
Bryan Cranston’s Walter White Became a Television Icon
Breaking Bad premiered in January 2008 and concluded in September 2013 after five seasons.
The series follows Walter White, a struggling chemistry teacher who receives a stage-three lung cancer diagnosis. Facing an uncertain future and worried about his family’s financial security, he begins manufacturing methamphetamine with former student Jesse Pinkman, played by Aaron Paul.
What starts as an attempt to secure money for his family gradually becomes a darker story about ambition, power, pride and the consequences of criminal choices.
Bryan Cranston’s performance became central to the show’s success. His portrayal of White’s transformation helped establish the character as one of television’s most recognizable antiheroes.
Paul also earned widespread acclaim as Pinkman, whose complicated relationship with White became one of the drama’s defining elements.
The ensemble cast included Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt, RJ Mitte, Jonathan Banks, Giancarlo Esposito and Bob Odenkirk.
Breaking Bad’s Awards Record Remains Impressive
The series collected 16 Emmy Awards during its run, along with two Golden Globe Awards, two Peabody Awards, and a British Academy Television Award.
Bryan Cranston won four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his performance as Walter White. Paul received three Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, while Gunn won twice for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
The awards recognized the performances, writing, and production that helped establish Breaking Bad as a landmark in prestige television.
Its critical reputation has endured through streaming, repeat viewings and continuing discussion among fans about White’s choices and the series’ morally complex ending.
Better Call Saul and El Camino Extended the Breaking Bad Universe
The franchise continued after the original series ended.
Better Call Saul, centered on Odenkirk’s character Saul Goodman, premiered in 2015 and concluded in 2022. The prequel explored the character’s evolution and expanded the world established by Breaking Bad.
In 2019, Netflix released El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, which followed Jesse Pinkman after the television finale.
Both projects gave audiences additional perspectives on the characters and stories that made the original series successful.
Why Breaking Bad Still Matters
Cranston’s reaction to the latest ranking underscores how the show’s legacy extends beyond its original broadcast run.
Its combination of tightly constructed storytelling, complex characters, and escalating consequences helped redefine expectations for television drama. The new ranking adds another distinction to an already decorated series, even as debates over the greatest television shows continue.
For viewers revisiting Walter White’s journey—or discovering it for the first time the recognition reminds them of the drama’s lasting cultural influence.
All five seasons of Breaking Bad are available to stream, allowing audiences to experience the story behind the series that The New York Times ranked No. 1 among the television shows of the 21st century.
