Great TV shows have the power to rest in our hearts and souls for decades after their endings. The iconic line deliveries we loved from childhood pop up at random and bring up vivid memories of specific plot lines and laughs with family members. The nostalgia for bygone times radiates from classic programs of yesteryear.
This fondness for old shows has created an environment where producers and writers seemingly are trying to reboot every old franchise known to man. If it feels like there’s more old content than new stuff these days, it’s probably more than just your intuition. We’re here to help you wade through the doldrums of the reboot carousel and find the remakes, spin-offs, and retreads that are actually worth your time when streaming. Here are the top TV show reboots to watch.
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Perry Mason (2020)
2 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Mystery, Crime
Stars
Matthew Rhys, Juliet Rylance, Chris Chalk
Created by
Rolin Jones, Ron Fitzgerald
Watch on max
Matthew Rhys excels in the lead role as Perry Mason, your grandparents’ favorite fictional lawyer back in the day. Instead of retelling the same stories that the classic series did, the Perry Mason reboot is a prequel that expands Perry’s character development and forces new viewers to go back and rewatch the mid-20th century classic either before or after this well-rounded revival. The makeup department and set directors made this one of the best notalgic trips on TV recently, even if it was canceled after only 16 episodes.
Justified: City Primeval (2023)
1 Season
Genre
Crime, Drama
Stars
Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Boyd Holbrook
Created by
Michael Dinner, Dave Andron
Watch on Hulu
The original Justified was one of the best FX dramas because it combined fantastic acting and engaging set design to bring modern Western fiction to life. Timothy Olyphant returns as Raylan Givens for more shoot-em-up action laced with personal development and family drama in this expansion of the franchise. Justified: City Primeval is a sensical reboot that expands the series without detracting from the original episodes. It might even convince new viewers to give the 2010s series a try!
Hawaii Five-0 (2010)
10 Seasons
Genre
Crime, Drama, Action & Adventure
Stars
Alex O'Loughlin, Scott Caan, Ian Anthony Dale
Created by
Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Peter M. Lenkov
Watch on paramount +
Police dramas have always littered network television, but Hawaii Five-O gave audiences a twist on the typical cop fare back in the 1970s. Its modern flair back in the day made it a perfect candidate for revival on CBS at the turn of the 2010s. The reboot was a success, lasting for a decade in an era that has long moved away from traditional TV into the streaming era. The cinematography is also even better than before, with pristine location shots and beautiful up-close vistas of Hawaii to set the tone.
The Conners (2018)
5 Seasons
Genre
Comedy
Stars
John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert
Created by
Matt Williams
Watch on Hulu
When Roseanne premiered in the 1980s, the family sitcom was edgy and fun. It depicted the struggles and triumphs of a lower-middle-class family, something that was quite contrary to the typical comedy in which finances weren’t a factor for the protagonists. The show was rebooted on ABC in October of 2018 but was quickly canceled after star Roseanne Barr made racist remarks online. The showrunners fired Barr and reworked the show into The Connors, thereby letting the other very likable cast members carry the torch. John Goodman especially has been able to take advantage of Barr’s void, and the chemistry between the whole cast remains the same as it was four decades ago.
That '90s Show (2023)
1 Season
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Kurtwood Smith, Debra Jo Rupp, Callie Haverda
Created by
Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Gregg Mettler, Lindsay Turner
Watch on Netflix
The alchemy of the original That ’70s Show cast was something unique. The show kickstarted the careers of Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and Topher Grace, who play teens from Point Place, Wisconsin. They just had something special about them, whether they were talking about underwear or smoking a joint in the basement. The revival of the Fox sitcom, That ’90s Show, gives glimpses of the original characters, but it’s the sincerity of the new kids introduced that allows this reboot to be comforting and watchable. Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith, who played parents Red and Kitty Foreman in the original series, reprise their roles here in every episode, and they don’t miss a beat.
Cobra Kai (2018)
6 Seasons
Genre
Action & Adventure, Drama, Comedy
Stars
Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler
Created by
Hayden Schlossberg, Josh Heald, John Hurwitz
Watch on Netflix
The original Karate Kid films are beloved for their coming-0f-age innocence and iconic line delivery. The continuation of this universe has been a complete success with Cobra Kai. Originally airing on YouTube before Netflix got the rights to the third season, the series is proof of social media and modern TV viewing methods being the ultimate initiator of success in the 2020s.
Battlestar Galactica (2004)
4 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Drama
Stars
Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Jamie Bamber
Created by
Ronald D. Moore, Glen A. Larson
Watch on Amazon
This legendary sci-fi hit has become so acclaimed that many casual fans are unaware that it was originally a series in the late 1970s. The 2004 reboot improved upon the original series with more up-to-date special effects, immersive acting, and gorgeous set pieces. Science fiction is a genre that really needs the help of current technology to advance its themes, and it’s inspiring to see TV show reboots actually do things the original series couldn’t.
Dexter: New Blood (2021)
1 Season
Genre
Drama, Crime
Stars
Michael C. Hall, Jack Alcott, Julia Jones
Created by
Clyde Phillips
Watch on Paramount+
Dexter gets a little lost in the shuffle when discussing the best cable dramas of the late 2000s. Competing with the likes of The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, and The Walking Dead, the serial killer thriller was a masterclass in long-form storytelling and acting by its lead, Michael C. Hall. The final seasons faltered in quality, leading to this reboot that serves as somewhat of a mulligan for the first series’ mistakes. It’s certainly not perfect, but fans enjoyed this second act for the most part in late 2021.
Bel-Air (2022)
2 Seasons
Genre
Drama
Stars
Jabari Banks, Adrian Holmes, Cassandra Freeman
Created by
Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz
Watch on Peacock
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air not only launched the career of Will Smith, but it also brought a fresh energy to the tired sitcom tropes of the 1990s. This reboot decided to reinvent the wheel yet again, going in a more dramatic direction than the original series. This is a daring decision that many other shows should consider when bringing characters and stories back to the screen all these years later.
