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Breaking Bad

2008 – 2013Show5 seasons62 episodesTV-MA

CrimeDrama
92
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb9.5Metacritic879.4Rotten Tomatoes96%97%

A nerve-racking, gripping drama series about crime and the mind, with standout direction and performances.

Good for friends night · party vibe · binge-friendly

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing · you want to half-watch while scrolling · graphic violence bothers you

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Shows with

Episodes

5 seasons · 62 episodes · best: S4E13 "Face Off" 9.8

Episodes

8.7
8.8
8.7
9.1
9.5

Story

Change the equation.

Walter White, a New Mexico chemistry teacher, is diagnosed with Stage III cancer and given a prognosis of only two years left to live. He becomes filled with a sense of fearlessness and an unrelenting desire to secure his family's financial future at any cost as he enters the dangerous world of drugs and crime.

Feels like

  • Moral Decay Character Study
  • High-Stakes Crime Drama
  • Psychological Thriller
  • New Mexico Noir
  • Tragic Anti-Hero Arc
  • Family Dysfunction
  • Methodical Tension
  • Cinematic Storytelling
  • Dark Humor
  • Consequence-Driven Narrative

Cast

24 of 216 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Michelle MacLaren, Adam Bernstein, Vince Gilligan
Written by
Peter Gould, George Mastras, Moira Walley-Beckett
Produced by
Melissa Bernstein, Stewart Lyons, Diane Mercer
Music by
Dave Porter

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

January 20, 2008 · September 29, 2013 · Ended

First aired
January 20, 2008
Last aired
September 29, 2013
Status
Ended
Length
5 seasons · 62 episodes
Age rating
TV-MA
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Drug Use, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama, Crime
Original language
English
Also spoken
German, Spanish
Made in
United States
Available in
126 countries

Tropes

Pyrrhic Victory, The Dandy, Germanic Efficiency +9

  • Pyrrhic Victory
  • The Dandy
  • Germanic Efficiency
  • Tropaholics Anonymous
  • Arms Dealer
  • Red Herring
  • That One Case
  • Food Porn
  • Early-Installment Weirdness
  • Villain Protagonist
  • The Simple Gesture Wins
  • Bald of Evil

12 of 739 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Breaking Bad?"

Questions about Breaking Bad

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Breaking Bad?

Netflix

In the United States, Breaking Bad streams on Netflix. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 125 other countries.

Is Breaking Bad worth watching?

92
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 92 (IMDb 9.5, Rotten Tomatoes 96%, and Metacritic 87).

Does Breaking Bad get better after season 1?

Yes: season 1 has an IMDb average of 8.7, and season 5 peaks at 9.5. The highest-rated episode is Face Off (season 4, episode 13) at 9.8, and the lowest is Fly (season 3, episode 10) at 7.9.

Will I feel good after watching Breaking Bad?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 7 for melancholy, against 1 for hopefulness.

Can I half-watch Breaking Bad?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for complexity and 8 for philosophical.

What tropes does Breaking Bad use?

Pyrrhic VictoryThe DandyGermanic EfficiencyTropaholics AnonymousArms DealerRed HerringThat One CaseFood PornEarly-Installment WeirdnessVillain ProtagonistThe Simple Gesture WinsBald of Eviland 727 more

TV Tropes lists 739 tropes for it, including Pyrrhic Victory, The Dandy, and Germanic Efficiency.