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Thomas & Friends

1984 – nowShow24 seasons584 episodesTV-Y

68

GoodGoodWatch score

A heartwarming, nostalgic animated series about history and pop culture.

Good for family movie night · kids · background watch

Skip it if you want dark or edgy material

Where to watch

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Not for brutality, big ideas or scares.

Shows with

Episodes

24 seasons · 584 episodes · best: S20E28 "Tit for Tat" 9.3

Episodes

8.1

8.2

8.0

7.9

8.2

7.6

7.5

6.5

6.2

5.8

6.1

4.1

4.1

3.7

3.8

4.5

7.4

7.6

7.4

8.1

7.5

3.3

3.4

3.8

4.6

5.4

5.8

6.0

Story

Making Tracks to Great Destinations

Thomas & Friends is a British children's television series, which had its first broadcast on the ITV network on 4 September 1984. It is based on The Railway Series of books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry. These books deal with the adventures of a group of anthropomorphised locomotives and road vehicles who live on the fictional Island of Sodor. The books were based on stories Wilbert told to entertain his son, Christopher during his recovery from measles. From Series one to four, many of the stories are based on events from Awdry's personal experience.

Feels like

Preschool Comfort TV
Anthropomorphic Machinery
Nostalgic British Classic
Gentle Moral Lessons
Model Train Aesthetic
Friendship & Cooperation
Low-Stakes Adventure
Iconic Sound Design
Simple Narrative Structure

Cast

13 of 13 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors: David Mitton, Steve Asquith, Greg Tiernan
Written by: David Mitton, Britt Allcroft, Sharon Miller
Produced by: Ian McCue, David Mitton, Simon Spencer
Music by: Junior Campbell, Mike O'Donnell, Robert Hartshorne

Everyone

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

Facts

October 9, 1984 · January 20, 2021 · Still running

First aired: October 9, 1984
Latest episode: January 20, 2021
Status: Still running
Length: 24 seasons · 584 episodes
Age rating: TV-Y
Genres: Animation, Kids
Original language: English
Made in: Canada, United Kingdom, United States
Available in: 104 countries

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Thomas & Friends?"

Questions about Thomas & Friends

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Thomas & Friends?

Spectrum On Demand

In the United States, Thomas & Friends streams on Prime, Kidstream, and Sensical, and it is free with ads on The Roku, Spectrum On Demand, and Plex. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 79 other countries.

Is Thomas & Friends worth watching?

68

GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 68 (IMDb 6.5). Season 22 is the weak spot, with an IMDb average of 3.3 against 8.2 for the best season.

Which season of Thomas & Friends is best?

S1 S5 S10 S15 S20 S25

Seasons 2 and 5, with an IMDb average of 8.2. Season 22 is the weakest at 3.3. The highest-rated episode is Tit for Tat (season 20, episode 28) at 9.3, and the lowest is Panicky Percy (season 23, episode 12) at 2.3.

Is Thomas & Friends okay for kids?

TV-Y

Yes: it's rated TV-Y in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

How long does it take to watch Thomas & Friends?

49 h

About 49 hours: 584 episodes in 24 seasons of about 5 minutes each since 1984, and it's still in production.

Can I half-watch Thomas & Friends?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 2 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it good for background watching.

Will I feel good after watching Thomas & Friends?

BleakHopeful

Yes, it's an uplifting series: the title analysis rates it 10 of 10 for wholesome and 9 for hopefulness.