TV shows that featureensemble castsoften end up benefiting from it thanks to the incredible opportunities for different power dynamics and evolving relationships. Whether this is a result of the great on-screen chemistry between the actors, their individual talents, or the compelling storyline, there is no doubt that some of the greatest TV shows ever haveincredible ensemble casts.
Some TV shows stand a cut above the rest thanks to their incredibly compelling casts, though.From a crime family, a deserted group of survivors, or just an office for a paper company, these TV ensemble casts have cemented themselves in history as some of the best casting decisions of all time.
10 Greatest Western Movie Ensemble Casts Of All Time
Since the western was Hollywood’s favorite genre for decades, there are a ton of westerns with star-studded ensemble casts teaming up screen legends.
15Lost (2004-2010)
The Benchmark Of TV Ensemble Casts
Lost’s storyline revolves around the survivors of an airplane that crashes on a mysterious island in the Pacific Ocean.There are no less than 14 main characters, including surgeonJack Shephard (Matthew Fox), fugitive Kate Austen (Evangeline Lily) and lottery winner Hugo Reyes (Jorge Garcia).
Claire Littleton
Emilie de Ravin
The size of the ensemble cast was unprecedented for television, and meant thatLost’s producers were able to craft a wide array of intricate and detailed storylines on the show.Ultimately,Lostset the precedent for ensemble TV casts that many shows on this list would equal and exceed.
14Gavin And Stacey (2007-2024)
An Icon Of Contemporary British Comedy
With the final episode coming out on this upcoming Christmas Day,Gavin and Stacey’s characters are staple of British sitcoms, in large part due to its ensemble cast.This includes Matthew Horne and Joanna Page as the titular characters,with James Corden and Ruth Jones playing their best friends, Smithy and Nessa.
Melanie Walters
Gwen West
These four are supported by a wide range of talented actors who play their extended families. Corden and Jones, as well as starring in the show, also wroteGavin and Stacey, meaning thatproduction of the show could be built around the cast themselves.
13Derry Girls (2018-2022)
Razor Sharp On-Screen Chemistry
Derry Girlsis a fantastic period comedyset during the later stages of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, and follows a group of schoolgirls as they encounter the everyday challenges of girlhood while living under the threat of sectarian violence.The cast is the highlight of the show.
Siobhán McSweeney
Sister George Michael
With the chemistry of the girls, especially between Erin (Saoirse-Monica Jackson) and Michelle (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell) being a particular standout. LikeStranger Things,Derry Girlsfeatures arefreshing blend of these younger actors with the older, especially Ian McElhinney as Erin’s grandfather and Siobhán McSweeney as Sister George Michael.
12Arrested Development (2003-2019)
An Ensemble As Witty And Timeless As The Show Itself
The hilarious story of the downfall ofthe Bluth family is told inArrested Developmentthrough its incredible ensemble cast. This includes Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth, the center of the show’s story, as he grapples to keep his brother George “Gob” Bluth (Will Arnett) and, mother, Lucille (Jessica Walter) in order, along with the rest of his dysfunctional family.
Tony Hale
Byron “Buster” Bluth
Arrested Developmentis nothing short of a masterclass in TV comedy, in no small part due to the chemistry and comedic timing of its cast.
11The Office U.S. (2005-2013)
An Ensemble For The Ages
Perhaps the most iconic sitcom of the 21st century,The Officetells the story of the Scranton branch of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. From this simple premise, one of the greatest TV ensemble casts ever was born.
Phyllis Smith
Phyllis Vance
Steve Carell as hapless manager Michael Scott obviously steals the show,but it is how he interacts with the rest ofThe Office’s ensemble, including his assistant (to the regional manager) Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson),salesman Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), and receptionist Pam Beesly(Jenna Fischer), that makes the show so good.
10Seinfeld (1989-1998)
The Blueprint Of Sitcom Ensembles
Frequently called the ‘show about nothing’,Seinfeldwas seminal, not just in its depiction of everyday life in a sitcom setting,but because of how great its ensemble cast was. Jerry Seinfeld leads the line as the titular stand-up, while the character’s friends, George (Jason Alexander), Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Kramer (Michael Richards) all have their own exciting stories to tell.
Himself (semi-fictionalized)
Cosmo Kramer
Michael Richards
This quartet of charactersensured thatSeinfeldbecame something bigger than just a great sitcom, but a cultural phenomenon whose legacy and influence is immeasurably large.
A Legendary Group Of Survivors
A TV titan of the 2010s,The Walking Dead’s vast ensemble cast of characterswas one of the show’s main appeals, with these actors playing characters who navigate the hardships of a zombie pandemic. Led, for the first nine seasons, by former sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln),this group of survivors won audiences over with their compelling backstories, motivations, and individual challenges.
Lennie James
Morgan Jones
While the ensemble cast never stayed exactly the same for long, the core group of characters that madeThe Walking Deadsuch an iconic show is one of the greatest ensembles in TV history.
8Friends (1994-2004)
The Beatles Of Sitcom Ensembles
Never has an ensemble cast of TV characters been so culturally seismic asthe six main characters ofFriends-Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, and Ross. These six names have become legend in the TV industry, launchingFriendsto become probably the most iconic sitcom of all time.
David Schwimmer
Ross Geller
Love it, or hate it, there is no denying that most audiences would be able to list the six characters and their respective actors off by heart if they were asked to.
7The Sopranos (1999-2007)
The Boss
Often hailed asa game-changer for TV drama, HBO’sThe Sopranos,has achieved this status with the help of its incredible ensemble cast.The late, great, James Gandolfini plays Tony Soprano, a capo in the DiMeo crime family, but eventually works his way up to becoming the boss.
Michael Imperioli
Christopher Moltisanti
Gandolfini was supported by Edie Falco, who plays his wife, Lorraine Bracco, who plays his therapist, and a host of other fantastic actors.The Sopranos' ensemble was a TV cast of unprecedented quality when it premiered in 1999,and has since inspired other shows to match, or even exceed this quality.
6Community (2009-2015)
An Ensemble Deserving Of More Recognition
One of the most underrated sitcoms of all time,Communityis a cult-classic TV show about a study group at Greendale Community College.It is an almost perfectly cast sitcom, helping launch many of the cast members, including Donald Glover (alias Childish Gambino) to international stardom.
Ken Jeong
Ben Chang
Balancing this amazing ensemble cast’s ability to constantly play off of each other with the razor-sharp comedic writing of Dan Harmon,Communityis a show that was able to thrive creativelyand retains a strong base of fiercely loyal fans.
