Top 10 Most Watched Kids Shows of All Time
#10: “Bluey” (2018-)
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“Bluey” is a show about an energetic puppy who has adventures that have captivated audiences everywhere. It’s garnered massive appeal with young children and is one of the most popular kids’ cartoons of today. In 2022, it cracked the United States’ top 10 most streamed programs. Not to mention it’s been a leading kids’ show that’s actually popular across all age groups, especially in its native Australia. In terms of total minutes streamed on Disney+, it's even beaten juggernaut shows like “Seinfeld”! It also can’t hurt that “Bluey” has got some serious accolades under its belt, including winning an International Emmy Kids Award. No wonder those involved with the show are rapidly trying to grow the franchise with merchandise and potentially even a film adaptation.
#9: “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08)
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“Avatar: The Last Airbender” followed Aang, an airbender destined to bring peace to a fractured world. This show’s popularity knew no bounds. It averaged roughly 1.1 million viewers with each episode during its original run. It was also declared the highest rated animated kids’ show in its debut year of 2005. And its ending got the attention of fans and critics too. The finale “Sozin’s Comet” had gained over 5.6 million viewers, which was a personal best for the show. We can see why this Nickelodeon cartoon was all the rage.
#8: “Peppa Pig” (2004-)
The titular Peppa Pig spends her days playing with friends and family and learning important lessons along the way. It’s a show that has been a smashing success with young kids across the globe, and we can’t emphasize that enough. The show has been viewed in 180 nations across the globe. It’s especially popular in China, with the People’s Liberation Army even publicly endorsing it. This is a show that’s spawned entire theme parks across the world and grown to become a billion dollar property. That’s right, it turns out a lot of families like seeing what Peppa Pig gets up to.
#7: “Adventure Time” (2010-18)
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As you might guess from the title, “Adventure Time” took its characters (and viewers) on all kinds of wacky adventures. And the show following Finn the Human and Jake the Dog proved to be one of Cartoon Network’s most popular cartoons. It was reportedly pulling in a whopping 2 to 3 million viewers an episode on average. And since the show dived into mature themes and brought a level of complexity to its characters, it made watching it that much more fun. It was clear throughout “Adventure Time”’s 8-year run that it would become a cult classic. And that was reflected as such through its 8 Emmy wins!
#6: “Sesame Street” (1969-)
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Since all the way back in the ‘60s, “Sesame Street” has been helping kids learn and have fun doing it. Its memorable characters, catchy songs, and important lessons have raised entire generations of kids. That’s not an exaggeration. Considering the show’s still running today, you know they’re doing something right. It’s been viewed in a staggering 150 different countries, and since its inception, roughly 86 million US kids were estimated to have seen the show. Thousands of studies conducted on the series even showed that it made a real difference in educating its audience. And with a current standing of over 222 Emmy Award trophies, “Sesame Street”’s cultural impact and legacy simply can’t be denied.
#5: “Dragon Ball Z” (1989-96)
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“Dragon Ball Z” is arguably one of the most popular animated shows ever. Viewers from all across the world have tuned in to see heavy hitters like Goku battle against the forces of evil. It found particular success in America. In certain areas of the country, its first season outperformed shows like “The X-Files” and “Friends”. During its season 3 premiere, it had delivered the highest ratings that Cartoon Network had ever seen at that time. The show was so influential it’s even seemingly had an inspiration on other shows. The Super Sonic character from “Sonic the Hedgehog” has widely been considered to be an homage to Super Saiyans. “Dragon Ball Z” has made more of an impact than you might think.
#4: “Phineas and Ferb” (2007-)
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The characters of “Phineas and Ferb” routinely get into elaborate situations and all sorts of fun. That’s not even us mentioning the platypus that lives a double life as a secret agent or the comedically ineffective mad scientist he fights. There’s no denying that this cartoon has been one of Disney Channel’s most popular. The very first episode “Rollercoaster” is the network’s most viewed episode for an original animated series ever with an astonishing 10.8 million viewers. That’s a stat that’s more than enough to solidify this as an all-timer. And while the show finally ended in 2015, a revival is currently in the works. Is summer vacation ever going to end for these guys?
#3: “iCarly” (2007-12)
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The pure chaotic energy that was “iCarly” made it a tv show you just had to be there to see every week. Its eccentric characters and bizarre plotlines made sure that you’d never find yourself bored with a single moment from this older kids’ show. And 4 of the sitcom’s episodes were among the top 10 most watched premieres for a Nickelodeon show. That included the special episode “iSaved Your Life,” which had over 11 million viewers. So with all that in mind, it’s safe to say that the Nickelodeon tv show certainly succeeded in cultivating a major following.
#2: “Wizards of Waverly Place” (2007-12)
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Not everything’s as it seems with this sitcom. What might’ve looked like just a series about teen wizards transformed into one of Disney Channel’s flagship shows. It joined the ranks of other highly-watched classics like “Hannah Montana” and “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody”. With 106 episodes spread across 4 seasons, “Wizards” was also one of the longest-running live-action Disney Channel original series. And it was a wizard with ratings too. 7 of its episodes brought in over 5 million viewers. And when “Wizards” finally concluded, the series finale brought in around 9.8 million viewers. It’s not just impressive, it’s historic! It was the highest-viewed series finale for a Disney Channel program ever. They sure knew how to work their magic with this one!
#1: “SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999-)
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The fun never stops in Bikini Bottom! We probably don’t even need to explain what this show’s about, because unless you’re living under a rock like Patrick Star, you already get the gist. “SpongeBob SquarePants” has name recognition pretty much everywhere. Former president Barack Obama’s even gone so far as to say SpongeBob was his favorite TV character. And when it comes to ratings, the sentient sponge is an undeniable draw. The show’s had more than 1 episode go past 7 million viewers. And since it’s still currently running, it’s not unlikely to see it continue to do more great numbers. “SpongeBob” has proven to be one of the most in-demand animated tv shows ever and it’s hard to doubt it!
