The Best TV Shows on CNN

Every CNN Show Ranked From Best To Worst

Premiering in 1980 and 1998, CNN Special Report and Cold War are among CNN’s most celebrated shows. CNN has delivered an expansive roster of over 20 shows, dating from 1980 all the way to 2026. As of April 2026, we’ve curated over 20 of CNN’s premier shows for your viewing pleasure.

  • CNN Special Investigations Unit
    CNN Special Investigations Unit (2007)8.0

    CNN Special Investigations Unit is an American investigative documentary program on CNN weekends. Expanding upon CNN Presents, SIU focuses on each episode being an in depth investigative report about news stories being covered, commonly featuring a number of interviews with experts on the issue and people who have witnessed the story taking place. The reports are commonly long-form, allowing for the network to cover more information and perspectives than would be available during a 5-minute report on another CNN program, such as CNN Newsroom. Compared to Presents, the show has taken a slightly larger point of the reporting being done by CNN reporters, the first commercials promoting the program largely showing pictures of anchors and reporters on locations, asking questions to people on the locations. In addition, the look and feel of the show has changed somewhat drastically, adding more emphasis on the graphics used to present the program itself, in addition to the stories being covered. In addition, presentations on SIU are shorter in length than on Presents, which is now used as a special event for larger special reports that take place on a long-term basis. Since the program's introduction, the network has slowly shifted towards relabeling past Presents presentations into SIU formatted ones, changing the graphics to reflect the new general label given to long-form reporting done by the network.

  • Jerusalem: City of Faith and Fury
    Jerusalem: City of Faith and Fury (2021)8.0

    An exploration into how a small arid town with no natural resources became a place of pilgrimage for three of the most prominent world religions, and how 3,000 years of conflicts have led directly to the struggles of today.

  • Race for the White House
    Race for the White House (2016)7.9

    From executive producers Kevin Spacey and Dana Brunetti, CNN Original Series "Race for the White House" captures the drama of how a high-stakes presidential election can turn on a single issue and so much more.

  • Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
    Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (2013)7.7

    Bourdain travels across the globe to uncover little-known areas of the world and celebrate diverse cultures by exploring food and dining rituals. Known for his curiosity, candor, and acerbic wit, Bourdain takes viewers off the beaten path of tourist destinations – including some war-torn parts of the world – and meets with a variety of local citizens to offer a window into their lifestyles, and occasionally communes with an internationally lauded chef on his journeys.

  • The Sixties
    The Sixties (2014)7.5

    The space race, the cold war, "free love," civil rights and more: The decade of the 1960s shaped our history -- and changed the world. In collaboration with Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Mark Herzog, CNN explores perhaps the most transformative decade of the modern era in a 10-part documentary series and brings new insights into how those events shaped today.

  • The Seventies
    The Seventies (2015)7.4

    A documentary series focusing on the ongoing Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, evolving music industry, the Iran Hostage Crisis, the sexual revolution, and the rise of foreign and domestic terrorism.

  • How It Really Happened
    How It Really Happened (2017)7.2

    Jesse L. Martin takes an in-depth look at some of the most notorious crimes, mysteries, trials and celebrity tragedies of our time.

  • Cold War
    Cold War (1998)6.9

    A 24-part series which deals with the relations between the United States, the Soviet Union and their respective allies between the end of World War II to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

  • The Nineties
    The Nineties (2017)6.9

    Hit rewind and explore the most iconic moments and influential people of The Nineties, the decade that gave us the Internet, DVDs, and other cultural and political milestones.

  • CNN Special Report
    CNN Special Report (1980)6.7

    In hour-long, in-depth explorations, CNN hosts examine extraordinary individuals, unexpected events and controversial subjects through interviews, stories, images and videos.

  • The History of Comedy
    The History of Comedy (2017)6.6

    Explore what makes us laugh, why, and how that's influenced our social and political landscape throughout history.

  • The 2010s
    The 2010s (2023)6.5

    Audiences are invited to look back at The 2010s, a turbulent era marked by political and social upheaval, culminating in the single most dramatic year of the 21st century: 2020. It was a decade in which social media transformed society and streaming upended entertainment, resulting in genre-defying music and ushering in the era of "peak TV".

  • Mark Twain Prize
    Mark Twain Prize (1999)6.2

    Honoring the best in American comedy annually since 1998, the recipients of the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor have included the likes of Billy Crystal, George Carlin, Carol Burnett, Bob Newhart, Steve Martin, Ellen DeGeneres, Eddie Murphy, and Tina Fey.

  • First Ladies
    First Ladies (2020)5.3

    Blending in-depth interviews, rare archival footage, and cinematic recreations, this docuseries on the lives of America's most iconic First Ladies is a bold revision of each woman's traditional portrayal, revealing how they were impacted during their time in the White House, and how their achievements fundamentally shaped American and global history.

  • Anderson Cooper 360°
    Anderson Cooper 360° (2003)5.1

    Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news.

  • At This Hour with Kate Bolduan
    At This Hour with Kate Bolduan (2014)5.0

    Weekday news and discussion airing at 11am Eastern.

  • Who's Talking to Chris Wallace?
    Who's Talking to Chris Wallace? (2022)3.7

    CNN anchor Chris Wallace, one of the most highly-respected journalists of our time, moves outside of politics to explore his wide range of interests across the spectrum of news, sports, entertainment, art and culture through candid conversations that are smart, sensible, and in-depth, guided by one of the best interviewers in the business. He seeks light, not heat.

  • The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer
    The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer (2005)3.0

    The command center for breaking news, politics and extraordinary reports from around the world. Patterned after the concept of the White House Situation Room, CNN's lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer hosts newsmakers and experts to discuss and analyze the stories that are driving today's news.

  • Tis the Season: The Holidays on Screen
    Tis the Season: The Holidays on Screen (2022)N/A

    A panoramic celebration of the beloved genre of holiday films and television specials, featuring decades of rich archival footage and lively interviews with notable celebrities, directors, producers, film critics, historians, and pop culture experts.

  • Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever
    Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever (2026)N/A

    In Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever, Swisher investigates the fast-growing world of longevity and anti-aging, cutting through the hype to separate real science from the wishful thinking. Fueled by the early death of her father and her own very serious health scare, she explores how far humans will go to extend their lives. Bringing decades of experience covering the technology industry, Swisher interrogates the belief among the world's wealthiest innovators that sheer ambition can finally outsmart mortality. In each episode, she draws on her deep connections in Silicon Valley and beyond, stepping in as both reporter and test subject to examine the unconventional emerging technologies shaping how long and how well we may live.