The Best TV Shows on CNN+

Every CNN+ Show Ranked From Best To Worst

Notable series such as CNN Special Report and Cold War from CNN+ first graced the screens in 1980 and 1998. A broadcaster of distinction, CNN+ has aired more than 20 shows between 1980 and 2024. Dive into our updated selection of CNN+’s finest, featuring more than 20 series as of January 2026.

  • Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World
    Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World (2022)8.0

    Explore the wonders of one of the last untouched places on earth, the far-off land of Patagonia in South America.

  • 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.

  • Race for the White House
    Race for the White House (2016)7.6

    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.

  • The Sixties
    The Sixties (2014)7.4

    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.

  • 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.

  • The Windsors: Inside the Royal Dynasty
    The Windsors: Inside the Royal Dynasty (2020)7.2

    From the producers of "The Kennedys," this six-part miniseries tells the incredible, dramatic and emotional tale of the British Royal Family known as The Windsors. Using stunning archive and interviews with insiders and experts, the series weaves together the true story of the Windsor dynasty.

  • Mark Twain Prize
    Mark Twain Prize (1999)7.0

    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.

  • 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.

  • This Is Life with Lisa Ling
    This Is Life with Lisa Ling (2014)6.9

    Lisa Ling's investigative documentary series goes behind the scenes to discover the secret societies within the American society.

  • 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 Bush Years: Family, Duty, Power
    The Bush Years: Family, Duty, Power (2019)6.7

    Explore the Bush family’s internal dynamics: the influential matriarchs, sibling ambitions and unceasing competitive spirit which drove them to power. Through archival footage and interviews with historians, journalists, political figures and Bush family members, the series reveals a story of triumph, tragedy, heroism, faith, and an evolving conservatism.

  • 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 Hunt with John Walsh
    The Hunt with John Walsh (2014)6.4

    There are among the thousands of fugitives who avoid criminal prosecution in the United States every year. Find out more about these fugitives and join John Walsh in his quest to track them down and bring them to justice

  • Declassified: Untold Stories of American Spies
    Declassified: Untold Stories of American Spies (2016)6.3

    Explore the true stories of America's covert operations told firsthand by the agents who lived it, while getting unprecedented access to the riveting and secret world of espionage.

  • Have I Got News for You
    Have I Got News for You (2024)6.3

    Host Roy Wood Jr. and team captains Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black serve up a smart take on the news of the week and guide guests through comic games and panels that test their knowledge of current events.

  • Inside Politics
    Inside Politics (2021)6.0

    Anchored by CNN Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash 'Inside Politics' features the top political stories sourced by the best reporters.

  • 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.

  • Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History
    Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History (2018)5.0

    A six part docuseries that explores how 12 apostles became 1.2 billion Catholics today and goes inside the Vatican to reveal the true power held by popes throughout the ages.

  • 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.