One Tree Hill is coming back! Here are the 10 Greatest TV Spin-offs of All Time, Ranked

As our TV watching habits keep shifting, one thing remains constant – our obsession with interconnected universes. These days, they're everywhere! From the MCU's epic gathering of all three Spidermen to the 90s sitcom crossovers where fans erupted in cheers seeing ER's Doug Ross, played by George Clooney, get a date with Monica in Friends.

Television, in particular, offers a treasure trove of opportunities to explore characters and worlds we already love, branching off in new and exciting directions. It hits the sweet spot, especially now during the ongoing IP boom. While some spin-offs fall flat (we're looking at you, Joey), others enhance the original world and, sometimes, even surpass it.

Here are 10 TV spin-offs that we believe truly shine!

10. Fear the Walking Dead (2015-2023)

The Walking Dead threw us straight into the chaos of a zombie apocalypse, running for 11 seasons and concluding in 2022. But its spin-off, Fear the Walking Dead, took a different approach, exploring what happened before the undead ruled the world, showcasing the shift from normalcy to survival mode. Eventually, the series caught up to the original, with events occurring simultaneously but in different parts of the country (Los Angeles and Georgia). Despite the risk of overcrowding, the success of both shows proves that the zombie craze is far from over.

9. That '90s Show (2023)

That '70s Show had a failed spin-off, predictably named That '80s Show, which flopped before it even reached mid-season. So, it was uncertain whether another attempt would capture the original's magic. Thankfully, That '90s Show delivers. Unlike Frasier, which reinvented itself, this spin-off drops a new group of kids into familiar territory, complete with enough nostalgic cameos to keep fans happy. Anchored by Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) and Red (Kurtwood Smith), who still have plenty to offer, the new gang is basically a 90s version of the original 70s crew, dealing with the era's unique challenges. It's not groundbreaking, but it fills the void better than expected.

8. Law & Order: SVU (1999-present)

Law & Order: SVU has outlasted the original Law & Order and its many spin-offs, reigning supreme as the ultimate franchise leader. On air for over 20 years, with some original cast members still around, it’s a true spin-off success story. Focusing on detectives handling 'special victims' cases, including children and sex crime victims, there's something oddly comforting about the show. Yes, it sounds strange, and maybe we should talk to a therapist about it, but there's nothing quite like a marathon of endless monster-of-the-week episodes, all introduced by the iconic theme song.

7. The Hills (2006-2010, 2019)

Reality TV spin-offs often get overlooked, but they offer some of the most expansive universes out there (The Real Housewives franchise alone has 27 spin-offs!). The Hills is arguably the best of the bunch, and it significantly shaped early 2000s tabloid culture. A spin-off of Laguna Beach, which itself was a reality TV spin-off of The OC, The Hills followed Laguna Beach star Lauren Conrad as she moved to LA to work as a Teen Vogue intern and live the high-society life with her friends. The show made stars out of Heidi and Spencer and gave Natasha Bedingfield’s song “Unwritten” a surprise boost in popularity. They attempted a reboot in 2019, but some things are better left in the 2010s.

6. The Good Fight

The Good Fight tapped into the universal truth that you can never have too much Christine Baranski. Picking up a year after The Good Wife’s finale, this spin-off centers on Baranski’s character, Diane Lockhart, who finds herself joining a new law firm after losing her savings in a scam. It’s hard to be objective about Baranski because she’s simply captivating on screen, but the series is well-rounded with a stellar supporting cast, including Rose Leslie, Audra McDonald, Michael Sheen, and Mandy Patinkin. It’s part courtroom drama, part social commentary, and entirely excellent.

5. House of the Dragon (2022-present)

A Game of Thrones spin-off was always going to happen, and it was destined to be a massive hit. There are too many unexplored timelines in George R.R. Martin’s original work to resist diving deeper. House of the Dragon is a prequel, focusing on the Targaryen lineage and set 170 years before the events of Game of Thrones. The show delivers everything you’d expect from the franchise, including violence and an abundance of platinum wigs. Naturally, more seasons are on the way.

4. Angel (1999-2004)

Shifting from the vampire hunter’s perspective to the vampire’s, Angel spins off David Boreanaz’s tortured vampire character from Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Sunnydale to a new setting: Los Angeles. After realizing his relationship with Buffy is doomed, Angel moves to LA, where he works as a private detective with a supernatural twist (it’s always demons). The show ran for five seasons, offering a similar monster-of-the-week format as Buffy but set in a grittier, urban environment. Arguably a more mature off-shoot, Angel occasionally brought in guest stars from Buffy, ensuring fans never forgot where it all started.

3. Better Call Saul (2015-2022)

Creating a spin-off from a show centered on an anti-hero is risky, but Breaking Bad was up to the challenge. Better Call Saul serves as both a prequel and sequel, thanks to its long run. The series follows fan-favorite Saul Goodman, exploring his transformation from a conman to a well-meaning but flawed lawyer. Bob Odenkirk shines in the role, as he does in nearly everything he’s in, and the Breaking Bad universe continues to captivate long after the original series ended.

2. Frasier (1993-2004)

There are two ways to make a successful spin-off: either lean heavily into the existing world or create something so different that viewers almost forget the original characters. Frasier did the latter, taking Kelsey Grammer’s character from Cheers and placing him in a completely new setting as a radio host in Seattle. Focusing on the upper-class lives of Frasier, his brother, and father, the show became a staple of 90s sitcoms. Running for 11 seasons, just like Cheers, Frasier was so beloved that a reboot is in the works, creating a spin-off within a spin-off.

1. The Simpsons (1989-present)

The ultimate spin-off that most people don’t even realize is a spin-off, The Simpsons started as short digital sketches on The Tracey Ullman Show, running for three seasons. The characters looked a bit rougher back then, more like the knock-off versions you might see in Times Square. Eventually, the concept was expanded into a full-length series, and the rest is history. The Simpsons has been on the air for over 30 years and has an uncanny knack for predicting the future. Although it might have passed its peak, The Simpsons is a lasting testament to the power of a good spin-off.