• A new study has revealed the most calming television shows to fall asleep to, with Bluey topping the ranking.  

• The study examined six factors to determine the overall ranking, including each television show’s IMDb rating, genre, and runtime. 

• Other high-ranking television shows include Seinfeld and Pride and Prejudice.  

A new study has determined the most calming television shows to watch at nighttime.  

For each popular television show on IMDb, anxiety experts at AmberWillo examined six factors to determine the most relaxing television shows to watch at night. These factors included each television show’s content rating, genre intensity, average IMDb rating, average episode runtime, and whether the television show contains any violence, gore, or frightening and intense scenes.  

Based on these factors, each television show was then awarded a final score out of 100. For example, if a television show contains any graphic violence or other intense scenes, it would receive a lower score in the study.  

The study reveals that Bluey is the most relaxing television show to have on at night, receiving a score of 93.69 out of 100. Since first airing in 2018, the animated children’s television show has accumulated a large fanbase. In 2024, it was revealed that Bluey was the most-streamed television show of the year, with viewers watching a staggering 55.62 billion minutes of the show. Due to its short episodes and family-friendly content, Bluey ranks as the best television show to watch before bed.  

Next is Seinfeld, with a score of 84.37 out of 100. The beloved comedy series, which first aired in 1989, has been embraced as a familiar favorite by many. Thanks to the show’s easy-viewing 20-minute episodes and comedic genre, Seinfeld is one of the top shows to watch before falling asleep.  

Mr. Bean is identified as the third-best television show to watch before going to sleep, receiving an overall score of 84.20 out of 100. The show’s visual comedy and short episodes make Mr. Bean an easy watch before heading to bed.  

The 1995 Pride and Prejudice series is in fourth place in the ranking, with a score of 81.96 out of 100. The celebrated series, which stars Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, was rated highly in the study for its romantic genre.

The U.S. version of The Office is crowned the fifth-best television show to have on at night, receiving an overall score of 80.11 out of 100 in the study. Since the show’s first season was released in 2005, the American version of The Office has developed a dedicated fanbase over the years, receiving a rating of 9 out of 10 on IMDb. With 201 episodes available, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to putting on a quick episode before bed. The Office’s comedic genre contains no graphic violence or any other intense scenes, making it a comforting nighttime watch. 

The top 10 best TV shows for relaxing, nighttime viewing 

Rank	TV Show	Score
1	Bluey	93.69
2	Seinfeld	84.37
3	Mr. Bean	84.20
4	Pride and Prejudice	81.96
5	The Office (U.S.)	80.11
6	Friends	79.98
7	Fawlty Towers	78.53
8	Haikyuu!!	78.35
9	Yes Minister	78.09
10	Arrested Development	78.04

Friends takes the sixth spot in the ranking, with a final score of 79.98 out of 100. The comedy series has acquired a cult following since the first episode aired in 1994 and remains popular to this day, receiving a rating of 8.9 on IMDb. Over the course of 10 years and 10 seasons, the show ran for a total of 236 episodes, meaning that it’s one of the most popular series to rewatch time and time again.

Fawlty Towers is named as the seventh-best television show to watch before bed, receiving a final score of 78.53 out of 100. Released in 1975, the television series is often hailed as the best of the best of British comedy, with a rating of 8.8 out of 10 on IMDb. The comedy series’ short episodes make Fawlty Towers easy viewing before heading to bed.  

The anime Haikyu!!, which was adapted from the manga series of the same name, appears in eighth place in the ranking. The popular series, which ran from 2014 to 2020, receives a score of 78.35 out of 100 in the study. The show’s relaxing animation style and short 20-minute episodes mean that watching Haikyu!! is a great way to unwind in the evenings.  

The British political satire series, Yes Minister, takes the ninth spot in the ranking, with a score of 78.09 out of 100. The beloved comedy series, which ran from 1980 to 1984, receives a high IMDb score of 8.6 out of 10. 

Arrested Development is named as the tenth-best television show to watch before bed, receiving a score of 78.04 out of 100 in the study. The American sitcom, which stars Jason Bateman and Michael Cera, first aired in 2003 but still maintains a dedicated following to this day. 

The study also identifies some television shows to avoid watching shortly before going to bed. Due to graphic violence and gore, Hannibal is identified as the worst TV show in the study to watch before falling asleep, receiving a score of only 5.72 out of 100.  

Other shows to avoid before bed include Sons of Anarchy, Dexter, Peaky Blinders, and Black Mirror.  

Ty Letang, Founder of AmberWillo, commented on the findings: 

“Television can play a surprisingly important role in how we regulate stress. Lighter, low-stakes shows can give viewers a safe space to disengage from daily pressures.  

“The most relaxing series tend to have gentle pacing, shorter runtimes, and an absence of graphic or intense content. Shows like Bluey and Seinfeld offer comfort through humor and familiarity. This makes them effective tools for easing anxiety and encouraging relaxation. With this in mind, viewers can be more intentional about creating routines that support mental wellbeing.”