Thinking back to the 80s and 90s it seemed like so many television shows had these iconic theme songs that all you had to do was hear the first few notes and you know exactly what was on. Magnum PI, A-Team, Dallas, HaPPY Days, Law and Order, etc. These days I can’t really think of hardly any beside GOT and Stranger Things and I’m not sure if it’s because I’m out of the loop or just old, lol
The Office (US) definitely. Instantly recognisable and a very well known show so you'd struggle to find many, at least on Listnook anyway, who wouldn't be able to identify it after 2 seconds.
16
durangojimMar 28, 2026
Yep that’s a good one!
0
VampireHunterAlexMar 28, 2026
+23
Peacemaker S1
23
Well_Spoken_MuteMar 28, 2026
+4
I was Peacemaker for Halloween and I learned the dance!
4
tedsmittsMar 28, 2026
+1
Good lord, it must have taken you minutes!
1
Underwater_KarmaMar 28, 2026
+2
S2 opener was a huge disappointment for me
2
seancboMar 28, 2026
+1
I actually love the S2 intro as well, it grew on me a ton by the end
1
RatedC87Mar 28, 2026
The GOAT imo.
0
VanillaBear321Mar 28, 2026
+10
The OC. Californiaaaaaaaaaaaa
10
TaskebabMar 28, 2026
+19
Succession’s theme was quite instantly recognisable
19
VanillaBear321Mar 28, 2026
+2
I always remember the Succession theme because WWE copied it for Roman Reigns’ theme.
2
HandbagsAtNoonMar 28, 2026
-15
Let’s put it to the test. Someone play the first millisecond of the song and let’s see how “instantly” it’s recognized by the average joseph.
Well? Are we confident in the recognizability of the song or are we not? The defensive down votes are telling…
-15
SkreksterLawranceMar 28, 2026
+2
"The average Joseph"
2
SuperSailorRikkuMar 28, 2026
+2
Was this the requirement of the OP? Because I don’t recognize themes of any shows I haven’t seen. I can’t think of a single one.
There are plenty of shows I have seen some of or all of too that had forgettable (to me) opening songs, so my personal answer is more about whether or not I even remember the opening song at all (including do I instantly recognize it).
For me, the most memorable themes have been Buffy, Dark, and Severance.
2
durangojimMar 28, 2026
+4
There’s a YouTube channel that does just that. Pretty interesting.
4
TaskebabMar 28, 2026
+1
I don’t think the Succession theme is less recognisable than the Stranger Things theme. Now Thrones became so famous it got a life beyond the show itself, but still.
1
HandbagsAtNoonMar 28, 2026
>Now Thrones became so famous it got a life beyond the show itself, but still.
I’ve never seen Now Thrones. So I can’t speak to that. But I did see that old Bette Davis movie Now, Voyager.
0
seancboMar 28, 2026
+10
If argue True Detective season 1. Incredibly good intro.
10
TheNerdChaplainMar 28, 2026
+2
[Key and Peele](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXHi7xjOo1o) did a great parody of it for their later seasons' intro.
2
seancboMar 28, 2026
+2
*always* a bit you haven't seen lmao that's great thank you
2
rv8n8Mar 28, 2026
+6
This one:
*"Surrounded by losers*
*Misfits and boozers*
*Hanging by your fingernails*
*You made one mistake*
*You got burned at the stake*
*You're finished, you're foolish, you failed."*
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tegw25qqbAs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tegw25qqbAs)
6
BurnOutBrighter6Mar 28, 2026
+5
Breaking Bad was super characteristic. Not one you could whistle to yourself, but it definitely checks "walking by the room and immediately know what's on".
5
MargaretSparkle82Mar 28, 2026
+8
The big band theory. Crank yankers
8
supermariobruhhMar 28, 2026
+2
Daredevil
2
notmyrealfarkhandleMar 28, 2026
+1
Westworld
1
Wendora15Mar 28, 2026
+2
And West Wing. 🤔
2
Conscious-Quarter423Mar 28, 2026
+4
The Last of Us
4
HandbagsAtNoonMar 28, 2026
-4
(strums guitar self-importantly and well past the point of tedium)
-4
HandbagsAtNoonMar 28, 2026
+1
(still strumming)
1
wizardrousMar 28, 2026
+4
Star Trek: Enterprise. Whether you like it or not, you can’t deny it’s iconic.
4
contrarian1970Mar 28, 2026
+2
"well it's been a LONG long time...gettin' from there to heeeeeeeere!"
2
Notchibald_JohnsonMar 28, 2026
+2
I don't know how one mentions tbe 80s without Miami Vice or Knight Rider.
2
durangojimMar 28, 2026
+1
There were too many to list, I’d be here all day!
1
Tmon_of_QonoSMar 28, 2026
+2
Battlestar Galactica
2
RyanMcCartneyMar 28, 2026
+2
Few TV themes I rarely skipped
Fringe.
House MD (both themes)
Supernatural.
Stranger Things.
Any main theme created by Ramin Djiwadi (GOT, Westworld, Prison Break etc)
**Edit** : The OC, Smallville, Scrubs - all iconic in their own way.
2
esche92Mar 28, 2026
+1
Did Fringe and Supernatural even have themes? They only had title cards.
1
RyanMcCartneyMar 28, 2026
Supernatural adopted **Kansas - Carry On My Wayward Son**
This is the base Fringe theme. Altered here and there sometimes, the 80’s synth one in particular, was amazing.
https://youtu.be/GAgtElIOhkk?si=PXxEi7ujksi2Xxww
0
AcrylicPickleMar 28, 2026
+3
How has nobody said Firefly???
3
HandbagsAtNoonMar 28, 2026
+4
I mean, I don’t know Stranger Things, saw a few episodes years ago, can’t even remember the theme but… yeah, there are tons of examples.
I mean, Breaking Bowls? Frasier? The AI Slopranos? I mean the examples are endless. Did I say “I mean” already.
4
durangojimMar 28, 2026
+1
Fraser and the Sopranos came out in the 90s. I have no idea what Breaking Bowls is.
1
Infamous-Lab-8136Mar 28, 2026
+1
I think he means Breaking Bad, which came out almost 20 years ago now
1
JuzoItamiMar 28, 2026
+1
Personally I love the theme song to *The Detroiters*.
1
seanhakMar 28, 2026
+1
UK Game shows generally (WILTY, 1% club, come dine with me etc)
1
Noregard86Mar 28, 2026
+1
The Leftovers
1
PuronaMar 28, 2026
+1
the walking dead.
Squid games to a lesser extent.
Suits is pretty good
1
Jr05sMar 28, 2026
+1
Parks and Rec
1
Upbeat_Tension_8077Mar 28, 2026
+1
The White Lotus (particularly for the first two seasons)
1
SkreksterLawranceMar 28, 2026
+1
American Dad
1
ButterscotchPast4812Mar 28, 2026
+1
**Battlestar Galactica reimagined**
Stranger things would most definitely count. It's very iconic.
1
Jealous-Stock715Mar 28, 2026
+1
Sopranos
1
Getafix69Mar 28, 2026
+1
Black Sails had a good intro imo, same for True Blood even though I don't rate that show.
1
Wendora15Mar 28, 2026
+1
“When you walk through the garden…”
1
Underwater_KarmaMar 28, 2026
+1
It's funny, reading through these responses i honestly can't bring any of these theme songs to mind... Except game of Thrones
1
durangojimMar 28, 2026
+1
I agree. I’m trying to think of them when someone mentions it but it’s a total blank
1
Sonichu-Mar 28, 2026
-1
No.
Nothing anyone has listed so far is as iconic.
-1
DeathbyHappyMar 28, 2026
-1
Maybe not as common anymore in western media, but there are a good number of recent anime with absolute bangers for intros. Just rewatched the 1st season of Oshi no Ko (sci-fi murder mystery set in the world of Japanese celebrity culture) and found it hard to skip the opening each episode
57 Comments