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For Sale Apr 18, 2026 at 8:22 AM

What is the most successful sitcom ever business wise?

Posted by coatimundos

What was the most successful sitcom of all time business wise? I’ve been trying to find data on which sitcom was the most successful business wise, but couldn’t find definite data for the most successful sitcoms in terms of ratings, revenue, reception… just the same lists of famous highly successful sitcoms, but it’s hard to get hard data to compare them. Does anyone know where this data could be found? Obviously comedy is subjective, so I’m not asking what’s the “best” sitcom.
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SolarAU Apr 18, 2026 +991
If you consider animated shows, The Simpsons is by far the most successful sitcom ever created. Between licensing, syndication and merchandising rights, it has printed BILLIONS. I can't say for sure but I saw a $14 billion figure somewhere. It also lives rent free in my head as a 30 something millennial. My similarly aged friend group still throws out 20 year old Simpsons references in our regular vernacular. This is aside from the question of business success but I still rate The Simpsons as being one of the most well written and intelligent shows ever conceived. It has been pure art to write a show that appeals to the humour of both children and adults. As an adult you draw new and deeper meaning from jokes you once giggled at as a kid.
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russbii Apr 18, 2026 +377
It’s a perfectly cromulent sitcom.
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TheBigNorwegian Apr 18, 2026 +142
Come along Bort.
142
_Punderful_ Apr 18, 2026 +50
Are you talking to me?
50
Ill_Football9443 Apr 18, 2026 +58
No, I too am named Bort
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SlackDaddy_G Apr 18, 2026 +42
We've run out of Bort licence plates, I repeat, we have run out of Bort licence plates.
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NhylX Apr 18, 2026 +57
It embiggens the smallest man.
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MontiBurns Apr 18, 2026 +104
Just to add, The Simpsons has also had the strongest international presence of any modern sitcom. When I lived in South America, I knew a few people who were into friends. But there were tons of people who were into the Simpsons.
104
Blooder91 Apr 18, 2026 +24
Name checks out.
24
rayword45 Apr 18, 2026 +4
I can't find it, but I read an article a while ago that claimed international sales are like 50% of the reason why the show is still going. Barely anybody in the US is watching new episodes today (a notion that Nielsen numbers support, shaky as they may be) but in Europe, Asia and *especially* South America it's still a cash cow lactating gold from its udders.
4
guyincognitoo Apr 18, 2026 +10
While I agree that it's popular, some people take it a bit too far and make references to the show in their everyday life, like online usernames. Those people are weird.
10
katikaboom Apr 18, 2026 +93
My 15 year old says "Everything's coming up Millhouse!" whenever things work out in his favor, and we all tell our brains to shut up or we'll poke them with a q-tip as shorthand to say we're anxious about stuff. I love that there are still Simpson quotes going from when I was a kid
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KelVarnsen_2023 Apr 18, 2026 +46
Plus the fact that you named your kid Milhouse shows how much influence the show has.
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Andromeda321 Apr 18, 2026 +14
I’ve thought about this in the sense that only a few things in culture are big enough that phrases from it enter the everyday language. (Random phrases from Shakespeare plays are a good example of this.) The Simpsons are an example of that- even people who don’t know the show probably know what “d’oh!” means and variants of the phrase “I for one welcome our new insect overlords” comes up a surprising amount.
14
Tommytrist Apr 19, 2026 +9
“Yoink” is from the simpsons as well!
9
Chateaudelait 6 days ago +7
Our family Scrabble house rules allow the words Kwyjibo and Cromulent.
7
TeeJayReddits Apr 18, 2026 +6
It will be like Shakespeare. In three hundred years nobody will realize where the expressions came from because they will be such a part of every day language.
6
beefcrispynoodle 6 days ago +2
In 300 years, ppl will still be trying to get past the purple aliens in the Simpsons Nintendo game.
2
Sirwired Apr 18, 2026 +69
If you think it was dominant when you were a kid, imagine what it was like when it debuted in the early 90’s. It was everywhere, complete with obligatory hand-wringing about it hastening the decline of civilization.
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bretshitmanshart Apr 18, 2026 +10
George and Barbera Bush both used it as an example of America lacking morals. The writers wrote a letter in the voice of Marge to Barbera explaining how they aren't perfect but they try to be good people. Barbera responded by apologizing and saying they seemed like good Americans
10
lrodhubbard Apr 18, 2026 +23
In a way, it did. Its staggering success enriched Rupert Murdoch, billionaire tyrant. What he did with that money was unconscionable.
23
Outrageous_Arm8116 Apr 18, 2026 +21
For those who don't remember, pre-Simpsons, there were only 3 broadcast networks" ABC, NBC and CBS. Fox was an upstart with virtually no original programming. In Living Color, Tracey Ullman, and Married, With Children were it, but their audiences were very niche. The Simpsons made that network in every conceivable way.
21
finny_d420 Apr 18, 2026 +6
The Simpsons was a spin off from Tracey Ullman Show. They were shorts that would play between skits. The first full episode aired Dec 1989.
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Outrageous_Arm8116 Apr 18, 2026 +3
Yup
3
LandoDupree Apr 18, 2026 +5
Absolutely. If not for the simpsons there's no way they get the nfl contract in 1994, which absolutely took them from a clear #4 network after the established 3 to equal or better footing with abc/nbc/cbs. If it wasn't for the simpsons their affiliate #s would have remained low enough that the nfl might not have even accepted a bid
5
enterprise128 Apr 18, 2026 +4
and Poochie
4
harrisarah 6 days ago +3
According to [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_media_franchises) it's 5 billion for the Simpsons. Big takeaway from this list is children's shows are king of the money printers. And: Sesame Street at 7.7 billion Power Rangers 8.6 billion Star Trek 11.2 billion SpongBob Squarepants 16.6 billion and on top of the pile, but maybe not for long - Looney Tunes at 17.4 billion. Starting nearly 100 years ago
3
_Diskreet_ Apr 18, 2026 +8
Don’t forget how the Simpson’s have predicted so many things.
8
fartingbeagle Apr 18, 2026 +10
A monorail? 🚝
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MadPiglet42 Apr 18, 2026 +8
There ain't no monorail and there never was!
8
pinkkittenfur Apr 18, 2026 +4
I hear those things are awfully loud.
4
meeclayt Apr 18, 2026 +5
It glides as softly as a cloud.
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pinkkittenfur Apr 18, 2026 +3
Is there a chance the track could bend?
3
marctx Apr 18, 2026 +4
Not on your life, my Hindu friend
4
atlantagirl30084 Apr 18, 2026 +3
Also Seigfried or Roy getting mauled by a tiger. I can’t remember which was mauled in the show or real life.
3
ATXBeermaker Apr 18, 2026 +2
I was trying to do something the other day and it went perfect the first time I tried and I just blurted out, “Everything’s coming up Milhouse!” My teenage son looked at me and just said, “What in the world does that mean??” Had to try explaining the history of the phrase and how I’ve pretty much been saying that every time something goes well for me for the past few decades.
2
AnonymousTimewaster Apr 18, 2026 +1175
I think people underestimate just how popular Friends still is internationally. Seinfeld doesn't even come close internationally.
1175
sulfater Apr 18, 2026 +129
If you go on the Warner Brothers Studio tour in LA, it becomes super clear they still consider it one of their most important franchises, if not the most, based on how much of it is sprinkled throughout the lot and tour.
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mikevago Apr 18, 2026 +83
Heck, they have two gift shops: the *Friends* gift shop, and the "everything else WB has ever made" gift shop. Which includes Looney Tunes, DC comics, Harry Potter, and of course 100 years of movies. (One of my biggest disappointments on the tour was how franchise-oriented it was, and there was barely an acknowledgement that they also made *Casablanca*, *The Maltese Falcon*, and *A Clockwork Orange*.
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sulfater Apr 18, 2026 +22
Looking back, I wish I had done the classic movies tour instead of the general. Our guide asked our tour group what we were interested and the majority of the group was in alignment that they wanted to hear about The Big Bang Theory which threw me for a loop. I thought I’d be hearing about the lots storied history throughout movies and instead I was learning about all the various places where Sheldon and Leonard were running around.
22
hannahstohelit 6 days ago +6
The classic movies tour is basically the same as the regular tour except they skip the Friends fountain photo op so that was excellent
6
dude1995aa Apr 18, 2026 +3
I worked at WB TV in the early 2010s (IT). The big ones were Friends (years after production finished), Judge Judy, and just trailing was Ellen. Syndication was where the money was really at (and primetime major networks were already beginning to decline). Imagine that Friends, Big Bang theory are still top dogs.
3
Scribblyr 6 days ago +3
Even though it's NOT a franchise! That tells you all you need to know.
3
Rewdboy05 Apr 18, 2026 +9
You're not kidding. It's almost unsettling how much of that tour is devoted to a show that ended 22 years ago. Like seeing your best friend from childhood still wearing their high school class ring at 40
9
ivylass Apr 18, 2026 +62
The Friends actors receive 2% annual royalties. That works out to $20 million a year, each.
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FX114 Apr 18, 2026 +48
Even Gunther was making half a million a year in royalties.
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WoodpeckerGingivitis Apr 18, 2026 +17
Honestly insane
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FX114 Apr 18, 2026 +22
All from lying about being able to use a cappuccino machine.
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iamk1ng Apr 18, 2026 +10
I had read somewhere that he was the only one who knew how to use the machine which is how he got the part?
10
FX114 6 days ago +11
I may have mixed that part up. The story was that they realized the cappuccino machine on set actually worked, and asked the extras if anyone knew how to use it. He either did, or lied about it, and got bumped up. Then, presumably because of his unique look, he started to get roped into stories.
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iamk1ng 6 days ago +6
Yea I don't think he lied I think he was the only one who knew how to use it because he had experience with it. But thats what I read.
6
Wazzoo1 Apr 18, 2026 +8
Not quite. He only got royalties if he spoke in the episode. He appeared in 185 episodes, but if you consider how few episodes he actually had lines, and the fact royalties for non-main characters is about $1,000/episode, it's not as much as you think.
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bourton-north 6 days ago +7
Royalties aren’t going to be $1,000 per episode, that would suggest his speaking episodes only need to be shown 500 times a year to get him his paycheck. It’s going to be a few dollars, but they are broadcast every day, all over the world, probably thousands of individual broadcasts a day. Those dollars will add up that way to a half million.
7
Outrageous_Arm8116 Apr 18, 2026 +22
And they can all thank David Schwimmer. When their contracts were up for renewal, the network wanted to negotiate with each separately. Schwimmer convinced his co-stars that if they insisted on a take us all or we walk deal, they could all get really rich. And he was right .
22
[deleted] Apr 18, 2026 +171
[deleted]
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Sirwired Apr 18, 2026 +58
I’d say the most lopsided streaming deal will be when Netflix paid Starz online streaming rights for… *Disney’s library.* from 2008 - 2012. $30M/yr. Starz and Disney both gave away the store for pretty much free.
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Randyd718 Apr 18, 2026 +9
Netflix paid "over" 500 mil for 5 years of Seinfeld though?
9
uses_irony_correctly Apr 18, 2026 +32
McDonalds had a Friends promotion campaign THIS YEAR. There is no question that it's the bigger show.
32
smudgeonalense Apr 18, 2026 +203
I'm Irish in my 30s, people my age still endlessly re-watch and endlessly quote Friends to each other. I've never heard any of my friend group mention Seinfeld.
203
highgravityday2121 Apr 18, 2026 +24
I saw that the show writer said that friends is the time of your life after you leave your family and before you start your own family where your friends are your family. That is super relatable to everyone around the world.
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AnonymousTimewaster Apr 18, 2026 +94
Yeah I'm in the UK. Never heard anyone in real life talk about Seinfeld. Never even seen it playing on TV. Friends used to have prime time s**** though even well after it finished its run. My FIL hates anything "too American" but still finds himself quoting Friends and particularly loves Ross.
94
Divine_fashionva Apr 18, 2026 +43
In the UK, the Friends finale was the most viewed single episode of a television show for an entire decade The show was and continues to be huge over here. Its global reach is massive. It’s used as a learning tool in a lot of Asian countries for learning English. A few members of BTS talked about this in an old interview
43
jpk36 Apr 18, 2026 +6
Now I’m imagining everyone in Asia talking like Chandler
6
redsyrinx2112 Apr 18, 2026 +11
Could I *be* any better at teaching English?
11
Alzakex 6 days ago +2
Very helpful for identifying the verb in the sentence, as well as teaching the subjunctive/hypothetical mood.
2
Jimlish Apr 18, 2026 +5
Had a friend from Peru who did kind of talk like chandler because he learned English as a kid by watching friends.
5
IAmGrum 4 days ago +2
There was an article about how many (if not most) young Latin American baseball players learned English from watching Friends reruns on TV during their downtime. I can't remember, but one player even had the theme song as his walk up music for each time he came to bat.
2
freezerbreezer Apr 18, 2026 +12
Same, snd I am from India
12
dirtyharry2 Apr 18, 2026 +8
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
8
AbroadTiny7226 Apr 18, 2026 +31
Seinfeld’s comedy is kind of uniquely American. Most of the humor in Seinfeld comes from Jewish-American comedy so it probably doesn’t translate as well internationally
31
Wazzoo1 Apr 18, 2026 +10
Not only that, it's very New York. Friends was based in New York, but it really could have been in any major city. Seinfeld only works in New York.
10
rayword45 Apr 18, 2026 +10
It only works in 90s New York lol, anyone living here now can point to a million different things in each episode that would seem utterly ludicrous today, even if you exclude anything related to technological advancements.
10
frezz Apr 18, 2026 +8
I don't think this is true. I'm Australian and I'd say Seinfeld is extremely popular here. I can't say if it's more popular than Friends, but it's definitely incredibly popular and very often quoted
8
kratomdevil Apr 18, 2026 +9
To be fair, Australians have a much better grasp on satire and sarcasm than most of the rest of the world.
9
AbroadTiny7226 Apr 18, 2026 +5
I can say for a fact that it is true. Just read the rest of this thread. I like Seinfeld way more than Friends but it just isn’t even in the same stratosphere as friends in terms of international popularity. This topic has been discussed for years and there are tons of articles about it
5
DonJulioTO Apr 18, 2026 +19
The whole world learns English with friends, to the point Spain even produced a knock off to teach people Spanish. I think the only other contender would be MASH, but you can't really compare the eras.
19
RosieFudge Apr 18, 2026 +18
Also Friends naturally lent itself to merch in a way Seinfeld didn't. And not just merch but other monetising opportunities - to this day you can visit "Friends experiences" with set mock ups etc. lastly Friends has a universal/family appeal that Seinfeld never had. Really when you factor everything in it's not even close
18
redsyrinx2112 Apr 18, 2026 +8
I like Seinfeld better than Friends, but I would much rather hang out with the Friends characters.
8
KA1N3R Apr 18, 2026 +22
Yeah, (comparatively) nobody knows about Seinfeld in Europe
22
CZJayG Apr 18, 2026 +4
Yup. I'm in Panama, mid 40s and work with kids half my age that are obsessed with Friends and never heard of Seinfeld.
4
nartnoside Apr 18, 2026 +3
I have met people in South America and Asia who were less than 5 years old when Friends ended that learned English from watching Friends.
3
Ek_Chutki_Sindoor 6 days ago +3
Yeah, Seinfeld's humor is more "American", so as to say. Friends is more accessible as a non-American.
3
WoodpeckerGingivitis Apr 18, 2026 +6
Right. It’s not a debate. The answer is Friends.
6
Nastia_dream Apr 18, 2026 +9
I honestly watched Seinfeld for the first time like 2 or 3 years ago and I think it's underrated. But I do also love Friends and I do get why it became more famous and still is even years later.
9
Divine_fashionva Apr 18, 2026 +52
Seinfeld isn’t underrated in America It just never gained a huge audience worldwide like Friends did. The humour is a lot more American centric, so it didn’t translate well to global audiences
52
LunaWabohu 6 days ago +2
Idk anyone who's seen Seinfeld here in England but plenty of people who've seen Friends
2
PunkMeWillYa 4 days ago +2
That core group of actors basically unionised in the last season and etched out a deal... Part of syndication. They have been getting $20M USD annually *since the show finished* and will for the rest of their lives.
2
camspop Apr 18, 2026 +149
It’s Friends. People all over the world learn English through the show, it’s huge internationally. That’s for live action. Maybe The Simpsons is more popular and made more money due to longevity. But Friends global appeal is massive. Seinfeld is huge in the US but really not internationally.
149
-Blixx- Apr 18, 2026 +309
I love Lucy has been in continuous syndication since 1957. It has to be in the conversation.
309
NerdAlert03 Apr 18, 2026 +109
I Love Lucy also launched a small empire. I can’t think of any other shows that accomplished this. I Love Lucy made Lucy and Desi enough money to start their own studio. Desilu studios made a bunch of hit shows through the 60’s before they sold it.
109
Toledojoe Apr 18, 2026 +94
Without I love Lucy, we might not have had Star Trek.
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StampMcfury Apr 18, 2026 +37
>Without I love Lucy, we ~~might~~ **would** not have had Star Trek. Fixed that for you!
37
FalstaffsGhost Apr 18, 2026 +15
It created the multicam sitcom format too
15
GWI_Raviner 3 days ago +2
Literally invented what would become modern television for generations.
2
chownee Apr 18, 2026 +4
It helps that Desi was a legit genius.
4
Confident_Hippo1208 4 days ago +2
And then they produced star trek!
2
OHNOPOOPIES Apr 18, 2026 +38
This is a great answer. I Love Lucy basically created the sitcom business model that still exists, including the use of 3, movie quality cameras on set, and ownership of the film that allowed for them to be syndicated. Here's a great explanation of the incredible influence Lucy and Desi had in the TV industry: https://www.npr.org/2021/01/22/959609533/how-desi-invented-television
38
AZPD Apr 18, 2026 +31
This should win because it actually created the concept of the rerun: Not being able to fulfill the show's 39-episode commitment, both Desi and Oppenheimer decided to rebroadcast popular episodes of the series' first season to help give Ball the necessary rest she needed after she gave birth, effectively allowing fewer episodes to be filmed that season. Unexpectedly, the rebroadcasts proved to be ratings winners, effectively giving birth to the [rerun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rerun), which would later lead to the profitable development of the rerun syndication market.
31
NosDarkly Apr 18, 2026 +21
Especially adjusted for inflation. Perhaps Andy Griffith Show and Beverly Hillbillies.
21
Cochise22 Apr 18, 2026 +24
Same goes for MASH. MASH and the Andy Griffith show were everywhere on syndication growing up.  
24
young_menace Apr 18, 2026 +3
This, especially when you look into the merchandising and sponsorship deals they had going on at the time. There’s a reason why there are about three or four different episodes where the Ricardos get completely new furniture, and why Desi was regarded as such a savvy businessman.
3
Starfire-Galaxy 6 days ago +2
It's so memorable. Just this afternoon, I was laughing to myself thinking about Lucy pretending to be an armchair so she can get out of the "murderer's" apartment.
2
NotQuiteACasanova Apr 18, 2026 +315
Probably Seinfeld or friends
315
One_Neighborhood8371 Apr 18, 2026 +277
friends made absolutely insane money from syndication deals alone, like we're talking billions over the years. the cast still gets huge checks from reruns and streaming rights seinfeld probably close second but friends had that global appeal that just prints money forever
277
coatimundos Apr 18, 2026 +249
Credit to David Schwimmer for insisting the cast bargain for a salary collectively as an ensemble, when the network wanted to make it the Ross show and pay him more than the others. Also he’s the king of physical comedy.
249
justanawkwardguy Apr 18, 2026 +60
What use does Greenzo have for money?
60
Ill_Football9443 Apr 18, 2026 +42
Here's an idea, decide what you want before you open the refrigerator. You just released enough hydrocarbons to kill a penguin - **THIS PENGUIN**
42
Inside_Dimension2319 Apr 18, 2026 +18
Did he just talk to me like I’m ugly?
18
Scu-bar Apr 18, 2026 +193
Why does Ross, the largest friend, not simply eat the other five?
193
chriscallan Apr 18, 2026 +37
Ohhhh, very well. This is a Joey heavy episode anyway!
37
KennyShowers Apr 18, 2026 +33
Saying Ross is the king of physical comedy when Kramer existed at the same time is the height of being just completely wrong. And outside TV, Jim Carrey was on another level from either
33
Pledgeofmalfeasance 6 days ago +3
Him with the leather pants panicking in his dates bathroom covering everything and himself with talkum powder is some of the funniest shit I've ever seen. Or when everything goes to hell and he's trying really hard to keep it together, but then his boss eats his thanksgiving leftovers sandwich... We still yell "MY SANDWICH?!?!" in this house.
3
MarshmallowsInTubas Apr 18, 2026 +20
Seinfeld was the king of syndication before streaming. Every TV Market had a Seinfeld re-run s*** which was usually close to the Jeopardy spot. Or maybe back-to-back Seinfelds.
20
FalstaffsGhost Apr 18, 2026 +4
Yeah I remember the cast saying they get like 10-20 million a year in residuals.
4
redsyrus Apr 18, 2026 +11
And merchandising too
11
Parallel-Quality Apr 18, 2026 +37
Friends has aged extremely well. Seinfeld still holds up for sure but Friends feels like it could have been made in the last 10 years, it really doesn’t feel dated at all.
37
KennyShowers Apr 18, 2026 +4
I completely disagree. Humor and general culture since Seinfeld became way more predicated around cynicism, its brand of “no hugs” comedy totally changed the game and is totally ageless. Maybe Gen Z/Alpha doesn’t have that same predisposition to cynicism of Millennials and are back to appreciating the schmaltzy sentimentality that Friends trafficked in, but to me that stuff feels so hokey and hacky.
4
CarneyVore14 Apr 18, 2026 +41
You really think so? Friends has aged poorly in my mind. Each friend comes across as toxic and unrealistic. Seinfeld feels like it has aged way better.
41
Think_Bag_2987 Apr 18, 2026 +81
>Each friend comes across as toxic and unrealistic.  All sitcoms from that era feel like that.  The big difference between Friends and Seinfeld is that friends kind of sells you on this Romanticized version of friendship that appeals to people all across the globe. Seinfeld has very American sensibilities that didn't translate to a global audience.
81
OldDekeSport Apr 18, 2026 +15
I feel like all sitcoms have characters that are unrealistic. Its a fictional show for laughs! Same with the toxicity - taking things to extremes is funny, but would be miserable in real life
15
StudsTurkleton Apr 18, 2026 +18
I think any sitcom is going to have some of that. If they were all totally normal, good people there wouldn’t be much situation to have comedy about. You wouldn’t really want to live with the Friends, work in The Office, be a detective in the 99, and the entire Seinfeld finale points out these are terrible people.
18
Horror_Cap_7166 Apr 18, 2026 +15
I’ve personally never heard that view of Friends outside of the internet. I think it’s some combination of internet sensibilities being more morally strict and people being willing to suspend their disbelief for the more outrageous plot points.
15
CarneyVore14 Apr 18, 2026 +7
I think the streaming era has caused it too. Back to back to back episodes of Ross freaking out over little things hits differently.
7
egnards Apr 18, 2026 +56
You believe Friends comes off as toxic when comparing it to Seinfeld. . .A show almost exclusively about 4 objectively horrible people?
56
redsyrinx2112 Apr 18, 2026 +3
Yeah, they literally had a rule in the Seinfeld writers' room for the characters that said "no learning and no hugging." The characters were intentionally terrible and never grew out of that.
3
WoodpeckerGingivitis Apr 18, 2026 +6
This is such a funny way to frame it. The entire point of Seinfeld is how insanely toxic they are.
6
StuMacherGhostface Apr 18, 2026 +10
>Each friend comes across as toxic and unrealistic. Seinfeld feels like it has aged way better. Did you watch Seinfeld though? Lol
10
NotMyRealUsername13 Apr 18, 2026 +16
I think you might be right if we were to analyze the content of both, but Friends is clearly the most streamed of the two today.
16
SlouchyGuy Apr 18, 2026 +8
Not Seinfeld, it's not that big internationally, was mostly an American tv show. Friends though do have worldwide fame
8
AporiaParadox Apr 18, 2026 +99
I'm not sure about Seinfeld because it seems to me that it isn't that popular outside of the United States. I have never seen reruns of Seinfeld in any European country, while Friends and Big Bang Theory still get reruns to this day all over the world.
99
ItsChappyUT Apr 18, 2026 +35
I remember living in Brazil and seeing Seinfeld and realizing that American sarcasm didn’t seem to play very well in Portuguese.
35
redsyrinx2112 Apr 18, 2026 +3
I'm not saying it's better or worse, but it is fun to have jokes that only work in one language/culture. I speak a couple other languages, so it's fun when I meet someone who speaks one of them, and we can instantly bond over those kinds of things. Likewise, it's fun when someone is learning a language you know, and they start to pick up on those things. It shows that real understanding of more than just the literal definitions and proper grammar structure.
3
Zephyp Apr 18, 2026 +9
Seinfeld ran in Norway, but it was inferior to Friends. Everybody watched Friends, many religiously. I think Friends appealed to a wider audience, getting younger viewers.
9
eplusl Apr 18, 2026 +23
Exactly. In France friends is super famous. Most people have never heard of seinfeld. 
23
seanalltogether 6 days ago +4
In the UK, Comedy Central has slowly morphed into the Friends channel. It's at least 8 hours or more of Friends episodes every single day.
4
XionV2 Apr 18, 2026 +11
Seinfeld has been playing in Portugal in re-runs ever since it finished.
11
ucd_pete Apr 18, 2026 +42
Friends was more popular overseas
42
DanHero91 Apr 18, 2026 +29
I think the cast of Big Bang Theory got paid more than Seinfeld but less than Friends. Charlie Sheen was above all of them with something insane like 2 million an episode for Two and a Half Men.
29
coatimundos Apr 18, 2026 +26
Which is crazy because 2 and a half men doesn’t have nearly as much longevity. Seinfeld and Friends are still very popular
26
Parallel-Quality Apr 18, 2026 +31
But Charlie Sheen *was* Two and a Half Men. Once he was gone, the show fell off a cliff. So it makes sense that he would command the highest salary.
31
alh84001_hr Apr 18, 2026 +6
The thing is 2 and a half men is run on repeat on one of the local stations around 10 pm, two episodes per day. Other shows come and go, Friends, TBBT, Fresh Prince..., but for some reason this just keeps on going. And I'm all for it :)
6
rayword45 Apr 18, 2026 +2
> Which is crazy because 2 and a half men doesn’t have nearly as much longevity. Oh how I wish this were true. I just checked and according to TV Guide I can catch 2.5 men on ANY of these channels throughout the next week (or I would if I paid for cable, at least). * WPIX (CW affiliate) * USA * BBC America * E! * IFC * Paramount Network Though I would concede you're right if you equate longevity to actual cultural relevance. The only reason 2.5 men has had longevity is because the median age for cable viewers is literally 65.
2
Allcyon Apr 18, 2026 +3
Funny enough, neither show would exist without Wings.
3
nitewalkerz 6 days ago +3
Seinfeld is really not popular outside of US, Friends is everywhere.
3
StuMacherGhostface Apr 18, 2026 +5
Friends is more popular than Seinfeld
5
ItsChappyUT Apr 18, 2026 +120
Horsin’ Around.
120
ocelot08 Apr 18, 2026 +33
Back in the 90s?
33
bigdrubowski Apr 18, 2026 +22
It was a very famous TV show...
22
honkeycorn Apr 18, 2026 +7
Hey! Aren’t you the horse from Horsin’ Around?!
7
OleMaple Apr 18, 2026 +8
The finale was a bit dark though.
8
larini_vjetrovi Apr 18, 2026 +55
Sorry for the spelling As a standard sitcom there is definitely Friends and Seinfield. I know that some people consider Friends overhyped, but actors still make huge money per year which is saying a lot. And in animated one there are the simpsons. I think they are still number 1 in animated one section because they are the longest running one and still have a huge fanbase after all these years.
55
Kujaichi Apr 18, 2026 +99
All the answers saying Seinfeld really show that the commenter is American, lol. Seinfeld is nowhere near as popular as Friends internationally.
99
redsyrinx2112 Apr 18, 2026 +20
Seinfeld is one of my favorite shows ever. I can talk until I'm blue in the face about the bigger impact it had on sitcom *writing*. I think it's more original, clever, and a host of other things. (This is not me shitting on Friends at all. I still enjoy the show. I travel for work and it's one of my go-to options when I'm in a hotel since I know it will always be on.) Friends is the bigger show by far—both internationally and inside the US. I don't know how people can't see that.
20
Dudeman318 Apr 18, 2026 +23
Even domestically friends is far more popular. Its just people's bias and weird hate for friends 
23
Exotic_Way_7465 6 days ago +2
Seinfeld is like the Beatles and Elvis. Friends is like Michael Jackson.
2
Hoger Apr 18, 2026 +42
Not sure where this data may be. I doubt there is a clear answer. You may never have access to 100% accurate data, including streaming numbers and payment, and merchandising deals. My sense is that it’s probably Friends, which would pip Seinfeld on merchandising, I think. And it could change year-on-year if one of them did major a new deal. But are you including spin-offs? I imagine Cheers and Frasier would do well if they were combined but still probably not top 5.
42
BeekyGardener Apr 18, 2026 +21
One of the intriguing parts of the last writer’s strike was seeing the streaming companies not wanting streaming numbers public not just to cheat residuals and filmmakers, but also because they were concerned people would know how popular/unpopular something truly is. Streaming only productions don’t get beaten as hard as flops in theaters. They don’t take the stock hits. It also makes it easier to kill popular expensive productions in favor of cheaper unpopular ones. Lack of numbers can also impede bad word of mouth.
21
coatimundos Apr 18, 2026 +3
Should spin off success be included in a parent show?
3
nikukuikuniniiku Apr 18, 2026 +8
I think a franchise should count if you're looking at it in business terms. How much does this idea earn for its creator? Look at The Office, frinstance. Ricky Gervais, afaik, gets a producer credit on every different international remake of the show.
8
Wonderful_Adagio9346 Apr 18, 2026 +2
Merchandising? *The Simpsons*
2
Mountain-Match2942 Apr 18, 2026 +18
You should probably search for longest syndicated show, as that's when the gravy rolls in. And then adjust for today's dollars. I Love Lucy jumps to mind.
18
JasperDyne Apr 18, 2026 +9
“I Love Lucy“ was the keystone to Desilu Studios. Desilu is responsible for many things, including “Star Trek.”
9
Pledgeofmalfeasance 6 days ago +2
Oh damn!
2
Daniel_Luis Apr 18, 2026 +39
I think Americans highly highly underestimate how popular Friends is globally. It's been over 20 years since the series finished and McDonald's just had a global campaign offering Friends pops in a special box. I'm in my 20s, in Portugal, and literally everyone I know got some of the pops. Everyone around me has watched the full series at least once. A friend just had a Friends themed cake for her 30th. Meanwhile no one has watched or spoken about The Simpsons in like 15 years. And no one knows what a seinfeld is. The Big Bang Theory however is pretty much just as despised I'd say
39
Suitable-Answer-83 Apr 18, 2026 +16
Friends is also incredibly popular in the US, it's more of a listnook bubble than anything else.
16
SPB29 Apr 18, 2026 +7
Am from India, 45 years old and pretty much everyone in the age group 30-50 who speaks English/ follow pop culture have a familiarity with the show, the memes the characters etc. Friends logo tshirts are still commonly worn, every major city has one (or many) "Central Perk" coffee shops... The show still runs on syndicated TV almost daily. I have noticed though that the sub 30's don't have much of an idea and the sub 25's detest the show. Like my 15 year old, will binge Simsons and Family guy but friends to him is "yucky and boring". Friends > TBBT > 2.5 men. Shows like HIMYM, the Office all have niche followings. Simpsons had a brief moment under the sun in the mid 90's but is barely recognised these days (except the bootleg Simpsons merch which people just wear because it looks cool)
7
shafrona 6 days ago +2
The popularity of the show itself, but also its influence on television in general, as similar series have sprung up everywhere. Just one example is the UK series Coupling.
2
skydude89 Apr 18, 2026 +8
I Love Lucy, Friends, and MASH would be my guesses.
8
Pledgeofmalfeasance 6 days ago +2
Oh MASH ran for decades in Norway I feel. That shit was always on. Alan Alda and the chicken on the bus traumatized the c*** out of me!
2
Funandgeeky Apr 18, 2026 +30
Friends and Big Bang Theory are two of the juggernauts
30
John54663 Apr 18, 2026 +35
The Simpson’s?
35
WoodpeckerGingivitis Apr 18, 2026 +19
r/apostrophegore
19
MagiksSon Apr 18, 2026 +9
The big bang theory was insanely popular with casual audiences but also widely hated lol
9
nikukuikuniniiku Apr 18, 2026 +23
There's this list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_media_franchises Skimming through for sitcoms, it has: 1) The Simpsons, $4.9B 2) Big Bang Theory, $4.57B 3) Seinfeld, $4.56B 4) Friends, $2.5B
23
JugendWolf Apr 18, 2026 +7
That list is wildly out of date, most of the data is from 2018.
7
nowhereman136 Apr 18, 2026 +8
Look as at the breakdown for the Simpsons. It includes Merch and box office, but not ad revenue and syndication rights. The Simpsons total is much higher. This makes me think the other numbers aren't accurate either. That list literally had Ben 10 higher than the Simpsons. No way Ben 10 has made more money Still, Big Bang, Seinfeld, and Friends are up there.
8
Hart_CO Apr 18, 2026 +6
Seinfeld had more syndication success, but in the streaming era Friends has become more lucrative. In 2019 Friends was 4% of total Netflix streaming, while Seinfeld was reported less than 1% of Hulu's. Not sure about the totals.
6
MrBen1980 Apr 18, 2026 +16
I wonder how The Office franchise plays into this. The US version alone was massive, and there are regional versions still being made
16
FalstaffsGhost Apr 18, 2026 +8
Friends and Big Bang Theory. Reruns for BBT still will regularly get higher viewership than new original programs. Plus both not only had successful tv run, they are merch juggernauts
8
Shot-Club-3882 Apr 18, 2026 +3
Friends. Commercially, critically, culturally, financially successful.
3
PeachPurple8806 Apr 18, 2026 +4
#1 is The Simpsons which has generated over $14 Billion if you consider that a sitcom. Friends generates $1 Billion annually in syndication and steaming revenue. I found this info in Fortune magazine, but it is the same on other sites
4
UHeardAboutPluto Apr 18, 2026 +66
If you include animated sitcoms, it is The Simpsons, and it isn’t even close. Excluding The Simpsons, and adjusting for inflation, it is I Love Lucy, followed by Seinfeld. However, both fall way short of the action/drama shows which traditionally, and currently, more profitable than sitcoms.
66
Arsid Apr 18, 2026 +49
Seinfeld over Friends?
49
StPauliPirate Apr 18, 2026 +61
Seinfeld is big in the US. Friends is big in the US & abroad. Unless the US money it got is insanely huge, I don‘t think it surpasses Friends
61
JK_NC Apr 18, 2026 +7
Has to be Friends. I believe it’s still popular globally. My understanding is that Seinfeld’s comedy didn’t translate well and doesn’t enjoy anywhere close to the same popularity outside the US.
7
Johnnygunnz Apr 18, 2026 +8
Does the Simpsons count as a sitcom?
8
PrawnShamble Apr 18, 2026 +3
Mr Bean
3
jrtasoli Apr 18, 2026 +3
Simpsons, Seinfeld, or Friends. Doubt anything else comes close. Perfect case of being in the right place at the right time: rose up at the height of the broadcast boom, peaked during the syndication era when cable became more widely available, and rode the wave into the nostalgia / streaming era. I think if I had to guess it’s probably Simpsons > Friends > Seinfeld, but I could be completely wrong on that. Seinfeld and Friends had massive streaming deals ($500 million from Netflix for Seinfeld, $425M from Max for Friends to get it away from Netflix), but Simpsons has just so much longevity and a seemingly endless stream of marketing revenue. There’s bicoastal theme park attractions, video games, apparel (I can’t find the MLB / Simpsons hat from Lids from my favorite team still) an ongoing toy line, plus it’s still on the air. Plus folks forget that FX deal for The Simpsons a decade ago that was worth like $750M. I don’t think anyone is touching that. Everyone talks about the X-Men Marvel characters being a big driver for the Disney / 20th Century acquisition, but Simpsons has to be a major revenue stream for the Mouse.
3
theartfulcodger Apr 18, 2026 +3
There was a recent Listnook post claiming that both *Buffy the Vampire Salare* and *Malcolm in the Middle* have each made more than $100M in streaming / rerun rights since going off the air.
3
TonyThePriest Apr 18, 2026 +3
I love Lucy or Friends
3
Wild-fleurs Apr 18, 2026 +3
Friends 100%
3
OG_RyRyNYC Apr 18, 2026 +5
The most successful sitcom is probably I Love Lucy… which literally invented the rerun, there by making the television studio one of the MOST SUCCESSFUL in the history of Television.
5
IsThisUsernameAyOk Apr 18, 2026 +5
Mash still holds the record for most watched tv episode with like 125 million for the series finale. Something like 75% of people with TVs saw that finale.
5
Particular_Ring_6321 6 days ago +2
That’s not what the conversation is about lol
2
Glass_Ad9489 Apr 18, 2026 +4
Friends
4
mopeywhiteguy Apr 18, 2026 +2
Mash would definitey be up there. Has been continuously airing re runs since the 70s and 80s. It used to be on tv every day when I was a kid 20 years ago. As others have said friends and the Simpsons are likely the top answers. the big bang theory if you include all its spin offs and Seinfeld had the cast making$1m an episode by the end so the show was clearly really business friendly. I’d also throw a show like Frasier into the ring (and therefore cheers which it spun off from). An 11 season run which was one of the biggest shows at the time and it is currently still on tv every single day in the uk and Australia
2
libra00 Apr 18, 2026 +2
I think MASH ran the longest, so..
2
fajadada Apr 19, 2026 +2
Desilu productions The Lucy Show
2
Babylon4All 6 days ago +2
Friends. 
2
ughlump Apr 18, 2026 +4
If we’re talking revenue, it’s gotta be the Simpsons. The revenue for that show alone is in the billions, not like one or two billion, I’m talking about mid teens to low twenties.
4
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