Founded in 1994 as “The World's First Living Television Network” with a focus on original, live broadcast—as well as rebroadcasts of classic series—it wasn’t until the early 2000s that FX started to resemble the network it is today.

With the critically acclaimed debuts of The Shield, Nip/Tuck, and Rescue Me in the early aughts, FX began to be seen as a home for edgy, hard-hitting dramas. Today, the network continues to push the envelope, with much of its original content showcasing a certain appetite for riskiness and approaching things non-traditionally.

That through line has only become more emboldened in the streaming era, where FX has gone toe-to-toe with giants like HBO when it comes to must-watch content. For a network with interactivity and the internet in its DNA—FX was one of the first to use email for feedback in the '90s—that success seems less like a surprise and more like an expectation.

Even so, curating a list of the best shows FX has released over the past two decades is pretty tough because of the bangers the network consistently drops. But that didn't stop us from trying! So, presented in alphabetical order, here are 20 of the best FX shows of all time.

The Americans

Seasons: 6

Genre: Drama

Where to Watch: Hulu

A period drama and a political thriller, The Americans stars Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys as two KGB spies posing as a married couple in Washington, D.C. One of the defining series from the early-to-mid aughts, The Americans often graces top lists of the era alongside shows like Game of Thrones, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad—and for good reason.

With richly developed characters and exceptional writing, The Americans is to FX what The Sopranos was to HBO: a deeply engrossing slow burn buoyed by strong performances and simmering suspense. Perhaps most impressively, The Americans manages to stick the landing when it comes to finales, meaning that for first-time viewers wary of the series’s 75 episodes, the journey is well worth the time commitment.

American Horror Story

Seasons: 12

Genre: Horror

Where to Watch: Hulu

Show runner Ryan Murphy is responsible for several hit series—on FX and otherwise—but perhaps none is as idiosyncratic as the ensemble-driven horror anthology American Horror Story.

Featuring an array of big-name talent, including the likes of Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, and Angela Bassett, this series tackles a broad array of well-known horror tropes and settings. From haunted murder houses and insane asylums to covens, cults, and a paranormal reality series, no stone is left unturned in this pulpy, twisty series. While sometimes plots get a little convoluted over the course of a seasons, its gaudy sense of style and strong performances are reason enough to sit back and enjoy the bloody ride.

Archer

Seasons: 14

Genre: Adult Animation, Comedy

Where to Watch: Hulu

A hilarious animated parody of the spy genre, Archer follows the adventures of Sterling Archer and seven other agents of the International Secret Intelligence Service (yes, ISIS, but not that ISIS).

Featuring the voices of H. Jon Benjamin (Bob’s Burgers) and Judy Greer (The Big Bang Theory), this series takes visual inspiration from the bold comic style of artists like Jack Kirby and combines its approach to animation with rapid-fire dialogue similar to the work of Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing). As far as humor goes, Archer’s cynical edge and referential style neatly fits in with other modern TV comedies. However, thanks to strong character work from Benjamin, and a willingness to reinvent itself into different settings as seasons continued, Archer remains undeniably fresh in a crowded field of adult animation.

Atlanta

Seasons: 4

Genre: Comedy

Where to Watch: Hulu

Across four seasons, show runner and star Donald Glover explored themes of race and class through Atlanta’s potent afro-surrealist lens, earning recognition from the Emmy Awards and Golden Globes in the process.

While ostensibly about the life of Earn (Glover) and his rapper cousin, Alfred (Brian Tyree Henry), this comedy takes a departure from traditional multi-episode narrative arcs in favor of smaller, bottle episodes. From a stranger on the bus making a Nutella sandwich to the character of Teddy Perkins, played by Glover in white face, Atlanta has no trouble pushing the envelope to better convey the surreal experience of being Black in America. With moments like this in mind, it’s clear why Glover has compared the series to another great work of surrealist television: David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. (Watch both, they're good.)

The Bear

Seasons: 3

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Where to Watch: Hulu

While reality television has long mined chefs and restauranteurs for drama, The Bear shows that the cutthroat world of cooking doesn’t need a competition element in order to be compelling.

Visceral and raw, FX’s The Bear features an explosive ensemble cast struggling to transform a humble Italian beef joint in Chicago into a culinary mecca. Featuring career-best work from Jeremy Allen White (Shameless) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Girls), as well as a breakout performance from Ayo Edebiri, this character-driven series about how an industry’s quest for perfection is paved by trauma and toxicity is wholly exhilarating. Even in the face of its divisive third season, does The Bear deserve to be on this list? That's a resounding, “Yes, chef!”

Better Things

Seasons: 5

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Where to Watch: Hulu

Expertly balancing both comedy and drama, Better Things follows working actress and single mother of three Samantha “Sam” Fox (Pamela Adlon) as she navigates life and motherhood in Los Angeles.

Gentle, endearing, and laugh-out-loud funny, Better Things excels in large part due to the chemistry between Adlon and the series’s three young child actors. Featuring semi-auto-biographical stories and events, this series had enough heart that fans were understandably concerned it would be completely lost as collateral damage to the Louis C.K. sexual misconduct allegations. However, it thankfully survived that controversy thanks to Adlon jettisoning C.K. (as well as her own manager) in order to get seasons three through five made. Bless her.

Damages

Seasons: 5

Genre: Drama

Where to Watch: Hulu

This legal thriller starring Glenn Close and Rose Byrne goes beyond traditional legal dramas to showcase both the defense and prosecution’s sides of each case.

With a single case anchoring the full season, that also means Damages leaves plenty of room for windy character development. All the while, the relationship between the infamously ruthless Patty Hewes (Close) and her newest hire, law school graduate Ellen Parsons (Byrne), becomes more and more engrossing with each episode. Thanks to the show’s non-linear narrative techniques and willingness to leave some plot points unresolved, you’re never quite sure where a season is headed—even if you think you do. And that makes for great television.

Dave

Seasons: 3

Genre: Comedy

Where to Watch: Hulu

Created by and starring rapper Lil Dicky (aka Dave Burd), Dave is a comedic series about a man who believes he is going to be one of music's GOATs.

As you might be able to guess by learning that Dave’s on-stage persona is “Lil Dicky,” Dave is full of crude jokes. Even so, it has a lot of heart underneath its sophomoric veneer, particularly in later episodes where the price of fame is explored. Just as fun as the show’s writing are its extensive number of cameos across three seasons of episodes. From Justin Bieber, Mackelmore, and Charlamagne tha God to Lil Nas X and Drake, it’s always enjoyable to see who might pop up.

Fargo

Seasons: 5

Genre: Drama

Where to Watch: Hulu

Who would have thought that the Coen brothers’s 1996 film could be the basis for one of FX’s most engrossing anthology series?

Created by Noah Hawley and inspired by the film of the same name, Fargo features the dark sense of Midwest humor and atmosphere that made the Coen brothers' film stand out. However, rather than continuing to follow Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand), the series sets each season in a different period with a different cast. While season one features actors Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman, later seasons include Kirsten Dunst, Ewan McGregor, Chris Rock, and Lamorne Morris. If you like your crime dramas with a bit of the off-kilter, or if you love the Coen brothers, Fargo is definitely a series to watch.

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Seasons: 16

Genre: Dark Comedy

Where to Watch: Hulu

Set in the middling Paddy’s Pub, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia follows the degenerate, despicable, and all-around-hilarious exploits of the pub’s owners, collectively referred to as “The Gang.”

Renewed for a total of 18 seasons as of 2020, it’s the longest-running, live-action sitcom in history. So, what makes It’s Always Sunny worth watching? That's simple. It's how the show turns typical sitcom formulas inside out by populating the series with horrific characters, outrageous schemes, and narcissistic cons.

Featuring the talents of the incomparable Danny DeVito, and with sharp writing and acting from Charlie Day and Rob McElhenney, among others, this is a laugh-out-loud show with so many memorable moments and episodes (we’re looking at you “The Nightman Cometh”) you’ll be ready to binge it again the second you finish it. It's that good.

Justified

Seasons: 6

Genre: Crime, Neo-Western

Where to Watch: Hulu

If you like your crime dramas with a bit of western flair, there’s plenty to enjoy across Justified’s six compelling seasons.

Centered around the unconventional U.S. Marshal, Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant), the series follows a different major crime family each season. Appalachia and Eastern Kentucky serve as the perfect backdrop for a story about a modern-day law enforcement officer with more Wild West notions of justice, one of the major wins for a series with impressive production design. And, if you can’t get enough of Justified, make sure to check out Justified: City Primeval, the 2023 limited series sequel. It's equally worth the watch. Trust us.

Mayans

Seasons: 5

Genre: Crime

Where to Watch: Hulu

Also called Mayans M.C., the show takes place in the same world as another FX hit, Sons of Anarchy.

Focusing on the Mayans Motorcycle Club (the Sons’ former rivals) and taking place shortly after the events of the original series, this spinoff is every bit as thrilling as the show it’s based on. From dark secrets to broken bonds, there’s no shortage of drama across Mayans’s five, vengeful seasons. Anchored by strong performances by J. D. Pardo, Sarah Bolger, and Michael Irby, Mayans—much like AMC’s Breaking Bad spinoff, Better Call Saul—proves that sometimes viewers just want to continue living in the same universe for a few more seasons.

Mrs. America

Seasons: 1

Genre: Political Drama

Where to Watch: Hulu

One genre that FX clearly excels in is the political drama, and the 2020 miniseries Mrs. America is just another feather in the network's cap alongside shows like The Americans and American Crime Story.

The series stars Cate Blanchett as Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative activist determined to prevent the Equal Rights Amendment from being ratified. Even with Blanchett at the helm, this is an ensemble series featuring a veritable who’s who of acting talent and historical figures. Amongst them over the course of the mini-series’s nine episodes are Rose Byrne as Gloria Steinem, Uzo Aduba as Shirley Crisholm, and Elizabeth Banks as Jill Ruckelshaus. Vividly detailed by showrunner Dahvi Waller (a writer on series including Mad Men and Halt and Catch Fire), this mini-series is one of the best pieces of 2020s TV thus far.

Nip/Tuck

Seasons: 6

Genre: Medical

Where to Watch: Hulu

As a producer, Ryan Murphy is no stranger to hit TV shows. From Glee to American Horror Story, Murphy is responsible for some of the most original shows, a career marked by his first big FX hit: Nip/Tuck.

A medical drama set in a plastic surgery center (and featuring graphic depictions of the operation), this Ryan Murphy series owes its inspiration, in part, to the before-and-after photos on popular makeover segments of Oprah and Jenny Jones. Across 100 episodes, viewers get up close and personal with the lives and loves of Dr. Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) and Dr. Christian Troy (Julian McMahon), while also enjoying a more serialized format than most medical dramas use.

Shogun

Seasons: 1

Genre: Drama

Where to Watch: Hulu

Debuting with a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, Shogun isn’t just one of the best new series of the 2020s, it’s one of FX’s best, too.

Set in Japan at the end of the Sengoku period, the series follows Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) as he fights against political rivals and a shipwrecked sailor from England, John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis). While James Clavell’s novel of the same name was previously adapted into a miniseries in the '80s, it’s 2024’s Shogun that shines as faithful to the source and stunning in its visuals, writing, and acting.

For fans of epic historical dramas and political intrigue, Shogun feels as gripping and ambitious as early seasons of HBO’s Game of Thrones. Plus, there's more sword clanging and gut opening to come as the series was green lit for two more seasons. Seriously, go watch it.

Snowfall

Seasons: 6

Genre: Crime, Drama

Where to Watch: Hulu

Initially intended to premiere on Showtime in 2014, FX wound up picking up Snowfall, a crime drama exploring the origins of Los Angeles’ crack cocaine epidemic in the 1980s through the lens of an ensemble cast.

From drug kingpin Franklin Saint (Damson Idris) to a CIA operative (Carter Hudson), a Mexican wrestler (Sergio Peris-Mencheta), and the daughter of a crime lord (Emily Rios), the tapestry of unique characters in Snowfall—and the ways they intersect with each other and cocaine—makes this series one of the more ambitious entries in FX’s already ambitious catalogue. With so many characters and storylines to track, Snowfall could easily collapse under the weight of its ambition; however, across its six seasons, the series remains tight and engrossing in large part due to solid performances from its central cast.

The Shield

Seasons: 7

Genre: Crime Drama

Where to Watch: Hulu

The breakout series that in many ways made FX what it is today, it’s no surprise that so many crime dramas followed on the network in the wake of The Shield’s success.

Centered on the exploits of Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) and his experimental LAPD Strike Team, The Shield explores how a police force using a less-than-legal approach to facing off against criminals could itself become an investigation of police misconduct and corruption. A major entry into anti-hero stories on the small screen, The Shield represented a bold new foray into crime dramas for FX ansd TV.

Sons of Anarchy

Seasons: 7

Genre: Crime Drama

Where to Watch: Hulu

Brimming with references to Shakespeare’s Hamlet in both event and episode titles, Sons of Anarchy follows Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam), the son of the founding member of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original (SAMCRO). Indebted to and inspired by the Hells Angels motorcycle club, this series is as much about loyalty and betrayal as it is about motorcycle vigilantism. Beyond its high ratings while it aired, the lasting influence of Sons of Anarchy can also be seen in its spin off series, Mayans M.C., as well as its Boom! Studios comic book series, episodic adventure game, and 2014 novelization.

What We Do in the Shadows

Seasons: 6

Genre: Comedy, Horror

Where to Watch: Hulu

Based on a feature film by Taika Waititi (Our Flag Means Death) and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) of the same name, What We Do in the Shadows is a hysterical mockumentary about four vampires living not-so-under-the-radar in Staten Island.

From Nandor the Rentless (Kayvan Novak) and his familiar Guillermo (Harvey Guillén), to lovers Laszlo and Nadja and the energy vampire Colin Robinson, the ensemble cast of this series knocks it out of the park with each episode. With plenty of memorable bits—such as the “Superb Owl” party to Laszlo’s stint as “human” barkeep Jackie Daytona—What We Do in the Shadows is one of the most consistently innovative, consistently hysterical sitcoms currently on TV. A must-see.

Wilfred

Seasons: 4

Genre: Comedy

Where to Watch: Hulu

Frequent FX viewers understand that if a comedy appears on the network, it’s most likely going to be something bold and brazen, and Wilfred certainly has those qualities in spades.

Starring Elijah Wood, Wilfred features a depressed lawyer, Ryan Newman, who sees his neighbor’s pet dog—anthropomorphized as a man in a dog suit (Jason Gann)—as a bad influence. Based on an Australian series of the same name, Wilfred mixes vulgarity and sentimentality to great effect. While Wilfred seems like a bad influence on Wood’s character, throughout the series, viewers are treated to the ways that Wilfred's presence in Newman’s life is ultimately for the best.

Replete with all the absurdity its premise promises, Wilfred is a singular experience, the kind that epitomizes the best FX has to offer you.

Distilling any network to its 20 greatest hits is always a difficult task, and for a network as storied and influential as FX, that task is twice as hard. Which series do you feel got snubbed? What FX show do you think reigns supreme? Let's very civilly discuss in the comments below.