Game of Thrones (2011)

Game of Thrones shattered genre barriers by proving epic fantasy could command mainstream audiences, with the final season drawing 44.2 million viewers per episode in the US alone. HBO invested over $15 million per episode in its later seasons, producing 73 episodes across eight years. It won 59 Primetime Emmy Awards, the most of any drama series, outperforming #7 Friends, which only earned 6 Emmys for its entire run. Its ensemble of 30+ principal characters and sprawling narrative set a new benchmark for scale in television production.