11 Must-Watch TV Shows on Paramount+ Right Now (May 2025)

After coming to an end in 2020, Paramount+ revived this long-running forensic procedural in 2022 as Criminal Minds: Evolution. Both shows follow a team of criminal profilers in the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) as they travel across the United States to investigate and solve various crimes by analyzing the behavior of the criminal.

The show is known for its character-driven plots, exploring the personal lives and professional challenges of its main characters, including Jason Gideon (Mandy Patinkin), Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson), and Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler). Shocking murders, suspenseful storytelling and compelling character development are a few of the elements that have kept Criminal Minds fans hooked for so long.

The chemistry among the ensemble cast allows viewers to stay invested as they delve into the deepest, darkest corners of the human psyche.

Have you ever looked back on a memory and realized someone else experienced it differently from you? Is it possible to really know the truth? The Affair takes this question and builds a show out of it, telling the story of an illicit relationship from the very different perspectives of each person involved. It follows Noah Solloway (Dominic West), a New York City schoolteacher and writer, and Alison Bailey (Ruth Wilson), a young waitress from Montauk trying to piece her life back together after a personal tragedy. The story is bold, the character development is complex and the performances are intense and captivating.

The Affair expertly blends mystery, drama and psychological exploration as the characters navigate the aftermath of their frequently questionable decisions. The drama delves deep into the complexities of memory and perception, inviting us to question how subjective truth can be.

This zany, unapologetic sitcom, produced by SNL’s Amy Poehler, is about two best friends trying to make it in New York City. But Abbi (Abbi Jacobson) and Ilana (Ilana Glazer) don’t just face the ordinary trials and tribulations of New Yorkers — they often end up in surreal situations that could only happen to them. (A never-ending trip to pick up a missed package from a mysterious island, a drunken alter-ego with her own fan club and a deeply bizarre apartment cleaning job come to mind.)

Broad City is a must-watch for New Yorkers, but it’s also required viewing for any pair of best friends who are more like soulmates. Though Abbi and Ilana are very different (Abbi is a type-A introvert with a love of organization while Ilana is a polyamorous free spirit who hates working), their love is so all-encompassing that you feel like you’re inside the friendship with them. And trust us — it’s a good place to be.

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? One of the most iconic cartoon characters of all time, that’s who.

In addition to his pineapple home in Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) also resides on Paramount+. (Or at least the first 13 seasons of his show do.) Whether you’re looking for something to put on for the kids or just seeking a nostalgia bomb of mindless fun, you can’t go wrong with SpongeBob SquarePants. It’s a classic for a reason.

If, like SpongeBob’s best buddy Patrick Star, you’ve been living under a rock, there’s a chance you somehow haven’t seen SpongeBob. Give it a chance before you write it off as “just for kids.” The early seasons in particular have a dry, satirical wit that still maintains the eponymous sponge’s effervescent optimism. “I’m ready” to watch it over and over again.

From Taylor Sheridan (creator of Yellowstone, 1883 and 1923), Lioness is a CIA spy thriller about a group of female operatives fighting the war on terror. Zoe Saldaña (Guardians of the Galaxy, Avatar) plays Joe, the leader of the Lioness team. Charged with keeping her operatives safe in an extremely dangerous field, Saldaña’s performance is both tough and vulnerable. Her commanding presence makes her believable as both a leader and a soldier. 

The stakes in this series are high, creating excellent dramatic tension that will keep you glued to your screen. Her scenes opposite Nicole Kidman’s Kaitlyn Meade (Joe’s supervisor) showcase both actresses’ impressive range.

Frasier is a spinoff of Cheers (also available on Paramount+), but many say that this family sitcom surpasses the original. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) and his equally refined brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce) are both psychiatrists who love opera, fine wine and antiques. Their father, Martin (John Mahoney), is a retired cop who loves beer, TV and football. But after Martin is shot during a robbery, he can no longer live on his own and moves in with Frasier in his museum-like Seattle apartment. (He brings his dog Eddie with him, much to Frasier’s chagrin.) 

While Martin’s working-class, salt-of-the-earth worldview often clashes with Frasier and Niles’ intellectualism, the Crane men grow closer than ever as they navigate their love lives and careers. Frasier is the host of a therapy radio show, and his producer, Roz (Peri Gilpin,) never fails to amuse with her snarky one-liners and unapologetic promiscuity. 

Niles’ hidden longing for Martin’s physical therapist, Daphne (Jane Leeves), provides constant fodder for comedy. Nearly every line of dialogue contains a clever joke and yet the show’s moments of sincerity will bring a tear to your eye. With 11 heartwarming seasons, Frasier is practically its own form of therapy.

Dexter is a serial killer who only kills other serial killers. Michael C. Hall plays this charismatic murderer, who works as a blood spatter analyst at the Miami Metro police department. The bright, colorful and diverse backdrop of Miami creates a chilling contrast to Dexter’s “Dark Passenger,” the strange force inside him that pushes him to kill. 

In addition,  the supporting cast at Miami Metro really makes Dexter shine, from Dexter’s foul-mouthed, fiery sister Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) to his crude but lovable forensics partner Masuka (C. S. Lee). With its great performances, fascinating twists and intriguing moral dilemmas, it’s not surprising that Dexter has become a franchise in and of itself, with two spin-offs already released and a third on its way.

Of the two Dexter spinoffs released, the prequel Original Sin is far superior to the sequel First Blood. This ‘90s-set origin story features exquisite casting, particularly with its picture-perfect casting of younger versions of the original series’ characters. Patrick Gibson (Shadow and Bone) portrays young Dexter as he graduates from college and begins his career in forensics. 

Gibson not only bears a resemblance to Michael C. Hall, he captures every mannerism, from Dexter’s voracious appetite for Cubano sandwiches to his awkward charm to his irrepressible bloodlust. The series, which was renewed for a second season in April, features Christian Slater as Dexter’s adoptive father, Harry, and also stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and Patrick Dempsey in completely new roles that bring welcome color to the Miami Metro Police Department. It’s a fascinating look at the origins of TV’s most beloved serial killers.

It’s The Kardashians meets Downton Abbey in this over-the-top, outrageous comedy. This underrated gem follows the Bellacourt sisters, Lillian (Natasha Leggero) and Beatrice (Riki Lindhome), as they try to rise to the top of high society in 1902 Newport, Rhode Island. 

Filmed in mockumentary style, Another Period’s hysterical commentary on class and social climbing is elevated with fantastic performances by its supporting cast. Michael Ian Black plays head butler Mr. Peepers, whose devotion to the family borders on sociopathic. Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) plays ambitious servant Celine (who is quickly renamed “Chair” by the cruel Bellacourt family). Jason Ritter plays Beatrice’s twin brother Frederick, with whom she shares a suspiciously close relationship. 

Produced by Ben Stiller (who makes a riotous guest appearance in season 1), Another Period is a who’s who of comedy brilliance, featuring cameos from Jack Black and Cedric the Entertainer. Do not expect historical accuracy, but expect to laugh a lot. 

Can an algorithm really deliver your perfect match — and if it did, could you identify them? In this reality dating show, a group of singles is matched by an algorithm and challenged to find “The One.” If every contestant correctly identifies their perfect match, the group splits a cash prize, up to a million dollars. 

Are You the One? has been praised for its decision to feature contestants across the LGBTQ+ spectrum, making it a trailblazer in the reality dating space. In an age where so many people meet on dating apps and are matched by algorithms, Are You The One? feels more culturally relevant than ever as it puts that concept to the test. 

Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy) gives a phenomenal performance in this British spy series, where she plays MI6 agent Eve Polastri, who is obsessed with female killers. When she joins a team tasked with stopping a mysterious international assassin known as Villanelle (Jodie Comer, who is equally enthralling opposite Oh), the two women become entangled in a bizarre symbiotic relationship. Eve and Villanelle are constantly circling one another, each learning about the other’s past in a duet that’s equal parts erotic and sinister. 

The cat-and-mouse game between the two complicated women is rich and enticing. Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) was the showrunner of the first season of this series, setting the witty, intense, and emotionally layered tone for all four seasons.