The 40 most popular reality TV shows, ranked. Click any show for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.


Pelotón
2007
country: Chile
Pelotón is a Chilean reality show on National Television of Chile in which the participants undergo an intense regime of military training. The winner receives 50 million pesos. The first season aired January 2 — May 5, 2007, and the second season ran from October 2, 2007 to March 11, 2008. The third season were premiere in July 2009 and the contestants were Chilean celebrities. The third and 4th season were shooting back to back, and like last season the majority of participants were celebrities.


Men on a Mission
2015
country: South Korea
Male celebs play make-believe as high schoolers, welcoming star transfer students every week and engaging in battles of witty humor and slapstick.


Jeopardy!
1984
country: United States
America's favorite quiz show where contestants are presented with general knowledge clues in the form of answers, and must phrase their responses in question form.


Running Man
2010
country: South Korea
These days, as variety shows are gradually disappearing, this is one of Korea’s representative variety shows that has been responsible for Sunday evenings for over 10 years. This program features numerous stars and members going around various places, playing games, and completing missions. In particular, among the many fun elements of variety shows, this one focuses solely on laughter. Open your eyes! Big fun is coming in! Open your mouth! Big laughter is coming in! Open your heart! Useful lessons are coming in!


Raw
1993
country: United States
A regularly scheduled, live, year-round program featuring some of the biggest WWE Superstars.


Infinite Challenge
2005
country: South Korea
Infinite Challenge has been reported as the first "Real-Variety" show in Korean television history. The program is largely unscripted, and follows a similar format of challenge-based Reality Television programs, familiar to the audiences in the West, but the challenges are often silly, absurd, or impossible to achieve, so the program takes on the aspect of a satirical comedy variety show, rather than a more standard reality or contest program. In order to achieve its comedic purposes its 6 hosts and staff continuously proclaim, the elements of this show are the 3-Ds, Dirty, Dangerous, and Difficult.


Home Alone
2013
country: South Korea
It can be a badge of honor to be “single.” “I Live Alone” is a documentary-style South Korean reality series that follows the members of a self-formed club called Rainbow, which is comprised of celebrities who are single and live alone.


Amazing Saturday
2018
country: South Korea
A group of hungry celebrities listen to poppin’ tunes, from recent hits to all-time-favorites, to correctly dictate a part of the lyrics. The songs may sound familiar, but the part they must dictate are unclear to the naked ear, as the lyrics are slurred, muffled by strong beats, etc. If they get the lyrics right, they get to share exquisite regional dishes. But if they get them wrong, a professional eater gobbles it up instead.


Law of the Jungle
2011
country: South Korea
Law of the Jungle is a hybrid reality show combining elements of drama and documentary. The show is hosted by comedian Kim Byung Man, and each episode invites various celebrities from the various field. So far, many of idol stars and famous actors have appeared on the show. The show introduces viewers to exotic locations around the world where celebrities must work together in order to complete missions and survive. The cast celebrities travel to less habituated, natural places to survive on their own and experience life with local tribes and people. In each location, the guests are tasked to hunt and prepare their meals and also create shelter for the tribe. They sometimes confronted by many difficult challenges. Where will the tribe visit? And how will they survive on their own? Stay tuned to check out!


GH Dúo
2019
country: Spain
No overview available


El conquistador
2005
country: Spain
No overview available


2 Days and 1 Night
2007
country: South Korea
2 Days & 1 Night is a South Korean reality-variety show with the motto "real wild road variety." Its main concept is to recommend various places of interest that viewers can visit in South Korea.


Operación triunfo
2001
country: Spain
Reality-show talent contest aimed to find the country's next solo singing sensation, putting a selection of hopefuls through their paces by getting them to sing a variety of cover versions of popular songs, with tutoring from various professionals.


Die Harald Schmidt Show
1995
country: Germany
The Harald Schmidt Show is a German late night talk show hosted on Sky Deutschland by comedian Harald Schmidt. The show first aired from 5 December 1995 to 23 December 2003 on Sat.1. Schmidt then moved his show to Das Erste as Harald Schmidt and Schmidt & Pocher, but he returned to Sat.1 on 13 September 2011. After cancellation on Sat.1, the show continued on Sky Deutschland in September 2012.


Hello Saturday
2022
country: China
"Hello, Saturday" is the rebranding of the popular Chinese show "Happy Camp", hosted by He Jiong and with a fixed group of regular celebrity members. The program showcases the talent of various stars as well as social topics through creative and diverse content and games. It aims to spread positive energy while keeping up with the current trends and leading youth culture.


Survivor
2003
country: Greece
No overview available


House Rules
2013
country: Australia
The Australia-wide competition following six state-based couples who renovate each others homes to receive the highest scores with the winner having their mortgage paid off.


TV Animal Farm
2001
country: South Korea
No overview available


Big Brother
2000
country: United States
American version of the reality game show which follows a group of HouseGuests living together 24 hours a day in the "Big Brother" house, isolated from the outside world but under constant surveillance with no privacy for three months.


My Little Old Boy
2016
country: South Korea
How much do you know about your grown up son? In Mom’s Diary, the daily lives of the grown up celebrity sons are closely observed by their mothers. Do you know why your son drinks so much these days? How much do you know about your son’s philosophy in his life style? Heart-warming moments of observational communication between a mother and a son can be seen on Mom’s Diary.


Top of the Pops
1964
country: United Kingdom
The biggest stars, the most iconic performances, the most outrageous outfits – it’s Britain’s number one pop show.


How Do You Play?
2019
country: South Korea
Yoo Jae-suk reunites the producing team of Infinite Challenge and presents you How Do You Play? The Indefinitely expanding YOONIVERSE, based on Yoo's blood, sweat, and tears, will entertain viewers at home. Let's follow Yoo and his friends' new projects every week.


Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
1997
country: United States
Can you tell the difference between fact and fiction? Several stories of strange, mysterious and incredible occurrences are chronicled during each episode. It is up to the viewer to decide which stories actually happened and which were completely fabricated by the show’s writers. The answer is revealed by Jonathan Frakes at the conclusion of each episode.


Who's the Murderer
2016
country: China
The cast is introduced to the settings and suspects of a murder case for the new episode. The cast then chooses their role in the episode, as a particular suspect or the detective.


Inkigayo
1998
country: South Korea
The program is a weekly music show that features and introduces viewers to the most popular artists in Korea. Every week, they ask viewers to vote and select the most popular song of the week.


Dancing with the Stars
2005
country: United States
The competition sees celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts and voted on by viewers. Enjoy sizzling salsas, sambas and spray-tans as they vie for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy.


The Manager
2018
country: South Korea
We will get involved in every little detail of the stars’ lives. The managers who work closely with the stars reveal their mundane lives. Once the information is all revealed, the professional meddlers from various different fields are invited to make comments regarding even the smallest details. Lee Yeong Ja, Jun Hyun Moo, Song Eun I, Kim Saeng Min, Yang Se Hyeong and Yoo Byung Jae participate as the life meddlers along with the professionals.


WWE NXT
2010
country: United States
Wrestlers will portray heroes or villains as they follow a series of events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches.


Lenßen & Partner
2003
country: Germany
Attorney Ingo Lenssen and his team of investigators who specialize in sensitive cases involving clients who prefer private investigations to legal advice.


Project Runway
2004
country: United States
Aspiring fashion designers compete for a chance to break into the industry. Each week, a designer is eliminated from the competition after exhibiting their work in front of a judges' panel.


Golden Globe Awards
1944
country: United States
An annual awards ceremony recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign, bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.


WWE Superstars
2009
country: United States
WWE Superstars is a professional wrestling television program produced by WWE that originally aired on WGN America in the United States. It debuted on April 16, 2009 and ended its domestic broadcasting on April 7, 2011. After the final domestic TV broadcast the show moved to an internet broadcast format while maintaining a traditional television broadcast in international markets. The show features mid-to-low card WWE superstars and divas, in a format similar to the former show WWE Heat which served the same purpose. Big names such as John Cena and Randy Orton previously appeared on the show at its beginning. The show also previously featured talent from the now-defunct ECW brand.


Mao Xue Woof
2021
country: China
Mao Xue Woof is a scene-based reality show variety show with the relationship of original friends as the starting point. The program takes friendship as the link, and takes "Mao Xue Woof's Home" as the main shooting scene, telling the real and interesting stories of Mao Bu, Li Xueqin and their friends who meet here every week, tearing apart the status quo of daily life in laughter, showing the rich youth life and spiritual world of young people and recording the real growth. The program is broadcast every week all the year round, bringing companionship and emotional health healing to the hard-working young people in the city.


Top Gear
2002
country: United Kingdom
This fast-paced and stunt-filled motor show tests whether cars, both mundane and extraordinary, live up to their manufacturers' claims. The long-running show travels to locations around the world, performing extreme stunts and challenges to see what the featured cars are capable of doing. The current hosts are Paddy Mcguinness, Chris Harris and Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff.


RuPaul's Drag Race
2009
country: United States
Join RuPaul, the world's most famous drag queen, as the host, mentor and judge for the ultimate in drag queen competitions. The top drag queens in the U.S. will vie for drag stardom as RuPaul, in full glamazon drag, will reign supreme in all judging and eliminations while helping guide the contestants as they prepare for each challenge.


Show! Music Core
2005
country: South Korea
Show! Music Core is a music show that has been aired since 2005. Not like any other music shows, this show doesn't include any charts or awards. There are a few segments such as This Week's Hot 3, Chart Up Core and Core of Rising Stars.


Bares für Rares
2013
country: Germany
In the show, selected applicants each present a curiosity, rarity or antique they have brought with them. Once they have received their expertise, they will have the opportunity on site to offer their exhibit to a changing five-person podium for sale and, ideally, to sell it to the highest bidder for „Bares“ ("cash").


Ready, Steady, Cook
1994
country: United Kingdom
Talented chefs battle it out against the clock, creating delicious dishes in 20 minutes


The News Puppets
1988
country: France
A parody of a newscast, the show is a caricature of the political world, the media, personalities or more generally of French society and the current world.


The Voice
2011
country: United States
The strongest vocalists from across the United states compete in a blockbusters vocal competition, the winner becomes “The Voice.” The show's innovative format features four stages of competition: the blind auditions, the battle rounds, the knockouts and, finally, the live performance shows.
Reality television spans competition formats, documentary-style follow shows, and dating series. It's the most-watched and least-written-about corner of TV, and its formats travel internationally better than almost anything else.