IMDb's Most-Rated NYE & Holiday Episodes Ever: The Bear Special Tops with Almost Perfect 10 Score!
New data has analyzed over 300 U.S. Christmas specials on IMDb to determine which are the nation’s favorites.
The Bear takes the No. 1 spot, with the festive episode scoring 9.6 on IMDb.
Fan favorites like Bob’s Burgers, The West Wing and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia also secure spots in the top rankings.
New data has confirmed the top-rated U.S. Christmas TV specials, with The Bear taking the lead, followed by beloved shows such as Bob’s Burgers, The West Wing, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
The study, conducted by JeffBet, analyzed over 300 U.S. specials on IMDb, using a Bayesian ranking system that combined IMDb scores with the number of reviews. This method was used to determine the final rankings and identify the top 10 episodes.
The Bear has been named the nation’s favorite Christmas episode, with the 2023 “Fishes” episode taking the top spot, earning an IMDb score of 9.6 from over 23,000 reviews. Standing in as episode six in season two, it received nine Primetime Emmy nominations and won four, including Outstanding Guest Actor and Outstanding Guest Actress. The episode featured guest appearances from Jon Bernthal, Jamie Lee Curtis, John Mulaney, and Bob Odenkirk.
Highest Rated U.S. TV Xmas Specials
The animated sitcom Bob's Burgers takes second place with episode 10 of season 13, “The Plight Before Christmas”, which premiered in 2022. The episode follows Bob and Linda as they try to attend all three of their kids' holiday performances at once. With nearly 2,700 reviews, it earned an IMDb score of 9.6, giving it a total ranking of 9.5. The episode drew 1.46 million viewers on its premiere.
The West Wing, which appears three times in the top rankings, shares third place for its 2000 Christmas special, “Noël”. As episode 10 of season two, it earned a score of 9.3 from over 2,000 reviews. The episode follows Josh as he is ordered to confront his trauma during the height of the Christmas season, drawing 12.23 million viewers.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia also ranks third alongside The West Wing with its only Christmas special, “A Very Sunny Christmas”. This stand-alone one-hour episode from season six premiered in 2010. 1.16 million viewers tuned in to see Christmas unfold at Paddy’s Pub, earning the episode a 9.2 IMDb score from 5,582 reviews.
Ranked fourth overall, The Big Bang Theory’s 2008 Christmas special, “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis”, is the fifth episode in the study. As episode 11 of season two, it received a 9.1 IMDb rating from over 7,300 users. The episode follows Sheldon’s meticulous preparation to exchange Christmas gifts with Penny, drawing 11.22 million viewers when it aired in December.
The remaining five spots in the rankings are claimed by South Park's "Woodland Critter Christmas" (2004), The West Wing's "In Excelsis Deo" (1999), Arrested Development's "Afternoon Delight" (2004), The West Wing's "Bartlet for America" (2001) and Seinfeld’s “The Race” (1994).
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for JeffBet said, “As we revisit the highest-rated Christmas specials, we reflect on the classics that continue to warm our hearts year after year. It's fascinating to see which specials have become timeless favorites, and with new Christmas content gracing our screens every year, there's always the chance for fresh contenders to enter the rankings.
“With so many beloved specials to choose from, Christmas is the perfect time to snuggle up on the couch and indulge in some festive television, not just the familiar old movie favorites.”
