5 Essential R-Rated 90s Shows That Are Still Perfect Today

Published Aug 20, 2026, 6:15 PM EDT Zach Moser has been writing for ScreenRant since 2022, covering movies, classic TV, and streaming TV. His areas of expertise cover a wide range of genres with a particular interest in horror and drama, and the conversations around the TV and film industry. When he's not covering the latest film releases or chronicling the latest season of a new show, he's writing humor pieces for McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Slackjaw, and Points In Case or working on short stories and his second novel. These five TV shows from the 1990s were R-rated hits when they came out, and years later, they still hold up. TV shows follow a different rating system than movies. The MPA (formerly the MPAA), the Motion Picture Association, is responsible for granting age ratings to films; the TV Parental Guidelines are responsible for TV age ratings. Both systems are theoretically voluntary; neither a show nor film legally needs to provide its age rating, though in practice, it's required. No TV network or streamer, and only the rare theater, will show a project without a rating. For movies, the most mature rating is NC-17, though that's rarely seen, and "R" is the more recognizable "grown-up" rating. For TV shows, it's the less-seen TV-MA. Because TV has mostly premiered on network television, where any toddler with a remote can tune in, most shows have been TV-14 and less. HBO was the difference maker, as well as one ABC show. These five series from the '90s have the mature themes and scenes of any modern, scandalous streaming show, and they still hold up. Arliss (1996-2002) Credit: Everett Collection Before there was Ballers and before there was Entourage, there was Arliss, written as Arli$$ in the logo. The series is focused on the world of professional sports, following Arliss Michaels (Robert Wuhl), an LA sports agent willing to do anything for his clients as long as it increases his earnings. Like those aforementioned shows, Arliss is a critique of the transactional nature of agents, celebrities, and the public that also takes time to revel in the exciting, hedonistic aspects of that world. The seven-season series boldly took on some topics, decades before they came ot the fore in popular culture. Sports team relocation, betting practices, gay and transgender athletes, steroids, and domestic abuse are all plot points, and the series tackles them with a deft, though often sensationalist hand. Arliss also features a parade of celebrity and athlete cameos, paving the way for Entourage to do the same. Mr. Show With Bob And David (1995-1998) Credit: Everett Collection Mr. Show with Bob and David is frequently cited by other sketch comedians as their inspiration, and its influence is obvious in shows like Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! and I Think You Should Leave. Bob Odenkirk and David Cross teamed up for the surreal, sketch series in 1995. The sketch show is filled with comedians, writers, and actors who would go on to impressive careers, including Dino Stamatopoulos, Jack Black, Tom Kenny, and Sarah Silverman, among many others. David and Bob are, of course, the stars, playing fictionalized versions of themselves and sometimes completely new characters in each episode. Mr. Show with Bob and David has come back into the cultural consciousness thanks to the continued success of Odenkirk, who is now a bona fide dramatic acting star, and David Cross, who starred in Arrested Development and has continued working on film and television since. Oz (1997-2003) Credit: MovieStillsDB Oz was HBO's first bid at long-form, original storytelling, and it set the tone for the series that would come after it. Taking place in the experimental wing of the Oswald State Correctional Facility, Oz follows a group of prisoners, taken out of gen pop and placed in this small area, in the hopes the controlled environment will lead to rehabilitation. Of course, what actually happens when you place rivals of different prison gangs into proximity is violence and mayhem. Oz ramps up the bloodshed, operatic drama, and highly unnecessary sexual violence for the sake of the show, and it does lend the series some shock factor, though years later, it is almost ridiculous in how relentless it is. Still, the series has a lot of the trademarks that future HBO dramas still pull from. The acting across the board is also fantastic, and the series finds its legs as the show goes on. It can be a very hard watch at times, but the character development over the years will have you feeling for the most heinous of prisoners. The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998) The Larry Sanders Show is another series that has influenced numerous other shows, but which often gets forgotten about in the list of great comedy series. Garry Shandling stars as Larry Sanders, the host of the fictional, titular late-night talk show, and deals with all the headaches that come with the territory. Like in Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and 30 Rock, celebrities often made appearances as highly fictionalized versions of themselves. The series is a brilliant satire of the industry, a hilarious workplace drama, and a relatable look into a very anxious and easily-angered man. It's a series with non-stop, wickedly funny, biting jokes, and later series like Veep and Silicon Valley clearly took note. There is a huge amount of edge to The Larry Sanders Show, which may sound like a knock, but in reality, it shows how committed the showrunners are to getting a laugh, no matter the expected reaction. Twin Peaks (1990-2017) Twin Peaks may have finally completed in the 2010s, but it's a 90s show through and through, with two of its three seasons premiering at the beginning of the decade. David Lynch's surrealist mystery horror masterpiece is still one of the best shows of all time, and a series that any fan of Lynch has to watch. Set in the odd town of Twin Peaks, Washington, FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) is called in to investigate the gruesome murder of a young woman. Ostensibly a gritty crime drama, Twin Peaks brings in more and more elements of mystery, surrealism, and an uncanny tone for something strange and unique. You can watch a show like Twin Peaks over and over, and find something new each time you do. Lynch paints a dream with his series that strays into nightmare territory at certain points. Its mature themes and complex story are really only suited for mature audiences, but it's a '90s TV show that everyone should watch at least once.