What does a genius actor watch when he wants to kick back and decompress? As it turns out, Benedict Cumberbatch has incredibly immaculate taste in television. To toast his landmark 50th birthday, we are breaking down his personal favorite binge-watches—ranging from gritty Baltimore streets to the legendary offices of Scranton.
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Benedict Cumberbatch has spent the last two decades delivering some of the most intellectual, high-concept, and critically acclaimed television characters of our time (think Sherlock and Patrick Melrose). But when he is off-duty, Cumberbatch is just like the rest of us: a total sucker for a legendary, long-form television marathon.
Over the years, the birthday boy has candidly revealed the television series that have captured his imagination, heavily favoring what he calls the “typical clichés of great American HBO box-set drama”. To celebrate his 50th birthday today, we are taking a look at the seven exceptional series that make up his ultimate watchlist.
1.The Wire(2002)
Widely regarded as one of the greatest television shows ever made, David Simon’s sprawling, uncompromising look at Baltimore’s institutional decay is a natural fit for Cumberbatch. As an actor who thrives in complex, layered productions, he has praised The Wire for its novelistic pacing and raw, human performances.
2.The Office(2005)
Everyone needs a laugh, even a high-functioning sociopath. Cumberbatch’s love for The Office—specifically the US adaptation—proves he has a deep appreciation for top-tier comedic ensemble acting. The brilliant, cringe-inducing awkwardness of Dunder Mifflin is the perfect palate cleanser for an actor who spent years memorizing complex medical and detective jargon.
3.The West Wing(1999)
Aaron Sorkin’s fast-talking, idealistic White House drama is practically built for Cumberbatch’s cadence. The rhythmic “walk-and-talk” style and rapid-fire political debates are highly reminiscent of the lightning-fast intellectual processing he later brought to Baker Street.
4.The Sopranos(1999)
You cannot love modern television without paying respect to Tony Soprano. Cumberbatch has long admired David Chase’s masterpiece for how it paved the way for the complex antiheroes that dominate modern TV. For an actor who loves exploring the friction between public personas and private torment, The Sopranos is the ultimate holy grail.
5.Mad Men(2007)
Matthew Weiner’s advertising drama is a masterclass in subtlety, showcasing how characters communicate through what they don’t say. Cumberbatch’s appreciation for Mad Men highlights his love for mid-century design, quiet dramatic tension, and characters who are constantly fighting their own internal demons.
6.Breaking Bad(2008)
The slow, deliberate transition of Walter White from a mild-mannered high school teacher into a ruthless drug kingpin is one of the most satisfying arcs in television history. Cumberbatch’s admiration for the series aligns perfectly with his taste for high-stakes, Shakespearean tragedy and hyper-tense visual storytelling.
7.The Killing(2011)
Rounding out his favorites is the atmospheric, rain-soaked crime drama The Killing. This moody, slow-burn mystery focused heavily on the raw grief and long-term psychological damage left in the wake of a crime—a deeply empathetic, character-first approach that beautifully mirrors Cumberbatch’s own artistic philosophy.
Carolina is a bilingual entertainment and sports writer fluent in English and Spanish. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales (UCES) in Buenos Aires and has a solid background in media and public affairs. In 2020, she won first place in journalistic feature writing at the EXPOCOM-FADECCOS competition, which brings together student work from universities across Argentina. She also completed a year-and-a-half internship in the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Argentina, where she worked closely with journalists and media operations. Carolina specializes in entertainment writing, with a focus on celebrity news, as well as romantic and drama films.
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