Summary

  • Big Brother has been on for over 20 years and has seen its fair share of twists and turns, some successful and others not so much. Each season brings new and exciting energy, making it a unique experience.
  • Some seasons stand out with memorable storylines and casts that bring entertainment to the viewers. From America's Player twist to iconic players like Derrick Levasseur, each season has its standout moments that boost its popularity.
  • Power dynamics and shifting alliances make for great drama in Big Brother. Seasons like Big Brother 6 and Big Brother 7 saw intense rivalries and strategic gameplay that kept viewers hooked throughout the summer. The show's ability to create fresh and exciting twists contributes to its success.

Big Brother has been airing every summer for over 20 years, and some seasons are better than others. With Big Brother 25 currently airing, it's time to revisit past seasons. The show has changed so much over the years; looking back on its history is essential so mistakes are not repeated. Every season of BB is unique. Some installments may implement themes or twists that were used in previous seasons, or they may bring back former houseguests. However, as long as it has a remotely different cast, every season will feature new and exciting energy.

Big Brother is known for its twists, and not all of them succeed, like the ninth installment's Big Brother twist that failed, but others connected with viewers more, boosting a season's popularity. In addition, specific casts have proved to be more entertaining overall. Every installment has its ups and downs, so the average score of each episode was calculated and ranked. Which are the best seasons of Big Brother?

10 Big Brother 8

Big Brother 8 final two, Daniele and Dick smiling

Big Brother 8 premiered in July 2007. The average score of this season's episodes was 7.19. They had high expectations for this season following Big Brother: All-Stars.

The reason for this season's high ratings can be narrowed down to two storylines. One of the two is the America's Player twist with Eric Stein, where viewers got to vote on different tasks for him to accomplish. This helped bring viewers into the season by enabling them to play a role inside the house. Dick Donato, along with his famous temper tantrums (and Danielle Briones against the world), was the other storyline. Seeing some of their moments together was heartwarming since they'd been estranged for a few years. This season's finale, in particular, is legendary because they were together.

9 Big Brother 17

Big Brother season 17 cast all posing in or by the pool in the backyard

Big Brother 17 premiered in June 2015. The theme of this season was pretty forgettable, but it had an interesting cast of characters.

Big Brother turned to The Amazing Race to form its cast, with two former contestants, Jackie Ibarra and Jeff Weldon, starring. This season also had one of the best players, Vanessa Rousso. She was a great manipulator and understood the game the most out of anyone in the cast. As far as entertainment, Johnny McGuire and his goofy laugh are in the Mount Rushmore of entertaining BB players. He's a competitor who should return to Big Brother and get another crack at the 1 million dollar prize.

Related: Why Fans Of Big Brother Will Love The Traitors

8 Big Brother 16

Big Brother 16 cast posing in rows outside

Big Brother 16 premiered in June 2014. The season marked a new era for the series, as they used HD cameras for the first time and introduced a new editing style.

The show's fresh look might have contributed a little to this season's good reviews, but not much. Watching Derrick Levasseur play one of the most dominant games ever seen made the reviews overwhelmingly positive. He was also involved in the season's interactive twist (Team America) with Donny Thompson and Frankie Grande. Derrick helped to create chaotic moments throughout the summer, like when they convinced the rest of the house there was a rodent in the kitchen.

7 Big Brother 18

Big Brother 18 cast members all posing in the backyard pool

Big Brother 18 premiered in June 2016. It may be a surprise to see this season this high, as there were not a lot of memorable moments that summer.

While this installment did not have a lot of big, iconic moments, it remained consistently entertaining the whole way through. One big draw that could have improved the reviews is the inclusion of four former players. Even though Frankie Grande's reputation took a hit by the middle of the season, it was interesting to see former players get another chance. Another entertaining storyline was Paulie Calafiore's downfall, as he was king of the house for the first half of the summer, but his flame burned out quickly.

Related: Which Big Brother Players Should Compete On The Challenge USA Season 2

6 Big Brother 20

Big Brother 20 Cast in Swimsuits

Big Brother 20 premiered in June 2018. One major draw that kept the viewers tuning in was the highly dysfunctional FOUTE alliance. They seemed never to vote out who they wanted. Fessy Shafaat even nominated one of his alliance members for eviction, as FOUTE was one of the worst Big Brother alliances ever.

Brett Robinson was also an entertaining character in a lot of drama, including the famous "Daughter's Birthday" fight with Rockstar Lantry. This season has produced a few returnees, like Tyler Crispen and Bayleigh Dayton, but this cast is weaker overall.

5 Big Brother 6

The cast of Big Brother 6 smiling for the camera.

Big Brother 6 premiered in July 2005. This season was perfect for someone who loves drama, as the house was split down the middle against each other.

One huge reason this season is beloved is that power kept shifting from week to week. One side of the house never dominated; things were remarkably even all summer. Two of Big Brother's best alliances, The Friendship and Sovereign Six, traded blows for most of the summer until The Friendship got the last laugh. This season also had an impressive amount of returnees, as Janelle Pierzina, James Rhine, Howie Gordon, and Kaysar Ridha all returned the very next season for Big Brother: All-Stars.

Related: Why Big Brother 25 Should Include Past Houseguests (& Why It Shouldn't)

4 Big Brother 10

Big Brother 10 Cast in Pool smiling

Big Brother 10 premiered in July 2008. This season had no significant twists or themes, but it had one of the best casts in reality television history.

It is remarkable how well put together this cast was. It was a unique group, so no one was lost in the crowd. It was the start for the legendary Big Brother player Dan Gheesling and the first appearances of Jessie Godderz, Keesha Smith, and Memphis Garrett, who all returned in later seasons. Jerry McDonald and Renny Martyn were also prominent personalities in the house. Even as older houseguests, they did not miss a beat. This season was like a perfect symphony, with everyone pulling their weight.

3 Big Brother 14

Big Brother Season 14 cast overhead view of them wearing swimsuits and trunks and smiling

Big Brother 14 premiered in July 2012. This season is renowned for giving the viewers iconic moments that are some of the best in show history.

Four returning players drove up the ratings for the first half of the season, but the moments that are etched in Big Brother history from this season are extraordinary. From Willy Hantz's expulsion to Ian Terry's clutch veto win in the double eviction, it seemed something important happened every week. By far, the most iconic moment was Dan Gheesling's funeral, which also went down as one of the most shocking Big Brother moments ever, and this memorable game move is widely considered the best.

Related: Big Brother 22: Janelle Pierzina's Best Moments From Seasons 6, 7 & 14

2 Big Brother 7

Big Brother 7 All Star Cast smiling and posing at the finale.

Big Brother 7 premiered in July 2006. This season had very high expectations, as it is an all-stars season, and it lived up to the hype.

The strength of its cast is its strong point. It was interesting to see how Will Kirby, Boogie Malin, and George Boswell adapted to the new game because the veto was not even around when they played. There were a bunch of different main alliances, especially in the jury phase, one of Big Brother's best, so it felt more like a story than reality television. Simply put, this is a must-watch season for any Big Brother fan.

1 Big Brother 4

Big Brother season 4 cast posing with Julie Chen on finale night

Big Brother 4 premiered in July 2003. This season was monumental as it implemented the first big twist in the series.

This season, the big theme of "X-Factor" saw a few of the houseguests' exes enter the house and enter the game. This was such a fresh and exciting twist that the show was able to pull off in its fourth installment, and the viewers loved it. A ton of drama ensued throughout the summer, which sparked these fabulous reviews. Big Brother was able to piggyback off of The Bachelor's success by having many different relationships in the house.