Big Brother is undisputedly one of the top reality shows in today's TV landscape, with its 26th season set to premiere sometime in the summer of 2024. It has made its mark on reality TV as it has captivated audiences with its unique premise of strangers living together under constant surveillance. It also features intense competition, thrilling strategy, and diverse cast members that have kept viewers hooked season after season.
The impact of the show cannot be denied, spawning spin-offs like Celebrity Big Brother and Big Brother Reindeer Games, as well as monumental moments like double eliminations and blindsiding betrayals. While waiting for the next season of the show, it's a good time to reflect on the most memorable and impactful seasons. The series has had many standout seasons, whether it's because of its incredible gameplay, popular cast, or captivating twists and turns.
Big Brother
TV-MA
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
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*Availability in US
- Release Date
- July 5, 2000
- Creator
- John de Mol, Ron Diesel
- Cast
- Julie Chen Moonves , Clayton Halsey , Nicole Franzel , George Boswell , Daniele Donato , Janelle Pierzina
- Seasons
- 25
- Main Genre
- Reality TV
10 Season 4
Winner: Jun Song
Big Brother Season 4 brought a unique blend of entertainment to the table. From engaging rivalry and hilarious moments, watching this season still kept viewers hooked. One of the most unforgettable twists in the season was the "X-Factor" twist, where four housemates who were rightfully evicted came back to play the game again.
Although it might not have had the most memorable cast, the final two, Jun Song and Alison Irwin delivered one of the best final showdowns in the show. Their rivalry and personal conflict were a highlight of the show, but ultimately, Jun emerged victorious in the season, becoming one of Big Brother's best winners ever. Season 4 is one of Big Brother's underrated seasons that is often overlooked, but real fans of the show remember its drama and twists.
9 Season 5
Winner: Drew Daniel
The fifth season of Big Brother delivered a mix of drama and strategic gameplay from the most calculated players. Viewers watched the first twin twist, and the "Project DNA" twist where secret pairs competed against unknowing individuals. The "Four Horsemen" alliance in the season, which consisted of Jase Wirey, Michael Ellis, Drew Daniel, and Scott Long also thrilled the audience as they reigned during the early, but eventually due to their overconfidence and internal conflicts.
On top of that, this season had clear strong competitors including the eventual winner Drew Daniel, and strategic players including Diane Henry and Marvin Latimer. Combined with the twists and compelling gameplay, it made season five a standout season that every Big Brother fan should watch.
8 Season 3
Winner: Lisa Donahue
The show's third season is a standout for its innovative twists and intense gameplay. Big Brother 3 introduced the "Power of Veto," which could be used to save a nominee. This proved to be the source of entertaining tension between the housemates, which peaked when Marcellas Reynolds, who some viewers think is the worst contestant in the history of Big Brother, chose not to use the veto on himself. He was eventually evicted from the house, with the Head of Household, Jason Guy, telling him that he should've used the veto on himself.
Season three of Big Brother also had many more memorable moments including shocking betrayals and a clear rivalry between the original house guests and the late-entry group. Nevertheless, there were multiple people to root for in this season, especially the memorable players like Danielle Reyes.
7 Season 20
Winner: Kaycee Clark
Season 20 of Big Brother emerged as a modern classic as it introduced a tech-themed house and a diverse group of houseguests. These houseguests ranged from super fans to social influencers, such as JC Mounduix, Angie Lantry, and Haleigh Broucher to name a few.
The standouts of Season 20 were the alliance formed called "Level Six" and the "Hacker" twist which allows someone to select a Veto player and invalidate one vote, introducing a dynamic layer of power shifts. The rest of the cast this season brought the heat, and there was clear division in the house, which was apparent during Winston's eviction where a very fiery face-off happened between two housemates over his speech.
6 Season 17
Winner: Steve Moses
Big Brother Season 17 is a notable season in the series for its diverse cast of superfans and social gamers. Viewers watched the emergence of strategic alliances including "The Sixth Sense" and "Scamper" Squad. The season also showed the rise of the master manipulator Vanessa Rousso, who was an extremely strategic player who had a hand with most evictions, which points to her strong knowledge of how the game works.
This season also introduced another Twin Twist where players Liz and Julia Nolan survived evictions without detection. On top of that, Season 17 also featured intense competitions like the "Otev" challenge, which was a musical chairs-esque challenge that allowed housemates to earn the Veto power, making it entertaining for viewers.
5 Season 2
Winner: Will Kirby
Big Brother Season 2 marked a crucial revolution for the show with its strategic gameplay and character-driven dynamics. It laid the foundation for the show's future as a strategy-focused competition and justified what the game is all about. While there was a lot to be desired with the show's mechanics, Season 2 got a lot of things right, such as having a diverse cast and tame challenges that were just as challenging as the ones viewers see in modern seasons.
Viewers were introduced to alliances, backdoor strategies, and voting tactics such as for first houseguest evictions. The strong cast, the "Chilltown" alliance, and the "America's Player" twist — which allowed viewers to vote which housemates to be nominated and evicted — make Season 2 a top-tier season.
4 Season 14
Winner: Ian Terry
The fourteenth season of Big Brother delivered an explosive mix of returning veterans and newbies, giving more unexpected twists. Big Brother Season 14 used the engaging "Coaches" twists, where former contestants mentored new contestants, and later entered the game themselves. Some of the noteworthy moments in the season include veteran player Dan Gheesling's funeral, where he emotionally manipulated the players into keeping him in the game, as well as the physical altercation between Joe and Willie.
This season may be considered a standout for fans for multiple reasons, from Gheesling's masterful gameplay to the "Quack Pack" alliance. This season also allowed fans to see former contestants return one more time to play another game, which were Britney Haynes, Gheesling, Janelle Pierzina, and Mike "Boogie" Malin.
3 Season 7
Winner: Mike Malin
Big Brother Season 7, also known as "All-Stars" brought together a cast of returning houseguests for another intense battle of strategy and rivalry. This season brought sheer excitement as fans got to see iconic players and fan favorites like Janelle Pierzina, Will Kirby, and Mike Malin return to the game with established reputations.
There were many alliances that were formed in the season, such as The Legion of Doom, The Sovereign Six, and Chilltown, with the last one being the most successful due to Kirby's charming and manipulative approach. Along with the high level of gameplay, this season also saw the introduction of "America's Choice" where viewers got involved in key decisions. The blend of familiar faces, intense rivalries, and even some controversies made this a top-tier season in Big Brother.
2 Season 6
Winner: Maggie Ausburn
The show's sixth season offered an explosive clash of personalities and alliances. The "Friendship" alliance's rivalry with the "Sovereign Six" alliance created emotionally charged gameplay. The "us versus them" mentality of the alliance was thrilling to watch, especially since it culminated in a toxic and tense atmosphere in the house.
Big Brother Season 6 was also filled with twists and turns such as unexpected double evictions, and the unique "X-Factor" twist where houseguests were paired with pre-existing relationships. This resulted in the rise of power couples like the pairing between the beloved cunning player Pierzina and Michael Donnellan, as well as the Kaysar Ridha and Michael Ellis pairing. Aside from the romantic element, the controversies and heated arguments made this season even more memorable.
1 Season 10
Winner: Dan Gheesling
Big Brother Season 10 emerged as a fan-favorite due to its cast of dynamic personalities and genuine gameplay. Instead of focusing on excessive twists, there were more interpersonal relationships and strategic moves. A memorable scene in the show that has been etched on the minds of fans is Keesha Smith's birthday fight, which sees the whole house arguing as it is revealed that Keesha and Libra Thompson are talking behind April Dowling's back.
One of the standout moments of this season included the houseguests being divided into "old school" and "new school" teams, the "Renegades" alliance, and overall, the raw drama that made it entertaining for viewers. Without a doubt, Season 10 made excellent TV and was one of the most authentic seasons of Big Brother.
NEXT: Six ‘Big Brother’ Competitions That Would Make the Game More Equal
