The Wire backdrop
The Wire poster
TV SeriesEnded

The Wire

Episode Ratings

IMDb ratings graph for every episode of The Wire across all 5 seasons.

2002–2008 · 5 seasons · HBO · Crime · Drama
IMDb
9.3
434k ratings
TMDB
8.6
3k ratings
Community
10.0 *
2 ratings
Rate this series
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Sign in to rate

Episode Ratings

Season-by-season heatmap · hover a cell for details

Episode ratings

Rating:MasterpieceExcellentGoodAveragePoorN/A
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
E1
7.8
7.7
7.9
8.3
8.0
E2
8.1
8.0
8.3
8.4
8.1
E3
8.1
8.0
8.3
8.6
8.5
E4
8.2
8.0
8.3
8.3
8.8
E5
8.2
8.1
8.5
8.5
8.6
E6
8.5
8.8
8.6
8.7
8.3
E7
8.4
8.2
8.5
8.4
8.4
E8
8.5
8.3
8.9
8.5
8.9
E9
8.7
8.5
8.7
8.5
9.4
E10
9.2
9.0
8.7
8.8
9.6
E11
8.8
9.2
9.6
8.9
E12
9.1
9.0
9.3
9.3
E13
9.0
9.6
AVG
8.5
8.4
8.6
8.7
8.7

Overview

Told from the points of view of both the Baltimore homicide and narcotics detectives and their targets, the series captures a universe in which the national war on drugs has become a permanent, self-sustaining bureaucracy, and distinctions between good and evil are routinely obliterated.

NetworkHBO
Seasons5

The Wire holds an IMDb rating of 9.3 from 434K votes. Across its 60 rated episodes, the highest-rated is S3E11 "Middle Ground" at 9.6, and the lowest is S2E1 "Ebb Tide" at 7.7. Season 4 is the strongest, averaging 8.7 per episode. Explore the full episode ratings graph below, season by season.

Peak9.6
S3E11Middle Ground
Low point7.7
S2E1Ebb Tide

Averages 8.6 across 60 rated episodes — strongest run is Season 4 at 8.7.

Average by season

Season 18.513 eps
Season 28.412 eps
Season 38.612 eps
Season 48.713 eps
Season 58.710 eps

Top-rated episodes

1S3E11Middle Ground9.6
2S4E13Final Grades9.6
3S5E10-30-9.6
4S5E9Late Editions9.4
5S3E12Mission Accomplished9.3

Community reviews

DO
Daniel Okafor·9 months ago
10/10

The Wire is the greatest television series ever made. It is not the most entertaining, and it does not have the production budget of Game of Thrones, but as a portrait of institutional failure and urban life it has never been matched. Each season examines a different institution and shows how they are all connected. Essential viewing.

SM
Sofia Marchetti·4 months ago
10/10

Nothing on television has ever come close to the depth and authenticity of The Wire. Season 3 with Hamsterdam is one of the boldest things ever attempted in American TV drama. Every character feels completely real. This is not entertainment — it is literature.

Frequently asked questions

How many episodes does The Wire have?

The Wire has 60 episodes across 5 seasons.

How many seasons does The Wire have?

The Wire has 5 seasons.

What is The Wire's IMDb rating?

The Wire holds an IMDb rating of 9.3 from 434K votes.

What is the highest-rated episode of The Wire?

The highest-rated episode of The Wire is S3E11 “Middle Ground”, rated 9.6 on IMDb.

What is the lowest-rated episode of The Wire?

The lowest-rated episode of The Wire is S2E1 “Ebb Tide”, rated 7.7 on IMDb.

Which season of The Wire is the best?

Season 4 is the highest-rated, averaging 8.7 per episode.