Who knew that a sitcom about a group of coffee-shop dwelling twentysomethings in New York would become a cultural sensation still being celebrated almost 30 years after its premiere?

From the first time a wedding-dress clad Rachel ran into the Central Perk back in 1994, audiences were hooked on NBC's Friends. The daily shenanigans of Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Ross, and Chandler became the show that defined the '90s for a whole generation of TV viewers. From on-again/off-again romances to silly songs about smelly cats, audiences couldn't get enough of the entertaining friend group’s antics. The 2004 finale was one of the biggest television events in history, netting a 52.5 million American viewers.

Twenty years later, as small screen audiences switched from cable to streaming, Friends got a new lease on life as the next generation of television fans began to binge-watch this popular sitcom. Now, after a small hiatus off the web, Friends is returning to fans via HBO Max. Not content with just giving subscribers full access to every episode of the hit sitcom, the new streaming service also has a reunion special in the works.

To celebrate this iconic series, Ranker Insights will take the plunge into the Friends fanbase to find out what makes them tick.

WHAT AMERICAN AUDIENCES THINK

American audiences are split almost right down the middle when it comes to the long-running NBC sitcom. In fact, exactly 50% of TV fans in the Mountain West region of the United States approve of the show.

The West Coast is slightly more keen on the show, with 52% of audiences approving. Results are similar in the South, where 51% of voters count themselves among the friends of Friends. Things get chillier for the sitcom sensation in the Midwest and the Northeast — 49% of Midwesterners find Friends charming, while only 45% of the Northeast approves of the show.

FRIENDS FANATICS' TOP SHOWS

Fans of Friends tend to enjoy shows that also feature an ensemble cast with similar dynamics to their favorite NBC show. For example, fans of Friends are 8X more likely than the average TV viewer to tune into CBS' How I Met Your Mother, which also features a tight-knit group of buddies in New York.

Fans are also 8X more likely to watch another big HBO Max title: The Big Bang Theory. They’re 7X more likely to count themselves as fans of both Gilmore Girls and Full House. And they’re 6X more likely to binge similarly popular sitcoms like That 70s Show and Modern Family.

In addition to comedies that feature friend groups and family clusters at the center of their story arcs, Friends' fans are also more likely to watch other shows from the 90s. The audience is 7X more likely to enjoy another NBC classic, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, as well as Boy Meets World, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer — all of which were staple shows of 90s primetime schedule.

Friends’ fans are less likely to settle into a heavy drama from any era, choosing to enjoy shows filled with witty banter over complex themes. Shows like FX's The Americans, Fargo, and HBO's The Leftovers scored low with Friends fans.

In addition to drama, shows that feature surreal comedy, eccentric satires, and idiosyncratic entertainment tend to put off Friends' fans who seek out more conventional comedy stylings. Offbeat shows and cult classics such as Portlandia, Silicon Valley, and the BBC classic Fawlty Towers, are not likely to find footing with the Friends crowd.

FRIENDS' FANS AT THE THEATER

When it comes to the box office, Followers of Rachel, Joey, Chandler, Ross, Monica and Phoebe are big on mainstream Hollywood hits. For example, Friends' fans are 5X more likely to love Titanic, Pretty Woman, and the romantic tearjerker The Notebook.

In terms of comedy, fans of Friends are more likely to watch standard studio releases than indie films or old classics. For example, audiences are 4X more likely to watch American Pie, The Hangover, or Meet the Parents than anything featuring the Marx brothers.

WHAT ELSE DO THEY LOVE?

When it comes to their tunes, Friends' fans are more likely to listen to Top 40 than an indie rock station. High scorers among Central Perk regulars include Bon Jovi (5X more likely to give a listen), as well as Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion, and Michael Jackson (4X as likely to listen).

Fans are also loyal to the NBC brand, and are 2.5X more likely to watch other shows from the Peacock. They are big fans of ABC, which offers similar primetime programming to Friends.

**HOW FRIENDS RANKS ON RANKER**

Fans of Friends think highly of their favorite show, voting it to the top of various high-profile lists. It is currently sitting at #2 on the Funniest TV Shows of All Time list and #3 on the Greatest Sitcoms of the 1990s. It also ranks at #4 on the Greatest TV Shows Of All Time and #6 on the Best TV Shows To Binge Watch.

FINAL FINDINGS

Friends' audience is more likely to check out similar shows that feature either friend groups or families, especially if they’re from the 1990s. People who binge the NBC sitcom are more likely to binge other shows from that era, or similar shows that also feature a strong friend dynamic.

Fans of Friends also tend to enjoy more mainstream entertainment choices when it comes to TV, music, and film. They appear to seek out similar comedy that follows more traditional television comedies and family fare.

Fans are generally loyal to the NBC brand, enjoying many of the network’s traditional sitcoms and mainstream primetime offerings. They often seek out similar selections on other networks as well, provided that the show is equal in tone and concept to the NBC megahit.

Over the last decade, a new generation of fans has flocked to Friends, thanks to its availability on streaming services. As a result, people under the age of 30 are 2X more likely to vote up the show on top TV lists.

These stories are crafted using Ranker Insights, which takes over one billion votes cast on Ranker.com and converts them into actionable psychographics about pop culture fans across the world. To learn more about how our Ranker Insights can be customized to serve your business needs, visit insights.ranker.com, or email us at insights@ranker.com.

Diving Into Friends

To celebrate this iconic series, Ranker Insights will take the plunge into the Friends fanbase to find out what makes them tick.

WHAT AMERICAN AUDIENCES THINK

American audiences are split almost right down the middle when it comes to the long-running NBC sitcom. In fact, exactly 50% of TV fans in the Mountain West region of the United States approve of the show.

FRIENDS FANATICS' TOP SHOWS

Fans of Friends tend to enjoy shows that also feature an ensemble cast with similar dynamics to their favorite NBC show. For example, fans of Friends are 8X more likely than the average TV viewer to tune into CBS' How I Met Your Mother, which also features a tight-knit group of buddies in New York.

Fans are also 8X more likely to watch another big HBO Max title: The Big Bang Theory. They’re 7X more likely to count themselves as fans of both Gilmore Girls and Full House. And they’re 6X more likely to binge similarly popular sitcoms like That 70s Show and Modern Family.

Friends’ fans are less likely to settle into a heavy drama from any era, choosing to enjoy shows filled with witty banter over complex themes. Shows like FX's The Americans, Fargo, and HBO's The Leftovers scored low with Friends fans.

FRIENDS' FANS AT THE THEATER

When it comes to the box office, Followers of Rachel, Joey, Chandler, Ross, Monica and Phoebe are big on mainstream Hollywood hits. For example, Friends' fans are 5X more likely to love Titanic, Pretty Woman, and the romantic tearjerker The Notebook.

In terms of comedy, fans of Friends are more likely to watch standard studio releases than indie films or old classics. For example, audiences are 4X more likely to watch American Pie, The Hangover, or Meet the Parents than anything featuring the Marx brothers.

WHAT ELSE DO THEY LOVE?

When it comes to their tunes, Friends' fans are more likely to listen to Top 40 than an indie rock station. High scorers among Central Perk regulars include Bon Jovi (5X more likely to give a listen), as well as Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion, and Michael Jackson (4X as likely to listen).

Fans are also loyal to the NBC brand, and are 2.5X more likely to watch other shows from the Peacock. They are big fans of ABC, which offers similar primetime programming to Friends.

**HOW FRIENDS RANKS ON RANKER**

FINAL FINDINGS

Friends' audience is more likely to check out similar shows that feature either friend groups or families, especially if they’re from the 1990s. People who binge the NBC sitcom are more likely to binge other shows from that era, or similar shows that also feature a strong friend dynamic.

Fans of Friends also tend to enjoy more mainstream entertainment choices when it comes to TV, music, and film. They appear to seek out similar comedy that follows more traditional television comedies and family fare.

Fans are generally loyal to the NBC brand, enjoying many of the network’s traditional sitcoms and mainstream primetime offerings. They often seek out similar selections on other networks as well, provided that the show is equal in tone and concept to the NBC megahit.

Over the last decade, a new generation of fans has flocked to Friends, thanks to its availability on streaming services. As a result, people under the age of 30 are 2X more likely to vote up the show on top TV lists.

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Diving Into Friends

To celebrate this iconic series, Ranker Insights will take the plunge into the Friends fanbase to find out what makes them tick.

WHAT AMERICAN AUDIENCES THINK

American audiences are split almost right down the middle when it comes to the long-running NBC sitcom. In fact, exactly 50% of TV fans in the Mountain West region of the United States approve of the show.

FRIENDS FANATICS' TOP SHOWS

Fans of Friends tend to enjoy shows that also feature an ensemble cast with similar dynamics to their favorite NBC show. For example, fans of Friends are 8X more likely than the average TV viewer to tune into CBS' How I Met Your Mother, which also features a tight-knit group of buddies in New York.

Fans are also 8X more likely to watch another big HBO Max title: The Big Bang Theory. They’re 7X more likely to count themselves as fans of both Gilmore Girls and Full House. And they’re 6X more likely to binge similarly popular sitcoms like That 70s Show and Modern Family.

Friends’ fans are less likely to settle into a heavy drama from any era, choosing to enjoy shows filled with witty banter over complex themes. Shows like FX's The Americans, Fargo, and HBO's The Leftovers scored low with Friends fans.

FRIENDS' FANS AT THE THEATER

When it comes to the box office, Followers of Rachel, Joey, Chandler, Ross, Monica and Phoebe are big on mainstream Hollywood hits. For example, Friends' fans are 5X more likely to love Titanic, Pretty Woman, and the romantic tearjerker The Notebook.

In terms of comedy, fans of Friends are more likely to watch standard studio releases than indie films or old classics. For example, audiences are 4X more likely to watch American Pie, The Hangover, or Meet the Parents than anything featuring the Marx brothers.

WHAT ELSE DO THEY LOVE?

When it comes to their tunes, Friends' fans are more likely to listen to Top 40 than an indie rock station. High scorers among Central Perk regulars include Bon Jovi (5X more likely to give a listen), as well as Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion, and Michael Jackson (4X as likely to listen).

Fans are also loyal to the NBC brand, and are 2.5X more likely to watch other shows from the Peacock. They are big fans of ABC, which offers similar primetime programming to Friends.

HOW FRIENDS RANKS ON RANKER

FINAL FINDINGS

Friends' audience is more likely to check out similar shows that feature either friend groups or families, especially if they’re from the 1990s. People who binge the NBC sitcom are more likely to binge other shows from that era, or similar shows that also feature a strong friend dynamic.

Fans of Friends also tend to enjoy more mainstream entertainment choices when it comes to TV, music, and film. They appear to seek out similar comedy that follows more traditional television comedies and family fare.

Fans are generally loyal to the NBC brand, enjoying many of the network’s traditional sitcoms and mainstream primetime offerings. They often seek out similar selections on other networks as well, provided that the show is equal in tone and concept to the NBC megahit.

Over the last decade, a new generation of fans has flocked to Friends, thanks to its availability on streaming services. As a result, people under the age of 30 are 2X more likely to vote up the show on top TV lists.

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**HOW FRIENDS RANKS ON RANKER**