The thrilling real-time spy series centered around Jack Bauer and the Counter Terrorist Unit revolutionized the genre. The originality of having each episode represent an hour and each season representing a single day helps to differentiate itself from other action shows. Beginning in 2001, 24 ran for nine seasons, one spin-off season, and a television movie.
Fans are still holding out hope for the series to return in some form, whether it is in the form of Kiefer Sutherland reprising his role as Jack Bauer or another spin-off featuring a different lead character. Regardless, the concept of the show has been and continues to be popular among critics and fans alike.
11 Honorable Mention – 24: Redemption Shows That A Movie Could Work – 80%
Though not technically a season, 24: Redemption was a television movie that takes place right before day 7. The story follows Jack as he is laying low in the fictional African country of Sangala. While staying with his friend, Carl Benton, at a school for orphans, Jack helps the children get to safety while fighting off villains led by Colonel Iké Dubaku and General Benjamin Juma, both of who appear in day 7.
The film also takes place on Inauguration Day in the U.S., with Allison Taylor becoming the President.
10 24: Legacy Tells A Story Without Jack Bauer – 60%
The first entry on this list is also the most recent. Premiering in 2017, 24: Legacy is the only season that Jack Bauer does not appear in. However, Kiefer Sutherland did return to serve as an executive producer for the series. The spin-off focuses on Eric Carter, a former Army Ranger who helps CTU prevent terrorist attacks.
Consisting of almost all-new characters, fan-favorite Tony Almeidaalso appears in the back half of the season. While it only lasted for a 12-episode season, 24: Legacy still brought some creative originality to the franchise, even without Jack Bauer.
9 Day 6 Features A New President – 74%
Day 6 picks up almost two years after the end of day 5, with Jack Bauer returning to the U.S. after being held in a Chinese prison by Cheng Zhi. The villain of the season is Abu Fayed, a man in possession of five suitcase nukes and President David Palmer’s younger brother, Wayne, is now the President.
This season also introduces the viewers to David and Wayne’s sister, Sandra Palmer, played by Academy Award winner Regina King. Also appearing for the first time on the show are Jack’s brother and father, who both played villainous roles during the season.
8 Day 8 Serves As The Original Final Season – 75%
The eighth season of 24 was the final season of the series, at least until 24: Live Another Day came around. Taking place in New York, Jack gets roped into helping CTU after learning of an assassination attempt on the President of Kamistan, Omar Hassan. Later in the day, Renee Walker is killed by a Russian assassin. Jack learns that several members of the Russian government are behind the death of Renee, including President Yuri Suvarov.
He proceeds to go on revenge spree by killing several high-ranking Russian officials but stops himself before killing President Suvarov. Due to his crimes, Jack is forced to go on the run.
7 Day 7 Is The First Season To Not Take Place In Los Angeles – 76%
Set a few months after the events of 24: Redemption, day 7 begins with Jack Bauer in Washington, D.C. on trial for his previous actions as a CTU agent. Later on, after finding out that Tony Almeida is still alive, Jack assists FBI Agent Renee Walker in tracking him down. Jack also teams up with Bill Buchanan and Chloe O’Brian to help stop the terrorist attacks initiated by Colonel Dubaku and General Juma.
Tony’s villainous intentions are eventually revealed and Jack ends up having to stop him. The day ends with Jack getting medical treatment after being exposed to a biological weapon.
6 24: Live Another Day Recaptures Some Of The Magic From Previous Seasons – 81%
About four years after the original series finale, Jack Bauer returned in a 12-episode season set in London. Jack was joined by 24 newcomer Kate Morgan, played by Yvonne Strahovski, as well as a few familiar faces, including Chloe O’Brian, Audrey Raines, James Heller, and the villainous Cheng Zhi.
The season ended on a tragic note, with Audrey getting killed and Jack being taken by Russian agents. This might have been the last time that viewers got to see Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer in action.
5 Day 3 Sees Jack Traveling To Mexico – 93%
Picking up a few years after day 2, day 3 sees Jack Bauer as the Director of Field Operations at CTU as he struggles with a heroin addiction. Now working at CTU with her father, Kim Bauer is dating Jack’s partner, Chase Edmunds. The elusive Cordilla virus serves as the season’s MacGuffin, an object that many of the characters are motivated to locate, including the Salazar brothers, Nina Myers, and Stephen Saunders.
Saunders eventually gets his hands on the virus and releases some of it at a hotel. The season ends with Jack stopping Saunders from releasing more of the virus.
4 Day 2 Proves That The Success Of Day 1 Was Not A Fluke – 94%
Day 2 picks up about a year and a half after the emotional events of day 1. Between the seasons, Jack resigned from CTU, Kim Bauer became a nanny, and Senator David Palmer became President David Palmer. Jack ultimately comes back to CTU in an effort to help find and stop Syed Ali from detonating a nuclear bomb in Los Angeles.
George Mason is able to fly the bomb out into the desert away from people before detonation, sacrificing his life in the process. This season also marks the beginning of the romance between Tony Almeida and Michelle Dessler.
3 Day 1 Is A Strong Start To The Series – 95%
The season that started it all is still one of the best. Taking place on the day of the California presidential primary, Jack saves Senator David Palmer’s life from an assassination attempt, which started the friendship between the two. Jack also faces the threat of Victor Drazen, a man Jack thought to be dead.
The end of the day features two of the biggest surprises in television history: the realization that Nina Myers is a CTU mole and the subsequent murder of Jack’s wife, Teri, by Nina.
2 Day 4 Has Jack Tracking Down The Nuclear Football – 95%
The beginning of the fourth season sees Jack happy, if only for a little while. He strikes up a relationship with Audrey Raines while working for her father, Secretary of Defense James Heller. However, Jack returns to CTU, believing that he can help stop an attack. Subsequently, he chases a terrorist known as Habib Marwan around California and eventually stops him.
In the process, Jack invades the Chinese consulate and causes an international incident. The season ends with Jack faking his own death and going on the run for about a year and a half, before reappearing in day 5.
1 Day 5 Is Still The Best Of The Best – 100%
The top spot on this list belongs to one of the few seasons of television to achieve a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Day 5 starts off with the deaths of President David Palmer and Michelle Dessler, prompting Jack Bauer to come out of hiding and back into action. The season also follows the political drama surrounding President Charles Logan, as the audience discovers that he is responsible for many of the damaging events of the day.
At the end of the day, Jack is kidnapped by Cheng Zhi and is placed on a boat bound for a prison in China. Despite its melancholy ending, day 5 of 24 is a near-perfect season of television.
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