The last 10 seasons of Big Brother are notorious for not being as good as the early seasons, so it's interesting to compare how the newer seasons fare on IMDb. There was a big switch about 10 years ago when the show dramatically changed. This was due to the addition of HD cameras, so the show was not as raw. This new feel, plus a change in the player's strategy, caused the new era of Big Brother to feel like a whole new game, and there is a longing for the old-school version of the show.
When the newer seasons, such as Big Brother season 24, are compared with each other instead of the classic seasons, some of their flaws and strengths become more apparent. When rewatching any season of Big Brother, fans face some harsh realities. For example, casting can make or break a season, and it is just a fact some casts will be more entertaining than others. Some recent seasons still have a bit of the Big Brother charm, but others are too different to thoroughly enjoy.
10 Big Brother 23 - 5.44
Big Brother 23 premiered in July 2021. This season has the lowest rating of the last 10, as their episodes average a score of 5.44 on IMDb. This was the first non-returnee Big Brother season after the pandemic.
There are a few reasons that can explain the season's low ratings. The biggest is most likely the lack of interesting characters. More than half of this cast did not add their own personality to the game, unlike other great Big Brother casts. There also might have been a lack of interest in the show since it was the first one after an all-stars season. It really would have needed to blow the viewer away to get good reviews, and it did not come close to that, as it was a lackluster summer.
9 Big Brother 19 - 6.44
Big Brother 19 premiered in June 2017. This season is a whole point better than Big Brother 23, as its episodes average 6.44. There is a lot of discourse as to why this season is not liked by the fan base.
Some may be surprised that this season was not ranked last by IMDb since Big Brother season 19 has a lot of faults. One big reason this season is not liked very much is because of Paul Abrahamian. They were the only returnee this season, and their gameplay made this season less enjoyable. Most of the cast was lifeless and had no game of their own since they only followed whatever Paul said, which created a very boring season.
8 Big Brother 15 - 6.59
Big Brother 15 premiered in June 2013. This season's episodes averaged 6.59 on IMDB. Without a doubt, the most memorable aspect of this season was all the controversial moments that happened throughout the summer.
The mediocre reviews are most likely attributed to the insensitive comments some houseguests, most famously Aaryn Gries, made throughout the summer. It is a shame that this season is looked at so terribly because, underneath all the bigotry and prejudice, there is actually some good gameplay. Andy Herren's betrayal of Amanda Zuckerman and his lie to McCrae Olson was a great move and, eventually, won him the season. It does not matter, however, as this season will always live in infamy in every Big Brother fan's head.
7 Big Brother 22 - 6.66
Big Brother 22 was the second installment of all-stars and premiered in August 2020. The season's episodes average 6.66 on IMDb. This season aired as COVID was very much still in its infancy.
The rumors that Big Brother 22 was going to be an all-star season made Twitter very chaotic. However, this season was a letdown compared to Big Brother 7. It included David Alexander, who was a first boot, so it was hard to take the season seriously as an 'all-star season' when he was included. Most houseguests had a good strategy of making a majority alliance and sticking to that for most of the summer. It works to get far in the game, but, as viewers, it is not exciting to watch.
6 Big Brother 21 - 6.71
Big Brother 21 premiered in June 2019. This season's episodes average a score of 6.71 on IMDb. This season was very entertaining and filled with drama but also riddled with a lot of controversies.
There were a ton of blowups that happened this season, and the biggest the show has had in a while up to that point. The majority alliance breaking down and turning on each other during the live eviction was great drama and worthy of good reviews. However, this season's legacy is tarnished a bit since there are rumors of the producers helping Jackson Michie, who dated Holley Allen, inside the house. This puts a blemish on what would be an impressive game for Jackson.
5 Big Brother 24 - 6.80
Big Brother 24 premiered in July 2022. All of this season's episodes average to about 6.80. This is the most recent season of Big Brother, and some may be surprised that it is not ranked above a 7.
This season was pretty solid overall. There were not a lot of really high or memorable moments but was consistently decent enough to keep tuning in. The best part about this season was the split house twist since this was the first time it had been implemented. And, of course, Taylor Hale's dramatic and historic victory on finale night makes Big Brother 24 an above-average season. It started rough with Paloma Aguliar leaving Big Brother, but it eventually ramped up.
4 Big Brother 17 - 7.31
Big Brother 17 premiered in June 2015. This season's episode average is the first to sur a 7 as it has 7.31. This season has a few memorable qualities, but it is not in the upper echelon of Big Brother.
One big thing about this season is they implemented the iconic twin twist, which had not been used since Big Brother 5. This definitely made long-time Big Brother viewers very happy, as it was used in an early season of the show. This is the nostalgic feeling that is often craved when watching newer seasons. The Big Brother 17 cast was pretty likable, so it has had a few returnees. Vanessa Rousso's gameplay is what's most ed from this season. Even though she played a great Big Brother game, Vanessa has yet to return to the house.
3 Big Brother 16 - 7.37
Big Brother 16 premiered in June 2014. This is where the averages' begin to plateau as this season is rated at 7.37 on IMDb. One big thing about this season is how different it looks and feels from the prior 15.
With Big Brother 15 being a difficult season due to the controversy, the show needed to rebrand itself to not appear as gritty. Therefore, they changed the intro, started using HD cameras, and changed the editing style to have a more light-hearted atmosphere around it. Another explanation for the stream of positive reviews is Derrick Levasseur's great game. His historic season is applauded still to this day, even almost 10 years later.
2 Big Brother 18 - 7.37
Big Brother 18 premiered in June 2018. This season's episodes have an average score of 7.37 on IMDb. This season had a bunch of different moving parts with its casting choices, which could explain its high score.
One explanation for the score is how two former houseguests' siblings were on the show. Paulie Calafiore and Tiffany Rousso are siblings of Cody Calafiore and Vanessa Rousso, respectfully, and it was a neat casting trick that brought some more viewers in, especially since Cody and Vanessa both made it to the finale. There were also four former houseguests playing this season. Even though Frank hurt his reputation on Big Brother, it's always nice to see familiar faces in the cast.
1 Big Brother 20 - 7.38
Big Brother 20 premiered in June 2018. This season has the highest IMDb average episode score in the last 10 seasons, with a 7.38. This season is mostly ed for how dominant one side of the house was.
Big Brother 20 can be summed up in the Level 6 alliance versus FOUTE. Level 6 dominated in every category as FOUTE kept shooting themselves in the foot. They are very clearly one of the worst alliances ever. They could not vote out the right person week after week, and when they were finally in power, they nominated of their own alliance. It was truly a masterclass on how to not play Big Brother.