The Binge Clock - How many hours it would take to binge-watch your favourite show

The American Ophthalmological Society recommends that you should give your eyes a break every 20 minutes. A proper break involves looking at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds (the 20:20:20 rule). Now, while there are many shows with an average episode runtime of around 20 minutes, there are plenty with well over that. We all know that when we are binging our comfort shows, our eyes can end up without a break for hours on end.

Spending excessive hours staring at a television screen can lead to eye strain and to make things worse, many of us do not position ourselves in front of the screen at an ideal distance or angle.

Regular eye examinations are essential for clear, comfortable vision. Wearing glasses or contact lenses can help reduce eye strain. If you don’t wear your prescription glasses or contact lenses, your eyes have to work harder to focus, and this can lead to eye strain.

So, just how much time could you spend screen-starring while binging some of the greatest shows of all time? We investigated the total screen time for your favourite shows on Tiii.me, using Rotten Tomatoes most recent list of top-rated shows.

The worst highest-rated shows for your eyes

Pretty Little Liars - 4 days, 14 hours & 1 minute
Rotten Tomatoes average score: 81%
Released: 2010

With a crazy total of 110 hours and 2 minutes, Pretty Little Liars is by far the worst show for your eyes. With 7 seasons and 161 episodes, it would take you 4 days, 14 hours and 1 minute to watch it from start to finish, and that's without any breaks (not even for sleep). The popular teen drama follows four estranged friends who are brought together when they begin receiving anonymous messages from ‘A’, threatening to reveal their darkest secrets, following the disappearance of their clique leader.

The Unbroken Voice - 4 days, 11 hours & 30 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes average score: 78%
Released: 2022

The runner-up for the longest show on this list is The Unbroken Voice. Despite having just 2 seasons, the show spans over 129 episodes making up a galactic total of 107 hours and 30 minutes of screen time. Released in 2022, the show is centred on a young Arelys Henao, who, against all odds, pursues her dream of a singing career.

American Horror Story - 3 days, 22 hours & 36 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes average score: 72%
Released: 2011

Running for 12 seasons, American Horror Story is a horror-drama series that revolves around the Harmons, a family of three who move states into a new house, which unbeknown to them is haunted by demonic creatures with an appetite for devouring the house’s residents. While gripping and addictive, binging the 132 episodes of American Horror Story comes to 3 days, 22 hours and 36 minutes of screen time.

The highest-rated shows you can watch in one weekend

Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - 1 hour & 24 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes average score: 97%
Released: 2022

If you’re looking for a quick watch this weekend, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi is the perfect choice. With an average Rotten Tomatoes score of 97% and total watch time of only 1 hour and 24 minutes, this animated anthology has 6 episodes that are sure to have you turning up the volume. Each episode explores a different character from the Star Wars franchise, kicking off with Jedi from the prequel trilogy era.

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire - 1 hour & 30 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes average score: 70%
Released: 2024

Continuing on from above, the mini series Star Wars: Tales of the Empire explores characters related to the Galactic Empire, and was released two years later on Disney+. Coming in at exactly 1 hour 30 minutes, this is one you can finish in a single sitting, or back-to-back with Tales of the Jedi for a true binge session.

American Nightmare - 2 hours & 15 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes average score: 92%
Released: 2024

With a high average score of 92%, American Nightmare is a recent true crime docu-series covering the 2015 kidnapping of Denise Huskins from the home she shared with her boyfriend. The series explores the harrowing home invasion that the couple is accused of staging when Denise reappears. At just 2 hours and 15 minutes long, this is an easy binge for crime fanatics.

How long will it take to binge-watch season 1 of the highest-rated shows?

Crash Landing on You - 22 hours & 40 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes average score: 99%
Released: 2019

Sometimes you’re just not ready to commit to a whole series, which is why we also researched the highest-rated first seasons of TV shows. If you’re after a real binge-watching challenge, the whole 22 hours and 40 minutes of Crash Landing on You is the one for you. This one-season-only show is a gripping k-drama that follows successful South Korean businesswoman and heiress Yoon Se-ri as she crash lands in North Korea, and crosses paths with Ri Jeong-hyeok, a member of the North Korean elite and a captain in the Korean People's Army. With romance and comedy, this is one that’s sure to have you swooning on the edge of your seat. However, we strongly recommend taking a short break in-between episodes.

Pretty Little Liars - 15 hours & 43 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes average score: 75%
Released: 2010

Once again on our list, season one of Pretty Little Liars received a high Rotten Tomatoes score of 75%. Despite only counting the episodes in season one, this hit show ranks second on our list of worst shows to binge for your eyes due to its runtime of 15 hours and 43 minutes.

Money Heist - 15 hours & 15 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes average score: 93%
Released: 2017

In third place, spanning a total of 13 episodes across its first season, is Money Heist. This popular Spanish show follows an unusual group of robbers as they attempt to carry out the most memorable robbery in Spanish history by stealing 2.4 billion euros from the Royal Mint of Spain. The series won various awards, and its first season will set your eyes back 15 hours and 15 minutes.

Why is binge-watching TV bad for my eyes?

The problem with binge-watching shows on your TV or device is that it makes you blink less and focus more for prolonged hours. This leads to eye strain and dry eyes. The brightness from screen also makes your eyes work harder and consequently, results in tired eyes. Symptoms of eye strain include sore and irritated eyes and further difficulty focusing.

What can I do to protect my eyes and still enjoy my favourite shows?

If you begin to experience eye strain because of too much time spent on watching television, you should reduce your screen time. Here are a few ways to do that:

Take breaks – It’s not easy to pause your favourite show and break the rhythm, but make sure to do so for the sake of your eyes by taking frequent breaks. The 20:20:20 rule is a great way to ensure you take a break from binge-watching.

Sit at a distance – Maintaining a distance is your best bet to steer clear of eye strain caused by large TV screens. Be certain to seat yourself at a sufficient distance from the television screen. Sitting too close or far can make you squint, eventually straining your eyes.

Wear glasses – If you already wear prescription glasses, consider investing in anti-reflective lenses to help reduce glare, enhance clarity and improve visual comfort.

Light up the room – Although watching TV in the dark doesn’t cause long term damage to your eyes, it can certainly cause eye strain and tired eyes. Your eyes will have to work harder, resulting in discomfort. Always be mindful to have your room properly lit before putting on your favourite show.

Summary

Binge-watching your favourite shows can be enjoyable, but it can also strain your eyes. This isn’t just about watching your favourite show, but also working on a computer screen, gaming, or scrolling endlessly on your phone. These are all activities that subject your eyes to bright light and can lead to eye strain. While you don’t need to give up your binge-watching habits, it might be beneficial to consider some of the recommendations above on how to reduce your exposure to brightness from screens.

Methodology

We collated a list of the top-rated TV shows in May 2024 from Rotten Tomatoes on the following streaming platforms: Netflix, Prime, and Disney+.

We then manually ran these 150 shows through tiii.me to find out the run time of each episode, and calculate a total watch time per season.

Each show’s Rotten Tomato rating is a combined calculation of its average ‘tomatometer’ and ‘audience score’. Only shows with an average rating of 60% or more are included in our final ranking as this is what the site classifies as a ‘positive’ or ‘Fresh’ status.

Disclaimer: The advice and suggestions in this blog are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for medical care. Before trying any products or remedies, consult with an eye care professional. See our Editorial Policy for details on how we review our blog.