Beginning with its inaugural season in 1992, MTV's hit reality series As the longest-running program in MTV history, the show lasted 25 years and 33 seasons before its revival via Facebook Watch in 2018.
The most recent iteration of the show includes the spinoff reunion event, The Real World Homecoming: New York, the sixth and final episode of which aired on April 8, 2021. With season 34 still up in the air, it's time to look back and determine which seasons of The Real World fans adore the most.
Season 25 - 6.5
Nine years after producing the show in Las Vegas for the first time, The Real World returned to Sin City for season 25. The eight strangers included Adam Royer, Dustin Zito, Heather Marter, Leroy Garrett, Michael Ross, Nany Gonzalez, Naomi Defensor, and Heather Cooke.
The octet stayed in a custom-made penthouse built at the Hard Rock Casino. The highest-rated episode of the season came in the second week when Dustin developed feelings for Heather, who in turn kissed another roommate. Aside from partying, the strangers worked at a charity called the Athlete Recovery Fund.
Season 31 - 7.0
In Season 31, titled Real World: Go Big or Go Home, production once again set up shop in Las Vegas. Much like the challenges from Road Rules, the eight strangers had to complete missions in order to remain inside the house.
The contestants included CeeJai' Jenkins, Chris Ammon Hall, Dean Bart-Plange, Dione Mariani, Jenna Thomason, Kailah Casillas, Sabrina Kennedy, and Dylan Moore. The highlight of the season came in episode 2 when the men in the house had to dress in drag to complete a mission.
Season 18 - 7.2
For The Real World: Denver during season 18, only seven strangers participated in the show. They include Alex Smith, Brooke LaBarbera, Colie Edison, Davis Mallory, Jenn Grijalva, Stephen Nichols, and Tyrie Ballard. Unfortunately, the first episode is the highest-rated of the season.
Dwelling in a two-story, 22,000-square-foot building in Lower Downtown Denver, the housemates participated in Outward Bound, a wilderness training program that they subsequently used to lead young Hurricane Katrina victims on hiking expeditions.
Season 29 - 7.5
Twenty years after setting the show in San Francisco in season 3, The Real World: Ex-Plosion returned to the city by the bay for a major series makeover. A total of 12 strangers appeared during the season, with many of the cast ' exes ing the house.
The season also altered its filming style to include cameramen and cast interacting with producers. In a wrinkle that allows to get legal jobs during the season, Ashley Caesar works for a local startup, Arielle Scott works as a filmmaker, and Jenny Delich becomes a go-go dancer.
Season 1 - 7.6
Set in New York, the inaugural season of The Real World still ranks high in the eyes of IMDb voters. The seven cast include Becky Blasband, Andre Comeau, Heather B. Gardner, Julie Gentry, Norman Korpi, Eric Nies, and Kevin Powell.
Produced in the 1992 election year, the season's high point comes in episode nine when Julie befriends a homeless woman named Darlene, while several other housemates attend a pro-choice rally in Washington D.C.
Season 2 - 7.7
From New York to Los Angeles, the second season of the show marked a slight improvement, according to IMDb. Residing in a gorgeous four-story mansion in Venice Beach, two of the nine total houseguests were replaced during the season. Comedian David Edwards was asked to leave the premises by his roommates, while Irene Berrera-Kearns was replaced after she got married.
Changes from season 1 to 2 include expanding the total number of episodes from 13 to 21, while adding a soundproof "Confessional" room. In episode 18, the cast was sent to Mexico.
Season 20 - 8.3
In the first season of the show to air hour-long episodes rather than 30-minute ones, The Real World: Hollywood remains one of the most beloved seasons to date. Rather than take on grueling jobs or missions, the cast took improv classes at the iO WEST comedy club and performed under the group name Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (WTF).
Season 20 also marked the one and only time a cast member on the show was chosen by fans from an online poll of 20,000 contestants. The winning guest was Greg Halstead, who was forced to move out during episode 8 due to his lack of cooperation.
Season 3 - 8.3
The Real World: San Francisco is notable for two of the most famous houseguests in the history of the series. They include Pedro Zamora, a comionate gay man who publicly battled AIDS on the show, and Puck Rainey, a hot-tempered rebel who was evicted by episode 11 (although he did appear in four more episodes).
Zamora and his housemate, Rachel Campos, were the first two Hispanic-Americans cast on the show, while Pam Ling was the first Asian American. The cast resided in a lavish abode on the iconic Lombard Street.
Season 30 - 8.4
Twelve years after the show was set in Chicago for the first time, The Real World: Skeletons returned to The Windy City for Season 30. In a major structural shakeup, the show featured seven housemates and 11 guests aka skeletons.
The skeletons include people from the housemates' past who still harbor ill-will and/or unresolved problems. The most beloved episode came in week 10 when Bruno's estranged brother arrives and causes a major stir. For work, the housemates were broken into pairs of three and worked as waiters or bartenders across a trio of Chicago eateries.
Season 32 - 8.5
According to IMDb, the highest-rated season of The Real World is number 32. Dubbed Real World Seattle: Bad Blood, the show consisted of seven original cast , who are later ed by seven of their relatives who have a grudge to settle. To fan the flames, the housemates were allowed to use smartphones.
With a 9.6/10 rating (the highest-rated episode in show history), "Blood Cousins" in week 9 explodes when Theo tries to make amends with his cousin Kassius but ends up getting physical. Meanwhile, Anna and Katrina's heartfelt sibling reunion causes a falling out with Robbie.