Television series
Blockbusters
- Light-hearted
- Dip in and out
Blockbusters is a word-puzzle game show where two teams race across a hexagonal board, answering trivia questions to claim spaces. Hosted by the Emmy-winning Bill Cullen with infectious energy, it's pure 1980s game-show charm—bright, fast-paced, and genuinely fun to play along with at home. Perfect for anyone who loves the intellectual satisfaction of trivia mixed with strategic tile-claiming gameplay.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you like puzzles where quick recall and a bit of board strategy decide everything, and you enjoy the slow tension of a plan working out in front of you.
Skip it if you want characters, a story or any emotional build, since this is a game show first and every round is about the next answer, not about who these people are.
What it asks of you: Across 126 episodes over two seasons it asks for short, repeated sittings and steady attention to a board that shifts with every answer, rather than one long commitment.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Password2022
The spiritual ancestor of word-game shows, featuring celebrity guests and the same satisfying click of recognition when you guess the password. Bill Cullen hosted later iterations, so there's direct lineage here.
But The celebrity banter can feel dated, and if you're after pure puzzle-solving rather than star-watching, it drags.
The $100,000 Pyramid2016
Dick Clark's masterpiece of word-association gameplay. The best game show ever made—elegant, endlessly rewatchable, and it influenced everything that came after, including Blockbusters' DNA.
But The original 70s run moves slowly by modern standards. Some episodes feel repetitive if you watch many in a row.
Tattletales1974
Celebrity couples play trivia about each other; it's charming, funny, and moves with genuine warmth. Bert Convy makes everything feel like hanging out with friends.
But If you don't care about the celebrities involved, the gossip-y premise falls flat immediately.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Blockbusters
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
The Best Thing I Ever Ate2009
Both are fundamentally about decoding hidden information through deduction—one playful, one existential.
This isn't a game show—it's a documentary series exploring artificial intelligence and what it means for machines to think. It shares Blockbusters' obsession with pattern recognition and guessing what's on the other side of the board, except here the opponent might be a computer thinking about you.
But Deeply philosophical and slow-burn; nothing like the adrenaline rush of Blockbusters. If you want entertainment, this is thinking disguised as television.
More like this (5)
Press Your Luck1983
Peter Tomarken hosts this high-energy successor to game shows like Blockbusters. The Whammy is iconic, the board is mesmerizing, and contestants actually win real money with strategy and nerve.
But The rapid-fire rhythm can feel exhausting rather than exhilarating if you're tired. Some rounds feel arbitrary.
The Hollywood Squares1966
Nine celebrities in a tic-tac-toe grid answering trivia questions. It's witty, unpredictable, and the center square battle becomes genuinely suspenseful. Great for trivia lovers.
But Comedy ages unevenly. Some celebrity zingers land like lead balloons now, and the pacing feels leisurely.
Match Game2016
Panelists and contestants fill in blanks together. It's endlessly surprising, the chemistry between celebrities matters, and it somehow makes guessing what strangers think genuinely entertaining.
But Humor-dependent means older episodes can feel dated. If the panel isn't clicking, the whole thing sags.
Super Password1984
This late-80s successor captures Blockbusters' spirit perfectly: fast, bright, and built on the pleasure of word recognition. Bert Convy's hosting keeps things lively and warm.
But It's very much a product of its time, which means the graphics and sensibility feel thin now. Lesser celebrity lineup than earlier Password eras.
Connections1978
Both are built on the eureka moment—the click when disparate clues suddenly form a coherent picture on the board.
James Holzhauer's puzzle show where players find thematic links between four seemingly unrelated things. It demands the same lateral thinking and pattern-spotting as Blockbusters but rewards deeper cultural knowledge.
But You need real knowledge to play along; if trivia isn't your thing, you'll feel locked out. Slower pacing than game shows.
People
Cast
Bill CullenHost