Inside The 10 Most Popular Soap Operas Of All Time!
1 / 10
'Another World'
Our list starts out with the hit soap opera Another World (1964-1999). Taking place in the midwestern town of "Bay City," this daytime exclusive has all the characteristics of the classic soap opera: Love, heartbreak, triumph, etc. The show revolves around several families, including the "Matthews," "Corys," "Frames," "Winthrops," "Loves," "Hudsons," "Harrisons," and "Burrells".
2 / 10
'Knots Landing'
Moving on to the Dallas spin-off Knots Landing (1979-1993). "Gary" and "Valene Ewing," relatives of the famous "Ewing" family from Dallas, move to Knots Landing to start a new life. True to the classic soap opera genre, this series definitely has its fair share of heartbreak, drama, loss, and much more.
3 / 10
'Dynasty'
Next on our list is the famous soap opera Dynasty (1981-1989). Taking place in Denver, Colorado, the plot involves two rival oil families, the "Carringtons" and the "Colbys", as they fight over power, money, and love.
4 / 10
'Days of Our Lives'
Next up on our list is Days of Our Lives (1965- today). With several subplots, this series is very complex in itself. This famous daytime soap tells the tales of the inhabitants of the fictional town of Salem.
5 / 10
'All My Children'
This classic soap opera All My Children (1970-2011) launched a number of careers during its 40-year lifespan. The story is set in the fictional suburb Pine Valley and revolves around the main character "Erica Kane" as well as her long list of husbands.
6 / 10
'Guiding Light'
Guiding Light (1952–2009) takes place in the fictional town of Springfield. Even though the main focus shifted from family to family over the course of the show, the "Bauers," a middle-class working family, have always been at the heart of the show.
7 / 10
'As the World Turns' cast
As the World Turns (1956–2010) was another long-running soap opera on the network CBS. The series takes place in "Oakdale," a fictional town presumably located somewhere in the Midwest. The plot mostly involves the relationships and difficulties of the individual inhabitants of the town.
8 / 10
'The Bold and the Beautiful' cast
The hit soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful (1987– ) is still on the air and it tells tales about the fashion industry, glamour, passion and family among other things.
9 / 10
'The Young and the Restless' cast
The popular soap The Young and the Restless (1973 - present) takes place in Genoa City, Wisconsin. Like most soap operas, the plot deals with two clans/families, the "Abbott" and "Newman" clan, and tells the story of their struggles in the business world both financially and emotionally. "Y&R" has always been known as one of the more overdramatic series on air— especially when it came to "Sheila Carter Grainger Forrester Warwick's" story throughout the series.
10 / 10
The Cast of 'General Hospital'
Known as one of the longest-running soaps ever, General Hospital has been around since the early '60s. The story has focused on a variety of individuals and families as well, such as the "Spencers," the "Cassidines," mobster "Sonny Corinthos", and the wealthy "Quartermaine" family. It takes place in the fictional town of Port Charles, New York and most of the scenes are filmed in... you guessed it, in the General Hospital. The series was even named the Greatest Soap Opera Of All Time by TV Guide in 2003.