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The Real World

★ 5.3 4K votes 1991–present 33 seasons · 651 episodes Returning Series MTV
Lifestyle realityUnscripted lives, homes and work observed.This show: 9/10Long-runnerA show whose sheer longevity shapes how it's watched.This show: 8/10
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About

"the reality TV template that started it all"

Strangers are cast to live together in a house rigged with cameras, and the show just watches what happens between them. Starting in 1991, it basically invented the reality-TV confessional format: talking-head interviews cut against day-to-day friction over roommates, romance, money, and identity. Early seasons feel like a loose social experiment; later ones lean into engineered drama and melodrama. It's uneven and repetitive across three decades, but there's real cultural value in watching the genre's DNA form in real time.

Watch it for

the origin point for the entire confessional-drama reality format you still see everywhere.

Maybe skip if

you want tight plotting rather than decades of repetitive, cast-turnover-driven melodrama.

Written by our AI editor to help you decide, spoiler-free by design.

All Seasons

Showing the latest 500 of 651 episodes.

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Hawaii1999
—019
The Real World: Hawaii is the eighth season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships. First airing in 1999, the cast lived in a modern beach house in Honolulu, Hawaii. This was the second of five seasons to be filmed outside of the continental United States, the only season not named after a city, and the first season set in the United States to be filmed outside of the mainland United States. It is notable for the cast's concerns over castmate Ruthie Alcaide's excessive drinking, resulting in her leaving the house to enter an alcohol treatment program, which is cited as one of the series' memorable moments by Time magazine.
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New Orleans2000
6.72132420m
The Real World: New Orleans is the ninth season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships. The series was filmed from January to May 2000 in the Belfort Mansion on St. Charles Avenue, and first aired on MTV later that year, with the cast living in a remodeled Civil War-era mansion, called The Belfort, in the Garden District, New Orleans. It was the second of four seasons to be filmed in the American South, the first being The Real World: Miami in 1996.
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Back to New York2001
5.6922
The Real World: Back to New York is the 10th season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships. The Back to New York season was filmed January 9 to June 2, 2001, and premiered later that year, with the cast living in a four-floor loft at 632 Hudson Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. As its title indicates, Back to New York was the first season of The Real World to take place in a city that had hosted a previous season, as the show's first season was set in New York in 1992.
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Chicago2002
—025
The Real World: Chicago is the 11th season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships. The Chicago season debuted in 2002, with its cast living in a converted bookstore/coffeehouse in the Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. This was the first and to date the only season of The Real World to be filmed in the Midwestern United States. This was the first season in which production would start months after wrapping the previous season allowing filming and broadcasting almost immediately unlike the usual annual season.
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Las Vegas2002
6.31322910h 51m
The Real World: Las Vegas is the 12th season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships. Premiering in September 2002, the Las Vegas cast lived in a converted penthouse suite on the 28th floor of the Las Vegas Palms Casino and Resort. The Las Vegas season was the second highest-rated season of the series after 2002's Chicago installment. This was the fourth season of The Real World to be filmed in the western United States. The season ran for 28 episodes, which along with the Denver season, is the highest number to date.
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Paris2003
—026
The Real World: Paris is the 13th season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships. The season was filmed over 120 days from January 19 to May 18, 2003. The Paris season first aired from June 3 to November 4, 2003.
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San Diego2004
5.8292830m
The Real World: San Diego is the 14th season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships. The San Diego season premiered in 2004. It was the second season of The Real World to be filmed in southern California after The Real World: Los Angeles in 1993, and the third season to be filmed in California after The Real World: San Francisco in 1994. The season premiere was watched by approximately 4 million viewers.
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Philadelphia2004
7.89279h 25m
The Real World: Philadelphia is the 15th season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships. The Philadelphia installment began filming in April 2004, and premiered September 7 later that year. This was the fourth season to be filmed in the northeastern United States, after The Real World: New York in 1992, The Real World: Boston in 1997 and The Real World: Back to New York in 2001. The season premiere was watched by 3.3 million viewers.
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Austin2005
7.045259h 8m
The Real World: Austin is the 16th season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships. The Real World: Austin won "Favorite Season" at the 2008 The Real World Awards Bash. The season premiere was watched by nearly 4 million viewers.
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Key West2006
8.416279h 5m
The Real World: Key West is the 17th season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships. This season was shot in the Key Haven neighborhood of Key West, Florida in From August to December 2005, and debuted February 28, 2006. It is the second season of The Real World to be filmed in southern Florida, as The Real World: Miami was filmed 10 years prior in 1996. It is also the fourth season to be filmed in the southern United States, after Miami in 1996, The Real World: New Orleans in 2000, and The Real World: Austin in 2005. The season premiere was viewed by 3.33 million people.
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Denver2006
7.2363011h 40m
The Real World: Denver is the 18th season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships. This season premiered on November 22, 2006, and its finale aired May 16, 2007. The season premiere was watched by 4.3 million viewers.
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Sydney2007
—02510h 9m
The Real World: Sydney is the 19th season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras document their lives and interpersonal relationships. It is the third season of the series to be set outside the United States, after The Real World: London and The Real World: Paris. Production lasted from February to May 26, 2007. The season premiered on August 8, 2007.
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Hollywood2008
8.1321410h 34m
The Real World: Hollywood is the 20th season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras document their lives and interpersonal relationships. It premiered on April 16, 2008. Its season finale was broadcast July 9, 2008, and a reunion special was broadcast live on July 12, 2008.
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Brooklyn2009
7.917149h 9m
The Real World: Brooklyn is the 21st season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras document their lives and interpersonal relationships. It is the third season of the show to be set in New York City, though the first to be set in the borough of Brooklyn, as previous seasons, 1992's The Real World: New York and 2001's The Real World: Back to New York, were filmed in Manhattan.
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Cancun2009
8.08148h 29m
The Real World: Cancun is the 22nd season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras document their lives and interpersonal relationships. Cancun, Mexico was first announced as the location for the season on Jan 26, 2009. It is the fourth season of the series to be set outside the United States, after The Real World: London, The Real World: Paris, and The Real World: Sydney. Series co-creator Jonathan Murray explained the choice of Cancun, saying, "Cancun is a good one to do after Brooklyn, which was a more gritty environment."
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Washington D.C.2009
—01610h 37m
The Real World: D.C., also known as The Real World: Washington D.C., is the 23rd season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras document their lives and interpersonal relationships. Washington, D.C. was officially announced as the location for the newest season on June 10, 2009. Filming began on July 2, 2009 and completed on October 12, 2009. The season's December 30, 2009 premiere was watched by 1.9 million viewers. The March 31, 2010 season finale was watched by 1.1 million viewers, the record low at the time for a season finale of the The Real World. The finale was immediately followed with a reunion special, The Real World: Washington D.C. Reunion. Overall the season averaged 1.5 million viewers a week.
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New Orleans2010
—0139h 12m
The Real World: New Orleans is the 24th season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras document their lives and interpersonal relationships. New Orleans was first reported as the location for the 24th season in a December 2009 article on the website Vevmo. This is the second season of the program located in New Orleans, after the ninth season, which aired in 2000. This season also marks the third city to be re-used as a season's location, following New York City in the 10th and 21st seasons, and Los Angeles in the 20th season.
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Las Vegas2011
6.827149h 8m
The Real World: Las Vegas is the 25th season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras document their lives and interpersonal relationships. Las Vegas was first reported as the location for the 25th season by the website Vevmo on September 8, 2010. The season premiered on March 9, 2011. This is the second season of the program located in Las Vegas, after the 12th season, which aired in 2002.
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San Diego2011
—0138h 26m
The Real World: San Diego is the 26th season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras document their lives and interpersonal relationships. San Diego was first reported as the location for the 26th season on June 7, 2011. This season, which is housed in the San Diego suburb of La Jolla, is the second season of the program to be located in the San Diego area, after the 14th, which aired in 2004; it is the fifth season to be located in California, after the second, third, 14th, and 20th seasons.
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St. Thomas2012
—0138h 59m
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Portland2013
6.042159h 38m
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Ex-plosion
7.045149h 39m
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Skeletons2014
8.085139h 2m
The 30th season of "The Real World" titled "Skeletons" begins tonight by introducing the 7 new cast members, 3 male and 4 female contestants will compete.
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Go Big or Go Home2016
6.454169h 52m
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Seattle: Bad Blood2016
8.375128h
The 32nd season sees seven strangers move into an upscale loft in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood with the hope of starting an exciting new chapter in their lives, but what they don’t know is there are seven other people coming to crash their party. The roommates will be given the opportunity to revisit a particularly difficult relationship in their lives, capturing their efforts to work through their “Bad Blood” while living under one roof.
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Atlanta2019
—012

Full Cast & Crew

Cast

Janelle Casanave Self
Alton Williams II Self
Arissa Hill Self
Brynn Smith Self
Frank Howard Self
Irulan Wilson Self
Steven Hill Self
Jenn Grijalva Self
Stephen Nichols Self
Davis Mallory Self

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