Father Knows Best (1954)

Comedy · Family

Family man Jim Anderson copes with the everyday problems among his wife Margaret and their three children as they experience day-to-day changes.

IMDb rating: 7.4 (2,997 votes)
Episode average: 7.7 ↑ +0.3 vs IMDb
Seasons: 6
Streaming (US): Amazon Prime Video · Peacock
Language: EN
Type: TV series

Rating trend: this show's seasons do not settle into one shape. Rising Shows ranks whole shows by the shape of their rating trend rather than one average score, which is how you find a show that got better rather than a show that started well.

Browse shows by rating shape → Open in Rising Shows app → View on IMDb

Ratings refreshed Oct 3, 2026 · 6 seasons indexed

Cast

Seasons

Season 1 (1954)

7.65 avg 26 episodes 7.1 → 8.0 30 min avg

Season 1 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Bud Takes Up the Dance	7.1	161
2	Lesson in Citizenship	7.9	103
3	The Motor Scooter	7.8	94
4	Football Tickets	7.6	86
5	Live My Own Life	7.7	84
6	Grandpa Jim's Rejuvenation	7.7	84
7	Bud's Encounter with the Law	7.8	74
8	Thanksgiving Day	7.3	89
9	Second Honeymoon	7.3	76
10	Typical Father	7.7	72
11	Margaret Goes Dancing	7.6	71
12	The Christmas Story	8.3	116
13	Sparrow in the Window	8.2	73
14	Boys' Week	8.0	76
15	A Friend of Old George's	7.2	73
16	Bud the Snob	7.7	74
17	The Promised Playhouse	7.4	70
18	Jim, the Farmer	7.8	68
19	Father of the Year	7.6	67
20	The Mink Coat	7.5	69
21	The Matchmaker	7.5	70
22	Bud the Bridesmaid	7.5	70
23	Proud Father	7.8	72
24	Father Delivers the Papers	7.9	75
25	No Partiality	6.9	68
26	Close Decision	8.0	68

Season 2 (1955)

7.69 avg 37 episodes 7.5 → 7.9 30 min avg

Season 2 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Art of Salesmanship	7.5	63
2	Father's Private Life	7.5	71
3	Lessons in Civics	7.8	70
4	First Disillusionment	7.9	65
5	Woman in the House	8.5	83
6	New Girl at School	7.8	64
7	Kathy Makes Magic	7.7	65
8	Advantage to Betty	8.1	72
9	The Big Test	8.1	75
10	Father Is a Dope	7.5	69
11	The Spirit of Youth	7.5	67
12	Bud, the Ladykiller	8.0	73
13	Margaret's Premonition	7.0	63
14	Stage to Yuma	6.6	60
15	Bad Influence	7.9	72
16	Betty Hates Carter	8.1	67
17	Jim, the Tyrant	7.2	68
18	Betty's Brother	7.6	63
19	Betty Earns a Formal	7.8	63
20	The House Painter	8.0	68
21	Bud, the Wallflower	7.7	57
22	The Bus to Nowhere	8.1	74
23	Kathy, the Indian Giver	7.1	55
24	The Historical Andersons	8.0	61
25	The Grass Is Greener	7.7	67
26	The Persistent Guest	8.7	106
27	Family Reunion	8.5	60
28	Family Dines Out	7.5	55
29	Bud, the Boxer	7.8	58
30	Betty, Girl Engineer	5.7	79
31	The Martins and the Coys	7.3	63
32	Dilemma for Margaret	7.8	63
33	Hero Father	7.8	53
34	Father, the Naturalist	7.5	58
35	The Ten-Dollar Question	7.7	58
36	Adopted Daughter	7.8	59
37	Betty's Graduation	7.9	60

Season 3 (1956)

7.92 avg 37 episodes 8.1 → 7.7 30 min avg

Season 3 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	No Apron Strings	8.1	65
2	Never the Twain	7.6	56
3	Betty Goes to College	7.7	62
4	Man About Town	7.9	58
5	The Homing Pigeon	8.1	55
6	Spaghetti for Margaret	8.1	62
7	Betty's Birthday	8.0	60
8	Bud, the Millionaire	7.6	52
9	The Old Days	7.2	47
10	Whistle Bait	7.3	65
11	The Great Guy	8.3	63
12	The Family Goes to New York	7.9	49
13	Betty Goes Steady	7.6	56
14	The Good Prospect	8.2	54
15	The Angel's Sweater	8.3	75
16	The Promising Young Man	7.8	56
17	Margaret Hires a Gardener	8.1	48
18	Swiss Family Anderson	7.8	64
19	Brief Holiday	8.3	67
20	The Lawn Party	8.1	55
21	Short Wave	8.7	105
22	Carnival	8.3	61
23	Betty and the Jet Pilot	8.0	61
24	Trip to Hillsborough	7.6	57
25	An Evening to Remember	8.3	75
26	Bud Buys a Car	8.1	53
27	Safety First	8.0	55
28	Bud, the Hero	8.0	48
29	Betty, the Track Star	7.8	58
30	The Spelling Bee	8.3	64
31	Bud, the Philanthropist	7.7	53
32	Baby in the House	6.9	59
33	Class Prophecy	8.2	62
34	The Art of Romance	8.1	46
35	Margaret Disowns Her Family	8.0	57
36	Grandpa Retires	7.2	49
37	Shoot for the Moon	7.7	58

Season 4 (1957)

7.68 avg 33 episodes 8.6 → 7.6 30 min avg

Rollercoaster

Season 4 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Follow the Leader	8.6	65
2	The Awkward Hero	7.6	56
3	The Good Neighbor	8.3	51
4	Bud, the Executive	8.0	44
5	Sentenced to Happiness	6.4	46
6	Mother Goes to School	7.7	49
7	The Indispensable Man	7.8	47
8	Kathy's Big Chance	8.1	65
9	Margaret Learns to Drive	8.0	51
10	Way of a Dictator	8.0	46
11	Mister Beal Meets His Match	8.5	63
12	Kathy Makes a Wish	6.0	50
13	Man with a Plan	7.5	45
14	Big Sister	7.1	46
15	Calypso Bud	7.6	45
16	Father's Biography	7.9	46
17	The Rivals	7.7	59
18	Bud, the Mind Reader	7.1	41
19	Margaret's Other Family	7.7	44
20	The Trial	7.6	47
21	Revenge Is Sweet	8.2	48
22	Country Cousin	7.8	64
23	Poor Old Dad	7.8	46
24	Betty's Crusade	7.3	52
25	Young Love	8.0	49
26	Tell it to Mom	8.2	51
27	A Friend in Need	8.0	57
28	A Medal for Margaret	7.9	45
29	The Weaker Sex	7.5	44
30	Jim, the Answer Man	7.3	45
31	Bud Quits School	7.5	43
32	A Matter of Pride	7.2	49
33	Betty Finds a Cause	7.6	51

Season 5 (1958)

7.61 avg 38 episodes 7.4 → 8.0 29 min avg

Season 5 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Vine-Covered Cottage	7.4	43
2	Be Kind to Bud Week	7.8	41
3	Kathy's Romance	7.7	63
4	Voice from the Past	7.5	45
5	Frank's Family Tree	6.8	43
6	Always Plan Ahead	7.4	47
7	Second Wedding	6.8	49
8	Bud, the Caretaker	8.1	58
9	Betty, the Pioneer Woman	7.7	55
10	Fair Exchange	7.5	59
11	Bud, the Snob	6.8	33
12	Margaret Wins a Car	6.9	55
13	The Great Experiment	7.2	48
14	The Christmas Story	7.8	52
15	The Basketball Coach	7.9	43
16	Kathy, Girl Executive	7.0	38
17	The Good Samaritan	8.0	42
18	The Ideal Father	8.1	45
19	Big Shot Bud	8.0	43
20	Hard Luck Leo	7.7	46
21	Bud, the Campus Romeo	8.0	54
22	Crisis Over a Kiss	8.1	55
23	Kathy Grows Up	6.6	43
24	A Man of Merit	8.1	55
25	Betty Makes a Choice	7.7	55
26	It's a Small World	8.1	50
27	Two Loves Has Bud	8.0	56
28	An Extraordinary Woman	7.9	62
29	The Art of Romance	7.3	36
30	Formula for Happiness	8.3	56
31	Bud and the Debutante	8.7	63
32	The Promised Playhouse Flashback	6.6	28
33	The Meanest Professor	8.4	48
34	My Life Flashback	6.9	28
35	Bud Has a Problem	7.3	42
36	The Great Anderson Mystery	8.6	57
37	Margaret Goes Dancing Flashback	6.6	32
38	The Gold Turnip	8.0	47

Season 6 (1959)

7.39 avg 32 episodes 8.3 → 6.9 29 min avg

Rollercoaster

Season 6 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	A Day in the Country	8.3	58
2	Bud Branches Out	7.9	59
3	The Gardener's Big Day	7.9	52
4	The Impostor	8.2	56
5	Bud Plays It Safe	7.8	47
6	Bicycle Trip for Two	7.5	42
7	First Disillusionment	6.3	32
8	Margaret's Old Flame	7.3	42
9	Kathy Becomes a Girl	7.0	45
10	Bud, the Willing Worker	8.2	54
11	Turn the Other Cheek	7.7	41
12	Good Joke on Mom	7.1	49
13	Betty's Double	7.1	49
14	Father, the Naturalist Repeat	6.0	27
15	Bud Hides Behind a Skirt	7.6	47
16	Togetherness	7.7	45
17	Second Best	7.8	49
18	Kathy's Big Deception	7.7	41
19	Cupid Knows Best	6.0	37
20	The Big Test Flashbabck	5.2	26
21	Jim's Big Surprise	7.6	48
22	Time to Retire	8.3	48
23	Bud, the Speculator	7.2	40
24	The $500 Letter	8.1	42
25	Adopted Daughter	5.8	30
26	Family Contest	7.5	42
27	Love and Learn	7.5	55
28	Blind Date	8.7	71
29	Betty's Career Problem	7.5	45
30	Bud Lives It Up	7.2	49
31	Not His Type	7.9	49
32	Betty's Graduation	6.9	31