TV series
Smart is the new sexy.
Physicists Leonard and Sheldon find their nerd-centric social circle with pals Howard and Raj expanding when aspiring actress Penny moves in next door.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Checked Jul 22, 2026
The Big Bang Theory is available to stream on DirecTV On Demand, HBO (Via Hulu), HBO Max, Max (Via Amazon Prime), and YouTube TV in United States. You can also rent or buy it from Google Play, Amazon, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
Physicists Leonard and Sheldon find their nerd-centric social circle with pals Howard and Raj expanding when aspiring actress Penny moves in next door.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
Penny is worried with how damaged her friendship with the guys will be in the aftermath of her sleeping with Raj while Sheldon becomes the leader of the paintball team.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Maria Ferrari, Eric Kaplan, Anthony Del Broccolo, Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro, Bill PradyGuest stars Stacey Travis, Christine Baranski
Episode 2
A fight between Sheldon and Penny leaves Amy caught in the middle, while Leonard tries to spice up his long-distance relationship with Priya.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Steven Molaro, Jim Reynolds, Steve Holland, Maria Ferrari, Bill Prady, Chuck LorreGuest stars Alice Amter, Aarti Mann, Brian George
Episode 3
Leonard and Amy get to know each other better, while Howard and Bernadette spend the weekend with Mrs. Wolowitz.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Chuck Lorre, Eric Kaplan, David Goetsch, Jim Reynolds, Steven Molaro, Bill PradyGuest stars Carol Ann Susi
Episode 4
Penny plays Matchmaker for Raj, which results in him finding a girl he is comfortable talking to.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Chuck Lorre, Steve Holland, Anthony Del Broccolo, David Goetsch, Steven Molaro, Bill PradyGuest stars Alice Amter, Brian George, Katie Leclerc
Episode 5
Sheldon and Leonard get invited to a party at Wil Wheaton's house, and Howard gets an out-of-this-world opportunity.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Steven Molaro, Bill Prady, Chuck Lorre, Eric Kaplan, Jim Reynolds, Maria FerrariGuest stars Kevin Sussman, Carol Ann Susi, Wil Wheaton, Brent Spiner
Episode 6
Sheldon's mother, Mary Cooper, comes to visit, but Sheldon is annoyed that she also spends time with the rest of the gang, instead of catering to his every demand.
Directed by Howard MurrayWritten by Chuck Lorre, Jim Reynolds, Eric Kaplan, Steve Holland, Steven Molaro, Bill PradyGuest stars Laurie Metcalf
Episode 7
A cute comic book artist puts Leonard and Priya’s relationship to the test, while Sheldon tries to scare the guys for Halloween.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Chuck Lorre, Steve Holland, Maria Ferrari, David Goetsch, Steven Molaro, Bill PradyGuest stars Kevin Sussman, Aarti Mann, Courtney Ford
Episode 8
Amy becomes heartbroken when she discovers that Penny and Bernadette went wedding dress shopping without her.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Chuck Lorre, Tara Hernandez, Steve Holland, Eric Kaplan, Steven Molaro, Bill Prady
Episode 9
Leonard and Penny try hanging out as friends on a 'non-date', but end up purposely ruining each others chances with perspective dates. Meanwhile, Sheldon enlists the help of Bernadette and Amy to overcome his fear of birds.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Chuck Lorre, Anthony Del Broccolo, David Goetsch, Eric Kaplan, Steven Molaro, Bill PradyGuest stars Blake Berris, Ashley Austin Morris
Episode 10
When Stuart asks Amy out on a date, Sheldon must confront his feelings and consider where his relationship with Amy is going.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro, Jim Reynolds, Steve Holland, David Goetsch, Bill PradyGuest stars Kevin Sussman, Josh Brener
Episode 11
Leonard must face his fears after being contacted by his high school tormentor.
Directed by Anthony RichWritten by Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady, Steve Holland, Eric Kaplan, Steven Molaro, Anthony Del BroccoloGuest stars Lance Barber
Episode 12
Sheldon gets in trouble with Amy when he isn't impressed by her recent accomplishment, and Howard must come to grips with Bernadette's dislike of children.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Chuck Lorre, Tara Hernandez, Jim Reynolds, Steve Holland, Steven Molaro, Bill PradyGuest stars Carol Ann Susi, Jonathan Schmock, Jadon Sand, Dusan Brown
Episode 13
Leonard, who broke up with Priya, asks Penny out to a spur-of the-moment romantic dinner for two, and the duo contemplates on their relationship.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro, Bill PradyGuest stars Jim Turner
Episode 14
Leonard and Penny deal with the idea of starting a relationship again and Raj finally finds a "woman" he can talk to without being drunk, in the form of Siri on his new phone. Meanwhile, Sheldon decides to start a YouTube series entitled "Sheldon Cooper presents Fun with Flags" with the help of Amy.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro, Eric Kaplan, David Goetsch, Maria Ferrari, Bill PradyGuest stars John Ross Bowie, Becky O'Donohue, Kevin Brief
Episode 15
Sheldon's selfish demands force Leonard to reconsider their friendship. Meanwhile, Wolowitz tries to pick his astronaut nickname.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Chuck Lorre, Steve Holland, Eric Kaplan, Jim Reynolds, Steven Molaro, Bill PradyGuest stars Kevin Sussman, Carol Ann Susi, Michael J. Massimino
Episode 16
When Sheldon is forced to take his vacation, he goes to work with Amy in her neurobiology lab.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Chuck Lorre, Tara Hernandez, Anthony Del Broccolo, Steven Molaro, Maria Ferrari, Bill PradyGuest stars Nick Clifford, Joshua Malina
Episode 17
Sheldon battles Kripke for a coveted office at the university. Penny receives a very unusual gift from Amy.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Chuck Lorre, Jim Reynolds, Bill Prady, Steve Holland, Eric Kaplan, Steven MolaroGuest stars John Ross Bowie, Lynn Philip Seibel, Joshua Malina
Episode 18
Sheldon becomes agitated when his regular barber is out sick. Astronaut training causes Howard to reconsider wanting to go into space. Penny beats Leonard in chess, the first time she plays.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Chuck Lorre, Jim Reynolds, Steven Molaro, Maria Ferrari, Bill Prady, Gary Torvinen, Todd CraigGuest stars Peter Onorati, Vernee Watson, Carol Ann Susi
Episode 19
Sheldon must choose between joining Amy at her aunt's birthday party or playing videogames all weekend with the guys.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Chuck Lorre, Tara Hernandez, Steve Holland, Bill Prady, Eric Kaplan, Steven MolaroGuest stars Kevin Sussman, Carol Ann Susi
Episode 20
Penny buys Leonard and Sheldon “Star Trek” collectibles as a thank-you, leading Sheldon to be haunted by Mr. Spock. Meanwhile, Raj decides he has met the “Future Mrs. Koothrappali” after his parents set him up on a date.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Chuck Lorre, Jim Reynolds, Steve Holland, Maria Ferrari, Bill Prady, Steven MolaroGuest stars Alice Amter, Brian George, Chriselle Almeida, Leonard Nimoy
Episode 21
When Wolowitz gets to work with Stephen Hawking, Sheldon is willing to do anything to meet his hero.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Steven Molaro, Bill Prady, Steve Holland, Chuck Lorre, Eric Kaplan, Maria FerrariGuest stars Carol Ann Susi, Stephen Hawking
Episode 22
After the guys throw Howard a bachelor party, Bernadette reconsiders marrying him after learning about his sexual history.
Directed by Peter ChakosWritten by Jim Reynolds, Eric Kaplan, Bill Prady, Steve Holland, Chuck Lorre, Steven MolaroGuest stars Kevin Sussman, John Ross Bowie, Wil Wheaton
Episode 23
When NASA moves up Howard's mission, he must face his fears and Bernadette's dad, thus putting the wedding plans in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Leonard says something surprising to Penny in the bedroom.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro, Steve Holland, Jim Reynolds, Maria Ferrari, Bill PradyGuest stars Casey Sander, Robert Clotworthy, Karl T. Wright
Episode 24
The fifth season ends with Howard and Bernadette deciding to get married before his NASA mission, causing the gang to scurry into overdrive in an effort to stage the wedding. NASA astronaut Mike Massimino has a cameo as himself.
Directed by Mark CendrowskiWritten by Jim Reynolds, Eric Kaplan, Bill Prady, Steve Holland, Chuck Lorre, Steven MolaroGuest stars Carol Ann Susi, Casey Sander, Michael J. Massimino, Amy Tolsky, Endre Hules, Pasha D. Lychnikoff
Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026
Johnny GaleckiLeonard Hofstadter
Jim ParsonsSheldon Cooper
Kaley CuocoPenny
Simon HelbergHoward Wolowitz
Kunal NayyarRajesh Koothrappali
Melissa RauchBernadette Rostenkowski
Mayim BialikAmy Farrah Fowler
Kevin SussmanStuart Bloom
CBSUnited States
Chuck Lorre ProductionsUnited States
Warner Bros. TelevisionUnited StatesMore shows like The Big Bang Theory.
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