Nearly 25 years after Jack Bauer's first day, 24 is still the benchmark for edge-of-your-seat television. A feature film has been in early development at 20th Century Studios with Imagine since 2024, and in November 2025 Imagine's Justin Wilkes said plans to continue the story were still "a little bit informal".
With its ticking clock and split screens, the show changed how TV drama was made. Explore more must-watch shows in our TV series collection.
24 Fact File
| Original run | 6 November 2001 - 24 May 2010 (Fox) |
|---|---|
| Creators | Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran |
| Network | Fox |
| Production | Imagine Television, 20th Century Fox Television |
| Seasons and episodes | 8 seasons, 192 episodes (plus Live Another Day) |
| Format | Each season covers one day in real time |
| Main setting | Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU), Los Angeles |
| Main cast | Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Dennis Haysbert, Elisha Cuthbert, Carlos Bernard |
| Spin-offs | 24: Redemption (2008), 24: Live Another Day (2014), 24: Legacy (2017) |
Seasons
| Season | Years | Episodes | Main setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 2001-2002 | 24 | Los Angeles |
| Day 2 | 2002-2003 | 24 | Los Angeles |
| Day 3 | 2003-2004 | 24 | Los Angeles |
| Day 4 | 2005 | 24 | Los Angeles |
| Day 5 | 2006 | 24 | Los Angeles |
| Day 6 | 2007 | 24 | Los Angeles |
| Day 7 | 2009 | 24 | Washington, D.C. |
| Day 8 | 2010 | 24 | New York City |
| Live Another Day | 2014 | 12 | London |
Years are US broadcast years; the 2008 TV film 24: Redemption aired between Days 6 and 7.
A Brand New Format
Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, 24 premiered on Fox in November 2001 with a bold idea: each season would cover a single day, with every episode playing out in one hour of real time. An on-screen digital clock ticked down around the ad breaks, and split screens showed events happening at the same moment.
At the centre was Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer, an agent at the Counter Terrorist Unit in Los Angeles. Dennis Haysbert's David Palmer and Mary Lynn Rajskub's Chloe O'Brian became fan favourites.
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Award-Winning Peak
The show hit its stride in the mid-2000s. Sutherland won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Drama in 2002, and at the 2006 Emmys 24 won Outstanding Drama Series while Sutherland took Outstanding Lead Actor. Across its run the franchise won 20 Emmys from 68 nominations.
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New Cities and a London Return
After the TV film 24: Redemption in 2008, Days 7 and 8 moved the action to Washington, D.C. and New York, with the original run ending in May 2010. Jack returned in 2014 for 24: Live Another Day, a 12-episode event set in London, and 24: Legacy followed in 2017 with a new lead.
Awards
Emmy Awards
- Outstanding Drama Series (2006)
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Kiefer Sutherland (2006)
- 20 Emmy wins in total
Golden Globes
- Best Actor in a Television Drama, Kiefer Sutherland (2002)
Behind the Scenes
Occasionally the famous clock ran silently, a signal reserved for the most dramatic moments, usually the loss of a major character. 24: Redemption was filmed in South Africa, standing in for the fictional African country of Sangala.
FAQs
How many seasons of 24 are there?
The original run had eight seasons and 192 episodes, followed by the 12-episode 24: Live Another Day in 2014.
Who played Jack Bauer?
Kiefer Sutherland played Jack Bauer in every season.
Where was 24: Live Another Day set?
It was set in London.
Is 24 really in real time?
Yes, each season covers one day, with each episode representing one hour of real time.
Did 24 win an Emmy?
Yes, it won Outstanding Drama Series in 2006 and 20 Emmys in total.
Is there a 24 movie?
A film has been in early development at 20th Century Studios since 2024, but no release has been confirmed.
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Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Prison Break and The X-Files.
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