History of Breaking Bad in Timeline
Breaking Bad follows Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with lung cancer, who turns to producing methamphetamine with his former student, Jesse Pinkman, to secure his family's financial future. Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the series explores Walter's transformation into a criminal, navigating the dangers of the drug trade while hiding his activities from his family and law enforcement. The show features a complex web of characters involved in the drug world.
2 hours ago : Streamer Adin Ross Buys Walter White's 'Breaking Bad' House for $1.3 Million
The iconic Walter White house from 'Breaking Bad' in Albuquerque sold for $1.3 million to streamer Adin Ross. The sale generated significant buzz due to the home's pop culture significance and Ross's involvement.
2005: Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act passed
In 2005, the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act was passed, leading to pseudoephedrine being listed as a controlled substance. DEA spokesperson Barbara Carreno credits this act as a reason for the drop in meth use.
2006: Crystal meth use compared to 2006 levels.
In 2006, crystal meth usage levels were higher than they have been since. DEA spokesperson Barbara Carreno stated that the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005, resulted in pseudoephedrine being listed as a controlled substance, contributing to the drop in use.
2006: Crystal meth levels are high
In 2006, crystal meth use was at a high level.
2007: Writers Guild Strike Limits Breaking Bad Season 1
In 2007, the Writers Guild of America strike limited the production of Breaking Bad's first season to seven episodes, delaying the start of production for the second season and influencing the show's creative direction.
January 20, 2008: Breaking Bad Premieres on AMC
On January 20, 2008, Breaking Bad premiered on AMC. The show follows Walter White, a chemistry teacher who turns to cooking meth to provide for his family after being diagnosed with cancer.
2008: Breaking Bad premiered
In 2008, Breaking Bad premiered on AMC, coinciding with the NFC and AFC Championships. The pilot episode had about 1.4 million viewers.
2008: Breaking Bad wins Peabody Award
In 2008, Breaking Bad won a Peabody Award.
2008: Bryan Cranston wins Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in 2008.
In 2008, Bryan Cranston won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Walter White. He also won the Satellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series: Drama in 2008.
2008: American Film Institute Lists Breaking Bad as Top TV Series
In 2008, the American Film Institute listed Breaking Bad as one of the top ten television series of the year, recognizing its excellence early in its run.
2008: Breaking Bad Series Set in 2008
In 2008, the events of Breaking Bad begin, depicting Walter White's transformation from a high school teacher to a meth lord, driven by a cancer diagnosis.
February 2009: TwaüghtHammer Video Released
In February 2009, a music video for Jesse's band "TwaüghtHammër" called "Fallacies" was released as a webisode, featuring the image of a damaged teddy bear with a missing eye, a motif in Breaking Bad season two.
2009: Breaking Bad wins Satellite Award in 2009.
In 2009, Breaking Bad won the Satellite Award for Best Television Series – Drama.
2009: Bryan Cranston wins awards in 2009.
In 2009, Bryan Cranston won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, the TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama, and the Satellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series: Drama.
2010: Netflix Deal Helps Secure Breaking Bad's Future
Around 2010, Sony Pictures Television negotiated a deal to make Breaking Bad available on Netflix after the fourth season, which significantly boosted viewership and helped ensure the production of a fifth season after AMC considered cancelling the show.
2010: Aaron Paul wins Primetime Emmy Award and Saturn Award in 2010.
In 2010, Aaron Paul won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television.
2010: Breaking Bad wins TCA Award, Satellite Award, and Saturn Award in 2010.
In 2010, Breaking Bad won the TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama, the Satellite Award for Best Television Series – Drama, and the Saturn Award for Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series.
2010: Bryan Cranston wins Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in 2010.
In 2010, Bryan Cranston won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and the Satellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series: Drama.
2010: American Film Institute Lists Breaking Bad as Top TV Series in 2010
In 2010, the American Film Institute listed Breaking Bad as one of the top ten television series of the year.
2010: Breaking Bad Series Takes Place Until 2010
The events of Breaking Bad take place between 2008 and 2010, during which Walter White navigates the dangerous world of drug trafficking while battling cancer.
July 2011: Vince Gilligan Intends to Conclude Breaking Bad
In July 2011, Vince Gilligan indicated his intention to conclude Breaking Bad at the end of its fifth season, setting the stage for negotiations regarding the final season.
August 14, 2011: AMC Renews Breaking Bad for Final Season
On August 14, 2011, AMC renewed Breaking Bad for a fifth and final season consisting of 16 episodes after negotiations with Sony Pictures Television.
August 2011: Negotiations Begin for Breaking Bad's Final Season
In early August 2011, negotiations began between AMC and Sony Pictures Television regarding the fifth and possible final season of Breaking Bad, with discussions about episode counts and potential alternative networks.
2011: Breaking Bad wins Saturn Award in 2011.
In 2011, Breaking Bad won the Saturn Award for Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series.
2011: Season Four Receives Near-Universal Acclaim
In 2011, season four of Breaking Bad received near-universal critical acclaim, with many critics listing it as one of the best seasons of television that year.
2011: American Film Institute Lists Breaking Bad as Top TV Series in 2011
In 2011, the American Film Institute listed Breaking Bad as one of the top ten television series of the year.
April 2012: Fifth Season of Breaking Bad Split into Two Halves
In April 2012, Bryan Cranston revealed that the fifth season of Breaking Bad would be split into two halves, with the first eight episodes airing in 2012 and the final eight in 2013.
2012: Aaron Paul wins Primetime Emmy Award in 2012.
In 2012, Aaron Paul won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
2012: Breaking Bad wins TCA Award, Saturn Award and Writers Guild Award in 2012.
In 2012, Breaking Bad won the TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama, the Saturn Award for Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series, and the Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Dramatic Series.
2012: Bryan Cranston wins Critics' Choice Television Award and Saturn Award in 2012.
In 2012, Bryan Cranston won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series and the Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television.
2012: American Film Institute Lists Breaking Bad as Top TV Series in 2012
In 2012, the American Film Institute listed Breaking Bad as one of the top ten television series of the year, continuing its recognition for excellence.
August 2013: Anna Gunn publishes "I Have a Character Issue" in The New York Times
In August 2013, Anna Gunn published an op-ed in The New York Times titled "I Have a Character Issue" where she discussed her experience playing Skyler and addressed the vitriol directed toward her character.
September 2013: Vince Gilligan Thanks Netflix at Emmy Awards
In September 2013, after Breaking Bad's conclusion, Vince Gilligan thanked Netflix at the Emmy Awards for its role in the series's popularity and continuation, attributing the show's survival to the platform's availability.
September 29, 2013: Breaking Bad Concludes
On September 29, 2013, Breaking Bad concluded after five seasons and 62 episodes, becoming one of the most-watched cable shows on American television.
October 4, 2013: Obituary for Walter White
On October 4, 2013, a Breaking Bad fan group placed a paid obituary for Walter White in the Albuquerque Journal.
October 19, 2013: Mock Funeral for Walter White
On October 19, 2013, a mock funeral procession and service for the character Walter White was held at Albuquerque's Sunset Memorial Park cemetery, including a hearse and a replica of Walter's meth lab RV. The event raised nearly $17,000 for Healthcare for the Homeless.
November 26, 2013: Breaking Bad complete series released on DVD and Blu-ray
On November 26, 2013, the complete Breaking Bad series was released on DVD and Blu-ray in a collectable box shaped like one of the barrels used by Walt to bury his money. The set contains various features, including a two-hour documentary and a humorous alternative ending.
2013: Anna Gunn wins Primetime Emmy Award in 2013.
In 2013, Anna Gunn won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
2013: Breaking Bad Enters Guinness World Records
In 2013, Breaking Bad entered the Guinness World Records as the most critically acclaimed TV show of all time.
2013: Breaking Bad accused of normalizing meth use
In 2013, Breaking Bad faced accusations from law enforcement and legal communities for allegedly normalizing or glorifying methamphetamine creation and usage.
2013: Breaking Bad wins Outstanding Drama Series Emmy in 2013.
In 2013, Breaking Bad won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, and also won a Peabody Award.
2013: Breaking Bad wins TCA Award, Writers Guild Award, and Primetime Emmy Award in 2013.
In 2013, Breaking Bad won the TCA Award for Program of the Year, the Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Dramatic Series, and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. It was also named No. 13 in a list of the 101 Best-Written TV Series of All Time by the Writers Guild of America.
2013: Breaking Bad named highest-rated TV series of all time
In 2013, Guinness World Records named Breaking Bad the highest-rated TV series of all time, citing its season 5 Metacritic score of 99 out of 100.
2013: Kelley Dixon Wins Emmy Award
In 2013, Kelley Dixon, one of the editors of Breaking Bad, won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series for her work on the series.
2013: MythBusters Special Scrutinizes Breaking Bad Scenes
In 2013, a MythBusters Breaking Bad special scrutinized scenes from the first season, finding it impossible to fully dissolve metal with hydrofluoric acid and determining that a much larger quantity of fulminated mercury would be needed for an explosion.
2013: American Film Institute Lists Breaking Bad as Top TV Series in 2013
In 2013, the American Film Institute listed Breaking Bad as one of the top ten television series of the year, recognizing its impact and quality throughout its run.
2013: Final Episodes of Breaking Bad Air in 2013
In 2013, the final eight episodes of the split fifth season of Breaking Bad aired, concluding the series.
2014: Aaron Paul wins Primetime Emmy Award in 2014.
In 2014, Aaron Paul won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
2014: Breaking Bad wins Outstanding Drama Series Emmy in 2014.
In 2014, Breaking Bad won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series.
2014: Bryan Cranston wins Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in 2014.
In 2014, Bryan Cranston won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Walter White.
2014: Toys "R" Us pulls action figures
In 2014, Toys "R" Us removed four collectable action figures from its stores following complaints about the inclusion of toy drug money and toy meth. Bryan Cranston responded with a joke on Twitter.
2014: Article blames Breaking Bad for crystal meth use increase
In 2014, a Telegraph article stated that a "leading academic" blamed the series for a "shocking" increase in crystal meth use.
February 8, 2015: Better Call Saul Debuts on AMC
On February 8, 2015, Better Call Saul, a prequel/sequel series to Breaking Bad, debuted on AMC, featuring Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, and Giancarlo Esposito reprising their roles.
May 2015: Publication of Legal Articles on Breaking Bad
In May 2015, the New Mexico Law Review published a collection of eight articles by legal scholars, each dedicated to dissecting legal issues presented by Breaking Bad.
2015: Breaking Bad Named Favorite Show by Hollywood Reporter
In 2015, a Hollywood Reporter survey of 2,800 industry professionals named Breaking Bad as their #2 favorite show, showcasing its popularity within the entertainment industry.
2015: Vince Gilligan asks fans to stop throwing pizza on roof
In 2015, series creator Vince Gilligan publicly requested fans of the series to stop re-enacting the pizza-throwing scene from "Caballo sin Nombre" after complaints from the home's real-life owner.
2016: Rolling Stone Ranks Breaking Bad Third Greatest TV Show
In 2016, Rolling Stone ranked Breaking Bad third on its list of 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time, recognizing its enduring impact and quality.
2018: Anna Gunn reflects on experiences on the show in 2018
In 2018, Anna Gunn reflected on her experiences on the show, talking about the connection people have to Walter and the older ideas of what a woman or wife should be.
2018: The Guardian calls Breaking Bad a classic drama true to reality
In 2018, Paul MacInnes of The Guardian wrote that Breaking Bad became a classic drama due to its craft, creativity, and true-to-reality portrayal of conflicted characters.
2018: Aaron Paul comments on audience reaction to Skyler White.
In a 2018 cast reunion, Aaron Paul commented about why the audience did not sympathize with Skyler White.
2018: Vince Gilligan defends Skyler and Anna Gunn in 2018 reunion
In a 2018 cast reunion, Vince Gilligan defended both Skyler and Anna Gunn regarding the animosity directed towards Skyler White by viewers.
2018: Rian Johnson shares memories from behind the camera
In a 2018 interview with IGN, director Rian Johnson shared his memories from behind the camera while working on the show.
September 2019: The Guardian Ranks Breaking Bad Fifth Best TV Show
In September 2019, The Guardian ranked Breaking Bad fifth on its list of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century, highlighting Walter White's descent from a chemistry teacher to a meth overlord.
October 11, 2019: El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie Released
On October 11, 2019, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, starring Aaron Paul, was released on Netflix and in theaters as a sequel to the original series.
July 2022: Bronze statue of Walter and Jesse Donated
In July 2022, Gilligan and Sony Pictures Television commissioned and donated a bronze statue of Walter and Jesse to the city of Albuquerque, which is on display at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
August 15, 2022: Better Call Saul Concludes
On August 15, 2022, Better Call Saul, the prequel/sequel to Breaking Bad, concluded its run on AMC.
2022: Rolling Stone Ranks Breaking Bad Third Greatest TV Show in 2022
In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked Breaking Bad third on its list of 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time, reaffirming its status as one of the best television series ever created.
2022: Statues of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman erected in New Mexico
In 2022, the erection of statues of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman in New Mexico sparked criticism from some Republican figures, while Albuquerque's Democratic Mayor Tim Keller defended the statues.
2022: Vince Gilligan says storytelling rigged in favor of Walt
In a 2022 interview, Vince Gilligan admitted that the storytelling was rigged in the sense that it was solely through Walt's eyes, even in scenes he wasn't present for.
2023: Breaking Bad Ranked Best TV Series by Rotten Tomatoes
In 2023, Breaking Bad was ranked as the best TV series in the last 25 years by critics in a poll conveyed by Rotten Tomatoes.
2023: Variety Ranks Breaking Bad Fifth-Greatest TV Show
In 2023, Variety ranked Breaking Bad as the fifth-greatest TV show of all time, solidifying its place in television history.
2025: Drug raid in Florida described as "Breaking Bad on steroids"
In late 2025, a drug raid in Florida, where 92,000 pounds of kratom-derived substances were seized, was described as "Breaking Bad on steroids" by Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.
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