Watch The Thorn Birds

Based on the wildly successful novel of the same name, the epic television mini-series The Thornbirds primarily takes place in the Autstralian Outback on a sheep farm called Drogheda and follows the Cleary family through three generations and spans over 40 years. It certainly lives up to its title which alludes to the story of a mythical bird who, from its hatching, searches far and wide for the perfect thorn tree and upon finding it, impales itself on a razor-sharp thorn and as it dies sings the most pure and angelic martyr's song ever heard.

The series stars such acting greats as Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, Barbara Stanwyck, Jean Simmons, Ken Howard and Christopher Plummer. It won six Prime-time Emmy Awards including Outstanding Miniseries or Movie, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, and Oustanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie. It also won four Golden Globe Awards including Best Miniseries of Television Film and Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film. It also claimed a People's Choice Award and a Young Artist Award making it the second most successful television mini-series of all time.