Epilepsy is a complex brain disorder that develops as a consequence of various structural and metabolic brain changes and is associated with excessive neuronal hypersynchronous activity. Millions of people struggle with epilepsy, while antiepileptic medications successfully manage seizures in roughly 70% of patients. Clinical studies in humans provide limited insight into the complex mechanisms responsible for epileptogenesis and seizure generation, especially in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), which is often pharmacoresistant. The comprehension of TLE pathophysiogenesis primarily depends on status epilepticus (SE) models, such as the pilocarpine model. The use of appropriate animal models is crucial for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis and for evaluating the efficacy of new antiepileptic drugs. In this review, we summarize the most frequently used models of acute seizures induced by alterations in the extracellular ion composition, pharmacological interventions, and electrical stimulation. Chronic models of epilepsy, induced by chemoconvulsants and tetanic stimulations, were also examined. We analyzed the key advantages and distinguishing features of various in vivo and in vitro animal models, also highlighting parallels and differences between the models and the human condition.