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Launching in the early 1970s, the Home Box Office network—or HBO—is America’s oldest, still-running subscription TV service. As such, the network has developed many shows during its life. From long-form television to mini-series to talk shows, here is a ranking of the very best HBO shows.
40. Entourage
Although Entourage wasn’t too complex, it ran for eight seasons because it never pretended to be. It followed a movie star on the rise named Vincent Chase and his childhood friends as they navigated Hollywood. Of course, while this series had Vince and his entourage enjoying their young life, this next one goes to the other extreme.
39. Getting On
It only ran for two seasons, but Getting On greatly impacted those who watched it. It took place in a rundown hospital and focused on the staff of its geriatric extended care wing. It was celebrated not only for refusing to shy away from difficult issues but for getting audiences to laugh through them as well.
38. Eastbound & Down
Eastbound & Down starred Danny McBride as a failed major league baseballer becoming a middle school gym teacher in his hometown, at least initially. Part of what fans loved about the show was its capacity to reinvent itself while remaining unabashedly crass. However, this isn’t the only HBO show with McBride.
HBO, Eastbound & Down (2009-2013)
37. The Righteous Gemstones
A dark comedy that puts televangelism under the microscope, The Righteous Gemstones follows a family who leads a megachurch while hiding their corrupt lifestyles. Its bold and poignant humor has kept audiences hooked as the series heads for its fourth season.
HBO, The Righteous Gemstones 2019-
36. Watchmen
This mini-series took place after the events of the comic books it was based on but its story and message remained faithful to the source material. Set in a world where once-revered vigilantes had become outlawed, Watchmen followed the investigation of a local terrorist group. However, this isn’t the only literary adaptation on this list.
35. House Of The Dragon
A prequel spin-off to Game of Thrones, this fantasy series depicts the story of George RR Martin’s Fire & Blood. While the first season was praise-worthy, the second recently was criticized by both fans of the series and Martin himself for unnecessary changes from the novel.
HBO, House Of The Dragon 2022-
34. Curb Your Enthusiasm
As HBO’s longest-running scripted comedy series, Curb Your Enthusiasm easily became one of television’s most iconic sitcoms. Like Seinfeld, it was mostly about nothing, with Larry David playing himself in an exaggerated portrayal of his life. While it remains a beloved comedy, some believe it continued for too long.
HBO, Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2024)
33. Euphoria
It may be hard to tell, but Euphoria is still planning on a third season, even two years after the last one. However, most fans worry that season 3 will never come to pass, thanks to disturbing controversies backstage--more on those later.
While Euphoria had a polarizing reception, its depiction of a high school addict was celebrated for its gritty and grounded approach. According to its creator, Sam Levinson, some of the core subject matter is inspired by his own life, similar to this next show.
32. Silicon Valley
Following a computer engineer’s attempts at creating his own company in the titular Silicon Valley, this series was inspired by the lived experiences of writer, Mike Judge. Compared to other comedies, this took somewhat of a backseat. However, this only made it an underrated gem, beloved for its characters and the performances behind them.
HBO, Silicon Valley (2014-2019)
31. The White Lotus
The White Lotus was intended to be a limited series but was renewed due to its notable success. Framed as a satirical anthology, each season follows a different set of guests at the eponymous luxury resort. Coincidentally, the characters of this next series seem like they would be right at home at this resort.
HBO, The White Lotus (2021-2025)
30. Sex And The City
This iconic series followed four women in New York as they dealt with life’s ups and downs. Although some have written it off as a trashy romance series akin to a “chick flick,” there was a surprising amount of heart in it. Still, there’s a difference between this kind of dramatized story and depictions of real-life events.
HBO, Sex and the City (1998-2004)
29. Treme
From the mind of David Simon, Treme told the story of various New Orleans residents as they recovered in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. While its authenticity was praised, it never seemed to be able to reach the same heights, nor avoid the comparisons to Simon’s previous hit, The Wire.
28. The Night Of
This mini-series followed a man accused of murder, despite having no memory of the events. It isn’t a new concept, but The Night Of honed in on all the intricacies of an investigation, through the legal issues, human nature, and racial biases. Of course, this isn’t the only HBO series to cover the issue of race.
27. Insecure
Issa Rae’s groundbreaking series, Insecure, followed her character as she explored adulthood and all the trials associated with it. Audiences loved it not only for the relatable, nuanced portrayals of all the characters but what has been regarded as a truthful representation of a modern Black woman’s life.
26. Westworld
Inspired by the 1973 film of the same name, Westworld followed a theme park where guests can live out their Wild West dreams without consequence. Its early seasons expertly explored the philosophical and ethical questions of humanity but it petered off as the show continued. However, for this next series, let’s instead head eastward.
25. Mare Of Easttown
Mare of Easttown was a mini-series about a detective investigating a murder in her small town while navigating her personal issues. Once again, this isn’t a new idea, but audiences fell in love with the series for its ultra-compelling narrative and grounded approach to family difficulties. Obviously, these kinds of thrillers are often the best HBO shows.
24. Oz
An HBO series many call underrated, Oz centered on an experimental prison wing, with its various staff members and inmates. Despite falling to the backburner among similar shows, this was one of the earliest to focus on more explicit and heavy subject matter, along with complex societal issues.
23. True Detective
This anthology series follows different investigations with a new cast each season. The first season was especially celebrated for its gritty storytelling and exploration of psychological and philosophical concepts, while the following seasons received more mixed reviews. Similarly, this next series jumps around different timelines.
22. Station Eleven
Having been told across multiple timelines, Station Eleven took place in a world ravaged by a deadly epidemic. Unlike the majority of post-apocalyptic stories, this mini-series had an endearingly hopeful quality, choosing to show humanity’s capacity to come together.
HBO, Station Eleven (2021-2022)
21. The Young Pope
What happens when someone both power-hungry and morally ambiguous leads the Catholic Church? The Young Pope told a fictional story of the first American Pope, containing an earnest and in-depth analysis of faith and the politics of religion. While it focused on the Holy Father, let’s move in another direction to a story about mothers.
20. Big Little Lies
Big Little Lies feels like it should be a shallow drama, but the stellar performances have elevated it above the average mystery. It follows a group of upper-class mothers as they become embroiled in a deadly scandal that had viewers glued to their screens, even if season two wasn’t as well received.
HBO, Big Little Lies (2017-2025)
19. The Larry Sanders Show
Among countless talk shows, The Larry Sanders Show was a unique sitcom centering around the production of a fictional talk show. It brought audiences an uncommon look behind the scenes of a genre that had already become a staple in television. Of course, HBO has a couple of real talk shows as well.
HBO, The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998)
18. Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
In the vein of The Daily Show, this satirical late-night talk show is hosted by the titular comedian, John Oliver. With each episode, Oliver covers not only political events but all aspects of pop culture—even those that viewers didn’t know they cared about.
HBO, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver 2014-
17. Boardwalk Empire
Boardwalk Empire is often compared to The Sopranos, to its detriment in many ways. While the story of a politician and his ties to the mob during Prohibition-era Atlantic City did have similarities to the aforementioned series, it clearly stands apart on its own merit.
HBO, Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014)
16. Hacks
A young comedy writer and an aging famous comedian are forced together to improve both their careers in the well-loved series, Hacks. Although it may seem a straight comedy, it includes surprisingly nuanced drama in the characters’ mentor/mentee relationship. However, while this stars a fictional performer, this next series rides that line more closely.
15. Flight Of The Conchords
Although Flight of the Conchords featured fictionalized versions of Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, the two had already formed the real titular comedy band. Following the New Zealand duo trying to make it in New York, it’s the definition of a hidden gem, with hilariously deadpan performances and writing. Of course, HBO has plenty of great comedies.
HBO, Flight of the Conchords (2007-2009)
14. Veep
The satirical comedy Veep not only poked fun at the system of government in America but also the many different kinds of people who get involved. It followed Selina Myer as she ascended the political ladder by any ruthless—and hilarious—means necessary. However, she’s far from the only morally ambiguous comedy character.
13. Barry
Bill Hader’s unique series about a hitman who wants to become an actor may have been relatively underrated, but it became an instant hit with those who watched it. As a dramedy, it allowed Hader to display his well-known comedic chops and prove he can nail much more serious scenes. Now, let’s go from assassins to those who take care of the dearly departed.
12. Six Feet Under
Six Feet Under followed a funeral parlor and the family who ran it as they worked through their own grief and dysfunction. For many, it became a timeless classic, as it explored the nature of life and loss together in an honest, relatable way. Its finale has also been touted as one of the best in history.
HBO, Six Feet Under (2001-2005)
11. I May Destroy You
I May Destroy You came from writer and star Michaela Coel and followed her character as a novelist trying to cope in the aftermath of an assault. It delved into the concept of consent in a completely nuanced and unique way that, at the same time, delivered just enough comedy to ease the weight of the story without reducing its sincerity.
10. My Brilliant Friend
Telling the story of two women across the decades of their lives together, My Brilliant Friend flew a bit under the radar. However, for those who tuned in for its four seasons, it was an incredibly down-to-earth tale about friendship and its turmoils, adapted from Elena Ferrante’s best-selling novels. Now, let’s travel from European television back to America.
HBO, My Brilliant Friend (2018-2024)
9. The Wire
Regarded as one of the best series of its kind, The Wire was centered around the drug scene in Baltimore. It explored the many facets of the conflict, taking the viewpoint of officers, dealers, and everyone in between. Needless to say, these kinds of law enforcement dramas are some of the best on HBO
8. Deadwood
There aren’t many Westerns on this list, and it may be because Deadwood set the bar so high. It followed the town of Deadwood, South Dakota during the late 1800s, focusing on law enforcement fighting rampant corruption and lawlessness. Despite its sudden cancellation, it contained some of the best writing and most well-developed characters in all of television.
7. The Leftovers
In a world where 2% of all humans have inexplicably disappeared, The Leftovers followed the remaining population trying to figure out what happened and cope with it. While it had all the intrigue that usually comes with Damon Lindelof’s work, it was also praised for how deeply it covered difficult concepts concerning people and how they react to tragedy.
HBO, The Leftovers (2014-2017)
6. Band Of Brothers
As a truly jarring and emotionally gutting drama, Band of Brothers has been called one of the most historically accurate depictions of WWII. It followed a collection of characters inspired by members of the real-life Easy Company, based on veteran interviews and the novel of the same name. However, this isn’t the last historical series on this list.
5. Chernobyl
It can be difficult to portray a historical event and truly do it justice, especially a tragic one. However, Chernobyl has largely been regarded as one of the most painfully truthful historical depictions, telling of the real-life disaster’s aftermath. Despite how haunting and draining the story is to watch, audiences collectively agreed that it was the only way to tell it accurately.
4. Game Of Thrones
Game of Thrones was set in the fictional land of Westeros, with everyone clamoring to gain control of the Iron Throne. This may be a controversial fourth pick, but despite the failure of the final season, the rest was extremely well-received and still stands out enough to deserve a rewatch. Of course, this isn’t the only HBO show about ascending the throne.
HBO, Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
3. Succession
Succession followed the family at the head of a huge media and entertainment company as their father stepped down, leaving a massive power vacuum. While it certainly has comedy throughout, audiences ate it up as it often felt like a sweeping, theatrical drama full of laughably horrible people. However, it’s not the last HBO on this list to focus on family.
2. The Last Of Us
Based on the eponymous award-winning game franchise, The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic series where a pandemic has turned much of humanity into zombie-like creatures. As it heads into its second season, audiences are once again excited to see what has been called the best video game to television adaptation.
1. The Sopranos
This isn’t the first list to place The Sopranos at the top of a “best TV show” ranking, but it isn’t without reason. The series went beyond the mob drama of many similar shows, since at the end of the day, it was about both the beauty and ugliness of family. Tony Soprano, likewise, has been called one of the most well-written characters in history.
Scandal Behind The Scenes Of Euphoria
Euphoria is praised for its gritty depiction of high school addiction and friendship, but it seems unlikely that we'll get another season—and some say it’s because of disturbing controversies behind the scenes.
First it began with a noticeable lack of screen time for Kat, played by Barbie Ferreira. Rumors swirled that tensions between Ferreira and showrunner Sam Levinson led to her parts in the show being cut and her eventual exit from the series altogether.
But the controversy got worse when people learned that Levinson had planned more steamy scenes for Sydney Sweeney's Cassie—especially since the overt sexualization of the character had already been raising eyebrows for fans and critics. Speaking with Variety, Sweeney admitted that she "never felt comfortable" filming the scenes in the first place, and that she and co-star Minka Kelly had to push back against including so many of them in the final cut.
Between the scandalous behind-the-scenes rumors and the extremely long wait between seasons, most fans feel it's unlikely that they'll ever see a third season of the hit show.
