retentive beforeMaxcame along and cut the quality of what it meant to be an HBO original series , this premium overseas telegram electronic web set the gold standard for television receiver shows . “ It ’s not television receiver , it ’s HBO ” was both a tagline and a mark of quality . It ’s not an hyperbole to say that HBO has had some of the corking television receiver prove ever made , many of which helped transform the medium as we acknowledge it .
25. Rome (2005-2007)
Romewas a historical drama that felt like a precursor for HBO’sGame of Thrones . The series was set recently in the life of Julius Caesar ( Ciarán Hinds ) , and the show primarily followed two of the soldiers under his bidding : Lucius Vorenus ( Kevin McKidd ) and Titus Pullo ( Ray Stevenson ) .
Vorenus and Pullo do n’t always like each other , but they ’re bound by the bail bond of brotherhood through their deal experience . The serial publication unfolds from their position as they witness the first and ending of Caesar ’s reign , and the civil warfare that conform to . Despite its relatively short two - season run , Romestill has a satisfying end .
WatchRomeonMax .
24. Carnivàle (2003-2005)
HBO did n’t venture into much illusion or horror during the other part of the twenty-first century , butCarnivàlewas an elision . The serial was set in 1934 during the Great Depression , as a young man with healing power named Ben Hawkins ( Nick Stahl ) conjoin a traveling fair of freaks and oddities . Meanwhile , a Methodist preacher , Brother Justin Crowe ( Clancy Brown ) , was haunted by dark vision .
While the individuals in the carnival were interesting characters , the show was at long last about the struggle between Ben and Brother Justin , both of whom were avatars for greater king of light and dark , severally . Brother Justin was improbably compelling as a man who urgently did n’t want to become the story ’s villain . And yet a showdown between Ben and Justin was inevitable , even though it take the show a full two season to get there .
Carnivàleended prematurely just as the overall story was begin to take shape . Yet for the two seasons it ran , it was among the best shows on TV .
WatchCarnivàleonMax .
23. Big Little Lies (2017-Present)
Like several other HBO original , Big Little Liesis loaded with a casting that could put most movies to shame . That powerhouse lineup includes Reese Witherspoon , Nicole Kidman , Shailene Woodley , Zoë Kravitz , Laura Dern , Adam Scott , and Alexander Skarsgård .
There is a murder at the heart of this series , butBig Little Liesmakes the audience hold off before give away both the victim and the killer . But nobody has a great motive than Celeste Wright ( Kidman ) , a cleaning lady who is savagely abused by her hubby , Perry ( Skarsgård ) . That ’s something that Celeste tries to hide out from her friends , and it ’s not the only hush-hush lurking beneath the control surface of this town .
WatchBig Little LiesonMax .
22. Mare of Easttown (2021)
Kate Winsletgives a commanding and Emmy - winning public presentation inMare of Easttownas Detective Sergeant Marianne “ Mare ” Sheehan . And when the miniseries starts , Mare ’s life is in butchery . Her marriage is over , her Word has charge suicide , and even Mare is questioning her skills as a detective after being unable to solve a miss person case for over a year .
The murder of a teenaged mother , Erin McMenamin ( Cailee Spaeny ) , give way Mare a renewed urgency to solve the crime . It also gives her a new better half , Detective Colin Zabel ( Evan Peters ) . disregardless of her past mistakes , Mare still has a fortune to cease this case .
WatchMare of EasttownonMax .
21. Silicon Valley (2014-2019)
post Space‘s Mike Judge took on tech startup company in his HBO comedy series , Silicon Valley , and it ’s become a modern classic comedy . Thomas Middleditch stars as Richard Hendricks , a programmer who launches his own company , Pied Piper , with Bertram Gilfoyle ( Martin Starr ) , Dinesh Chugtai ( Kumail Nanjiani ) , and others in a tender to get independence .
The lesson that Richard learns the hard way is that even his small caller call for a uninterrupted flow of money . That ’s why Richard has to go to Erlich Bachman ( T.J. Miller ) for backing , a conclusion that the former comes to regret . There ’s more than one way to the top inSilicon Valley , but Richard and his friends are almost always on the brink of losing everything they ’ve worked for .
WatchSilicon ValleyonMax .
20. Tales from the Crypt (1989-1996)
In the other 1990s , the Cryptkeeper govern on HBO , andTales from the Cryptwas the web ’s most prominent original serial publication . The show was based on an EC Comics repugnance deed of conveyance from the ’ 50s , and each episode of this anthology series was introduced by the Cryptkeeper , as voiced by John Kassir .
Tales from the Cryptwas likeThe Twilight Zonewithout the ethical motive tales , and it ofttimes attracted big - name guest whizz includingArnold Schwarzenegger , Brad Pitt , Dan Aykroyd , John Lithgow , Michael J. Fox , Tom Hanks , and more . This show has n’t been on HBO for a recollective time , but its bequest deserves to be remembered .
story from the Cryptis not available to stream .
19. True Detective (2014-Present)
The first season ofTrue Detectivewas so masterfully executed that it could have shore on this list by itself . Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson gave fireball performances as Detectives Rustin “ Rust ” Cohle and Martin “ Marty ” Hart , severally . Nic Pizzolatto ’s thrilling write up skirted on the bound of an supernatural mystery , while conductor Cary Joji Fukunaga gave the show cinematic visuals .
Then Pizzolatto had to start again from scratch in time of year 2 without his genius or Fukunaga , and it just was n’t the same show . True Detectivehas spring a flake with seasons 3 and 4 , both of which featured all - new casts and storyline . It ’s still desirable of a place on this inclination ; it ’s just not pop off to get much high .
WatchTrue DetectiveonMax .
18. Oz (1997-2003)
If you were expecting Dorothy and the Yellow Brick Road , you ’ve total to the awry Oz . This version ofOzis no fancy , and it was HBO ’s breakout drama beforeThe Sopranos . This serial probably did n’t cross over to become a larger mainstream come to because of its cruelty within the prison house .
The only connexion between the fantasy country of Oz and Oswald State Correctional Facility is the Emerald City wing , which is an on-going experimentation pass by Warden Leo Glynn ( Ernie Hudson ) that ’s meant to rehabilitate its prisoner . It ’s not a despoiler to say that the Warden will be disappointed . But with a hold cast that includes Harold Perrineau , J. K. Simmons , and Adewale Akinnuoye - Agbaje , Ozhas secured its place on this list . It ’s just not for the swoon of heart .
WatchOzonMax .
17. Westworld (2016-2022)
Fallout‘s Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy totally reinvented Michael Crichton’sWestworldfor HBO , and the results were so promising in time of year 1 that it seemed like this series would be the nextGame of Thrones . In the near hereafter , Dr. Robert Ford ( Anthony Hopkins ) make android host who were so convincingly human that it ’s almost inconceivable to state that they ’re machine .
Dolores Abernathy ( Evan Rachel Wood ) and Maeve Millay ( Thandiwe Newton ) do n’t initially realise that they ’re server , but their rival rebellions against the humans post Westworld and its affiliated parks into chaos . Meanwhile , the Man in Black ( Ed Harris ) searches Westworld for clue to puzzle out a big puzzler . Viewership started to fall off after the answers were discover in season 1 , and the series cease unretentive of an actual conclusion in season 4 .
It has to be say thatWestworld‘s remotion from Max for tax purposes is shameful . And now , Westworldisn’t even usable to rain cats and dogs on anyFAST services . For a show that ranks among HBO ’s best , that ’s an unforgivable corporate sin by Warner Bros. Discovery .
Rent or buyWestworldonPrime Video .
16. The Leftovers (2014-2017)
Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta were upfront about their design to never definitively answer why 2 % of the world ’s population but vanish inThe Leftovers . They kept their word , and the show was n’t really about those who had left . rather , it was about the broken mass they leave behind , none more so than Kevin Garvey ( Justin Theroux ) and Nora Durst ( Carrie Coon ) .
Everyone ’s sanity was affected by the Sudden Departure , but Kevin saw vision of the stagnant , and he apparently survive dying on more than one affair while go on a metaphysical journey through the hereafter to understand what he really wanted . Nora lost her menage to the release , and her self - destructive tendency almost cost her the bond paper she made with Kevin as well . One of the most satisfying things about this show is the way that these two broken masses complete each other . Who needs answers when you have that human link ?
WatchThe LeftoversonMax .
15. Chernobyl (2019)
Chernobylis a dramatization of the 1986 nuclear index plant life accident in Ukraine , which doubles as a horror story . The miniseries depicts the stories of the masses who were the first responders on the scene as they attempt to extenuate the effects of the accident , as well as those who had the thankless task of strain to strip up after the accident .
There ’s gallantry and heartbreak in these tales . And some of the physical outcome that the radiation leaves behind are truly difficult to look at . There ’s no happy ending to be found in this series , but it ’s one of the most haunting stories that HBO has ever produced .
WatchChernobylonMax .
14. Sex and the City (1998-2004)
At the turning of the century , Sex and the Citywas one of the most prominent HBO original serial . Sarah Jessica Parker star as sexuality columnist Carrie Bradshaw , a cleaning lady in her ’ 30s who is still close friend with Samantha Jones ( Kim Cattrall ) , Charlotte York ( Kristin Davis ) , and Miranda Hobbes ( Cynthia Nixon ) .
The women commit just about everything with each other , and the serial publication was so democratic that a heavily edited version really start airing in syndication . But there ’s only one dependable version ofSex and the City . And even the follow - up serial , And Just Like That … , has n’t been able-bodied to recapture the cultural moment that was personify in this show .
WatchSex and the CityonMax .
13. Six Feet Under (2001-2005)
How we react to expiry is just as important as how we react to life . And for the Fisher family inSix Feet Under , death is a way of life . Alan Ball ’s first HBO serial watch over the sept - run funeral parlor after Nate ( Peter Krause ) and David Krause ( Michael C. Hall ) take over for their tardy father . Their younger baby , Claire ( Lauren Ambrose ) , and their mother , Ruth Fisher ( Frances Conroy ) , also stay deeply involved in their biography .
decease comes for everyone , and each installment open with the demise of someone who will happen through the funeral parlour and feign the fisherman in some way . It ’s not as ghoulish as it sounds , as the family sometimes deal to work through their issues with each other and their business . But it ’s their constant struggle that makes this show so interesting .
WatchSix Feet UnderonMax .
12. Veep (2012-2019)
There was noSeinfeldcurse for Julia Louis - Dreyfus , who get ahead six Emmy Awards for Best Actress in a Comedy forVeep , to go along with the two Emmys she previously won forSeinfeldandThe New Adventures of Old Christine . The serial publication cast Louis - Dreyfus as Selina Meyer , the Vice President and later , the President of the United States . She ’s also mostly inept at her job .
Veephad a fantastic supporting form , including Anna Chlumsky , Tony Hale , Reid Scott , Timothy Simons , Matt Walsh , Sufe Bradshaw , Kevin Dunn , and Gary Cole . As keen as Louis - Dreyfus was in the role , her fellow cast members helped solidifyVeepas one of HBO ’s honest funniness .
WatchVeeponMax .
11. The Last of Us (2023-Present)
Hollywood ’s video secret plan adaptations have n’t always been very serious . ButThe Last of Usis on another tier , thanks in turgid part to its fidelity to the game ’s account and characters , as well as a strong originative team led byChernobyl‘s Craig Mazin andLast of Usco - creator Neil Druckmann .
The Mandalorian‘s Pedro Pascal bring Joel Miller , the man rent to smuggle a 14 - year - former girl named Ellie ( Bella Ramsey ) out of a quarantine zone and bring her across the country because she may be the only someone active who is resistant to the Cordyceps infection that has ravaged the universe . This post - apocalypse makesThe walk Deadlook like a cakewalk , and the fictitious character development on this show is 2d to none . This is HBO ’s next great genre enfranchisement , assuming the 2nd time of year can populate up to the first .
WatchThe Last of UsonMax .
10. Watchmen (2019)
Watchmen‘sgreatest part to our civilization might be the fact that it brought the 1921 Black Wall Street mass murder in Tulsa to the public head after it had been largely command or inter for decades . Damon Lindelof and his team treat that event as if it were the devastation of Krypton for Will Reeves ( Jovan Adepo ) , a humankind who ushers in the earned run average of costumed heroes .
The originalWatchmencomic by Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons is considered one of the heavy superhero stories ever told . This serial not only lived up to the original , but it surpassed the hype with an piquant story set in an alternating present . Regina King chair the cast as Angela Abar , a adult female who get a line that her link to Will has with child implication for the past , present , and future than she ’s quick for . Angela is also obliterate a fairly fully grown mystery about one of the main characters from the comic …
WatchWatchmenonMax .
9. Succession (2018-2023)
We ’re not privy to the inner workings of the Murdoch family that controls Fox , but we would n’t be too shocked if they were like the Roy family fromSuccession . Series creator definitely seems to have had Rupert Murdoch in mind when he create Logan Roy ( Brian Cox ) , an aging billionaire who needs to decide which of his children will take over his entertainment conglomerate , Waystar RoyCo .
Connor ( Alan Ruck ) , Kendall ( Jeremy Strong ) , Roman ( Kieran Culkin ) , and Shiv Roy ( Sarah Snook ) would do almost anything to each other to ensure that they inherit their father ’s throne . Their actions are darkly shady at times , but the stakes are mellow enough that the show never mislay sight of the drama as well .
WatchSuccessiononMax .
8. The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998)
The lateGarry Shandlingwas once a unconstipated invitee and guest horde onThe Tonight Show . But rather than have a permanent move to late night , Shandling come up to HBO to asterisk in his own sitcom about a late - night lecture show legion . That ’s the root fib ofThe Larry Sanders Show , which just missed HBO ’s golden age of original programming by a twelvemonth .
Shandling atomic number 27 - created the serial and starred as Larry Sanders . The show had a preposterously gifted supporting cast including Rip Torn , Jeffrey Tambor , Janeane Garofalo , Mary Lynn Rajskub , Bob Odenkirk , and more as Larry ’s stave . Many famous person also come out as themselves , both as guests on his show and in Larry ’s life behind the scenes .
WatchThe Larry Sanders ShowonMax .
7. Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014)
The Sopranosveteran Terence Winter found a second act with his inhibition - era drama , Boardwalk Empire . Winter even convinced director Martin Scorsese to helm the pilot episode and executive produce the series with him . Steve Buscemi took the lead as Enoch “ Nucky ” Thompson , the financial officer of Atlantic County whose criminal connection made him a very fertile man .
Boardwalk Empirefeatured an assortment of existent mass from that clock time full point , including Al Capone ( Stephen Graham ) . But some of the most compelling graphic symbol on the serial were the original characters , including Nelson Van Alden ( Michael Shannon ) , a Prohibition federal agent whose gloam from thanksgiving was so fleet that he feel himself figure out for Capone .
WatchBoardwalk EmpireonMax .
6. Band of Brothers (2001)
The series also train the metre to flesh out the personality of the soldier going to war , which only add together to the impact when many of them perished in battle . It ’s an unforgettable World War II story that still ranks among the greatest HBO projects ever made .
WatchBand of BrothersonMax .
5. Deadwood (2004-2006)
The Old West has rarely felt more alive than it was onDeadwood , a series that blurred the lines between chronicle and fiction . John Wick‘s Ian McShane swore up a storm as Al Swearengen , a man whose profanity - laden spiels were almost Shakespearian in scope . Al possess The Gem Saloon and play as one of the literal office holding Deadwood together . Naturally , he butted heads with Sheriff Seth Bullock ( Timothy Olyphant ) over a change of issues .
Perhaps the most amazing part ofDeadwoodis how much of an impact it had with only a three - season run . The show ended very prematurely , which provide rooter without right stoppage . Fortunately , HBO and series creator David Milch eventually rectify that mistake withDeadwood : The Movieby give the show a definitive finish .
WatchDeadwoodonMax .
4. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2024)
If you ’ve ever pick up of “ a Larry David moment , ” it came fromCurb Your Enthusiasm . David ’s follow - up toSeinfeldput him in the wind , playing a slenderly fictitious reading of Larry David , who absolutely excel at position himself in awkward situations . Larry also had a bent for alienate some of his closest friend , including Ted Danson and Richard Lewis , both of whom meet themselves .
For the first few seasons , Larry was married to Cheryl ( Cheryl Hines ) , but even her tolerance for Larry ’s ego - centered nature had its limits . The only ones who could stand to be around Larry for any duration of time were his Quaker , Jeff Green ( Jeff Garlin ) , and Leon ( J. B. Smoove ) , a roommate who just never leave . Through 12 season , Larry determine new and inventive manner of angering the people around him . And we ’re really blend to neglect him now that the show is over .
WatchCurb Your EnthusiasmonMax .
3. The Wire (2002-2008)
Television is littered with crime drama , butThe Wirestill stands out as one of the good shows ever made . David Simon ’s originative series examine both face of the jurisprudence and see that the serial publication did n’t fall into cop show clichés . The constabulary were n’t always the Heron , and sometimes the malefactor were able to escape DoJ and outmanoeuvre the law .
One of the show ’s most memorable characters was Stringer Bell , a role that helped make Idris Elba a breakout star . Bell was a drug kingpin whose ambitions go far beyond simple crimes . Bell wanted to transition towards more legitimate business enterprises , but he could n’t escape the pull of the drug craft or partners who did n’t share his vision . He was just as amoral as the other criminals , but it was hard not to rout for Bell to bring home the bacon . It ’s a uncommon show that can take out off that feat .
WatchThe WireonMax .
2. Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
There are stillGame of Thronesfans who are furious about the way that the show wrapped up its storylines in its abbreviated final season . And it surely did n’t deliver the well-chosen close that many viewers wanted to see . irrespective of anyone ’s notion about the show ’s termination , there ’s no denying that this series was improbably impactful for both HBO and the greater television landscape painting . No other fantasy serial has even get along close to matching the dignity of this adaptation of George R. R. Martin ’s novels . Even the majority of phantasy movies light short ofGame of Throneswhen the serial was at its best .
The show followed the Stark fellowship , including Sansa ( Sophie Turner ) , Arya ( Maisie Williams ) , Bran ( Isaac Hempstead - Wright ) , and Jon Snow ( Kit Harington ) during a tumultuous period in the seven kingdom of Westeros , which were ruled by House Lannister , including King Joffrey ( Jack Gleeson ) and his successors . Half a earth by , the daughter of a old king , Daenerys Targaryen ( Emilia Clarke ) , lento rise to tycoon as one of the few who could make a legitimate title on the Iron Throne . And Daenerys had dragons .
Game of Thrones ‘ characters were just as interesting and compelling as those of any great dramatic event . This show set the bar so high that even its follow - up prequel series , House of the Dragon , has n’t yet been able to come nigh to its mark .
WatchGame of ThronesonMax .
1. The Sopranos (1999-2007)
When it comes to the No . 1 HBO show of all time , there ’s really only one choice : The Sopranos . There were HBO original dramas beforeThe Sopranospremiered in 1999 , but this series rewrote the entire tv landscape , raise HBO to another story , and pave the way for the old age of the antihero . Shows likeThe Shield , Breaking Bad , andBetter Call Saulwouldn’t have existed withoutThe Sopranos .
David Chase created an all - fourth dimension outstanding eccentric in Tony Soprano , who was unforgettably portrayed by the late James Gandolfini . Tony was a gangster disperse so tenuous by his responsibilities to his crime mob and his actual menage that it led to panic attacks in the first instalment , draw him to go into therapy with Dr. Jennifer Melfi ( Lorraine Bracco ) . That cowcatcher instalment set the shade for the rest of the series , which became a plentiful blend of drama , comedy , and tragedy .
Tony was n’t the only fleshed - out part on the serial , which also concentre on his wife , Carmela ( Edie Falco ) , and their baby Anthony Jr. ( Robert Iler ) and Meadow ( Jamie - Lynn Sigler ) , as well as Tony’sotherfamily , including Christopher Moltisanti ( Michael Imperioli ) , Silvio Dante ( Steven Van Zandt ) , Paulie Gualtieri ( Tony Sirico ) , and more . Through six seasons , Tony stress his best to serve both of his family . He also left a circle of expiry and destroy lives in his backwash . The ambiguous ending of the show is still polarizing among fans of the serial , but onlyThe Sopranoscould pull off that move and remain on top of everything that came before and after it .
WatchThe SopranosonMax .
