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Through decades of consistently producing top-tier programming, HBO has become synonymous with excellency. Its classic bubble-letter logo at the bottom of any television advertisement lends instant credibility to any new show coming up on the docket. Almost every publication’s “Best TV Shows of All Time” list has at least two or three HBO series in the top ten – which is not something you can reliably say about any other network in the game.
Let’s be frank: in the wild west of streaming, there’s a whole lot of hot garbage being churned out by unscrupulous networks looking for a quick buck. But HBO stands in stark opposition to its competitors through rigorous quality control and staunchly defending the artistic integrity of its creatives. Over the years, the network has given a platform and spotlight to fledgling auteurs like Lena Dunham (Girls) and Nic Pizzolatto (True Detective) while simultaneously providing space for established filmmakers like David Chase (The Sopranos) and Adam McKay (Succession).
To celebrate its vast catalog of superb original programming, we’re ranking the ten best HBO original series of all time. From depressed mafia bosses to frantic billionaire nepo-babies, we’ve got all the classics covered. Let’s dive in.
10. The White Lotus (2021-)
If you spent any time on TikTok last year, you’ve surely seen at least one or two theory videos about the hilarious and thoughtful whodunit series, The White Lotus. With only two seasons under its belt, this young show has already earned its place among the HBO all-timers thanks to its biting social commentary and dazzlingly intricate plotting. Each season takes place at a different branch of the lavish White Lotus resort, where uber-wealthy patrons congregate to terrorize the staff – and each other. The White Lotus boasts a stacked ensemble cast each year and a plug-and-play anthology concept that will likely allow it to become an HBO mainstay for years and years to come.
9. The Rehearsal (2022-)
By far the strangest entry on our list, The Rehearsal is the whacked-out brainchild of the brilliant comedian Nathan Fielder. Initially, the series follows Fielder as he helps various people “rehearse” for pivotal life events and difficult conversations by meticulously recreating their homes and hangout spots as television sets and hiring actors to play their loved ones. However, as the series progresses, the scope and direction of the show change drastically as Fielder gets more intimately involved with the staged life situations he’s building. By the finale, you won’t be sure if you just watched the funniest show of your life or the most depressing, but either way, the ride will have been worth it.
8. Girls (2012-2017)
Lena Dunham’s love letter to millennial confusion captures the uncertainty, jubilation, and poignancy of post-collegiate life better than any show on television. Girls centers around four Brooklyn-bound twenty-somethings learning (and failing) to stand on their own two feet as young adults navigating the choppy waters of relationships, dreams, and jobs. Dunham is never afraid to poke fun at herself, as her character is always finding herself the butt of one deftly written quip or another.
The main cast always brought their A-game, and Dunham and Co. never failed to snatch a respectable handful of excellent guest stars for every season. Girls fearlessly explored the inevitable ignorance of being a young person while always managing to show that the path to growth is there if you have the will to look for it.
7. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-)
For 23 years, Larry David’s frequent foibles and inane hangups have been the inspiration for perhaps the most reliably hilarious show on television, Curb Your Enthusiasm. The 76-year-old Seinfeld producer and writer turned his penchant for pissing people off into comedic gold with this brilliant and eminently quotable series. David leads alongside comedians Jeff Garlin, J.B. Smoove, and an ever-growing laundry list of A-list guest stars. Most shows that run for this long begin to show signs of wear and tear, but it seems David and his cast and crew are aging like a fine wine. All we can say is: “It’s pretty, pretty good.”
6. Chernobyl (2019)
This 2019 miniseries dramatizes the events of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986 in startlingly minute detail. Chernobyl puts you on ground zero during the most destructive nuclear incident in world history as the characters try their best to navigate through the labyrinthine bureaucracy of the Soviet Union and pick up the pieces. It’s a sobering viewing experience with very little levity, but it’s also a striking memoriam that accurately depicts the scope and scale of one of our planet’s most devastating disasters.
5. Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
Despite the near-universal dismay at this series’ infamous conclusion, Game of Thrones is still a singularly impactful television achievement and one of HBO’s best original series. This behemoth of a series shot in dozens of locations throughout its eight-season run, and featured over 200 named characters on screen. Despite its nerd-friendly, dragon-heavy subject matter, Game of Thrones managed to capture the cultural zeitgeist in a stranglehold with unforgettable characters, gorgeous cinematography, and whip-sharp dialogue.
The first six seasons hold some of the best episodes in television history, with moments like the Red Wedding and Ned Stark’s death that rocked the fan community to its core. Showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss pitched the series to the HBO bigwigs as “The Sopranos in Middle Earth,” and in the end, we think they definitely made good on that mission statement.
4. Barry (2018-2023)
Upon hearing its chuckle-worthy premise of a hit man with acting aspirations, you might not fully grasp how daring and envelope-pushing Barry truly is. This show is as hilarious as it is grim, with scathing Hollywood satire in Barry’s acting class and harrowing action scenes during his after-hours work. Bill Hader leads an exceptional ensemble cast with Henry Winkler, Sarah Goldberg, Anthony Carrigan, and Stephen Root each delivering some of the best performances they’ve ever put to film. At its core, Barry is a show about the experiences and choices that make us who we are – and the long road we often must walk to redemption when we choose the wrong path.
3. Succession (2018-2023)
In a time where vast wealth inequality runs rampant amongst the populace, you might not feel like watching a bunch of billionaires whining about their non-problems. The impulse is understandable, but once you dive in head first into Succession, you’ll soon forget you ever had reservations. Succession tells the tale of media mogul Logan Roy and the corporate battle between his spoiled children that determines which one of them gets to succeed Logan as CEO. The ensuing conflict is comprised of backstabbings, betrayals, and a whole lot of board meetings. With some of the sharpest dialogue and fully realized characters on the small screen, Succession has quickly earned an irrevocable place on the shortlist of the best television series of all time.
2. The Wire (2002-2008)
The Wire has stood the test of time for many reasons, but the prime among them is its wholly unique storytelling method. The series tackles the drug trade in Baltimore from every perspective possible, dedicating a respective season to the police force, the gangs, the politicians, and the media. Through widening the narrative scope, The Wire forces viewers to see the darkness and light on each side of the conflict. Not every drug dealer is a bad person, and not every police officer is a good one. The Wire was one of the first series on television to explore these moral gray areas in such a grounded fashion, and very few series that came afterward have been able to match it.
1. The Sopranos (1999-2007)
Fifteen years after its controversial and brilliant finale, The Sopranos is still the best series HBO has ever produced. The late James Gandolfini gives the performance of a generation as the anxiety-ridden New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano. The Sopranos truly offers everything a viewer could possibly want from a TV show: world-class writing, memorable characters, hilariously quotable one-liners, thoughtful subtext, and Emmy-winning performances.
The masterful way creator David Chase uses the dissolution and impotence of the 21st Italian-American mafia as a metaphor for the death of the American Dream is subtle; yet palpable throughout each major narrative beat of the story. To this day, it stands as the crown jewel of HBO’s original series output. But not only is The Sopranos HBO’s best, it’s probably the best series any network has ever put out.
