We Officially Ranked the 8 Best HBO Shows of All Time

HBO is responsible for creating some of the best television shows of all time. Originals like Sex and the City, The White Lotus, and Euphoria have changed television as we know it, and were responsible for many stars’ breakout performances. Actors that fall under this success list include Sarah Jessica Parker, Sydney Sweeney, and Idris Elba.

The network has produced over 200 shows since 1983, many of which became award winners, cult classics, or both. Its pattern of skyrocketing celebrities’ careers appears to be never-ending, and it is only a matter of time when new stars will enter the spotlight following the debuts of upcoming shows. In the end, some shows are better than others, and here is our list of the 8 best HBO shows of all time.

8

‘The Wire’ (2002-’08)

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The Wire focussed on a specific issue in Baltimore for each of its six seasons, and its connection to law enforcement. While the first season focuses on ceasing the illegal drug trade by the Barksdale family, Season 2 shines light on how deindustrialization affects labor unions, particularly the Baltimore docks. Other issues addressed during the show include city government, public school systems, urban reform, city politics in the media, and the Baltimore Sun newspaper combined with the decline of journalism.

The crime drama’s choice of not making anyone a true main character is a rare thing on television, but it was a smart decision for this show, as it doesn’t take one or two main characters to initiate change all the time. The characters needed to do the work, and not just have determination and passion to improve Baltimore, and The Wire did a phenomenal job in proving that to viewers who were looking to make a difference. Unlike most shows on this list, The Wire did not receive many awards following its universal praise, but its plot lines and diverse cast were groundbreakers that changed television for the better.

7

‘The Gilded Age’ (2022-present)

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The Gilded Age has become one of HBO’s top television shows following its series premiere in 2022. The historical drama is set in the 1880s, and begins with Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) moving in with her aunts, Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski), and Ada Forte (Cynthia Nixon), following the death of her father. What she didn’t expect to witness was tension between families that came from new and old money, along with the things that aquaintances would do to be one step closer to climbing the Manhattan social ladder.

The show’s characters are an accurate representation of the New York elite in the 19th century. Not only do the actors portray their characters with grace, but they also fully embrace the time period, and make each scene feel like a piece of history one won’t read in a textbook. The drama is currently airing its fourth season, and like its previous seasons, it received universal acclaim from fans and critics.

6

‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ (2000-2024)

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Larry David was known for co-creating Seinfeld before starring as a fictionalized version of himself in Curb Your Enthusiasm. In the show, Larry is a semi-retired television writer who finds himself in hundreds of unusual circumstances. Those situations and resolutions helped make the show an instant success, and featured a string of celebrities portraying characters or fictionalized versions of themselves, including John Hamm, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the late Catherine O’Hara.

Unlike most popular HBO shows, Curb Your Enthusiasm aimed to make viewers smile from beginning to end rather than have them fear something dreadful would happen. It brought out the whacky sides of every actor who appeared on the show, and provided a new level of comedic relief to fans who needed it. Even though Curb Your Enthusiasm concluded its 12-season run in 2024, the award-winning show is still missed by fans looking to laugh before going to sleep.

5

‘Game of Thrones’ (2011-’19)

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The must-see fantasy drama of the 2010s was Game of Thrones, which featured a long list of celebrities portraying complex characters in their breakout roles. The show featured several story arcs during all 8 seasons, including political conflicts between noble houses and fights to reclaim power that characters believe they deserve. The impressive plot lines and actors’ performances alone were enough to score higher viewership, but its frequent nudity and fight sequences prevented it from ever being something appropriate for young children.

Although the show’s final season wasn’t a favorite amongst fans, it does not take away from the excitement it provided them throughout the first seven seasons. It reignited the popularity of fantasy, and turned a nerdy genre into a global sensation for adults who believed fantasy was only for kids. The iconic show also inspired HBO to create two spin-offs: House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

4

‘Big Little Lies’ (2017-’19)

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HBO had originally billed Big Little Lies as a miniseries, but the show’s overwhelming praise led to the network renewing the show for a second season. Season 1 begins with the arrival of Jane Chapman (Shailene Woodley), a single mom who befriends Madeline Mackenzie (Reese Witherspoon) and Celeste Wright (Nicole Kidman). As the season progresses, the darkness in their lives comes to light, and it leads to deathly consequences they, along with fellow moms Renata Klein (Laura Dern) and Bonnie Carlson (Zoë Kravitz), must face throughout Season 2.

Every actress in Big Little Lies showed audiences that no matter how hard one tries to pretend everything is fine, nothing is ever perfect. Fans could feel the guilt, sadness, and fright each character had, and even though it took time, the women showed viewers the perfect example of an unbreakable bond. The emotions and chemistry portrayed by the actors contributed to the show’s Emmy and Golden Globe Award wins, and fans are antsy to learn when full production of the show’s upcoming third season will begin.

3

‘Succession’ (2018-2023)

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Succession is a prominent HBO classic that showed viewers what happens when a family is ruined by greed. The show centered around the Roys, and the fight to take over the family-owned company, Waystar RoyCo. The three frontrunners in the takeover were Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong), Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin), and Siobhan “Shiv” Roy (Sarah Snook), all of whom were children of the company’s CEO, Logan Roy (Brian Cox).

The race for the CEO position was terrifying to watch, as viewers watched the children ruin their own lives for the possibility of a fancy job. In the end, Logan’s third son, Connor Roy (Alan Ruck), was the sibling with the happiest ending, and the only one who wanted nothing to do with running the company. Although none of Logan’s children became the CEO, the actors portraying them did win Golden Globes for their performances, and they taught audiences throughout the show’s four-season run that no life of privilege is worth ruining one’s life or family over.

2

‘The Pitt’ (2025-present)

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Fans immediately fell in love with Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) within the first five minutes of the series premiere of The Pitt for his hardworking demeanor. The show centers around Robby and the events of his shifts at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center’s ER, which he and his co-workers call The Pitt. Some of the cases were minor, others were life-threatening, but what they all had in common was the ability to surprise viewers who believed every patient would have a happy ending.

Critics and medical professionals praised the show for its realistic depiction of the lives of ER doctors and nurses. It gives audiences the gift of understanding what an ER is like in real life, and even though some cases are truly heartbreaking, it’s the reality of the medical field that fans aren’t used to seeing. The show has already won Emmy and Golden Globe Awards, and its third season is set to premiere next year.

1

‘The Sopranos’ (1999-2007)

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The Sopranos is not only the best HBO series, but it’s also one of the only mafia shows where audiences have trouble despising members of the mob. The show introduced viewers to Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a mob boss who managed to balance work and family life in his own twisted way. Tony committed heinous crimes with friends and relatives, but after six seasons, it was impossible to hate or want him in jail.

The diabolical behavior of some of these mobsters never got boring, and the show always found ways to add twists to pivotal plot points throughout all six seasons. No one can imagine a criminal getting away with everything forever, but this show made fans hope the members of Tony’s crime family were immortal. Even though audiences will never know if Tony Soprano lived or died, the character will always be one of the most inspirational and evil protagonists of all time.

Release Date

1999 – 2007-00-00

Network

HBO

Showrunner

David Chase