Talk about tough choices. When HBO makes a show, fires get started. Fans argue in DMs. Office bets break out. Favorite characters earn tattoos and memes. From towering dramas to wild comedies, HBO only brings the real deal.
Below, the 20 best, most obsession-worthy HBO series ever. Some changed TV history. Others rocked pop culture. And a few even shocked the critics.
One truth? No list is complete. Everyone’s got faves, so get ready to debate, share and binge. Keep scrolling, these picks might just become the next obsession.
Send this list to that friend who claims to have seen “everything.”
Game of Thrones: Fire, Ice, and Viral Mayhem
Winter wasn’t the only thing coming. “Game of Thrones” dropped dragons, backstabbing lords, death pools, and unforgettable moments. Its finale? Over 19 million U.S. viewers tuned in, debating every death and twist. If epic fantasy or unpredictable drama gets the pulse racing, this is the granddaddy of modern TV.
Tag someone who survived the Red Wedding memes.
The Sopranos: The Mob Boss You Loved to Fear
Before antiheroes were cool, Tony Soprano ruled Sunday nights. This wasn’t just mob violence, therapy sessions, family dinners, and a look inside a life nobody envied (but everyone wanted to watch). Critics still call it the “greatest show ever.” Seven seasons. Six Emmys for James Gandolfini alone. It turned TV into pure art.
Know someone obsessed with true crime podcasts? Share now.
Euphoria: Glitter, Guts, and Generation Z
School is rough. “Euphoria” makes it look beautiful and brutal. Every shot sparkles or smashes, or sometimes both. Zendaya’s Emmy-winning portrayal rocks with raw emotion. The fashion kickstarted TikTok trends. The stories, painfully true.
Text a friend who collects wild eye makeup ideas.
The Wire: Real Life, Real Stakes
Gritty, complex, absolutely unforgiving, “The Wire” goes deeper than police badges. This is Baltimore from every angle: dealers, cops, politicians, teachers, journalists. No heroes, no villains. Just people, surviving. Still, critics rank this alongside “The Sopranos.” One word: legendary.
Dare someone to pick a single favorite character.
Succession: Rotten Riches, Sharper Tongues
Messy, hilarious and unsettling, “Succession” is the drama of the 2020s. Watch the Roy family scheme and betray their way to the headlines (and dozens of Emmys). Logan Roy became a TV icon. The catchphrases lived on in every group chat. Fast, funny, and ruthlessly real.
Know a startup founder who’d fit right in? Tag them.
True Detective: Every Season’s a Rollercoaster
Detective games just got way smarter, and darker. “True Detective” switches stories but never lets go of suspense. McConaughey’s “time is a flat circle” speech? Still quoted. Season 3 hit even harder for true mystery fans. Each year, another wild ride.
Tag a friend who always guesses the killer…or thinks they can.
Sex and the City: Love, Laughter, and Heels
Cocktails. Shoes. Big city dreams. And honest conversations that changed how people talk about love. “Sex and the City” gave rise to a thousand thinkpieces and fashion revolutions. Is it perfect? Nope. But nobody forgets these friends.
Put a friend’s name into “Which SATC character are you?” quiz and send this list.
Band of Brothers: Real Heroes
HBO and Spielberg. Enough said. “Band of Brothers” is a masterpiece, realistic WWII action, true stories, and scenes that will stick forever. Ten episodes, nine Emmys, and all the reviews say “must watch.”
Invite the history buff to binge together.
Westworld: Robots, Cowboys, and All the Secrets
What is real? Who is real? “Westworld” twists minds with every episode. Wild West style meets sci-fi chills. Anthony Hopkins, Evan Rachel Wood, Ed Harris, and more, talk about a stacked cast. Secret codes, fan theories, and endless debate kept Reddit alive for years.
Got a theory? Start a new group chat right now.
Chernobyl: Truth Is Scarier Than Fiction
When disaster hit, the world had questions. “Chernobyl” answers them, visually stunning, horrifying, and moving. The show won 10 Emmys. Its cast, true story, and tension made millions talk about history again.
Challenge a history skeptic to make it through without chills.
Big Little Lies: Glam, Lies, and Drama
Five women. One secret. Endless twists. With Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Meryl Streep, “Big Little Lies” dropped star power and sharp writing on Monterey’s sunlit cliffs. Gossip, thriller, social drama, whatever, it’s binge gold.
Tag someone who loves a rich cast and gorgeous coastlines.
Curb Your Enthusiasm: Cringe Comedy’s King
Larry David is awkward, petty, and hilarious. Social cues? He ignores. “Curb” brings unfiltered, improv energy to every episode. Nothing goes right, and that’s what makes it fun.
Quote a favorite line in the comments, see who tops it.
True Blood: Southern Gothic With a Bite
Sexy, scary, and full of vampires, “True Blood” became a sensation. Seven seasons, blood bags, wild romance, and so much drama. The fang club was real. Anna Paquin led the cast, and costumes inspired countless Halloween looks.
Tag that friend who lives for supernatural drama.
Six Feet Under: The Living, the Dead, and All the Feels
Dark, funny, beautiful. The Fisher family drama made “Six Feet Under” much more than a funeral home story. The final episode? Critically, the best TV send-off ever. It gets real about life, death, and family secrets.
Tell someone: if you sit through the finale dry-eyed, you win.
The Leftovers: Vanishing Acts and Big Ideas
Suddenly, 2 percent of people disappear. No answers, just confusion. “The Leftovers” asks the big questions: faith, family, what matters. HBO gave Damon Lindelof three mind-bending seasons. Piecing it together is half the thrill.
Ask friends: What “leftover” would you be?
Boardwalk Empire: Old School Cool
Gambling, bootlegging, mob deals, 1920s Atlantic City was wild. Steve Buscemi leads a cast of criminals and dreamers, with epic sets and costumes. “Boardwalk Empire” redefined period drama with five intense seasons and over 60 nominations.
Anyone missing “Peaky Blinders”? Try this, now.
Deadwood: Cowboy Grit, No Filters
Gold. Danger. Swearing that would make sailors blush. “Deadwood” made the Wild West loud, risky, and totally addictive. Nobody guessed where the next gunshot or glass of whiskey would come from.
Challenge friends to survive an episode without dropping a jaw.
Entourage: Hollywood Hype, Bro Style
Not every HBO show is dark and serious. “Entourage” is over the top, showbiz dreams, flashy cars, wild parties, and a true bromance. Every episode, new cameos, new drama, endless laughs. Living the dream, or a total mess? Watch and decide.
Send to anyone who’s dreamed of LA fame.
Watchmen: Comic Legends Reborn
Nobody expected this. “Watchmen” exploded with action, fresh ideas, and Regina King in a role for the ages. Social justice and superheroes, plus old school comic storylines reimagined. It wasn’t just a show, it was a debate starter.
Know a Marvel fan? This is their next “must see.”
Barry: Hitman With a Heart
A killer who wants to act? “Barry” somehow pulls it off. Bill Hader led the most unexpected dark comedy, mixing laughs, danger, and some straight-up shocking moments. Two Emmys for Hader’s performance. TV critics raved about its style.
Tag a friend who thinks comedy is easy, this will change minds.
Sharp Objects: Twisted, Pretty, Haunting
Small town. Big secrets. Amy Adams slides into this dark mystery, part true crime, part family trauma, all style. It’s beautiful and creepy all at once, with writing sharp as glass and visuals you’ll remember.
Suggest this to any fan of wild mysteries.
Ready to Start a TV Binge for the Ages?
Whew. That’s 20 shows. Stretch from mafia legends to medieval worlds, gritty cities to glitzy parties, robots, secrets, laughs, and heartbreak. HBO is the gold standard in TV for a reason, it breaks rules, stirs debate, and keeps everyone glued to the next episode. Critics agree: from “The Sopranos” to “Succession,” these are game changers.
Got an all-time favorite missing? Drop it in the comments. Debates get spicy in this fandom, every opinion counts!
Sharing is caring, text this to your TV group, send it to the family chat, and watch plans get made.
Like, comment, and follow for all the latest binge lists… because the next HBO masterpiece could drop any minute.
Don’t miss out. Someone has to settle which show is really number one. Will it be you?
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