13 Best HBO Series of All Time

Ask any film or television buff what is the superior cable network, and they will respond with three letters: HBO. Since its launch in 1972, Home Box Office has long moved past its initial purpose of playing movies 24/7.

Boasting 107 Primetime and Creative Arts Emmy Award nominations in 2020 alone, the network is the gold standard of television and film, regardless of genre.

After watching an embarrassing amount of television to provide a comprehensive list, here is the finished product — the 13 best HBO series of all time.

13. The Larry Sanders Show (1992–1998)

The late Garry Shandling stars in this alternate reality comedy about a late-night talk show host and his dysfunctional staff. As one of the first shows of its kind, not only did The Larry Sanders Show plant the seed for many comedy setups today (see: 30 Rock, The Office), the series also gets bonus points for being incredibly binge-worthy.

12. Veep (2012–2019)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars as Vice President of the United States Selina Meyer, who is trying to make her mark on the country with the support (or lack thereof), of her incompetent staff. Ironically, during the show’s run, Donald Trump was nominated as the Republican candidate for POTUS. Dreyfus addressed this, saying, “Our show started as a political satire but it now feels more like a sobering documentary.”

11. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-present)

For the past 21 years, TV writer and producer Larry David has starred as a fictionalized version of himself, bumbling through Los Angeles (and in one season, NYC!) with an endless array of celebrity cameos to move the adventure along.

10. Treme (2010–2013)

This HBO drama is set in the Treme neighborhood of post-Katrina New Orleans. With only 36 episodes, the series was a full exploration of New Orleans culture including its music scene, political corruption, public housing controversy, the criminal-justice system, clashes between police and Mardi Gras Indians, and the struggle to revive tourism.

9. Oz (1997–2003)

Referred to as the “Big Bang of Great TV”, 1997’s Oz is the show that launched HBO’s status as a source for prestige television. As the first drama series of its kind, Oz would set the pace for movie-like shows like The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, and Mad Men that assume the watcher is as cunning as those being watched.

8. Insecure (2016–2021)

Born out of creator Issa Rae’s YouTube series, Adventures of An Awkward Black Girl, she herself stars Issa Dee, a personal and professional hot mess who is determined to make something of herself in Los Angeles.

7. I May Destroy You (2020-present)

Set in London, the story centers on Arabella (Michaela Coel), an accidental best-selling author whose sexual assault makes her question everything she thought she knew about life. As a young woman caught between desires for true personal freedom and constant threats for my safety, this show resonates particularly well.

6. Lovecraft Country (2020-present)

Lovecraft Country follows Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors), his friend Letitia (Jurnee Smollett), and their families during 1950s Jim Crow America. A true work of sci-fi horror, the cast struggles to survive a dangerous mix of racism and supernatural beings, often with disastrous results.

5. Industry (2020-present)

Relatively new to HBO’s lineup, Industry follows a group of hungry, young interns competing for a limited number of permanent positions at Pierpoint & Co., a leading London bank. As the competition stiffens, everyone’s true colors are revealed.

4. Big Little Lies (2017–2019…for now.)

Based on the bestselling book, Big Little Lies tells the tale of a community of mothers held together, and sometimes torn apart by the quest for perfection, marriage, sex, parenting, and friendship.

3. Six Feet Under (2001–2005)

HBO asks, “When death is your business, what is your life?” Six Feet Under is just as depressing as it is hilarious, following an L.A. family struggling to run a funeral home when the patriarch of the family dies after being hit by a bus in the opening scene.

2. The Sopranos (1999-2007)

A close second to the number one slot, The Sopranos follows New Jersey mafia boss Tony Soprano, who seeks therapy after buckling under the pressure of family and business. The only thing more popular than this HBO drama is its own series finale…what happens to Tony when the screen cuts to black?

1. The Wire (2002–2008)

The Wire isn’t just the greatest show in HBO’s repertoire, it’s simply the greatest television series of all time. Each season exposes a layer of society in West Baltimore, starting with the War on Drugs, then followed by industry, politics, education, and the media. With a stellar cast of rotating characters, by the series finale, you’ll finally accept what you knew from episode one: good or bad, we all contribute to the advancement and destruction of our communities.

How to watch (or rewatch, I won’t judge!)

All of these incredible shows and others are available for streaming on HBO Max.

Tell me which HBO series ranks highest for you in the comments below.