Watch HBO’s Best TV Shows of All Time 

HBO has produced groundbreaking hit shows for decades. While a few less-than-stellar series have been released during that time, the network is still primarily known for pushing boundaries, crafting mind-bending storylines, and sparing no expense in production value. Lucky for TV buffs, all of these hits are available for streaming on HBO Max.

With so many crowd-pleasers, narrowing down the best HBO hit series to a short list is no small task, but with the help of IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, and, admittedly, a bit of personal bias, we’ve done just that. Has your top show made our list? Read on to find out; plus, learn how PIA VPN can help solve common streaming issues so you don’t get interrupted when you watch (and rewatch) these shows.

The 11 Best HBO Series of All Time

11. The White Lotus (2021–2025)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDB: 8.0/10

During their relaxing stay at the White Lotus resort, guests’ dysfunctional behavior leads to dark and deadly events. Featuring Jennifer Coolidge, Murray Bartlett, Michael Imperioli, and Aubrey Plaza, this smart social satire features engaging dialogue, twisting storylines, and fresh characters in each season. The haunting music and cinematography make you feel like you’re there, entangled in the lives of these very wealthy people.

Fun Fact: Jennifer Coolidge’s character, Tanya McQuoid, was written with her in mind. Mike White, the show’s creator, worked with Coolidge on Gentlemen Broncos (2009), and the pair later went on a trip together. Coolidge’s “unfiltered” behavior on the trip helped shape the character.

10. The Penguin (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDB: 8.7/10

Despite being one of the newest shows on the network, The Penguin has undoubtedly earned its place as one of the best HBO TV series to watch. After the events of The Batman (2022), this show follows Oz Cobb (also known as The Penguin, played by an unrecognizable Colin Farrell) as he fights for control of Gotham City. It’s gritty, grim, and heart-wrenching, with moments of dark comedic relief. 

Fun Fact: Batman intentionally does not appear in this series, despite it taking place in his world. Show developer Lauren LeFranc has said, “Matt’s films are through the lens of Batman, so when you’re high up, looking down on the city. It’s a different perspective. With Oz, you’re in the city streets, you’re in the grit and the muck and the grime. He’s looking up, wanting to claw his way to the top.”

9. Game of Thrones (2011–2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 89% | IMDB: 9.2/10

Game of Thrones combines dragons, drama, violence, and sex in a way that just works. From aristocratic celebrations to small council meetings to massive battles, the visuals immerse you in a fantasy world, helped by a superb soundtrack and incredibly entertaining storytelling. While people love to hate the final season, Game of Thrones was groundbreaking and is still one of the best TV series to watch on HBO.

Fun Fact: The show is based on a book series of the same name, written by George R.R. Martin. Per the author, Peter Dinklage, who plays Tyrion Lannister, was the only choice for the character, and no other actors were permitted to audition. Dinklage won four Emmys for his role and was nominated eight consecutive times, once for each season of the show.

8. Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDB: 8.6/10

Set in Prohibition-era Atlantic City, Boardwalk Empire is about elected officials who play the law to their advantage. The city’s treasurer, Enoch Malachi ‘Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), is known for supplying illegal alcohol, and he works with notorious gangsters and his sheriff brother to make it happen. The show features career-defining performances and explores the complicated relationship between love, greed, betrayal, revenge, and violence. 

Fun Fact: Nucky is inspired by a real person: Enoch ‘Nucky’ Johnson. He was a tall, large man with a receding hairline who resembled James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano in The Sopranos. Since Soprano and Nucky are similar characters, show creator Terence Winter intentionally chose Steve Buscemi to help differentiate Nucky’s character from Soprano.

7. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000–2024)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDB: 8.8/10

Curb Your Enthusiasm is the ultimate show for observational humor fans and one of the best HBO series in the comedy category. In it, the co-creator of Seinfeld, Larry David, plays an amplified version of himself, highlighting small grievances that he somehow manages to blow up into full-fledged storylines. It’s a social commentary show about high-achieving, intelligent people who are hilariously petty, providing decades of entertainment.

Fun Fact: During filming, each episode had a detailed plot outline but no official script. The entire cast improvised based on the outline, which usually led to seven or eight takes per scene. This is a high number of takes for a TV series, which are usually on tight deadlines, but the method makes the show even smarter and more unpredictable.

6. Succession (2018–2023) 

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDB: 8.8/10

[Embedded: Succession – Own the Complete Series Today! | Official Trailer | Warner Bros. Entertainment]

Logan Roy (Brian Cox), the aging head of international media conglomerate Waystay Royco, is considering stepping down and passing the torch onto one of his children. Unfortunately, his children are selfish, untrustworthy, sometimes idiotic, and liable to ruin the business. The stakes are high, the characters three-dimensional, and the storylines jaw-dropping. Ultimately, the show perfectly balances tragedy, drama, and comedy.

Fun Fact: Alan Ruck, who plays Connor Roy, is older than the actress who plays his stepmother, Hiam Abbass. He’s just 10 years younger than Brian Cox, who plays his father, and he’s closer in age to Cox than he is to Sarah Snook, who plays his sister, Shiv Roy. 

5. Barry (2018–2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDB: 8.3/10

Barry is the story of a hitman who travels to Los Angeles and follows his target into an acting class. Charmed by the theater scene and hopeful actors, he dreams of leaving his criminal past behind but finds that it’s no simple feat. Unlike other anti-heroes, Barry takes no pride in his career; rather, he feels guilty, which makes him far more likable. It’s a character-driven black comedy with phenomenal acting, writing, and directing.

Fun Fact: Barry’s creators aimed to avoid glorifying murder despite its importance in the show’s foundation. The cast watched real footage of shootings to play death scenes accurately instead of romanticizing them. Additionally, Bill Hader was so uncomfortable with having to shoot guns on set that he winced and looked away during the first few takes involving shooting, despite his training for the role.

4. The Last of Us (2023–)

Rotten Tomatoes: 96% | IMDB: 8.7/10

The Last of Us follows Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), an unlikely duo who are part of a scheme to find a cure to a global pandemic that has devastated the world. They must survive as they cross America, meeting friends and foes. The show is tense, bleak, and nightmarish, with seamless CGI making the Clickers (infected people) seem incredibly real. Its shocking twists and heart-warming human bonds make it unforgettable. 

Fun Fact: The series is based on a video game of the same name, and the two share many commonalities. Merle Dandridge and Laura Bailey each voiced characters in the game and reprised those roles in the show. Additionally, Gustavo Santaolalla composed the soundtrack for the video game (parts I and II) and the TV series. 

3. The Sopranos (1999–2007)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDB: 9.2/10

While many multi-season shows have ups and downs, The Sopranos keeps you on your toes for all seven seasons as you root for the ultimate anti-hero. Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) must balance life as a family man and mob boss, and all the trials that come with those roles. You get an inside look at it all, from violent power struggles to affairs. It’s easily the best HBO series to binge-watch, especially with a gabagool or two.

Fun Fact: Tony Sirico was a real-life gangster in his youth; he had at least 28 arrests and served time in prison for a robbery charge. He only agreed to play Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri after confirming that he wouldn’t be a rat. His real-life nickname of his youth, “Junior,” inspired Corrado Soprano’s nickname in the show.

2. Band of Brothers (2001)

Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDB: 9.4/10

Band of Brothers is the true story of Easy Company, a team of US paratroopers whose remarkable actions helped shape the events of World War II and bring about an Allied victory. Produced by heavy hitters like Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, this miniseries is iconic for its gritty war-time realism, incredible performances, and amazing production value. 

Fun Fact: This show is one of the best HBO series in the drama category because of its authenticity. The actors and producers were in contact with real-life soldiers of Easy Company to fact-check every script and scene. The soldiers also enjoyed some fame from the series: Frank Perconte was known as “Mr. Hollywood” by his friends and family, and Edward ‘Babe’ Heffron made an appearance in one episode.

1. The Wire (2002–2008)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDB: 9.3/10

Created by a former police reporter, The Wire digs deep into Baltimore’s drug scene. It shows you events through the eyes of drug dealers and the law enforcement that aims to take them down. While many crime shows from this era are cheesy and melodramatic, The Wire is grounded, messy, and real. Through incredible character development, you see that no one is totally good or evil. 

Fun Fact: Reginald ‘Bubbles’ Cousins (Andre Royo) was based on a real-life drug addict and police informant from Baltimore of the same nickname. His excellent memory and ability to blend in allowed him to gain information that led to the arrest of hundreds of felons over the decades he spent working with the police. He used the same hat scheme shown in the series.

New HBO Series to Look Out for in 2025

HBO Max is always releasing new, exciting shows (some of which might join this list in the future!). Here’s what’s coming to the platform in 2025:

• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight: Taking place 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones, this series follows Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg. 
• It: Welcome to Derry: This series takes place in the 1960s, leading up to the events of the first film in the It franchise. 
• Pee-Wee, As Himself: Learn about Paul Reubens, the iconic actor behind the character of Pee-wee Herman, in this two-part docuseries.
• Task: Mark Ruffalo stars as an FBI agent leading a task force investigating a series of drug-house robberies in Philadelphia.
• The Chair Company: Starring and co-created by Tim Robinson, this show begins when a man embarrasses himself at work, leading to an investigation of an unlikely conspiracy.
• The Pitt: Dive into the lives of Pittsburgh healthcare professionals as they deal with the emotional toll of treating patients, managing their personal lives, and dealing with workplace conflicts.
• Rachel Sennot’s untitled comedy series: Little is known about this show yet (not even the name), but we do know it centers around a close group of friends who come back together after drifting apart.

How a VPN Helps You Stream HBO Max

HBO Max, now known simply as Max, isn’t available everywhere–you can only watch it if you’re in the US, the Caribbean, Latin America, and select countries in Europe and Asia Pacific. The streaming libraries also vary from country to country. That means if you travel abroad, you could lose access to HBO’s best TV shows. With PIA VPN, you can connect to a server back in your home country and stream like you never left. 

A VPN can also help you stream from anywhere, even if you’re using a restricted network at the office or your university library. Connecting to a PIA VPN server allows you to encrypt your activity and bypass network restrictions so you can take your HBO Max subscription wherever you go.

Get PIA VPN

Why You Should Choose PIA as Your Streaming VPN

PIA VPN helps you bypass common streaming issues so you can get the most out of your Max subscription. With a server network across 91 countries around the world, including streaming-optimized servers, you can seamlessly stream Max in key locations and access the best HBO series. 

You’ll need a fast connection for high-resolution streaming, and PIA’s 10-Gbps server network ensures you have the speeds you need for the best video quality. There are no bandwidth restrictions, so you can stream as much as you want. We’ll never cut you off when you’re in the middle of bingeing The Wire.

With dedicated apps for the most popular devices, including Windows, MacOS, Linux, Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Android, and iOS, you can watch however you like. It’s easy to get set up, but PIA’s 24/7 support team is always a chat or email away if you have any questions. You can try it for yourself, risk-free, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Get PIA VPN

FAQ