Best HBO Shows of All Time

“Veep” was a hilarious, expletive-laden political comedy following politician Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) as she tries to move up from the vice presidency to the Oval Office. Throughout its seven seasons, “Veep” won 17 Emmy Awards, including for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for Louis-Dreyfus, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Tony Hale, and Outstanding Comedy Series.

Co-produced by HBO and the BBC, this sitcom focuses on an actor who works as an extra for various TV, film, and theater productions, and his agent friend.

“The Leftovers,” adapted from Tom Perrotta’s novel, centers around how a small town copes after some of its residents have mysteriously disappeared during a global event called The Departure.

Each year, football fans gear up for the NFL season by watching “Hard Knocks,” the long-running docuseries that follows one NFL team through training camp. The show spotlights everyone from highly-paid superstars to rookies at the bottom of the depth chart fighting to make the roster. The 2022 edition of the show will feature the Detroit Lions. The season begins August 9.

“Mr. Show” is a sketch comedy series in which the hosts, Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, appeared as a fictionalized version of themselves. All the sketches, thoughvery different, have something in common.

Part fantasy and part drama, “Carnivàle ” is about a farm boy and a preacher involved in a proxy battle between heaven and hell in the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. The two-season series, which aired on HBO, won five Emmy Awards and has an 8.4/10 rating on IMDb.

“Barry” is a dark comedy from SNL alum Bill Hader. The show centers on a trained hitman with PTSD who tries to leave his violent past behind by becoming an actor. In its first two seasons, the show scored six Emmy wins, including two for Hader as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and one for Henry Winkler as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

“Euphoria” is one of the most buzzed-about shows on HBO. The series is about the interconnecting lives of several teenagers attending a California high school as they try to navigate relationships, addiction issues, violence, trauma, and more. A magnet for controversy, “Euphoria” is currently HBO’s most watched show.

“The Larry Sanders Show” is a sitcom set in a studio where a fictional late night talk show is produced and filmed. The show centers on the host, the producer, and their assistant and their conflicting egos and insecurities.

From veteran showrunner Mike Judge, “Silicon Valley” lampooned the tech startup world of California for six seasons. The program follows a group of coders, programmers, and engineers as they try to launch a new tech company while dealing with the eccentricities of the burgeoning industry.

Rising movie star Vince Chase (Adrian Grenier) is living the Hollywood dream and taking his closest friends along for the ride. Co-star Jeremy Piven won three Emmys for his performance as Ari Gold, whose character was reportedly inspired by real-life super-agent Ari Emmanuel.

“Big Little Lies” tells the story of three women who find themselves wrapped up in a murder investigation. The show won four Golden Globes and eight Primetime Emmys in its first season alone.

“My Brilliant Friend” explores the complexity of relationships as experienced by two women in Italy over a lifetime. The series is based on bestselling stories from author Elena Ferrante.

The short-lived but much-loved “Flight of the Conchords” details the adventures of two clueless musicians from New Zealand, Brett and Jemaine, as they try to launch their career in New York City. The comedy is one of HBO’s best-reviewed shows, with an 8.6/10 average rating on IMDb.

The Western drama “Deadwood” was set in the real-life town of Deadwood, South Dakota, as it grew in the 1870s. Famous characters like Wild Bill Hickock,Wyatt Earp, and Calamity Jane figure in various episodes. While the series ended abruptly without resolving a number of plot points,, a two-hour movie revival was released in 2019.

From award-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin came this fast-paced look at cable news in the modern era. The show follows a team of journalists and how they handle – and present – the news of the day.

Set in Atlantic City during the 1920s,”Boardwalk Empire” is the story of how Prohibition accelerated the blood-soaked rise of criminal empires in America. Steve Buscemi plays “Nucky” Thompson, the city’s treasurer and a gangster in his own right.

“Westworld” portrays a dystopian world based around robot-filled theme parks where guests can indulge in their wildest fantasies. All indulgences are experienced without consequence, no matter what they are, as they are experienced in an artificial environment.

“How To with John Wilson” is a comedy docuseries in which the show’s creator, John Wilson, tries to give advice to people while dealing with his own anxiety issues and other challenges.

“Oz” was the first hour-long drama TV series produced by HBO. The show is set in the experimental unit of a men’s maximum security prison and chronicles the lives of its guards and inmates.

Created by Oscar-winner Alan Ball, “Six Feet Under” is about a Los Angeles family that operates a funeral home. Among the many awards the show won are nine Emmys and three Golden Globes.

Set in the final days of the Roman Republic, “Rome” includes portrayals of historical figures such as Mark Antony, Cicero, and Julius Caesar. The show received seven Emmy Awards over its two-year run and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Drama Series.

“Vice” is a documentary series that covers a wide range of groundbreaking and sometimes dangerous stories from all over the world, including oil theft in Africa, U.S.-funded reconstruction in Afghanistan, and the civil war in Syria.

Comedy genius Larry David steps in front of the camera for this game-changing HBO series, which consists primarily of improvised performances. Putting his particular brand of neurosis on bold display, the “Seinfeld” co-creator upends every possible societal convention.

“Succession” is a drama series that follows the dysfunctional but very powerful Roy family. Members of the family own global media and entertainment and are fighting for control of the business.

“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” is a late night satire news show hosted by former “Daily Show” correspondent John Oliver. Oliver’s original contract with HBO was for two years and offered him “complete creative freedom.” The show is still going strong.

Investigations take their toll on police officers in “True Detective.” Each season has eight episodes, featuring a new investigation and a new cast. Among those appearing in the series, besides those listed above, are Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Scoot McNairy, and Mahershala Ali.

Running for six seasons and centering around the home and “business” life of a fictional New Jersey organized crime boss (James Gandolfini), this is considered among the greatest television series in history. “The Sopranos” won 21 Primetime Emmy Awards out of 111 nominations. In 2004, it became the first cable network show to win an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.

An adaptation of author George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series, “Game of Thrones” is a fantasy series that won an impressive 47 Emmy Awards over its eight seasons, for elements ranging from acting to costumes to visual effects. The show has had such a cultural impact that thousands of people have named their children after its characters, including Arya and Khaleesi.

The gritty 60-episode series that ran from 2002 to 2008 tells the story of the mean streets of West Baltimore through the lives of drug sellers, police, government bureaucrats, and the news media. Entertainment news site Vulture called “The Wire” the “greatest drama of the past 25 years.”