The 29 Best HBO Original Shows of All Time

Created by and starring Issa Rae, Insecure follows Issa Dee, a witty, awkward, and deeply relatable 30-something figuring out life, love, and career in South L.A. With her ride-or-die best friend Molly Carter, a high-powered lawyer with her own romantic drama, Issa navigates messy breakups (hello, Lawrence), questionable hookups, and career pivots, all while rapping to herself in the mirror. Packed with sharp dialogue, unforgettable characters (Issa’s other best friends Kelli, played by Natasha Rothwell, and Tiffany, portrayed by Amanda Seales, are also highlights), and a killer soundtrack, Insecure is a celebration of Black womanhood, friendship, and the chaos of growing into yourself.

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It’s impossible to definitively decide which of this anthology series’s four seasons is the best because each one features an intricately twisted plot—and appearances from some of the decade’s biggest stars, including Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, Vince Vaughan, Mahershala Ali, and Jodie Foster. Throughout the anthology, detectives investigate everything from a serial killer with ties to the occult in Louisiana to the sudden disappearance of eight scientists from a research station in remote Alaska.

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This buzzy new medical drama from ER veterans R. Scott Gemmill, John Wells, and Noah Wyle is set in the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital. Unfolding in real time, each episode covers one hour of a 15-hour shift. Wyle stars as Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, a senior attending physician who is grappling with the emotional aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. The ensemble cast includes Tracy Ifeachor as Heather Collins, Patrick Ball as Frank Langdon, Fiona Dourif as Cassie McKay, and Taylor Dearden as Mel King.

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A heartfelt coming-of-age story, Betty follows a group of young women navigating the world of skateboarding in New York City. Centered on the titular character of Betty (Rachelle Vinberg), a confident and rebellious skater, the show explores her bond with her diverse group of friends as they take on the challenges of carving out a space in a male-dominated subculture. Alongside Betty are Janay (Dede Lovelace), Kirt (Nina Moran), and Honeybear (Kabrina Adams), each dealing with their own personal struggles while bonding over their shared passion for skating.

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Set in 1970s and 1980s New York City, this drama charts the rise of the adult film industry in Times Square through the stories of a handful of central characters, among them twin brothers Vincent and Frankie Martino (James Franco), who work as fronts for the Mafia before getting involved in the booming industry, and Candy (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a sex worker turned director looking to make her mark in the world of porn. As the industry grows, so does the corruption, crime, and exploitation tied to it.

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Heartwarming and poignant, Somebody Somewhere follows Sam (Bridget Everett), a woman in her 40s living in small-town Kansas who is struggling to find herself after the death of her older sister. Sam feels disconnected from her family and her community but finds solace in an unlikely friendship with Joel (Jeff Hiller), a quirky, kind-hearted local who shares her love for music and an outsider’s perspective on the world. The show beautifully blends humor and emotion, exploring themes of loneliness, identity, and acceptance, all set against the backdrop of rural America.

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As one of the most revered shows on television of all time, The Sopranos hardly needs an introduction. James Gandolfini stars as Tony Soprano, a New Jersey mob boss who seeks therapy after suffering debilitating panic attacks. While running a powerful criminal organization, Tony also juggles the chaos of suburban family life with his wife, Carmela (Edie Falco); rebellious children, Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) and A.J. (Robert Iler); and his manipulative mother, Livia (Nancy Marchand). Under the guidance of psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), Tony navigates deep psychological struggles, moral conflict, and the violent demands of his business.

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Succession is HBO’s razor-sharp, darkly funny drama about the Roys—a filthy-rich, power-hungry media dynasty constantly at war with itself. At the center is Logan Roy (Brian Cox), the ruthless patriarch who refuses to step down, and his deeply dysfunctional adult children—ambitious Kendall (Jeremy Strong), slick Roman (Kieran Culkin), savvy Shiv (Sarah Snook), and cringey Connor (Alan Ruck)—all vying for control of the family empire. With vicious one-liners, Shakespearean betrayals, and boardroom backstabbing, Succession is a biting satire of wealth, legacy, and corporate greed.

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A quietly brilliant, deeply human anthology series, High Maintenance centers on a nameless weed delivery guy—just “the Guy” (Ben Sinclair)—as he bikes through Brooklyn, connecting with a wildly diverse cast of New Yorkers. Each episode peeks into a different life: couples in crisis, lonely artists, eccentric roommates, spiritual seekers, and more. What starts with a delivery often opens into something unexpectedly intimate or funny or heartbreaking. With zero melodrama and tons of empathy, High Maintenance celebrates the beautiful weirdness of everyday people.

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This crime drama offers an unflinching portrait of early aughts Baltimore through the eyes of both the drug trade and the institutions attempting to contain it. Each season focuses on a different facet of the city—narcotics, the docks, city government, education, and journalism—revealing the systemic failures and human stories within. At its core are detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), drug kingpin Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris), and strategist Stringer Bell (Idris Elba), among many others. Created by former police reporter David Simon, The Wire paints a raw, realistic portrait of urban America, where ambition and survival often butt heads.

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Lena Dunham’s bold, brutally honest dramedy about four 20-something women stumbling through adulthood in Brooklyn holds a special place in many millennial New York women’s hearts. At the center is Hannah Horvath (Dunham)—neurotic, self-absorbed, and hilarious—as she tries to become “the voice of my generation … or at least a voice of a generation.” With type-A Marnie (Allison Williams), free-spirited Jessa (Jemima Kirke), and ultra-earnest Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet), the series dives into messy relationships, bad jobs, worse decisions, and the awkward beauty of figuring it all out.

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This sci-fi series takes place in a futuristic, immersive theme park where human guests can interact with highly advanced, lifelike robots (called “hosts”) in various Wild West–inspired scenarios. The park is owned by the Delos Corporation and is designed to fulfill guests’ every desire, without consequences. Naturally, sex, violence, and adventurous quests abound. But when the hosts begin to gain consciousness, they start questioning their reality and the morality of their creators. Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright, Ed Harris, Thandiwe Newton, James Marsden, Anthony Hopkins, Aaron Paul, and Tessa Thompson all star.

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Created by The White Lotus’s Mike White, Enlightened follows Amy Jellicoe (Laura Dern), a high-powered executive who suffers a public breakdown at work and travels to a holistic treatment center in Hawaii. Feeling enlightened, Amy returns to the company where she used to work with a newfound sense of purpose. She is determined to become an agent of positive change—despite her company’s toxic culture and her own self-destructive tendencies. Her idealism is constantly challenged by indifferent coworkers (among them, a man named Tyler, played by White), a dismissive mother (Diane Ladd), and her troubled ex-husband Levi (Luke Wilson).

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Set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, this fantasy drama follows members of various noble families as they battle for control of the Iron Throne and the Seven Kingdoms. Central to the epic are the honorable Eddard Stark (Sean Bean), the ambitious Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), the good-hearted Jon Snow (Kit Harrington), the cruel Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), and the cunning Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage), whose alliances and betrayals shape the fate of their world. Filled with fearsome dragons, an evil Night King and his bloodthirsty White Walkers, and plenty of humans who are equally prone to gore, this series is action-packed and filled with unpredictable twists and turns.

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Set in post-Katrina New Orleans, Treme tells the story of a diverse ensemble of locals—like musician Antoine Batiste (Wendell Pierce), chef Janette Desautel (Kim Dickens), bar owner LaDonna (Khani Alexander), and activist Albert Lambreaux (Clarke Peters)—as they rebuild their lives, culture, and community after the hurricane. Rich in music, food, and local color, Treme is more vibe than plot, offering a powerful, immersive portrait of resilience, grief, and joy.

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This laugh-out-loud series follows the dysfunctional and corrupt Gemstone family, who own and lead a massive megachurch empire in the American South. Patriarch Eli Gemstone (John Goodman) tries to maintain control as his greedy, power-hungry, and immature adult children—Jesse (Danny McBride), Kelvin (Adam Devine), and Judy (Edi Patterson)—vie for their share of the family’s wealth and influence. As the family’s criminal activities and scandals unravel, they face both external threats and internal betrayals. Walton Goggins is electric in his role as Baby Billy Freeman, Eli’s fame-hungry brother-in-law. Created by Danny McBride, the series offers a sharp critique of religion, wealth, and power in modern America.

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Based on the hit video game, this gripping drama is set 20 years after a fungal outbreak decimates humanity and follows grizzled smuggler Joel (Pedro Pascal) and teenage Ellie (Bella Ramsey), who may hold the key to saving the world. As they journey across a ruined America, they face brutal survivors, haunting loss, and the fragile beauty of connection. Visually stunning and devastatingly tender, the series elevates the zombie genre with complex characters, moral ambiguity, and unforgettable storytelling.

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Set in the fast-paced world of international finance, Industry focuses on a group of recent graduates who are competing for positions at the prestigious London investment bank Pierpoint & Co. The show follows Harper Stern (Myha’la Herrold), a driven and ambitious American recruit, as she navigates the cutthroat, high-stakes world of finance. Along with her colleagues, she faces intense pressure to prove her worth. As they form deeper relationships with one another, sex, drugs, and false promises cause their newfound friendships to fray.

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This black-comedy drama features a truly stellar cast—and a mystery that will have you guessing until the very last episode. The show is centered on a group of affluent women in Monterey, California—portrayed by Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, and Zoe Kravitz—whose seemingly picture-perfect lives unravel after a tragic death at their children’s school. At first, it’s unclear how the women are connected to the incident, but as the story unfolds through a series of flashbacks, it gradually reveals the complex relationships, secrets, and lies that bind the women together.

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Created by Sam Levinson, this teen drama follows Rue Bennett (Zendaya), a 17-year-old struggling with addiction as she tries to find her place in a world full of chaos. After a stint in rehab, Rue returns to high school, where she navigates her relationships with friends, family, and love interests—especially Jules (Hunter Schafer), a new girl who becomes Rue’s obsession. The show weaves in the lives of their classmates, like Nate (Jacob Elordi), a violent, troubled jock, and Maddy (Alexa Demie), his manipulative ex. Dark, daring, and visually hypnotic, Euphoria explores the raw, sometimes dangerous complexities of youth, identity, and self-destruction.

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