Since the late '90s, HBO has been producing some of the highest quality television series. Now, with the help of HBO Max, fans can dive into a wide array of small screen sensations, many of which rival Hollywood in terms of stars, budgets, and overall quality. Like Home Box Office themselves would say, "It's not TV. It's HBO."
Whether fans are looking for engrossing drama, edge-of-your-seat action, or a trip to another era, HBO Max likely has something to quench their thirst. There is no shortage of top-tier TV on the streaming service, though some are the very best of an admittedly brilliant bunch.
10 The Sopranos Is Considered By Many To Be The Greatest Gangster Saga Of All Time
The Sopranos is arguably the series that established HBO as a powerhouse in the TV world. Although the show features a depiction of mafia life riveting enough to rival the likes of Goodfellas, where The Sopranos really shines is in the struggles and conflict between James Gandolfini's Tony and his family.
From his controlling mother and his money-hungry sister to his rapidly aging teenage children, Tony's biggest hurdles are ones inside his lavish home. Family drama has rarely ever been as hilarious, heartwarming, or as captivating as it is in The Sopranos.
9 Peacemaker Is Another Superhero Smash From James Gunn
With the superhero craze in full swing around the world, HBO Max has unsurprisingly thrown its name in the hat as one of the best places to watch costumed vigilantes and their often outrageous antics. As a spin-off from 2021's The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker follows John Cena's Christopher Smith as he continues to establish himself as one of the world's most troublesome superheroes.
With an undoubted assist from James Gunn's writing and direction, Cena expands on the natural charisma and likability that made him famous as a WWE Superstar, with a surprisingly nuanced dramatic showing as the titular Peacemaker.
8 Band Of Brothers Is The Essential World War II Series
When discussing shows on HBO Max that match up to the counterparts seen on the big screen, 2001's Band Of Brothers is arguably the greatest example. A WWII mini-series produced by Saving Private Ryan's dynamic duo Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, Band Of Brothers is both bleak and breathtaking. Band Of Brothers features some of the most heroic sacrifices ever seen on the small screen.
Another part of Band Of Brothers' remarkable makeup is its phenomenal cast. The series includes performances from David Schwimmer, Tom Hardy, Michael Cudlitz, Damian Lewis, and Michael Fassbender.
7 Detective Tales Don't Get Much More Enthralling Than Mare Of Easttown
Something of a magnet for awards and critical acclaim, Mare Of Easttown rightly garnered a great deal of hype when it first aired in 2021. A troubled detective on a murder investigation may not sound like the premise for a show that breaks new ground, but Kate Winslet's incredible performance as the titular "Mare" is enough to make this mini-series worth watching.
It also helps that Winslet is backed up by Jean Smart, Evan Peters, Guy Pearce, and David Denman. 2021 was an excellent year for TV, and Mare Of Easttown may well be the highlight.
6 Game Of Thrones Is Worthy Of The Hype
The most-watched (and likely most talked about) HBO show ever, Game Of Thrones was nothing short of an international phenomenon at its peak. The adaptation of George R. R. Martin's book series broke new ground for TV, offering mega-budget battle sequences that rivaled anything ever seen on the big screen.
A largely unsatisfying conclusion has soured some fans on Game Of Thrones. For newcomers, an awe-inspiring tale set in a brutal, unforgiving fantasy world awaits. Game Of Thrones was the favored office water cooler talk for almost a decade and it's still worthy of all the acclaim and admiration it received.
5 For The Ultimate Small Screen Western, Look No Further Than Deadwood
HBO Max is home to many all-time greats regardless of the genre, but when discussions of the best small-screen Westerns take place, Deadwood is always near the top of the list. Few depictions of the Old West have ever felt as raw and realistic as Deadwood and its growing town in 1876's South Dakota.
Ian McShane and Timothy Olyphant headline as historical figures Al Swearengen and Seth Bullock respectively. McShane's performance as the dastardly saloon owner is a career highlight and a must-see showing for any fans of cowboys and gunfights.
4 HBO Began To Change TV With The Powerful Prison Drama Oz
One of HBO's first hour-long drama series remains one of the network's greatest. Oz premiered in 1997 and was years ahead of its time. Bringing mature drama and conflict that matched up with what many were used to seeing on the silver screen, Oz is set in an experimental wing of a maximum-security prison.
The characters are rarely good or evil. Instead, they fall into the fascinating grey area. They provide Oz with all the twists, turns, and betrayals that fans love from their long-running series.
3 The Wire Is The Gold Standard When It Comes To Crime Drama
Considered by many to be the best TV show ever made, The Wire is the definitive crime series. The Baltimore-set saga takes a deep dive into the lives of those in the drug game and those fighting desperately to shut it down. Many characters cross over between the two worlds, which makes The Wire such an engrossing watch.
With 5 seasons to get through, there is plenty of backstabbing and betrayal to satisfy even the most cynical viewer. The Wire is also loaded with top talent, including Idris Elba, Dominic West, Michael K. Williams, and Michael B. Jordan.
2 Euphoria Is HBO's Latest Small Screen Sensation
Anyone with a regular presence on social media has likely found it impossible to avoid talk of the hit high-school drama series Euphoria. Love, sex, drugs, and heartbreak are all part of the powerful package, and the themes are each explored with the kind of uncensored lens that HBO is known for.
The second most-watched show to ever come from Home Box Office, Euphoria has lived up to the hype so far. Euphoria also earned Zendaya a Primetime Emmy award for her performances, who became the youngest actress to ever win the accolade in 2020.
1 Few TV Shows Have Ever Reached The Quality Of True Detective's First Season
With the World's Greatest Detective blowing up the box office in The Batman, it's the perfect time to check out one of the small screen's best detective series. True Detective blew audiences away with its first season as Hollywood legends Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson combined to make up one of the most captivating detective duos to ever hunt down a killer.
The anthology series has followed the sensational first outing with two more seasons. True Detective's second season features the talents of Vince Vaughn and Rachel McAdams, and the third season manages to capture much of the original season's magic thanks to a powerhouse performance from Mahershala Ali.
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