Best HBO Shows of the 21st Century (So Far), Ranked: Has any studio even come close to upending HBO as the greatest film studio of the 21st century? Probably not. Home Box Office is the undisputed king of television in America and the world over. Since the turn of the 21st century, HBO has given a remarkable dossier of television shows. Just when we thought The Sopranos couldn’t be topped, HBO came with The Wire. And then Game of Thrones. And then Succession, and in the future, maybe something else. Something about how these giants work makes them stand out from the rest. Without a doubt, HBO has made some of the greatest tv shows.
Its legacy of almost 50 years remains intact today due to the constant shuffling of the formula. HBO has given a platform to many unique artistic voices without compromising their vision for the projects. Everything about an HBO television show is grand, spectacular, and of the very highest quality. Despite not having a realistic streaming service until this year, HBO managed to stay afloat and still dominate the television space despite the OTT revolution brought upon by the likes of Netflix and Apple TV+.
This article is like a homage to the heavyweights. This is for you, HBO, for all the joy you have bestowed upon the world. In this meticulously curated and refined piece, we bring you our selection of the 19 best HBO TV shows in the 21st century (so far) you must watch right away.
19. His Dark Materials (2019-22)
His Dark Materials is our pick in the sci-fi genre for the list of best HBO shows. It follows the adventures of Lyra Belacqua, a young girl who discovers a dangerous secret involving parallel worlds: talking animals called daemons and a mysterious substance called Dust. The show closely follows the events of the novels and captures the essence of Phillip Pullman’s intricate world-building and complex characters. It maintains the core themes and ideas explored in the books, such as the importance of individual freedom, the nature of consciousness, and the exploration of religious and philosophical concepts.
The television adaptation also expands on some aspects of the novels, providing further depth and exploration of the characters and their motivations. His Dark Materials delves into the backstory of various characters, offering a more nuanced understanding of their actions and the complex web of relationships within the story. This expansion adds a new layer of complexity and emotional depth to the narrative without compromising the source material.
18. The Last of Us (2023-)
Why so low? Well, The Last of Us needs more ground to credibly move up on this list. It is too soon to rank it high in a list of the greatest HBO shows ever. Recency bias truly works in mysterious ways. However, from what season 1 suggests, The Last of Us might be way up when we get to update this list. And, based on what is to come – all thanks to the ground-breaking video game – The Last of Us is teasing to become a unique HBO offering. Season 1 of Joel and Ellie’s adventures in a post-apocalyptic world wouldn’t have been as memorable if not for the charming dynamics between Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. Their bond is the essence of humanity in a world where it has eroded at the speed of light.
One thing that the creators and writers do really well is stamp their authority over the source material. They take cues from the video game’s universe and marry it with their creativity and sensibility around culturally important topics like homosexuality and the cruelty and magnificence of nature. It has all the makings to inspire the survivalist in us who aspires to fight the unfightable and defeat it.
17. The Rehearsal (2022-)
Now and then, someone like Nathan Fielder comes along with a creative experiment that establishes a trend. The Rehearsal’s unique concept instantly drew intrigue and praise from everyone who saw it. The ferocious mix of philosophical gentry about the value of community and absurdist comedy pushes the viewer experience to the next level. Quite frequently, you do not know how you feel when you watch the show; even when you do know, there is a conflict between two choices. Fielder relentlessly shapes the boundaries of morality and humanity as he finds newer ways of helping ordinary people with their average problems. The Rehearsal has an opportunity to move up on this list with at least “three more seasons.” But something tells us that there might be even more.
16. The White Lotus (2021-)
The White Lotus almost did not make it on this list if HBO’s original plans for it remained true. It was conceived as a limited series with a single season. But once the fever caught on with the viewers, there was no turning back. Already two seasons long, The White Lotus threatens to refurbish its universe with more franchise-like additions in the future. “Dysfunction,” of many kinds, is the keyword to focus on – on which the show revolves around. The subtle subtext of vacationing in exotic and foreign lands is definitely not lost in the whirlwind of the thematic spectrums. Each season features a different set of characters with some recurring faces, like the brilliant Jennifer Coolidge.
Among all the shows on the list, this HBO offering stands out for its brand of black comedy. The term is ubiquitously imported in modern-day movies, but White Lotus captures the essence of it in multivariate results. The juxtaposition of humor and the bleak subject matter revolving around death, betrayal, and apathy creates a unique and often unsettling experience, making White Lotus a worthy contender.
15. Perry Mason (2020-)
Most recently, Netflix’s The Law According to Lidia Poet depicted the insightful evolution of the legal system in Italy. Although the position was specific to the country, there must be no doubt that it was the unequivocal portrayal of a universal phenomenon. HBO’s Perry Mason is more grounded in drama and serious-minded themes, taking us back to the 1930s, right after the Great Depression in America. Matthew Rhys resuscitates the beloved central character from the iconic show as Mason uncovers a web of corruption, deceit, and conspiracy that extends beyond the initial crime he investigates.
Perry Mason stands out for its dedicated world-building. Even though one can safely say HBO leaves no stones unturned to “turn our heads,” with Perry Mason, the effort seems more lively and elegant. Its visual prowess is infectious; it can turn your living room into a fantasy land under the right conditions. Perry Mason’s transportive experience hits us on the high of our blues.
14. Somebody Somewhere (2022-)
Lately, HBO has started experimenting with shorter runtime slice-of-life dramas that have struck a chord. Somebody Somewhere is one of those names. Other similar dramas include Rain Dogs and The Rehearsal. “A woman in her 40s trying to find happiness and dealing with the tragic death of her sister” is not the fanciest premise for a character. You know for sure what you will be getting with that tagline. But even with that supposition, Somebody Somewhere made a splash due to the undying charisma and authenticity of Bridgett Everett. Shades from her quite humble life story have directly been incorporated into Sam’s character to make her feel like one of us.
Almost every other show in this list of great HBO shows has a large-than-life scale of vision to manifest the confounding universality of the human condition. Somewhere Somebody makes that work even with its relatively minimalist contemporary life trappings, which is a massive credit to the entire team. In fact, it wouldn’t be a mischaracterization to say that Somewhere Somebody picks up the most insignificant minutiae of everyday life to turn into something special that resonates.
13. The Newsroom (2012-14)
Aaron Sorkin’s interest in large public institutions has resulted in some great and captivating content. Sorkin’s interest lies not in the visible facets of these institutions but in those that are invisible to the commoner. Almost all his significant works go behind the scenes to bring out high-functioning narratives preserved from the public eye. His early works about politics and the White House (Charlie Wilson’s War, The West Wing) are a testament to what defines him as an artist. The Newsroom came from a similar thought process and underlying motivation. It shows lives inside a cable-news network, which deals with perishable commodities that lose value with every passing second and must reinvent and reorient themselves to the changing realities of the world.
The Newsroom became a vessel for Sorkin to raise the voice inside all of us that detests the darker side of public discourse. Those with money and influence wield the media as a front to advance vested interests not inspired by the general cause. The show became scattered owing to this evolving commentary and shifting focuses, pushing it further down our list. But even in its chaos, The Newsroom has enough bite and substance to rival any other network cable-centered workplace show. Is it the best socio-political drama on HBO? Quite possibly.
12. The Leftovers (2014-17)
While many think Damien Lindelof’s success with Mrs. Davis has brought viewers back to The Leftovers, it is the other way around. As good as the new Peacock show is, Lindelof truly made his mark with this HBO show after bursting at the seams of creative experimentation with ABC’s Lost. Before Thanos’ finger snap in Avengers, Lindelof’s “Sudden Departure” brings forth the manifestation of losing a loved one just like that. Without delving into the “hows,” the HBO show takes a different direction and focuses on life in the aftermath of this disaster.
While The Leftovers did not make pointed turns in its storytelling, it played out patiently like a thoroughbred slow burn. Each of its three seasons confronted different themes and assumed narrative identities with an irresistible interconnectedness of the shared universe. The Leftovers is characterized by raw emotions from survivors who lost their loved ones without notice and cause. Carrie Coon and Justin Theroux’s career-best performances light up the screen and give viewers a portal right into the depth of their trauma and suffering.
The Leftovers will instantly conjure gloom in your heart. The setting and visual language of the show are machined to evoke a striking connection with the pain that the survivors of the Sudden Departure feel. But the show also makes you wonder how the absence of the departed would have been different on the flip side. It is perhaps the only great HBO show on the list that rewards the viewers for paying close attention and establishes its legacy through jarring yet profound visual motifs. Wait no longer to catch up if you haven’t seen The Leftovers yet.
11. True Detective (2014-)
True Detective is another HBO show that started as a limited series and was extended into a full-fledged franchise. Season 1 is etched in popular culture as one of the greatest seasons of television ever made. Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey (especially the latter) became irresistible vessels to Nic Pizzolatto and Cary Funkunga’s soulful take on the human condition in this self-contained narrative. Season 1 of True Detective was drenched in religious obsession and philosophical musings. Pizzolatto and the writers created a compelling contrast between the ideologies and worldviews of the protagonists’ characters. All of that was accompanied by a slow-burn mystery that constantly unfolded with nightmarish realities.
Although there were serious doubts after the nightmarish second season, the third season, led by a magnificent Mahershala Ali, allayed fears of the legacy getting tarnished. True Detective truly found its reckoning back after the third season, where the makers went back to their roots and followed the formula from the first season. It also offered hope that True Detective could preserve its standing as a special HBO show.
10. Rome (2005-07)
Back in the day, there was a gritty determination and method behind recreating period dramas at a scale such as Rome’s. With so many moving parts, the arduous task was to bring each to life with authenticity, patience, and dramatic oomph. Netflix’s The Last Kingdom is a true-blood modern-day example of this combination that can truly elevate a project. Similarly, Rome was arguably the best period drama when it aired on HBO for two years. It had all elements of storytelling to make it an epic saga. Right from the choice of clothing to the tiniest of details in makeup, HBO left no stone unturned to make Rome its crown jewel.
But crown jewels are expensive, and they cost a fortune. Perhaps rightly, HBO canceled the show after two seasons. It needed to be financially viable, and there were plans to extend it for another three seasons. One certainly cannot denounce the ambition of the show’s creators and HBO to make Rome unmatchable in magnitude. Even in its short run, Rome became such a fan favorite based on these gilt-edged creative choices. In our reckoning, Rome is a one-of-a-kind show, not just in HBO’s illustrious catalog of television shows but across the spectrum of streaming services and network cable.
9. Oz (1997-2003)
We have considered shows that might have started before 2000 but continued well into the new century. Truth be told, we made the tweak only to have Oz and The Sopranos on the list. Because where would a list of the best HBO shows be without these two shows? In the most emphatic terms, Oz is HBO’s “original prodigal son.” It was the first one-hour dramatic television series to be produced by HBO, and the rest, as they say, is history. When it was released, there weren’t many competing shows like it. Oz established HBO just like a new movie by Ari Aster keeps reestablishing A24. When the inherent shock of watching a story unfold entirely in a scary-looking glass-walled prison wore off, Oz became so much more.
It changed gears and evolved its identity to own up to a new one. Competing genre shows like Prison Break, and Orange is the New Black have all derived inspiration from Oz. Tom Fontana’s creative spark ignited one of the best HBO shows of all time and kickstarted the network’s journey as the king of modern-day television.
8. Deadwood (2004-06)
Deadwood’s gritty portrayal of a lawless frontier town in the American West captivated audiences. Created by David Milch, Deadwood was groundbreaking primarily due to its exceptional writing. The dialogue is rich, poetic, and steeped in profanity, giving the show a distinct and authentic feel. The characters, brought to life by a stellar ensemble cast including Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant, and Robin Weigert, are complex and multi-dimensional. Their ambitions, vices, and moral ambiguities are masterfully explored, making them compelling and deeply human. One of the reasons why Deadwood is HBO’s best historical period drama is the attention to detail.
The meticulous recreation of the town of Deadwood during the late 1800s is commendable. The sets and costumes transport viewers back in time, immersing them in the gritty reality of the era. The show also tackles significant themes such as power struggles, capitalism, and the clash between civilization and lawlessness, presenting a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition.
The premature ending after three entertaining seasons remains a blemish on an otherwise remarkable series. Despite its flaws, “Deadwood” remains a groundbreaking and influential show. It’s gritty realism and memorable characters have left a lasting impact on the Western genre in television. The exceptional performances and masterful writing continue to resonate with audiences. While it may not have reached its full potential due to its untimely cancellation, Deadwood will forever be remembered as a dark and poetic examination of humanity’s struggle for power and survival on the wild American frontier.
7. Six Feet Under (2001-05)
Created by Alan Ball, the show revolves around the Fisher family, who owns and operates a funeral home in Los Angeles. The series explores the complex dynamics within the central family and their interactions with the grieving families they serve. Each episode of Six Feet Under begins with a death, setting the tone for the episode and allowing the audience to reflect on mortality and the fragility of life. Watching the show might remind you of the recently released Tiny Beautiful Things in the sense that every episode brings a different facet of human consciousness to life.
Starting each episode with death was a distinct storytelling device that added a unique and thought-provoking element to the series. The most outstanding of this motif materializes in the series finale, which indubitably places it in the echelons of television royalty. What makes this instance from the finale of Edie’s death, particularly powerful is how it is juxtaposed with the struggles and emotional arcs of the show’s main characters throughout the episode.
As the Fisher family deals with their challenges, the reminder of death becomes a catalyst for reflection and a call to appreciate the fleeting nature of life. Creative ingenuity behind the scenes results in dialogue that is sharp, witty, and filled with profound insights.
6. Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014)
Boardwalk Empire might be HBO’s most alluring show. It is not often that a period drama can be this engaging and compelling in its element of modernity. Every show based on the past perceives the old world through a contemporary lens. Boardwalk Empire’s rich tapestry of characters and storylines benefited immensely from its setting of the Atlantic City of the 1920s. The portrayal of Atlantic City as a glamorous yet corrupt and dangerous place added a sense of intrigue and tension. Period-appropriate music, including jazz and blues, further enhanced the atmosphere and created a rich sensory experience.
Even in terms of plotting, Boardwalk Empire takes the cake from many other HBO shows on this list. It is difficult to point out instances without giving the show away but bear in mind that the web of betrayals, deceit, and violence runs thick and deep. The show also exemplified how to remain committed to historical authenticity and get the most out of creative liberties. Steve Buscemi arguably led Boardwalk Empire more than any other lead actor who did a show in this list. Not just his, but the portrayal of the ensemble cast still resonates with the viewers today.
5. Barry (2018-2023)
Every time I take Barry’s name in my head, it sounds like NoHo Hank. Does it happen to you as well? Or perhaps it is just for those Barry fanatics who lived and breathed the show while it was on HBO. Without any doubt, Barry is the most remarkable dark comedy-turned-serious drama, not just on HBO but in the contemporary television spectrum. Bill Hader and Alec Berg’s creation spanned four beautiful seasons. While the first season established the show’s credibility as a comedy with shades of human darkness, the second season onwards, the show became a compelling creative experiment. Its appeal was elevated by flawless writing and characterization.
For the first time ever, we saw a comedy develop dramatic themes, and its characters seemed to be crafted from a Greek tragedy. The full extent of Barry came to life in the third and fourth seasons, when Hader took most of the creative control. It is HBO’s prestige show and will lift Hader’s stature as one of the best in the business.
4. Game of Thrones (2011-19)
Even the staunchest of haters of HBO’s Game of Thrones cannot deny it revolutionized television. It brought us a brand of adventure that we hadn’t seen before. Game of Thrones is HBO’s most prominent production ever and paved the way for future projects in terms of the believability of epic scale. Despite the disastrous final season, we still consider Game of Thrones to be one of the best five HBO shows of the 21st century. The myriad plot twists, shocking character deaths, and big-ass fire-breathing dragons made a considerable part of the viewing experience.
But even with all this visual stupor, Game of Thrones has a surprising emotional depth with meaningful character arcs and emotions. No fan of drama can deny that its remarkable ensemble cast gave ground-breaking performances and held our focus for the better part of a decade. George RR Martin’s writing and imagination, and HBO’s committed effort, made Game of Thrones arguably the most extraordinary adventure and visual spectacle on television, but not quite the best in our eyes.
3. The Wire (2002-2008)
“Here’s what you do. You tell him that you’re his friend, that you’re going to help him, and that everything will be all right. And then you put a wire on him and find out who’s selling him drugs. And then you get that guy, and you flip him. You turn him into a snitch. You follow that guy to the people really, really bad. I’ve been watching The Wire recently. I don’t understand a word of it.” That is The Wire, HBO’s most incredible crime drama series ever, in a nutshell. The above quote is, of course, from The Office, as Michael Scott offers advice to his “best friend and protege” Ryan on how to ascertain if his best friend Toby might be a drug addict.
The long and seemingly insignificant introduction to The Wire is not meant to trivialize the show’s gritty and truthful portrayal of Baltimore and its underbelly of crime, public systems, and institutions. Written by former police officers David Simon and Ed Burns, The Wire dramatically benefits from their insights and experiences. The level of detailing and ambiguous moral fabric of the characters and storylines deeply reflect the grim realities of our society. Looking back at what makes The Wire great, giving a straight and simple answer is difficult. There are a number of moving parts that elevate The Wire’s status as one of the greatest HBO shows of all time.
When one mentions the phrase “playing it by one’s ear,” you can actually see its manifestation in the show. Due to the profile of the creators, The Wire is a compelling portrait for the keen listeners who watch the various webs of connection formed internally. Even though you do not see it happening clearly, the show’s universe keeps on shifting and changing shape in the shadows. The relatively unknown cast back then gave fearless performances. Their concern wasn’t with convention and the established norms to play their profiles. But the task at hand mattered more than anything else.
2. The Sopranos (1999-2007)
The Sopranos is HBO’s crown jewel. Along with Breaking Bad and Mad Men, The Sopranos represents divine influence over the television landscape. But yet, it does not top our list of the greatest HBO shows of all time. Maybe this will receive a lot of flak, but some element of recency bias is involved in this decision. When we look at something we like today that provides a refreshing twist on something familiar, we often overlook the “familiar.” The Sopranos is the original mob-family drama on television full of zany characters, morally conflicted storylines, and grounded family dynamics.
But Sopranos’ effect is slightly diminished for those who have seen the HBO show after watching a slew of Martin Scorcese films in a similar vein or Coppola’s The Godfather. The awe with which viewers watched the show as it released one episode a week is certainly not the same for modern-day viewers. Organized crime and the mafia are irrelevant today and do not catch our fancies as they did in the early 2000s. But The Sopranos is undeniably a crucial part of American culture and represents its elusive and mysterious disillusionment with the mafia.
1. Succession (2018-2023)
Why could a show about people talking gibberish with each other by the most fantastic show on America’s premium cable network? Well, there is strong evidence of exactly that throughout four seasons of Succession. Created and written by Jesse Armstrong and his writers, the show revolves around the Roy family, who own one of America’s most powerful corporate firms, Waystar Royco. The title is drawn from the central conceit as patriarch Logan Roy (the indelectable Logan Roy) draws up plans to announce a “successor.” Succession, as many have already pointed out, is really about family dysfunction and individual character arcs more than anything, even though the show consistently served up taut, well-written high-stakes corporate showdowns.
Its spectacular ensemble cast, led by Jeremy Strong, assumed the responsibility of creating compelling portrayals with seriousness and commitment. Through the four years, they completely disappeared into their characters, bringing the best out of themselves. Succession’s opening theme song would also rank number one in our reckoning among all the shows on this list. Although it would still be subjective, Succession rendered itself the greatest HBO show of the 21st century as it ended its run last month. And it is indeed hard to escape that supposition with an open mind and clear eyes.
