20 Most Popular HBO Shows of All Time Ranked

HBO has always been focused on quality when it comes to its programming and the exclusive shows the network produces, and HBO's best series of all time are proof of that. Now that the network has its own streaming platform, Max, it's easier than ever to catch up on HBO's most popular shows. From popular series like Sex and the city to Euphoria to Game of ThronesHBO already has a lot of impressive series under its belt, and even some negatively received series have become more refreshing events.

With many exciting HBO shows still in development, HBO continues to be the gold standard of network TV despite the network's name being dropped from Max. While there is a debate about which series was the best in HBO's history, popularity is a different discussion, with different factors to consider. Taking into account viewership, each show's impact on pop culture, how long they last before being canceled or coming to a natural end, and spin-offs and movie sequels, these HBO series had the most people talking at the water cooler.

20

Watchers (2019)

1 season, 9 episodes

Alan Moore Watchers remains possibly the most acclaimed and influential comic book of all time. Adapting it for Hollywood proved difficult, with Zack Snyder's 2009 attempt garnering mixed responses and a negative reaction from the author himself. HBO tried something that was perhaps even bolder with its limited series Watchers – making a sequel to the original graphic novel, commenting on the themes Moore first explored in a new era.

The series is a brilliant commentary on racism, corruption and heroism that will speak to any audience.

The series introduces many new characters, along with several returning characters from the original story, with this alternate version of the United States in which masked vigilantism is prohibited and the police take an anonymous approach to fighting crime. The series is a brilliant commentary on racism, corruption and heroism that will speak to any audience. However, it's particularly exciting for fans of the original story how it draws on mythology in such compelling ways.

19

Rome (2005-2007)

2 seasons, 22 episodes

It can be argued that there wouldn't be Game of Thrones if it weren't for Pomegranate. The epic, big-budget series was the network's first ambitious attempt at telling a story filled with battles and massive set pieces. Although it is not the success of the ratings that Game of Thrones was, Pomegranate represents a strong turning point in HBO's blockbuster narrative. The series takes place in Ancient Rome and follows two warriors who are involved in some of the city's biggest moments, such as the fall of Julius Caesar and the arrival of Cleopatra.

Looking at Game of Thronesthe action is small in comparison, but the scale of the series is still impressive. However, the real excitement of the series comes down to the characters, with the relationships and political intrigue feeling like the best aspects of the early seasons of Game of Thrones.

18

The Leftovers (2014-2017)

3 seasons, 28 episodes

The leftovers is an HBO series that had a lot of fans when it aired, but was never one of the network's biggest hits. Similar to The threadNow that the series is off the air, more and more people are discovering it as one of the greatest shows of all time. The leftovers begins with the intriguing premise that the world suddenly loses a large number of its population as people suddenly disappear. The series then follows those left behind in an emptier world.

The series starts with a big, exciting sci-fi concept, but then creates an incredibly human and intimate story that deals with loss and grief in powerful ways.. However, it is also an uplifting story of people finding love and happiness in a world full of sadness. Different LostIt's not about the mystery of where everyone went, but rather the drama of what everyone else will do now.

17

Dead Wood (2004-2006)

3 seasons, 36 episodes

Dead wood It was another glimpse of HBO getting bolder with its television storytelling, creating an expensive Western story full of colorful, brutal characters. Dead wood is based on historical aspects of the story of the various residents of the lawless town of Deadwood, where many people, including Western icons, came to seek their fortune with the supposedly found gold. At the center of the story are the noble but little-tempted lawman Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) and the nefarious bar owner and crime boss Al Swearengen (Ian McShane).

The series is written by TV legend David Milch and his dialogue is the secret sauce that makes Dead wood so spectacular. Some have described him as “Shakespeare in the mud” with characters launching into captivating soliloquies and monologues full of vulgarity and threats of violence. It also features a brilliant ensemble with McShane giving the play's commanding performance.

16

Veep (2012-2019)

7 seasons, 65 episodes

With the recent candidacy of former United States Vice President Kamala Harris for president, Veep has returned to the cultural conversation with renewed praise for being one of the best comedy series of the 21st century. Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars as Selina Meyer, who at the start of the series is the forgotten Vice President of the United States, constantly frustrated by her lack of power in the seemingly meaningless position. Surrounded by a team of eccentric employees, she is on a mission to become president at any cost.

By Armando Iannucci, Veep is a sharp and intelligent political satire that hilariously analyzes the most self-serving and self-serving aspects of modern politics. Louis-Dreyfus further solidified himself as one of the greatest comedic actors of all time with a performance that earned him six Emmys.. She is surrounded by a cast of wonderful actors who deliver hilarious performances in a series that increasingly embraces the dark comedy of its world.

15

Big Little Lies (2017)

2 seasons, 14 episodes

Based on Big little lies novel by Liane Moriarty, Big little lies is a must-see for several reasons, the main one being its all-star cast featuring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and more. The Emmy-winning show tells the story of a group of upper class mothers who end up banding together faced with secrets and murders. Highlighting the competitive and cutthroat nature of the upper class, the show puts a twist on the seemingly perfect lives of the rich and successful.

The series manages to really stand out with its take on the class divide, the gripping mystery at the center, the complex relationships and some heavy subjects. After two intense seasons, there is now confirmation that Big little lies Season 3 is happeningbringing audiences back to this beautiful community with darkness lurking beneath the surface.

14

Barry (2018-2023)

4 seasons, 32 episodes

Leaving your time Saturday night liveBill Hader series Barry It delivered something its fans probably didn't expect, as it's one of the edgiest dark comedies on recent television. Hader plays Barry, a troubled ex-soldier and current hit man who travels to Los Angeles for work and falls in love with the world of acting. Although it may seem like a silly fish-out-of-water story, Barry It's much more than that.

The show takes a typical HBO approach with its violence and drama with underlying dark comedy, which is why it has become one of HBO's most popular shows of all time. Barry's Unfortunately, the final series followed suit, as did many other HBO showslike the Barry the ending divided some critics. However, that's just a testament to how consistently great most of the show is, and it's so difficult to satisfactorily end a beloved and hugely popular show.

13

True Detective (2014-present)

4 seasons, 30 episodes

True Detective the first season is the first major example of A-list movie stars fully embracing the television medium, as Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey play two detectives investigating a cold case. Each subsequent season brought a new case with a new set of A-list actors, including the likes of Colin Farrell, Mahershala Ali and Jodie Foster. While the cases were all intriguing, the series was always more focused on the characters who investigated them.

The season's inconsistent releases prevented the series from reaching the level of popularity that crime dramas enjoy. The Sopranohas been achieved. However, the long gap between seasons means the network and producers are prioritizing the quality of the series.is a series that continues to attract public attention, with the latest season 4 of True Detective becoming one of the most talked about series of the year.

12

Western World (2016-2022)

4 seasons, 36 episodes

It may seem surprising that a complex and challenging sci-fi series would emerge from the adaptation of a nearly forgotten B-movie from the 1970s, but Western World surprised many people. The story is set in the future, where one of the most popular attractions for well-paid tourists is a Wild West-inspired theme park where guests interact with an expansive world featuring robotic characters there to serve your every whim. However, this changes when the robots start thinking for themselves.

Western World is full of iconic scenes and features a great cast, starring Evan Rachel Wood, Thandiwe Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Anthony Hopkins and many more across its three seasons. The popular show delves into a uniquely mind-bending and calculated dream world that is both futuristic and vintage, making it difficult for viewers to pinpoint what's coming next.. The drama is action-packed and also mysterious, which is partly why the show has a devoted following. However Western World'The abrupt cancellation proved that the show had fallen from grace, the show's first season was an epic pop culture event.

11

Band of Brothers (2001)

1 season, 10 episodes

Band of Brothers it was groundbreaking television that showcased epic stories that could be told on the small screen, giving way to the extremely ambitious programs that would follow. This 10-part miniseries chronicled the journey of the soldiers of Easy Company from his basic training days to the front lines of World War II in Europe until the end of the war. Over the course of the series, they achieve great victories, suffer devastating losses, and learn why they fight.

The Emmy-winning series not only offers a moving story about brotherhood, but also details the harrowing experiences on the battlefield. Stunning war sequences, unlike anything seen on television at the time. Based on the novel of the same name by Stephen E. Ambrose, the show was hugely successful at the time of its release but has managed to maintain its acclaim and popularity, which is a rare feat for a miniseries.

10

Entourage (2004-2011)

8 seasons, 96 episodes

Although HBO shows are sometimes remembered as overly serious series, some of them were focused purely on entertainment, such as with Entourage. Loosely based on Mark Wahlberg's career, the comedy follows Hollywood's rising actor Vincent Chase as he takes his childhood friends on his dizzying journey to fame and fortune while dealing with his abrasive agent, Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven).

Entourage it was far from being a well-received program by critics, complaining about its low risk and immaturity. However, there's no denying how replayable the show is, embracing the experience of wish fulfillment through the main characters, who live their best lives in Hollywoodhanging out on film sets, partying with movie stars and driving supercars. It's the same reason why series like Sex and the city and Players were so successful. Entourage It lasted eight seasons and even got a movie sequel, establishing itself as one of the most popular HBO shows of all time.

9

Chernobyl (2019)

1 season, 5 episodes

However Chernobyl is another limited miniseries, the 2019 release is easily one of HBO's most popular shows of all time. Even years later, the series is still highly talked about. Covering the 1986 Chernobyl disasterin which a reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded, the turbulence that ensues is enough to keep viewers intrigued, no matter how emotionally exhausting it may be.

Although the show is based on a real-life event that has been covered in history books and documentaries, the show offers a unique and intimate perspective on the effects of the devastating circumstances. It is a story about the enormous failure of a country that has led to many deaths and brutal devastation.. However, it is also an inspiring story of the little-known heroes of the incident who put their lives on the line to save as many people as they could and to ensure that it would not happen again.

8

The Wire (2002-2008)

Season 5, Episode 60

The thread is an exciting crime series that offers a Unique perspective on Baltimore's growing drug sceneboth from the point of view of traffickers and law enforcement agents. Unlike most crime shows, The Wire gave a realistic look at the work of a drug investigation, with far fewer shootouts and raids, but infinitely compelling developments through the complex characters on both sides of the law.

The show is not only full of riveting drama typical of the style of early 2000s cop shows, but it also accurately portrays how police forces operate. The thread remains one of HBO's most popular shows of all time, largely due to the characterswith names like Bubbles, Stringer Bell and Omar Little becoming iconic. Although the quality of most shows declined in later seasons The thread it only got better as it wove Baltimore's politics, school system, and shipyard into a larger story.

7

Euphoria (2019–present)

2 seasons, episode 18

A program that focuses specifically on the lives of high school students, Euphoria highlights the trials and tribulations of growing up in a city where everyone faces crippling struggles. Between extreme drug use and overly disruptive home lives, HBO show highlights the struggles many teens go through.

However Euphoria isn't as beloved by the general public, it's one of the most-streamed HBO shows in history, and Zendaya won two Emmys for her lead performance. It also made stars of many of its young cast members, including Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi and Hunter Schafer.

The show's relatable yet powerful commentary on common dangers The teens' modern face speaks for itself and resonated with many throughout its two seasons. As proof of its popularity, the expectation for Euphoria Season 3 is not dead, although there are no concrete plans yet.

6

The White Lotus (2021-present)

2 seasons, 13 episodes

After a well-received first season that gradually grew in popularity, The White Lotus became a phenomenal success after its second season. While the first season drew attention for its satire of rich and noble families, the second season won several major awards and became one of the most streamed shows on Max thanks to word of mouth.

How the show is about the privileged acting on their worst impulsesit always leads to one or more deaths, making it a unique mystery series as well as a biting satire. While the “kill the rich” narrative has become overused in recent years, no other show or movie achieves this quite like The White Lotus. With The White Lotus With the third season on the way, it will follow the trend of a new cast of characters like Michelle Monaghan, Carrie Coon and Walton Goggins.

5

Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2024)

12 seasons, 120 episodes

It's pretty impressive that Larry David failed to make one of the most popular comedies in history with Seinfeld to continue with another of the most successful comedies in history with Control your enthusiasm. The show continues David, who plays an exaggerated version of himself while making the worst of typical, relatable social situations.

The show's success is clearly due to David's comedic ability. The comedy show remains constantly fresh with frequent new characters as well as creative and humorous plots that fit together expertly. As Seinfeldit was a show that wasn't at all concerned with making a main character likable and instead just concerned with providing laughs. For fans of comedy that utilizes uncomfortable situations and cringe-worthy interactions, there was no better show on the air. Control your enthusiasm finally ended with season 12, bringing HBO's most popular comedy series to an end.

4

Succession (2018-2023)

4 seasons, 39 episodes

One of HBO's most recent shows that made a huge impact on pop culture was Succession. The show presents a Shakespearean story of a family in the modern corporate world. When powerful patriarch Logan Roy shows signs of being ready to step down from his massive media company, The Roy family becomes involved in an intense and chaotic struggle for power about who should take over.

With the growing popularity of corporate business dramas in recent years, it's no surprise that Succession would quickly rise to the top and become one of HBO's most popular shows of all time as it also juggles a unique yet complicated family dynamic. It's filled with complex and fascinating characters who are extremely compelling to watch, even when they're detestable. The show's popularity may be due to recency bias, but Succession and its ending will certainly stand the test of time.

3

The Sopranos (1999-2007)

6 seasons, 86 episodes

the highly successful series offers an alternative point of view, which has been applauded by both critics and the general public

While good mob-centric television has become popular, the 21-time Emmy-winning series The Sopranos is the absolute gold standard of the genre and was the foundation of modern serial gangster drama. The Sopranos addresses the world of mob bosses, while Tony also struggles with his family life, leading him to seek counseling. It becomes a brilliant look at the world of crime and a man like Tony Soprano, who paved the way for television protagonists who could be horrible people but audiences still wanted to watch.

It is difficult to exaggerate the influence The Sopranos had on television encouraging a new wave of challenging narratives. While it's easy to assume that the mob members are confident and ruthless leaders, the hit series offers an alternative point of view, which has been applauded by both critics and the general public. Even years since its end, The Sopranos remains one of the most popular shows HBO has ever produced.

2

Sex and the city (1998-2004)

6 seasons, 94 episodes

the characters are the reason people fell in love with the show

As Entourage, Sex and the City has become so popular because it is a show where the audience can live vicariously through its characters. The series follows four women who live an extremely fashionable lifestyle in New York.going to the best clubs and parties, wearing designer clothes and connecting across the cosmos. However, the characters are the reason people fell in love with the series, as these four friends and their various romances have always been fun.

Sex and the city was a pivotal show in making HBO a network to watch with more mature programming than that seen on network television. The series had the most successful cinematic run of any TV show ever, as the 2008 Sex and the city film grossed US$418 million worldwideand even spawned a sequel in 2010. 25 years after the pilot aired, Sex and the city has not yet declined in popularity, as Is that so Season 2 premiered in 2023.

1

Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

8 seasons, 73 episodes

Game of Thrones is another HBO series that changed television forever, with the scale and budget convincing people that television shows could rival movies in this regard. Based on George R.R. Martin A Song of Ice and Fire book seriesThe fantasy show takes audiences to Westeros to explore the various Great Houses fighting for the Iron Throne. In a world of ice zombies, dragons and magic, Game of Thrones has delivered iconic thrills and surprises for eight seasons.

Between Game of Thrones' With visually stunning scenes and intense, action-packed moments, the show remains one of HBO's most popular series to date. While the dark content of the gory and graphic material is not for everyone, Game of Thrones remains iconic for its twists, violence, and vivid characters. Even though the final season was panned by fans and critics alike, it was ironically when it reached its most popular point. His lasting legacy is clear with several Game of Thrones spinoffs securing it as HBO's biggest franchise.