Since the 1990s, the American premium network HBO has played a defining role in the prestige era of television. With high production budgets, cinematic storytelling and complex characters, the network delivered countless award-winning productions. Vote for your favorite HBO series and let us know in the comments which one you think is the best!
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The Sopranos (1999-2007)
James Gandolfini starred as mob boss Tony Soprano, who tries to combine his criminal organization with his family life and visits to a psychiatrist. The series won 21 Emmy Awards and is widely regarded as the starting point of television's golden age of quality drama.
The Wire (2002-2008)
Created by former police reporter David Simon, this series examines the institutions of Baltimore through the drug trade, the port industry, politics, education and journalism. It was widely praised by critics and academics for its sociological realism.
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Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
This fantasy series based on George R.R. Martin's books became a worldwide cultural phenomenon with millions of simultaneous viewers. With 59 Primetime Emmy Awards, it is the most awarded drama series in television awards history.
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Chernobyl (2019)
This five-part drama series reconstructs the nuclear disaster of April 1986 in the Soviet Union and the subsequent cleanup operations. The production won ten Primetime Emmy Awards and ranks highly in international viewer rankings.
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Band of Brothers (2001)
Produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, this ten-part miniseries follows 'Easy Company' of the US 101st Airborne Division during the Second World War. It won six Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for best miniseries.
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The Last of Us (2023-present)
Based on the video game of the same name, this post-apocalyptic series follows Joel and Ellie on a journey through a devastated America. It drew tens of millions of viewers per episode and won eight Emmy Awards for its debut season.
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Succession (2018-2023)
This satirical drama follows the super-rich Roy family fighting for control of an international media and entertainment conglomerate. The series won nineteen Emmy Awards in total, including best drama series three times.
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Deadwood (2004-2006)
Deadwood portrays the lawless growth of a gold-mining camp in South Dakota in the 1870s, featuring historical figures like Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen. The series won eight Emmy Awards during its three seasons.
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True Detective (2014-present)
This anthology series had an acclaimed first season with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as two detectives in Louisiana. It won five Primetime Emmy Awards for directing, casting and cinematography.
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Six Feet Under (2001-2005)
This drama series follows the ups and downs of a family running a funeral home in Los Angeles. It won nine Emmy Awards, and its finale is regarded in television circles as one of the most admired series endings ever.
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Oz (1997–2003)
The best HBO prison series is Oz, a raw and boundary-pushing drama about the brutal power struggle between different groups in an experimental prison. With its uncompromising realism, this groundbreaking series laid the foundation for the success of later HBO classics.
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