It wasn’t until Sex and the City that HBO really became known for delivering quality content. Today, decades later, the premium network is one of the best in the business with its companion HBO Max streaming service, sweeping awards ceremonies with the hottest titles.
HBO doesn’t officially release full viewership data for its shows, but based on an aggregate of information like debut week stats, peak averages, audience reports, and number of reviews for shows, it’s easy to figure out which series are among the most watched. While this can’t be substantiated by any one specific metric, it’s safe to say that these shows are at or near the top of the list.
12
‘Sex and the City’ (1998–2004)
HBO’s first truly big hit show, Sex and the City, burst on the scene and told viewers that it was not only okay to be a single woman in your 30s, but it was also quite fabulous. Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte (Kristen Davis), and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) were successful, independent women who owned their sexuality and navigated careers, relationships, dating, and the fashion scene in New York, much to viewers’ delight.
The characters and the show itself became icons, spawning two successful movies, a prequel series, and a sequel show called And Just Like That…, which just ended its run. All six seasons of the show are arguably just as popular in reruns as they were when it was originally on the air.
11
‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)
A miniseries, Band of Brothers was only one season with 10 episodes, but it made an impact. A project headed by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, it was an extension of the war drama genre they had previously worked on with Saving Private Ryan. At the center are men who work as part of a Battalion during World War II, the stories born from real-life ones told in historian Stephen E. Ambrose‘s non-fiction book of the same name.
Widely considered to be one of the best TV shows of all time, Band of Brothers is joined by The Pacific and Masters of the Air, both of which serve as companion pieces to this one from way back in the early 2000s.
10
‘Chernobyl’ (2019)
Historical inaccuracies aside, Chernobyl is a gripping look at one of the most devastating nuclear disasters of our generation. Following the story from the time before a nuclear reactor exploded to the immediate and long-term aftermath, every moment of the five-episode series is emotional, edge-of-the-seat tension.
From the replication of the time in the scenery and costuming to the tremendous acting, the vilifying of the system, and the praising of the heroes, Chernobyl takes viewers back in time. Sure, there are creative liberties taken to Hollywoodize the story. But the core truths remain, and the series brings attention to a moment in time that should not be forgotten.
9
‘The Penguin’ (2024)
A DC Comics crime drama masquerading as a mob movie-like miniseries, The Penguin is a compelling backstory for one of the biggest villains in the Batman universe. Colin Farrell takes on the persona in heavy makeup and a body suit, portraying the man The Penguin was before he became a criminal underworld boss. Oz Cobb has more layers to him than the comic might suggest, and this story pulls them back beautifully.
The supporting cast, particularly Cristin Milioti as Sofia Gigante, is superb. The show earned 24 Emmy nominations and received widespread critical acclaim from the many critics and fans who dove right into the eight episodes and all their best plot twists.
8
‘Veep’ (2012–2019)
With a sitcom feel to it, Veep is a political satire comedy series that turned Julia Louis-Dreyfus into an Emmy record holder, winning again and again for her role. She’s Selina Meyer, the fictional vice president of the United States, who is most certainly a parody of all the worst characteristics of a politician. The show itself, in fact, is a satirical look at the absurdity of politics in general.
Veep makes many lists of the best TV shows of all time, and certainly the best-ever TV comedies. Having been on the air during the time of a real-life U.S. presidential election, it’s no surprise fans were tuning in for a light-hearted break from real politics.
7
‘Succession’ (2018–2023)
People love a good satire, and the way Succession pokes fun at the concepts of capitalism, greed, and corporate America is downright perfect. The black comedy drama captured fan attention with its storyline that mimics that of many real-life conglomerate families. Logan Roy (Brian Cox) owns a massive global media and entertainment conglomerate, but he’s getting older and needs to start thinking about the next steps for the company. He has four grown children, but none of them are, in his opinion, up to the task of taking over. This doesn’t stop them, however, from wanting to prove themselves worthy. And they all try, no matter who they have to step on to get there. Meanwhile, Logan is happy to dangle the carrot and watch them dance while seeking out alternative options.
Gritty, raw, and emotional at times, and deeply funny at others, Succession has a bit of everything, and fans were excited for every season of the show’s four-season run.
6
‘The White Lotus’ (2021–Present)
Along with the fun murder mystery aspect, every season of The White Lotus takes viewers to a different exotic locale, allowing us to live vicariously through the resort guests, even if being around them is probably the last thing anyone would want on vacation. Each season follows an eclectic group of guests at a lavish resort somewhere, with Hawaii, Italy, and Thailand all covered in the first three seasons. It begins with the tragic death of a mysterious character, and as the plot unfolds, viewers try to guess who the victim is, who killed them, and why.
Incredibly acted with some fantastic performances, The White Lotus was reportedly born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, a concept that could be filmed in a bubble location. No one thought it would become the massive hit it has, and there’s no denying it has brought huge viewership numbers and accolades for HBO with its smart, funny, and even disturbing content.
5
‘The Wire’ (2002–2008)
One of the best shows ever, The Wire dove deep into five crucial issues impacting America, from illegal drugs to government and bureaucracy. Viewers learned about situations from the perspectives of law enforcement, politics, and even criminals, as well as victims. The show set out to show the broken system, the attempts made to fix it, the challenges, and the roadblocks.
Interestingly, The Wire was largely ignored when it was on television, never receiving any major awards or recognition. It’s only after that the series developed a cult following, and the viewership numbers began to climb. Along with that came respect for the show and its depiction of real-life situations.
4
‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)
Following Sex and the City, The Sopranos was HBO’s next biggest hit, solidifying its position as a network that could not just make quality shows, but quality shows in any genre, including grittier ones like this. While The Sopranos was violent, focusing on Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), an Italian American mobster in New York, it also dove into the family aspect and Tony’s struggles with balancing who he was both at home and on the job.
The crime drama influenced so many that came after it, likely itself inspired by gangster movies of the past like The Godfather and Goodfellas. The show is widely considered to have begun what is known as the Second Golden Age of Television, showing that high-production series with movie-like plots can work in an episodic format.
3
‘Euphoria’ (2019–Present)
A show for a new generation, Euphoria is a psychological teen drama about Rue (Zendaya), a teenage drug addict who returns to school after attending rehab. Unsure of who she is and her place, she struggles to reacclimate to mainstream life while dealing with typical coming-of-age challenges at the same time.
The show is one of the deeper, more emotional ones targeted towards a younger generation, arguably their version of Degrassi or Beverly Hills, 90210. It will likely go down in history as being just as impactful as those two.
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