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The 105 Best HBO Series, Ranked by Tomatometer

Game of Thrones’ may have been HBO’s most popular show ever — but is the epic fantasy series HBO’s all-time best-reviewed show?

Well, the short answer is no.

The longer answer is that the premium cable network offers plenty of new, buzzworthy series on its current lineup with higher scores than the drama, including dark comedy Barry, the sci-fi mystery of Westworld, and award-winning drama Big Little Lies. And that’s not to mention HBO’s signature prestige dramas including The Sopranos, Chernobyl, and Western period drama Deadwood.

In 2020, the highly anticipated first season of horror-fantasy Lovecraft Country and troubling docuseries The Vow joined those classics in our list of HBO’s best shows, along with a few more new additions in 2021: docuseries The Lady and the DaleAllen v. Farrow, and Tiger Woods–focused Tiger; series Painting with John, and J.K. Rowling’s crime series C.B. Strike, whose new season gave it the number of reviews needed to join the list. And then there was the zeitgeist-capturing duo of crime drama Mare of Easttown and biting comedy The White Lotus.

2022 saw the majorly anticipated return of Game of Thrones with prequel series House of the Dragon, and then the record-breaking The Last of Us in 2023.


Read more:


We’ve rounded up Tomatometer scores for the best HBO series and miniseries to make a list to fill your binge-watch calendar into next year. To qualify for the list, a series must have at least 10 reviews counting toward its score.

#1
Synopsis: Hey now! This series offers a behind-the-scenes look at late-night talk show host Larry Sanders (Garry Shandling) and the production... [More]

#2
Synopsis: Seeking to address the failures of the comedy landscape and entertainment industry to include vital voices, this narrative series set... [More]

Los Espookys (2019)
Tomatometer icon 100%

#3
Synopsis: A primarily Spanish-language comedy (with English subtitles), the series follows the adventures of Renaldo, a horror and gore enthusiast who... [More]

#4
Synopsis: Documentary filmmaker John Wilson embarks on an odyssey of self-discovery and cultural observation by covertly filming the lives of fellow... [More]
Starring: John Wilson

Somebody Somewhere (2022)
Tomatometer icon 100%

#5
Synopsis: The Peabody Award-winning and critically acclaimed series follows Sam, a true Kansan on the surface who, beneath it all, struggles... [More]

The Lady and the Dale (2021)
Tomatometer icon 100%

#6
Synopsis: The story of Elizabeth Carmichael, who released a fuel-efficient vehicle during the 1970s gas crisis; as she wins over major... [More]
Starring:

The Defiant Ones (2017)
Tomatometer icon 100%

#7
Synopsis: "The Defiant Ones" tells of the unbreakable bond of trust and friendship between music legends Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre,... [More]

#8
Synopsis: Writer/director/producer Terence Nance is the mastermind behind this project, a "show about the beauty and ugliness of contemporary American life,"... [More]
Starring: Terence Nance

Painting With John (2021)
Tomatometer icon - -

#9
Synopsis: Filmed at his worktable, artist John Lurie hones his intricate watercolor techniques and shares reflections on what he has learned... [More]

Barry (2018)
Tomatometer icon 98%

#10
Synopsis: Disillusioned at the thought of taking down another "mark," depressed, low-level hit man Barry Berkman seeks a way out. When... [More]

I May Destroy You (2020)
Tomatometer icon 98%

#11
Synopsis: After being sexually assaulted in a nightclub, Arabella's life changes irreversibly and she is forced to reassess everything, including her... [More]

High Maintenance (2016)
Tomatometer icon 98%

#12
Synopsis: The Guy is a nameless marijuana dealer in Brooklyn who delivers his goods via bicycle to stressed-out clients across New... [More]
Starring: Ben Sinclair

Betty (2020)
Tomatometer icon 98%

#13
Synopsis: Young women navigate the predominantly male-oriented world of skateboarding in New York City.... [More]

Insecure (2016)
Tomatometer icon 97%

#14
Synopsis: Modern-day black women might be described as strong and confident; in other words, just the opposite of Issa and Molly.... [More]

Treme (2010)
Tomatometer icon 97%

#15
Synopsis: Set in post-Katrina New Orleans, this hourlong drama series, from "The Wire" executive producers David Simon and Eric Overmyer, follows... [More]

My Brilliant Friend (2018)
Tomatometer icon 97%

#16
Synopsis: Pseudonymous author Elena Ferrante has written four mega-popular Neapolitan novels that explore the complicated intensity of female friendship. "My Brilliant... [More]

Band of Brothers (2001)
Tomatometer icon 94%

#17
Synopsis: This series, originally broadcast on HBO, tells the story of Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, U.S.... [More]
Directed By: Phil Alden Robinson

Sally4Ever (2018)
Tomatometer icon 97%

#18
Synopsis: Written, directed by and starring Julia Davis (creator of the original British series "Camping"), "Sally4Ever" is an HBO/Sky Atlantic co-production... [More]
Directed By: Julia Davis

The Last of Us (2023)
Tomatometer icon 96%

#19
Synopsis: Joel and Ellie must survive ruthless killers and monsters on a trek across America after an outbreak.... [More]

Watchmen (2019)
Tomatometer icon 96%

#20
Synopsis: Based on the celebrated graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, the exciting and dark "Watchmen" takes place in... [More]

#21
Synopsis: An exploration of the case of the Golden State Killer who terrorized California in the 1970s and 1980s, committing 50... [More]
Starring:
Directed By: Liz Garbus

Mare of Easttown (2021)
Tomatometer icon 95%

#22
Synopsis: Small-town Pennsylvania detective Mare Sheehan investigates a murder as life crumbles around her.... [More]

Chernobyl (2019)
Tomatometer icon 95%

#23
Synopsis: Brave men and women act heroically to mitigate catastrophic damage when the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant suffers a nuclear accident... [More]

Irma Vep (2022)
Tomatometer icon 95%

#24
Synopsis: Based on the movie of the same title, the series follows Mira, an American movie star disillusioned by her career... [More]

The Rehearsal (2022)
Tomatometer icon 95%

#25
Synopsis: Nathan Fielder returns to television to explore the lengths one person will go to reduce the uncertainties of everyday life.... [More]
Starring: Nathan Fielder

#26
Synopsis: Acclaimed actress, writer and producer Tracey Ullman, a longtime HBO favorite, returns to the network to front another sketch comedy... [More]

#27
Synopsis: Whistleblowers, insiders, newly leaked documents, behind-the-scenes access to investigations and exclusive interviews offer insights into Big Pharma, political operatives and... [More]
Starring:

Succession (2018)
Tomatometer icon 95%

#28
Synopsis: Although he has no plans to step aside as the head of Waystar Royco, the international media conglomerate controlled by... [More]

Silicon Valley (2014)
Tomatometer icon 94%

#29
Synopsis: Partially inspired by co-creator Mike Judge's experiences as a Silicon Valley engineer in the 1980s, this comedy series follows the... [More]

The Wire (2002)
Tomatometer icon 94%

#30
Synopsis: This series looks at the narcotics scene in Baltimore through the eyes of law enforcers as well as the drug... [More]
Directed By:

#31
Synopsis: Cutting edge musical comics Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement travel from their native New Zealand to New York in search... [More]

Veep (2012)
Tomatometer icon 93%

#32
Synopsis: "Politics is about people," former Sen. Selina Meyer is fond of saying. Unfortunately, the people Meyer, a charismatic leader and... [More]

The Deuce (2017)
Tomatometer icon 93%

#33
Synopsis: Created by George Pelecanos and David Simon, who also collaborated on HBO's "The Wire" and "Treme," the semifictional drama series... [More]

We Own This City (2022)
Tomatometer icon 93%

#34
Synopsis: Based on the book "We Own This City: A True Story of Crime, Cops and Corruption" by Baltimore Sun reporter... [More]

House of the Dragon (2022)
Tomatometer icon 86%

#35
Synopsis: The reign of House Targaryen begins with this prequel to popular HBO series "Game of Thrones;" based on George R.R.... [More]

#36
Synopsis: "Seinfeld" co-creator Larry David plays a version of himself on the improvised series. He faces a constant barrage of life's... [More]

Boardwalk Empire (2010)
Tomatometer icon 92%

#37
Synopsis: Atlantic City at the dawn of Prohibition is a place where the rules don't apply. And the man who runs... [More]

The Sopranos (1999)
Tomatometer icon 92%

#38
Synopsis: Tony Soprano juggles the problems of his fractious family with those of a "Family" of a different sort - the... [More]

Sharp Objects (2018)
Tomatometer icon 92%

#39
Synopsis: Based on the debut novel of the same name by writer Gillian Flynn ("Gone Girl"), the eight-episode series "Sharp Objects"... [More]

Deadwood (2004)
Tomatometer icon 92%

#40
Synopsis: "Deadwood" is set in a mining town that was not part of any U.S. state or territory in the post-Civil... [More]

Gentleman Jack (2019)
Tomatometer icon 92%

#41
Synopsis: It's 1832 in West Yorkshire, England -- the cradle of the evolving Industrial Revolution -- where landowner Anne Lister is... [More]

Oz (1997)
Tomatometer icon 93%

#42
Synopsis: Inmates and correctional officers inside the Oswald State Correctional Facility, nicknamed "Oz," battle for power and survival amid warring factions... [More]

Da Ali G Show (2000)
Tomatometer icon 92%

#43

The White Lotus (2021)
Tomatometer icon 92%

#44
Synopsis: An all-star cast head to a resort and unleash their worst, most privileged impulses. The series is a sharp social... [More]

The Leftovers (2014)
Tomatometer icon 91%

#45
Synopsis: In a global cataclysm, "The Sudden Departure," 140 million people disappeared without a trace. Three years later, residents of Mapleton,... [More]

Eastbound & Down (2009)
Tomatometer icon 91%

#46
Synopsis: After substance abuse and insanely self-destructive and obnoxious behavior throw a knuckle ball at his Major League Baseball career, former... [More]

The Pacific (2010)
Tomatometer icon 89%

#47
Synopsis: Based on the accounts of Marines in World War II, this 10-part miniseries follows the intertwined journeys of three U.S.... [More]

In Treatment (2008)
Tomatometer icon 90%

#48
Synopsis: Based on an Israeli Academy Award-winning TV drama series, "In Treatment" features a psychologist confronting some uneasy personal truths. For... [More]

Togetherness (2015)
Tomatometer icon 90%

#49
Synopsis: The spark in parents Brett and Michelle Pierson's marriage is all but extinguished. When his best friend, out-of-work actor Alex,... [More]
Directed By:

Looking (2014)
Tomatometer icon 90%

#50
Synopsis: Three best friends living in San Francisco share the nuances and complexities of contemporary gay relationships as they explore a... [More]
Directed By: Andrew Haigh, Sarah Condon

The New Pope (2020)
Tomatometer icon 90%

#51
Synopsis: As Pope Pius XIII hangs between life and death in a coma, charming and sophisticated moderate English aristocrat Sir John... [More]
Directed By: Paolo Sorrentino

We Are Who We Are (2020)
Tomatometer icon 90%

#52
Synopsis: Two American kids who live on a U.S. military base in Italy explore friendship, first love, identity, and all the... [More]

Game of Thrones (2011)
Tomatometer icon 89%

#53
Synopsis: George R.R. Martin's best-selling book series "A Song of Ice and Fire" is brought to the screen as HBO sinks... [More]
Directed By: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss

Big Little Lies (2017)
Tomatometer icon 89%

#54
Synopsis: Based on the same-titled bestseller by Liane Moriarty, "Big Little Lies" weaves a darkly comedic tale of murder and mischief... [More]

Years and Years (2019)
Tomatometer icon 89%

#55
Synopsis: An ordinary British family contends with the hopes, anxieties and joys of an uncertain future in this six-part limited series... [More]

McMillion$ (2020)
Tomatometer icon 89%

#56
Synopsis: The story of an ex-cop turned security officer who rigs the McDonald's Monopoly game promotion for a decade, stealing millions... [More]

Euphoria (2019)
Tomatometer icon 88%

#57
Synopsis: An American adaptation of the Israeli show of the same name, "Euphoria" follows the troubled life of 17-year-old Rue, a... [More]

Lovecraft Country (2020)
Tomatometer icon 88%

#58
Synopsis: Atticus Black joins his friend Letitia and his Uncle George to embark on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow... [More]

Extras (2005)
Tomatometer icon 88%

#59
Synopsis: Andy Millman is a British fellow who quits his day job to pursue fame and fortune in the film industry.... [More]

Room 104 (2017)
Tomatometer icon 88%

#60
Synopsis: Fascinated by what really happens at that corporate chain hotel near the airport -- from the funny and weird to... [More]

Getting On (2013)
Tomatometer icon 88%

#61
Synopsis: Based on the BBC series of the same name, "Getting On" follows the daily lives of overworked nurses and doctors... [More]

Enlightened (2011)
Tomatometer icon 88%

#62
Synopsis: An ambitious corporate executive, Amy Jellicoe has succeeded despite the fact she can be her own worst enemy. After a... [More]

Rome (2005)
Tomatometer icon 86%

#63
Synopsis: Two Roman soldiers are caught up in the historical events of an era that included the death of a republic... [More]

Industry (2020)
Tomatometer icon 90%

#64
Synopsis: Graduates from all walks of life compete for a limited number of available full-time employment opportunities at Pierpoint, a top... [More]

Generation Kill (2008)
Tomatometer icon 86%

#65
Synopsis: Highly trained young Marines of the First Reconnaissance Battalion struggle with inadequate supplies, bureaucratic snafus and poor communication as they... [More]

Synopsis: A fast-break drama series that goes back in time to chronicle the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los... [More]

Synopsis: An exploration of the exploitative and genocidal aspects of European colonialism, from America to Africa, and its impact on society... [More]
Starring: Josh Hartnett
Directed By: Raoul Peck, Rémi Grellety

His Dark Materials (2019)
Tomatometer icon 84%

#68
Synopsis: During her search for a kidnapped friend, a seemingly ordinary but brave young woman from another world uncovers a sinister... [More]

Efterforskningen (2020)
Tomatometer icon 84%

#69
Synopsis: Head of the Copenhagen Police's Homicide unit Jens Møller investigates the murder of Swedish journalist Kim Wall.... [More]
Directed By: Tobias Lindholm

Animals. (2016)
Tomatometer icon 84%

#70
Synopsis: HBO's decidedly adult animated comedy series ventures into the nether regions of Earth's least inhabitable environment, New York City, which... [More]
Directed By: Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass

#71
Synopsis: An adaptation of Ingar Bergmann's 1973 Swedish TV miniseries about a marriage falling apart.... [More]

Vice Principals (2016)
Tomatometer icon 83%

#72
Synopsis: "Eastbound & Down" creators Danny McBride and Jody Hill team again for a dark comedy series -- no surprise there!... [More]

C.B. Strike (2017)
Tomatometer icon 83%

#73
Synopsis: Based on the best-selling novels by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling), Tom Burke ("The Musketeers") stars as private detective Cormoran... [More]

#74
Synopsis: Well into the second generation of a grand televangelist tradition, the world-famous Gemstone family is living proof that worship pays... [More]

Allen v. Farrow (2021)
Tomatometer icon 82%

#75
Synopsis: A four-part series documenting the accusation of sexual abuse against Woody Allen involving Dylan, his then 7-year-old daughter with Mia... [More]
Starring:

Luck (2011)
Tomatometer icon 82%

#76
Synopsis: A three-year stay in federal prison has given Chester "Ace" Bernstein plenty of time to think, and what he devises... [More]

John Adams (2008)
Tomatometer icon 82%

#77
Synopsis: Adapted from David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, this lavish seven-part miniseries chronicles the life of Founding Father John Adams, starting... [More]

#78
Synopsis: Based on the EC Comics series of the same name, this campy and stylized anthology series recounts a string of... [More]
Directed By:

Six Feet Under (2001)
Tomatometer icon 81%

#79
Synopsis: Laced with irony and dark situational humor, the show approaches the subject of death through the eyes of the Fisher... [More]
Directed By: Alan Ball

Westworld (2016)
Tomatometer icon 79%

#80
Synopsis: Westworld isn't your typical amusement park. Intended for rich vacationers, the futuristic park -- which is looked after by robotic... [More]

Big Love (2006)
Tomatometer icon 80%

#81
Synopsis: Bill Henrickson seems like a typical suburban husband and father, except for the fact that he has three wives, nine... [More]

The Young Pope (2016)
Tomatometer icon 80%

#82
Synopsis: Young and charming, newly elected Pius XIII, aka Lenny Belardo, is the first American Pope in history. His ascension appears... [More]
Directed By: Paolo Sorrentino

Perry Mason (2020)
Tomatometer icon 80%

#83
Synopsis: Legal drama set in 1932 Los Angeles and based on novels and short stories penned by Erle Stanley Gardner.... [More]
Directed By:

The Gilded Age (2022)
Tomatometer icon 86%

#84
Synopsis: The American Gilded Age was a period of immense economic change, great conflict between the old ways and brand new... [More]

Bored to Death (2009)
Tomatometer icon 79%

#85
Synopsis: This offbeat comedy series stars Jason Schwartzman as young writer Jonathan Ames, who turns his fantasies culled from reading suspense... [More]

The Third Day (2020)
Tomatometer icon 80%

#86
Synopsis: A man and a woman make separate journeys to a mysterious island off the British coast.... [More]
Directed By:

True Detective (2014)
Tomatometer icon 79%

#87
Synopsis: Anthology series in which police investigations unearth the personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within and outside the... [More]

Divorce (2016)
Tomatometer icon 78%

#88
Synopsis: Raising two children together and sharing more than 10 years of marriage have taken a toll on Frances, who is... [More]

Avenue 5 (2020)
Tomatometer icon 78%

#89
Synopsis: A confident, controlled and personable space cruise ship captain tries to get along with everyone.... [More]

The Undoing (2020)
Tomatometer icon 75%

#90
Synopsis: A therapist's life unravels after she learns that her husband might be responsible for a widespread disaster.... [More]
Directed By: Susanne Bier

Vinyl (2016)
Tomatometer icon 74%

#91
Synopsis: The music scene in 1970s New York is still awash in sex and drugs, but rock 'n' roll is giving... [More]

#92
Synopsis: Following the parallel lives of identical twin brothers Dominick and Thomas Birdsey in a story of betrayal, sacrifice and forgiveness.... [More]

Tiger (2021)
Tomatometer icon 74%

#93
Synopsis: Tiger Woods' dedication and obsession with the game of golf takes him not only to the heights of international fame... [More]
Starring: Tiger Woods

The Comeback (2005)
Tomatometer icon 74%

#94
Synopsis: "The Comeback" tells the story of a B-list sitcom star so desperate to revive her career that she agrees to... [More]

Ballers (2015)
Tomatometer icon 72%

#95
Synopsis: A superstar during his football playing days, Spencer Strasmore tries to find the same success as a financial manager for... [More]

The Baby (2022)
Tomatometer icon 72%

#96
Synopsis: Natasha is furious that her closest friends are all having babies, but her life implodes when she unexpectedly ends up... [More]

Sex and the City (1998)
Tomatometer icon 70%

#97
Synopsis: A sex columnist, Carrie Bradshaw, and her three friends -- Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda -- explore Manhattan's dating scene, chronicling... [More]

True Blood (2008)
Tomatometer icon 68%

#98
Synopsis: Small-town Louisiana waitress Sookie Stackhouse already is viewed as an oddball by her friends and neighbors, since she can read... [More]
Directed By: Alan Ball

The Vow (2020)
Tomatometer icon 68%

#99
Synopsis: Following the experiences of people deeply involved in the self-improvement group NXIVM, an organization under siege with charges including sex... [More]
Starring:

Entourage (2004)
Tomatometer icon 65%

#100
Synopsis: Led by Vince, an actor deemed the next big thing, four buddies migrate west from Queens, N.Y. Usually within his... [More]

Little Britain USA (2008)
Tomatometer icon 64%

#101
Synopsis: British comedy stars David Walliams and Matt Lucas transplant some of their most popular "Little Britain" characters -- including Fat... [More]

Arli$$ (1996)
Tomatometer icon 62%

#102
Synopsis: Arliss Michaels is the super athlete's super-agent, wheeling and dealing in the higher echelons of the sports world - an... [More]
Directed By:

#103

Coastal Elites (2020)
Tomatometer icon 57%

#103
Adjusted Score: 57423%
Critics Consensus: The top-shelf cast gives Coastal Elites a passionate pulse, but redundant speechifying and the stilted format result in a repetitive preaching to the choir.
Synopsis: ... [More]
Directed By: Jay Roach

The Nevers (2021)
Tomatometer icon 48%

#104
Synopsis: Victorian women find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies and a mission that may change the world.... [More]

#105
Synopsis: Clare and Henry's love story involves a marriage with a problem -- time travel.... [More]


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Featured image: Mario Perez/HBO


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