There has always been something about HBO that felt like it was a cut above the rest of television. That became especially true during the 2010s, as the network released some of the most impressive series ever seen. That included multiple Emmy winners and absurdly large budgets in some cases.
Those series are now available for subscribers to stream on HBO Max. For this list, only shows that are HBO originals are being considered since the best ones acquired from other networks will appear on a separate later list. Also, this will not include miniseries or reality shows, just to narrow things down to ideal binges.
10 Euphoria (8.4)
The most recent shows on this list are the first two entries. Euphoria premiered in the summer of 2019 to much hype due to the intriguing trailers and the more adult role for leading lady Zendaya. Her turn as Rue Bennett earned her an Outstanding Lead Actress Emmy win.
Created by Sam Levinson, Euphoria focuses on a group of high school students who must navigate things like drugs, their sexuality, blackmail, abuse, and more. The stellar cast, cinematography, score, and more have been praised. A second season is set to premiere soon, with special episodes airing until then.
9 Harley Quinn (8.5)
Technically, it could be argued that Harley Quinn is a DC Universe original since that's where it first aired. However, when that streaming service flopped, HBO Max picked up all of those shows, with this adult-themed animated one standing out from the rest of the pack.
Harley Quinn debuted in late 2019 and already features two seasons. It follows the titular DC Comics character as she becomes her own person following a breakup with The Joker. It has been lauded for almost every aspect, while also delivering the best versions of some characters like Poison Ivy.
8 Silicon Valley (8.5)
There are several series tied with an 8.5 rating, which have been ranked by their total number of ratings on IMDb. With over 100,000 reviews, Silicon Valley earned this position. This parody of Silicon Valley culture was created by comedy icon Mike Judge.
Boasting a strong ensemble cast including Thomas Middleditch, Kumail Nanjiani, and Amanda Crew, the show centered on a new company struggling to become successful. Silicon Valley wrapped up its six-season run in 2019, spanning 53 total episodes. It won multiple Emmys among other awards.
7 Big Little Lies (8.5)
This initially was planned as a miniseries. The first seven episodes from 2017 were meant to stand on their own and are based on the novel of the same name. Big Little Lies dominated at award shows, racking up wins for directing, acting, costume design, and overall best limited series.
The show told the story of upper-class mothers who have their lives turned upside down during a murder investigation. The popularity of Big Little Lies led to a second season of totally original content. It was less well-received and didn't clean up come award time.
6 Boardwalk Empire (8.5)
Boardwalk Empire wraps up the entries with an 8.5 rating. This period piece debuted at the start of the decade in 2010 and ran for five seasons and 56 episodes until 2014. With a pilot directed by Martin Scorcese, it's no wonder this got picked up for a long run.
The show was set during the Prohibition era of the 1920s in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Nucky Thompson, a powerful politician, was at the center, conspiring with both sides of the law. Boardwalk Empire won 20 Emmys, including two for directing and one for Bobby Cannavale as a supporting actor.
5 Succession (8.6)
One of the most successful current series running on HBO is Succession. The show tells the tale of the Roy family, who owns a global media empire. As the headstrong patriarch struggles with health and being stuck in his old ways, his children fight for control of everything.
Through two seasons (with a highly-anticipated third on the way) Succession has been stellar. It has won both the Golden Globe and Emmy for the best drama series, while also winning for writing and the performances of Jeremy Strong and Brian Cox. That's just the tip of the iceberg too.
4 The Newsroom (8.6)
Originally premiering in 2012 and running for three seasons until 2014, The Newsroom was another critical hit for HBO. Written and created by the fantastic Aaron Sorkin, the show was met with huge praise and saw Jeff Daniels earn an Emmy for his acting.
The premise of The Newsroom saw a fictional news network get completely turned on its head when a new team came around. Along with Daniels' tremendous work, the series boasted a supporting cast that included Emily Mortimer, Olivia Munn, Dev Patel, and more.
3 Westworld (8.7)
If there's one thing that HBO seems to nail more than any other channel, it's big-budget high-concept programming. That's why it was the perfect network for Westworld, which is based on a trippy sci-fi western 1973 film of the same name.
Set in a dystopian futuristic amusement park that caters to guests with robotic hosts who ultimately become self-aware, the show raises a lot of moral questions. Westworld has won nine Emmys and had a stellar first season, with the next two receiving more mixed reviews.
2 True Detective (9.0)
Anthology shows have been finding lots of success in recent years. One of the biggest and best is True Detective, where each season tells a different story surrounding a police investigation. The first season starring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey was some of the best television ever produced.
Season two, featuring Colin Farrell and Rachel McAdams, was met with lesser reviews from fans and critics. Thankfully, the third season led by Mahershala Ali was also great. True Detective has 24 total episodes and has won 24 awards from various ceremonies.
1 Game Of Thrones (9.2)
It's almost difficult to remember how huge Game of Thrones really was. Based on a book series by George R.R. Martin, this fantasy epic became a massive hit and ended up being one of the most expensive shows ever made. It made stars of most of its incredible cast.
The series centered on the fight between various families over control of the fictional land of Westeros, as well as an incoming supernatural threat. Spanning eight seasons and 73 episodes, this was mostly a critical success, scoring 59 Emmy wins, including four for Oustanding Drama Series. Alas, the final season was widely-panned and has hurt the show's legacy.
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