Good Hbo Shows To Watch: 7 Series Changed TV Forever
- 01. Top HBO Shows Critics Are Raving About Right Now
- 02. Critics' Top-Rated HBO Shows by Tomatometer Score
- 03. Must-Watch HBO Dramas for Serious Viewers
- 04. Best HBO Comedy Series Critics Love
- 05. HBO Limited Series and Miniseries Excellence
- 06. New HBO Shows Gaining Critical Momentum in 2026
- 07. HBO Fantasy and Sci-Fi Standouts
- 08. How to Choose Your Next HBO Show
- 09. Why HBO Maintains Television Excellence
Top HBO Shows Critics Are Raving About Right Now
The best HBO shows to watch today include critic-acclaimed series like Hacks (99% Tomatometer), Barry (98%), Succession (95%), The Wire (94%), Chernobyl (95%), The Sopranos (92%), The White Lotus (90%), The Last of Us, Euphoria, and House of the Dragon. These prestige dramas and comedies represent HBO's elite storytelling tradition with exceptional writing, acting, and production values that define modern television excellence.
Critics' Top-Rated HBO Shows by Tomatometer Score
Rotten Tomatoes data from October 2025 reveals HBO's highest-reviewed series with verified critic scores, showing which shows maintain critical acclaim across multiple seasons.
| Show Title | Tomatometer | Audience Score | Seasons | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somebody Somewhere | 100% | 94% | 3 | Comedy/Drama |
| Hacks | 99% | 83% | 3 | Comedy |
| Barry | 98% | 89% | 4 | Comedy/Crime |
| I May Destroy You | 98% | 75% | 1 | Drama |
| My Brilliant Friend | 98% | 91% | 4 | Drama |
| Succession | 95% | 88% | 4 | Drama |
| Chernobyl | 95% | 97% | 1 | Miniseries |
| The Wire | 94% | 96% | 5 | C Crime Drama |
| Mare of Easttown | 95% | 94% | 1 | C Crime Drama |
| The Sopranos | 92% | 96% | 6 | C Crime Drama |
Must-Watch HBO Dramas for Serious Viewers
HBO's prestige drama legacy began with The Sopranos premiering in January 1999, revolutionizing television with Tony Soprano's complex portrayal by James Gandolfini. This groundbreaking show established the template for modern antihero dramas and remains the highest-rated crime series with a 92% Tomatometer and 96% audience score after 25 years.
The Wire (2002-2008) offers Baltimore's institutional critique through five seasons examining drug trade, ports, government, education, and media from multiple perspectives. David Simon's masterpiece maintains a 94% Tomatometer and 96% audience score, widely considered the greatest TV series ever made by critics.
Succession concluded in 2023 after four seasons, depicting the Roy family's media empire power struggles with Brian Cox as patriarch Logan Roy. The show earned 95% Tomatometer and multiple Emmy Awards for its sharp writing and performances, particularly Kieran Culkin's obrigatory Jeremy Strong and Sarah Snook.
Best HBO Comedy Series Critics Love
Hacks leads HBO comedies with 99% Tomatometer, featuring Jean Smart as legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance and Hannah Einbinder as young writer Ava Daniels. This dark mentorship comedy premiered May 2021 and has won multiple Emmys for Smart's outstanding lead performance across three seasons.
Barry combines crime and comedy as hitman Barry Berkman (Bill Hader) attempts to become an actor in Los Angeles. Running 2018-2023 with 98% Tomatometer, the show features brilliant tonal balance between violent crime and comedic absurdity, earning Hader multiple Emmy Awards.
- Hacks - 99% Tomatometer, dark comedy about generational mentorship
- Barry - 98% Tomatometer, crime-comedy about hitman turned actor
- Silicon Valley - 94% Tomatometer, tech industry satire running 2014-2019
- Veep - 93% Tomatometer, political comedy with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
- Curb Your Enthusiasm - 92% Tomatometer, improvised comedy by Larry David
HBO Limited Series and Miniseries Excellence
Chernobyl stands as HBO's highest-rated miniseries with 95% Tomatometer and 97% audience score, depicting the April 26, 1986 nuclear disaster through Jared Harris and Stellan Skarsgård's performances. This five-hour masterpiece won 10 Emmy Awards for its historical accuracy and haunting depiction of institutional failure.
Mare of Easttown features Kate Winslet as a Pennsylvania detective investigating murder while personal life crumbles. The one-season limited series achieved 95% Tomatometer and 94% audience score, with Winslet earning Emmy and Golden Globe awards for her career-best performance.
The Night Of presents wrongful incarceration drama with Riz Ahmed and John Turturro delivering tour-de-force performances across eight episodes. This BBC adaptation maintains 94% Tomatometer and 93% audience score as essential crime drama viewing.
New HBO Shows Gaining Critical Momentum in 2026
The Pitt premiered January 2025 as a medical drama starring Noah Wyle (original ER star) in Pittsburgh's Trauma Medical Center. Already renewed for Season 2 before Season 1 finale, it holds 96% Tomatometer with medical community praise for realistic emergency care depiction.
The Penguin starring Colin Farrell as Batman villain Oz Cobb earned 95% Tomatometer and Golden Globe win for Farrell's transformative performance. This The Batman spinoff continues Gotham's crime drama tradition with Cristin Milioti's campy supporting role.
Task features Mark Ruffalo as FBI agent leading a task force against violent robberies in Philadelphia suburbs. The limited series maintains 96% Tomatometer as working-class crime drama with Tom Pelphrey in pivotal role.
HBO Fantasy and Sci-Fi Standouts
Game of Thrones (2011-2019) remains HBO's most popular show ever despite controversial finale, with 89% Tomatometer and massive cultural impact across eight seasons. The fantasy epic launched HBO's genre dominance with unprecedented production values and global viewership.
House of the Dragon continues the Game of Thrones universe as prequel focusing on Targaryen civil war, currently filming Season 3. This fantasy continuation maintains HBO's prestige genre presence with similar production scale and political intrigue.
Station Eleven offers post-apocalyptic storytelling spanning multiple timelines with 98% Tomatometer. Mackenzie Davis and Himesh Patel star in this hopeful pandemic drama released during COVID-19, providing emotional resonance during difficult times.
How to Choose Your Next HBO Show
For crime drama enthusiasts, start with The Sopranos, The Wire, or Mare of Easttown for character-driven investigations. Comedy fans should begin with Hacks or Barry for critically-laugh-out-loud writing. History buffs prioritize Chernobyl and John Adams for meticulous historical accuracy.
- Drama lovers: The Sopranos, Succession, The Wire, Mare of Easttown
- Comedy seekers: Hacks, Barry, Silicon Valley, Veep
- Miniseries fans: Chernobyl, Mare of Easttown, The Night Of, Olive Kitteridge
- Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, Station Eleven
- New releases: The Pitt, The Penguin, Task
Why HBO Maintains Television Excellence
HBO's no-commercial model since 1972 enables creative freedom uncommon in broadcast television, allowing risky storytelling and mature themes. This premium cable tradition produces The Sopranos, The Wire, and Succession-shows that redefine television as art form.
The network's 25-year prestige legacy continues with Colin Farrell's Golden Globe-winning The Penguin and medical drama The Pitt receiving immediate renewal. HBO proves quality still dominates during streaming wars through consistent investment in top-tier writing and acting.
Everything you need to know about Good Hbo Shows To Watch 7 Series Changed Tv Forever
What makes The Sopranos still worth watching in 2026?
The Sopranos remains essential viewing because it invented the modern prestige TV format with psychological depth, complex family dynamics, and therapeutic themes that influenced every drama since. Its 96% audience score after 25 years proves timeless storytelling quality that new viewers discover regularly.
Are HBO shows worth the subscription cost?
With HBO now integrated into Max streaming, subscribers access HBO's unmatched quality library including 50+ critically acclaimed series, award-winning documentaries, and original films. The consistent excellence across genres-92% average Tomatometer for top shows-provides exceptional value for prestige content.
Which HBO show has the most awards?
Game of Thrones holds HBO's record with 59 Emmy Awards across eight seasons, though The Sopranos, Succession, and Chernobyl each won multiple Emmys for outstanding writing, acting, and production. Chernobyl's 10 Emmys for a five-hour miniseries demonstrates concentrated excellence.
