HBO has compiled a ranking of its top 15 original series, highlighting decades of prestige television from crime dramas to family sagas. The list, published on December 28, 2025, places The Wire at number one for its expansive look at urban life in Baltimore.
HBO's legacy in television began accelerating in the 1990s with original programming that pushed creative boundaries, thanks to the freedom of premium cable. The network's list of the 15 best original series spans genres from neo-noir thrillers to satirical comedies, all available on HBO Max.
Starting at number 15, True Detective stands out as an anthology series premiering in 2014, with each season featuring standalone murder investigations across different locations and time periods, boasting all-star casts like those in the Louisiana bayou and Ozarks stories. It delivers sharp writing, stellar rotating ensembles, and a haunting atmosphere.
The Larry Sanders Show, ranked 14, premiered in 1992 and satirized late-night TV through Garry Shandling's portrayal of a talk show host, alongside Rip Torn and Jeffrey Tambor, using a proto-mockumentary style with celebrity cameos.
At 13, The Leftovers, adapted from Tom Perrotta's 2011 novel by Damon Lindelof, explores grief after 2% of the world's population—about 140 million people—vanishes mysteriously. It follows Justin Theroux as police chief Kevin Garvey and Carrie Coon as Nora Dunne amid cults like the Guilty Remnant.
Curb Your Enthusiasm, number 12, stars Larry David as a fictionalized version of himself in Los Angeles, amplifying Seinfeld-style misunderstandings with improvised dialogue and overarching plots like a Seinfeld reunion.
Angels in America, ranked 11, is Tony Kushner's 2003 miniseries adaptation set in 1980s New York during the AIDS crisis, featuring Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, and Emma Thompson in a surreal tale of prophecy and regret.
Succession, at 10, follows media mogul Logan Roy (Brian Cox) and his family's power struggles at Waystar Royco, with standout performances from Sarah Snook, Matthew Macfadyen, and Kieran Culkin earning awards.
Sex and the City, number 9, premiered in 1998 and tracks four Manhattan women, led by Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw, through romances and friendships over six seasons.
Deadwood, ranked 8, is a 1870s Western set during a South Dakota gold rush, with Timothy Olyphant as sheriff Seth Bullock clashing with Ian McShane's Al Swearengen; it concluded with a 2019 movie after cancellation.
Insecure, at 7, created by Issa Rae, follows her as awkward Issa Dee and Yvonne Orji as Molly Carter navigating life and love in Los Angeles across five seasons.
Game of Thrones, number 6, adapts George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, depicting Westeros power struggles alongside White Walkers and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) over eight seasons, despite final-season backlash.
Six Feet Under, ranked 5, is a five-season dramedy about the Fisher family's Los Angeles funeral home, starring Peter Krause and Michael C. Hall, noted for its mortality themes and acclaimed finale.
Band of Brothers, at 4, is Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks' 2001 WWII miniseries following Easy Company from D-Day to Germany, based on Stephen E. Ambrose's book with veteran interviews.
Veep, number 3, satirizes U.S. politics through Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Vice President Selina Meyer, created by Armando Iannucci, running seven seasons with sharp ensemble comedy.
The Sopranos, ranked 2, premiered in 1999 and follows New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) balancing crime and therapy with Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi, spawning a prequel film.
Topping the list at number 1, The Wire examines Baltimore's drug trade, schools, politics, and media through a vast ensemble, portraying the city as a character in its five-season run created by David Simon.
This ranking underscores HBO's influence on prestige TV, even amid streaming competition.