Best Things To Watch On HBO: The Strongest Picks First
What Are the Best Things to Watch on HBO Right Now?
The best things to watch on HBO include Succession (95% Tomatometer), The Wire (94%), Chernobyl (95%), The Sopranos (92%), Barry (98%), Hacks (99%), Mare of Easttown (95%), The White Lotus (90%), The Last of Us, and The Penguin (95%). These critically acclaimed series span prestige drama, dark comedy, historical miniseries, and genre storytelling, representing HBO's legacy as the gold standard in television since The Sopranos premiered in 1999.
Top-Rated HBO Series by Tomatometer Score
HBO's library contains over 150 series ranked by critics, with Somebody Somewhere holding a perfect 100% Tomatometer score as the highest-reviewed show . The network's prestige drama lineup dominates critical rankings, with limited series like Chernobyl and Band of Brothers achieving both 95%+ scores and mass cultural impact .
- Somebody Somewhere - 100% Tomatometer, Peabody Award-winning comedy about fitting in
- The Larry Sanders Show - 100% Tomatometer, behind-the-scenes late-night talk show satire
- Hacks - 99% Tomatometer, dark mentorship comedy starring Jean Smart
- Barry - 98% Tomatometer, hitman-turned-actor dark comedy with Bill Hader
- I May Destroy You - 98% Tomatometer, powerful drama by Michaela Coel
- My Brilliant Friend - 98% Tomatometer, Neapolitan female friendship epic
Essential HBO Dramas Every Viewer Should Watch
The definitive HBO dramas form the backbone of the network's reputation for quality storytelling. The Sopranos revolutionized television with Tony Soprano's dual life as mob boss and family man, maintaining a 92% Tomatometer across six seasons from 1999-2007 . The Wire offers an uncompromising 5-season examination of Baltimore's narcotics scene through law enforcement and drug dealer perspectives, achieving 94% Tomatometer and 96% audience score .
- Succession - 95% Tomatometer, billionaire family power struggle concluding in 2023 with Kieran Culkin's Emmy-winning performance
- The Wire - 94% Tomatometer, David Simon's unparalleled urban sociology through crime drama
- Game of Thrones - 89% Tomatometer, HBO's most popular fantasy epic with 8 seasons (2011-2019)
- The Sopranos - 92% Tomatometer, the series that created prestige television
- Mare of Easttown - 95% Tomatometer, Kate Winslet's detective drama set in Pennsylvania
- The Penguin - 95% Tomatometer, Colin Farrell's Golden Globe-winning Batman spinoff
Top-Rated HBO Series Comparison Table
| Series Title | Tomatometer | Audience Score | Genre | Seasons | Year Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somebody Somewhere | 100% | 94% | Comedy/Drama | 3 | 2021-2024 |
| Hacks | 99% | 83% | Comedy | 3+ | 2021-present |
| Barry | 98% | 89% | Dark Comedy | 4 | 2018-2023 |
| Chernobyl | 95% | 97% | Historical Drama | 1 (miniseries) | 2019 |
| The Wire | 94% | 96% | Crime Drama | 5 | 2002-2008 |
| Succession | 95% | 88% | Drama | 4 | 2018-2023 |
| The Sopranos | 92% | 96% | Crime Drama | 6 | 1999-2007 |
| The White Lotus | 90% | 77% | Satire/Comedy | 3 | 2021-present |
Best HBO Limited Series and Miniseries
HBO's limited series programming delivers cinematic storytelling in concise formats. Chernobyl dramatizes the April 26, 1986 nuclear disaster with Jared Harris and Stellan Skarsgård, earning 95% Tomatometer and 97% audience score . Band of Brothers follows Easy Company's WWII journey with 94% Tomatometer and 97% audience score, produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks .
New and Upcoming HBO Content for 2026
HBO continues dominating 2026 with The Penguin waddling to a Golden Globe win for Colin Farrell and The Pitt receiving medical community praise for realistic emergency care depiction. Upcoming releases include Task (Mark Ruffalo FBI thriller, 96% Tomatometer), Welcome to Derry (IT prequel), and the first-ever Harry Potter television series.
The network's streaming strategy now includes 50+ free episodes through its "Recommended By Humans" tool, helping viewers discover favorites through real fan recommendations. HBO Max expansion brought additional acclaimed originals like Hacks, Peacemaker, and The Flight Attendant into the library .
Expert answers to Best Things To Watch On Hbo The Strongest Picks First queries
What is the #1 best HBO show of all time?
The Sopranos is widely considered the #1 HBO show, having premiered in 1999 and created the prestige television era with its 92% Tomatometer score and cultural impact that continues 25+ years later.
What are the best HBO shows to watch right now in 2026?
The best HBO shows to watch in May 2026 include The Penguin (95%, renewed for Season 2), The Pitt (96%, medical drama renewed for Season 2), Hacks (99%), The White Lotus (90%), and Task (96%, Mark Ruffalo FBI drama).
Which HBO series has the highest Tomatometer score?
Somebody Somewhere holds the highest Tomatometer at 100% with 94% audience score, followed by The Larry Sanders Show (100%, 73% audience) and Hacks (99%, 83% audience) .
What HBO shows are similar to Succession?
Shows similar to Succession include Veep (93% Tomatometer) for political satire, The White Lotus (90%) for wealthy family dysfunction, Big Little Lies (89%) for affluent community drama, and Industry (91%) for corporate power struggles .
