HBO headquarters are in New York City (Photo Credit: Regal Media Group/Todd A. Smith).
HBO, more specifically its streaming services, has had more monikers than hip-hop mogul Sean Combs.
Whether it’s HBO, HBO Max, or just Max, the network has enjoyed the maximum number of hit television shows.
Although extremely difficult, the staff at RegalMag.com has compiled a list of the 10 best television shows in HBO history.
Check out the list below.
And as always, tell RegalMag.com what it got right.
But also tell RegalMag.com what it got completely wrong.
1o. “Boardwalk Empire”—Atlantic City, N.J., is the only reason to visit the “Garden State.” Apologies to members of the Regal court from Jersey. But it’s true. However, Atlantic City was not always Atlantic City, any more than Las Vegas was always Las Vegas. A lot of sketchy characters and gangsters made these gambling hotspots what they are. And “Boardwalk Empire” encapsulates how backroom deals and other criminal activity led to Atlantic City becoming the Vegas of the East Coast.
9. “Insecure”—Great television shows, movies or music speak to a demographic and/or a generation. And “Insecure” emphatically spoke to young, professional Black women of the 21st century. The show, created by the talented Issa Rae, followed the lives of two Black women as they navigated careers, romance and friendship. Many praised “Insecure” for its accurate depiction of Black life, with all the everyday, relatable daily activities that everyone experiences.
8. “Curb Your Enthusiasm”—Larry David. JB Smoove. Richard Lewis. Vivica A. Fox. Bob Odenkirk. James Pickens, Jr. Wanda Sykes. Ted Danson. Rosie O’Donnell. And Jon Hamm. Those are just a few of the heavy hitters who graced the small screen on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” The show, which ran from 2000 to 2004, was a fictionalized comedy based on Larry David’s life as a semi-retired television writer and producer.
7. “Game of Thrones”—One of the most, if not the most, popular shows ever on HBO was “Game of Thrones.” The medieval fantasy epic based on novels by George R.R. Martin featured actors like Maisie Williams, Peter Dinklage, Pedro Pascal, Jason Momoa, Bella Ramsey and Aidan Gillen. “Game of Thrones” now has a spin-off entitled “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” which premiered in 2026.
6. “Oz”—One of the best O.G. HBO shows, and one of the first shows to depict prison life was “Oz,” which ran from 1997 to 2003. With the brutal subject matter and talented cast, which included the likes of Ernie Hudson, Edie Falco, Harold Perrineau (“The Best Man Holiday”) and Rita Moreno (“Fast X”), how could “Oz” not become a hit and a cult classic? Although former prisoners like rap great Pimp C of UGK said his experience in the system was nothing like “Oz,” the show definitely made sane individuals want to avoid jail at all costs.
5.“Entourage”—What is success if you cannot bring your day one friends with you to enjoy the ride? Often, shows have characters that people like and characters that people hate. But with “Entourage,” viewers became fans of all the main characters like Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), Eric (Kevin Connolly), Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) and the legendary Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven). The series “Entourage” had such a huge following that it had a spinoff movie that featured appearances from fighter Ronda Rousey, Emily Ratajkowski, Pharrell Williams, David Spade and T.I.
4. “Succession”—The family drama “Succession” hit so hard because Americans experienced a similar story in real time. The show, loosely based on Rupert Murdoch’s Fox empire, showed people just how powerful media moguls are. They can shape the narrative. They can make or break political figures. They can make or break the careers of their lowly employees. And they can make a heckuva profit in the process.
3. “Tremé”—When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, it appeared as if the real “Big Easy” was gone forever. But true New Orleanians were determined to save their homes and their culture by any means necessary. “Tremé” captured the true essence of the N.O. by highlighting the culture and importance of Mardi Gras, jazz and everything New Orleans. Many shows and movies butcher the New Orleans accent and way of life. But by featuring real residents of New Orleans, especially the musicians, “Tremé” definitely got it right.
2. “The Wire”—The best drug-dealing show of all time was “The Wire.” HBO even hired real street cats, who had never acted before, to give “The Wire” that real Baltimore hood feel. Omar became the 2000s version of Deebo because everyone in the hood scattered when he entered the projects with his tool by his side. Furthermore, “The Wire” introduced many people to the best actors in the game like Michael B. Jordan, Idris Elba and Michael Kenneth Williams.
1. “The Sopranos”—”The Sopranos” was the best show to highlight the mafia, hands down. But “The Sopranos” was different because it showcased the humanity of mob bosses. Whoever heard of a don visiting a psychologist? Well, Tony Soprano might have been the first to do so. But do not get it twisted. Being in touch with one’s emotions does not mean that a real gangster will not touch you up if you get out of line.
