techxly@gmail.com
Real talk: HBO is the only reason I haven’t deleted my streaming apps and moved to a remote cabin. They just get it. Whether it’s billionaire siblings destroying each other or people crying over mushrooms, HBO has been feeding us the elite content we deserve for a decade. I’ve spent way too many Sunday nights screaming at my TV, so I finally did the work and ranked the absolute best shows from the last ten years. No cap, this was hard.
12. Industry (2020—Present)
Look, I’ll be honest—I didn’t expect to love a show about finance this much. It’s basically Euphoria but with better suits and way more caffeine. It currently sits at an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, and honestly, the stress of the trading floor is a total mood. It’s messy, it’s cutthroat, and it makes me glad I don’t work in London banking. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re lowkey missing out on the best office drama since Mad Men.
11. Hacks (2021—Present)
Related Reading
Jean Smart is literally a mother for this. Playing a legendary Las Vegas comedian who has to team up with a Gen Z writer? It’s the dynamic we didn’t know we needed. With a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes for Season 1, this show is peak comedy. The banter is so sharp it could actually cut you. I’m obsessed with how it tackles the generational gap without being cringe. Honestly iconic.
10. Mare of Easttown (2021)
Kate Winslet eating a hoagie while solving a murder is my ultimate aesthetic. This show had the entire internet in a chokehold back in 2021. It’s gritty, it’s sad, and that 95% Rotten Tomatoes score is totally deserved. We were all detectives for those seven weeks, trying to figure out who did it. Also, Evan Peters? We can’t even talk about it without getting emotional. It’s the definition of a ‘must-watch’ limited series.
9. The Rehearsal (2022—Present)
Nathan Fielder is a genius, but he also might be the most chaotic human on the planet. This show is so weird that I spent half the time watching it through my fingers. He literally helps people ‘rehearse’ for life events by building full-scale replicas of bars and houses. It’s awkward, it’s brilliant, and it’s unlike anything else on TV. If you like your comedy with a side of existential dread, this is for you.
8. Barry (2018—2023)
Bill Hader really went from SNL to being one of the best directors in the game. Barry starts as a ‘hitman wants to act’ comedy and ends as a full-blown psychological thriller. Noho Hank is arguably the greatest side character in TV history—don’t @ me. With a 98% average RT score, it’s a masterclass in tone. It’s funny until it’s suddenly the most depressing thing you’ve ever seen. We love the range!
7. Chernobyl (2019)
I know, I know—it’s not exactly a ‘fun’ watch, but it’s literally perfect. This limited series about the 1986 nuclear disaster was so intense that I forgot to breathe. It’s hauntingly beautiful and terrifying at the same time. It holds a 95% on RT and swept the Emmys for a reason. It’s the kind of show that stays with you for years. Just maybe don’t watch it right before bed unless you want some very weird dreams.
6. House of the Dragon (2022—Present)
The way we all thought we were done with Westeros after the GoT finale, only for this show to pull us right back in? Iconic behavior. The family drama, the silver wigs, the dragons—it’s everything. Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen is a total vibe, even if he is… problematic. Season 2 and 3 have absolutely upped the stakes, and honestly, the political maneuvering is just as juicy as the original series. Dracarys, bestie!
5. Euphoria (2019—Present)
Say what you want about the drama behind the scenes, but Euphoria changed the culture. The makeup! The glitter! The Sydney Sweeney memes! Zendaya winning two Emmys for playing Rue was 100% the right call. It’s visually stunning and incredibly heavy, but we couldn’t stop watching. It’s the show that defined a generation of TV aesthetics, even if we’re still waiting 500 years for the next season to drop.
4. Big Little Lies (2017—2019)
The cast alone is such a flex. Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, AND Meryl Streep? It’s a literal fever dream of talent. Season 1 was a perfect adaptation of the book, and while Season 2 was a bit messy, we were still living for the Monterey Five. The drama is top-tier, the houses are gorgeous, and the soundtrack is a literal 10/10. It’s the ultimate ‘rich women with secrets’ show.
3. The Last of Us (2023—Present)
I’m still crying over Episode 3, okay? Pedro Pascal as Joel is the internet’s collective dad, and Bella Ramsey is a powerhouse as Ellie. This is how you do a video game adaptation. It’s brutal, it’s emotional, and it has a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. Whether you played the game or not, you were definitely sobbing by the end of Season 1. Season 2 has only made things more intense. We are lowkey obsessed with this duo.
2. The White Lotus (2021—Present)
Mike White is a genius for creating a show that is basically just watching rich people have the worst vacation of their lives. Jennifer Coolidge is the heart and soul of this series—Tanya McQuoid is a legend forever. From Hawaii to Sicily to Thailand, every season gives us a new mystery and a new set of people to hate-watch. It’s funny, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s the most addictive thing on TV. Please, give us Season 4 already!
1. Succession (2018—2023)
Here’s the thing about this show that nobody talks about: it’s actually a comedy. The Roy family is the most toxic, hilarious, and tragic group of people ever put on screen. ‘L to the OG’ will be stuck in my head until the day I die. With a 95% RT score and more Emmys than they know what to do with, Succession is the undisputed GOAT of the last decade. It’s Shakespearean, it’s petty, and the finale was a literal masterpiece. Kendall Roy, you will always be famous.
FAQs
What is the #1 highest rated HBO show?
While it varies by platform, Succession and Chernobyl often fight for the top spot. Succession is generally considered the critical darling of the last decade with a massive Emmy sweep and a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Is HBO Max now just Max?
Yes! In 2023, the platform rebranded to ‘Max.’ It still has all your favorite HBO prestige dramas, but it also includes Discovery+ content, so you can watch Succession and 90 Day Fiancé in the same place.
What is the best HBO show for binge watching?
If you want something fast-paced and chaotic, go for The White Lotus. If you want to cry and feel things, The Last of Us is your best bet. Both are total addictive vibes.
There you have it—the definitive ranking of the HBO shows that have basically raised us over the last ten years. Whether you’re a Targaryen stan or a Roy family apologist, there’s no denying that HBO is still the king of prestige TV. Did your favorite make the list? Did I totally snub a show you love? Tell us in the comments and share this with your binge-watching bestie!
