These 10 HBO Miniseries Are 10/10, No Notes

HBO has built its reputation on prestige television. In the early 2000s, the cable channel pioneered and popularized miniseries as peak TV with Band of Brothers, whose production quality is indistinguishable from big-budget movies. HBO miniseries is responsible for how prestige TV shows are made today. HBO itself takes pride in crafting great limited series with a tightly constructed story and excellent cast and crew. There's a certain assurance that when you watch a show with HBO's logo before the title sequence begins, it would be satisfying.

In this list, we take a look at the best HBO series throughout the years. From historical epics and political dramas to intimate relationship dissections and gripping crime mysteries, these titles represent HBO at its most focused and ambitious. Almost all of them dominated awards seasons and left a lasting cultural footprint well beyond their initial release. These star-studded miniseries show that you don't have to force yourself to tell a story for multiple seasons, just a handful of episodes will do the job.

1 'The Penguin' (2024)

Set after the events of The Batman where there's a power vacuum in the Gotham underworld, The Penguin follows Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell) as he pushes through the ranks to consolidate control. He initially thought it would be smooth, but the arrival of Falcone's daughter, Sofia Gigante (Cristin Millioti) changes the landscape. With the help of a young boy, Vic (Rhenzy Feliz), as his right-hand man, Cobb must find his own way to rise to the top.

The Penguin is a riveting crime drama that amazingly worked without the Caped Crusader even showing up. Colin Farrell’s transformative performance is the center of the show as he disappears into the role that reflects both the ruthless side and softer side of the titular character. The writing treats Oz not as a paper-thin comic book villain but as a calculating survivor shaped by circumstance. The direction and production of the film leans into gritty realism, that it looks more like a mob show than a comic book series. The show received numerous nominations for various awards, and it gave Farrell a Golden Globe and Millioti an Emmy.

2 'Scenes from a Marriage' (2021)

Scenes from a Marriage is a reimagining of Ingmar Bergman's classic film that follows Mira (Jessica Chastain) and Jonathan (Oscar Isaac), a seemingly stable couple whose marriage slowly unravels. The series follows them through their separation and also in moments that keep reuniting them throughout the years.

The power of the series rests almost entirely on the performances of Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac. Powered by their electric chemistry, both of them deliver raw, unfiltered portrayals of love and heartbreak. The show also favors long takes and close framing to heighten the emotional intensity that puts the audience in their headspace. The show received strong critical acclaim for its take that adapted the classic arthouse romance film to the modern era. While it's totally doable to binge this miniseries, it's recommended to watch it with some breaks in between due to the heavy, emotional storyline.

3 'Sharp Objects' (2018)

Based on Gillian Flynn's novel, Sharp Objects follows Camille Preaker (Amy Adams), a journalist who returns to her hometown to investigate the shocking murders of two young girls. As she digs into the mystery, Camille is forced to confront her toxic relationship with her controlling mother Adora (Patricia Clarkson) and her complicated bond with her half-sister Amma (Eliza Scanlen).

Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, who previously directed Big Little Lies, Sharp Objects is brilliant in crafting its mystery as well as making it a character-driven story. It is further supported by the fragmented editing and striking visuals that mirror Camille's fractured psyche. Amy Adams delivers one of her finest performances, while Patricia Clarkson's chilling performance earned her an Emmy. As expected from the author who wrote Gone Girl, the mystery is thoroughly compelling, but the Southern Gothic thriller's exploration of generational trauma and emotional abuse is equally potent.

4 'Mare of Easttown' (2021)

Mare of Easttown follows small-town Pennsylvania detective Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet) as she investigates the murder of a teenage mother while grappling dealing with her own life problems, from her divorce to her custody battle. While she's somewhat of a local celebrity in the small town, the community also doubt her skills as she couldn't solve a missing person's case. The show also stars Jean Smart, Cailee Spaeny, and Guy Pearce.

Kate Winslet returned to HBO after her acclaimed, Emmy-winning turn in Mildred Pearce ten years earlier. As Mare, Winslet shows why she's considered one of the best actresses working today. Her portrayal of the complicated yet determined local detective ultimately earned her another Emmy win. The show itself is dramatic yet riveting, as it blends the mystery with Mare's own troubles. The supporting performances from Julianne Nicholson and Evan Peters, who both won Emmys for their performances, added more weight to an already compelling drama. It's undoubtedly one of the best crime thriller shows in recent memory.

5 'John Adams' (2008)

John Adams follows the life of America's second president, played by Paul Giamatti. The series begins with the Boston Massacre and follows Adams as he defends British soldiers in court, joins the Continental Congress, and helps push the colonies toward independence. In seven episodes, the series also follows his complicated friendship and rivalry with Thomas Jefferson (Stephen Dillane), his enduring marriage with Abigail Adams (Laura Linney), and his single term as president.

Directed by Tom Hooper, John Adams is one of HBO's finest miniseries because of its commitment to in-depth character exploration. The writing avoids mythologizing its subject, presenting Adams as principled but stubborn, brilliant yet flawed. Paul Giamatti delivers a commanding performance that anchors the star-studded series, while Laura Linney's Abigail is every bit his equal. Both of them won an Emmy for their performances. The show itself is the winner of a record-breaking 13 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Miniseries. It is currently still the most awarded miniseries at the Emmys, which cemented its reputation as one of the best miniseries of all time.

6 'Station Eleven' (2021)

Station Eleven tells several stories in multiple timelines before and after a devastating flu pandemic that collapses civilization. At the center of the show is Kirsten Raymonde (Mackenzie Davis and Matilda Lawler as young Kristen), who survives the outbreak as a child and later joins a traveling Shakespeare troupe performing for scattered communities. Adapted from Emily St. John Mandel's novel, the show stars Himesh Patel, Danielle Deadwyler, and Gael Garcia Bernal.

Unlike typical post-apocalyptic dramas that showcase human survival and bleakness, Station Eleven focuses on art and connection. Its nonlinear storytelling gradually reveals emotional through lines. For some audiences, the pacing may be quite slow, but the climactic moment is incredibly satisfying and cathartic. Mackenzie Davis and Himesh Patel, who is Emmy-nominated for his role, deliver layered performances, while Matilda Lawler is a revelation. The show may have hit too close to home when it was released during the COVID-19 pandemic, that it unfortunately remained under the radar for some time.

7 'The Night Of' (2016)

The Night Of follows college student Naz Khan (Riz Ahmed), who borrowed his father's cab for a night out and wakes up beside a murdered woman. With little memory of what happened, Naz becomes the prime suspect, and is detained at Rikers. Attorney John Stone (John Turturro) takes on his case, while Naz tries to survive in prison.

The show's exploration and criticism of the criminal justice system is what elevates this series from just being a regular drama. Rather than hinging solely on the question of guilt or innocence, it exposes the flaws of the legal system. Riz Ahmed gives a transformative performance, physically and emotionally evolving as Naz adapts to incarceration. With Academy Award winners in the writer and director chairs adapting the story from an acclaimed British show, the show succeeds in showing the harsh, gritty realism over melodrama. The show won five Emmys, including Best Actor in a Limited Series for Riz Ahmed.

8 'Angels in America' (2003)

Set in mid-1980s America during the AIDS crisis, Angels in America follows the lives of several characters dealing with their illness and identity. One of the stories sees Prior Walter (Justin Kirk), a young gay man diagnosed with AIDS who begins experiencing prophetic visions, and his partner Louis (Ben Shenkman), who struggles with fear and guilt. There's also Roy Cohn (Al Pacino), a powerful, closeted lawyer facing his own diagnosis, and Joe Pitt (Patrick Wilson), a conservative Mormon lawyer wrestling with his sexuality.

Angels in America is critically acclaimed for its ambition and extraordinary performances. Adapted from Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, the writing retains its message while expanding cinematically under Mike Nichols' direction. The ensemble is remarkable; Pacino is magnetic and terrifying, Meryl Streep and Emma Thompson transform across multiple roles, and Jeffrey Wright reprises his role from the stage perfectly. The series swept the Emmys, winning 11 awards, including Outstanding Miniseries, and remains one of HBO's boldest achievements and one of TV's most fundamental shows.

9 'Band of Brothers' (2001)

Produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, Band of Brothers follows Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment from their rigorous training in Georgia through some of the most pivotal battles of World War II, including D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. Based on Stephen E. Ambrose's nonfiction book, each episode focuses on different members of the company.

After the success of Saving Private Ryan, Spielberg and Hanks created a seminal miniseries that was unprecedented for TV at the time. The battle sequences rival major films, and the cast is insanely star-studded, especially by today's standards. The series maintains a cohesive tone despite the different focus in each episode. Together they explore the camaraderie, trauma, and endurance between the company. Band of Brothers also enjoyed major success at the Emmys, and this is the series that arguably put HBO on the map as a producer of quality shows. The show is followed by The Pacific and Masters of the Air, which focuses on other branches of the military.

10 'Chernobyl' (2019)

Chernobyl chronicles the catastrophic 1986 nuclear disaster in the Soviet Union, beginning with the explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and unfolding through the political cover-ups and investigations that followed. The story centers on scientist Valery Legasov (Jared Harris), Soviet deputy prime minister Boris Shcherbina (Stellan Skarsgård), and physicist Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson), as they race against time to contain the fallout and uncover the truth.

Chernobyl blends historical drama and horror to its maximum effect. Craig Mazin's writing is precise and restrained, allowing the drama to excel in the historical story. Its focus on the heroic acts of ordinary people drew acclaim from worldwide audiences, including Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, although the Russian state denounced the show. Performances across the board were extraordinary, especially from the three main cast who all received Emmy nominations. The series won multiple Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited Series, and it is one of the highest rated TV shows ever.