Every year brings fantastic and exciting new HBO series, but these shows from the Golden Age of Television are the greatest. The period from 2000 to 2023 gave us some incredible stories, from the Western show Deadwood to the horror vampire drama True Blood.

Some of the earliest HBO shows played a significant role in cementing the network and now streaming platform as a go-to spot for strong storytelling, including the beloved prison drama Oz.

From a fashionable and groundbreaking comedy to some of the most popular dramas with complex characters and memorable series finales, these HBO shows are the best you’ll find. They definitely prove that HBO is still where you’re going to find some of the most impressive small-screen stories.

The White Lotus (2021-Present)

The White Lotus deserves many accolades for being the kind of “appointment television” that many people thought was no longer possible in the streaming age. The show brilliantly merges a thrilling premise — “What if rich people went on vacation somewhere beautiful and someone died?” — with strong character work.

Season 1 laid the groundwork, while seasons 2 and 3 became the talk of 2022 and 2025, cementing the show as a forever favorite. Whether you watched for the beautiful and haunting theme song or to bask in the glory of Jennifer Coolidge’s performance as lonely and fashionable Tanya McQuoid-Hunt, you likely never wanted to miss an episode.

The series has a tone unlike other shows that came before it, as it’s funny, smart, sometimes unsettling, and mysterious. It’s hard to imagine anything else matching it in the future.

Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2024)

Two years after Seinfeld ended its nine-season run, Larry David came back to the small screen with his funny, awkward, and offensive-on-purpose HBO comedy. While David was the inspiration behind Jason Alexander’s George Costanza, the Seinfeld co-creator played a fictional version of himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm and got into awkward and cringeworthy situations in every episode.

Curb goes even further than Seinfeld, however, and crafts storylines out of even smaller details that you might not think could make up a TV episode. One example: in season 8, episode 2, “The Safe House,” Larry wants to buy Chubby Hubby, but he’s blocked by a woman who is sobbing in the ice cream aisle.

It’s also fun to see famous guest stars pop up on Curb, and season 7 is about attempts at a reunion of Seinfeld, which is perfectly nostalgic. HBO proved it was a great place for comedy, too, with this unique and memorable series.

Succession (2018-2023)

With storylines about family, business, and scheming and a thriller-like tone, this must-watch series proved yet again that HBO is unmatched when it comes to delivering water-cooler prestige dramas. As the Roy siblings vie for control of their billionaire father’s media company, Waystar RoyCo, you’re fascinated by who’s going to win in the end.

It can be tough for a recent HBO show to stand out among its incredible catalog, and even harder for it to live up to the excellent quality of what came before it. Succession managed to do all that, and the series finale was also one of the most highly anticipated in recent years.

Veep (2012-2019)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s award-winning work as Vice President Selina Meyer is just one reason Veep is one of HBO’s best comedies that aired between 2000 and 2003. After playing smart Elaine Benes on Seinfeld and a quirky single mom on The New Adventures of Old Christine, the actress proved she could lead yet another hilarious and clever show.

Veep tells political stories through a satirical lens, and Selina’s staff is a fantastic cast of characters, with her passionate aide Gary Walsh (Tony Hale) being a particular standout. Some of the show’s storylines even actually happened after some episodes aired, including a 2013 government shutdown (via The Daily Beast).

Six Feet Under (2001-2005)

These days, if you want to catch up on a well-crafted drama you didn’t get around to when it aired, you’ll likely turn to HBO. Six Feet Under is one of the best 2000s shows if you’re looking to go on an emotional ride, and it arguably gets even better with time.

When people talk about the HBO drama, they immediately mention the gorgeously crafted series finale. You find out how each Fisher character dies, and it’s devastating but sweet. The cast, including Michael C. Hall, Lauren Ambrose, Peter Krause, Matthew St. Patrick, Richard Jenkins, and Frances Conroy, is amazing here, too.

The attention-grabbing story of the Fisher family who has a funeral home and the structure of each episode is more than enough to make you keep watching. Every episode’s opening sees a new character dying in a sometimes terrifying way, which sets up that this is a different series from most dramas focusing only on work, love, and life problems.

Band of Brothers (2001)

Before Band of Brothers premiered in 2001, it’s hard to think of any miniseries that were popular or “cool.” The show not only proved what could be done with this brief but impactful storytelling form, but it’s also one of the best TV war stories of all time.

From executive producers and creators Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, the show tells sad but powerful stories about the Easy Company’s experiences in World War II. The big-budget show looks incredible and led to two more: The Pacific in 2010 and Masters of the Air in 2024.

Now HBO is a go-to place for beautiful and sometimes dark miniseries, from Mildred Pierce to Sharp Objects to Chernobyl, and we can trace it all back to the success of Band of Brothers.

Sex and the City (1998-2004)

Before this beloved show’s 1998 premiere, HBO aired male-focused comedies like The Larry Sanders Show and The Kids in the Hall ​​​​​​and serious dramas like Oz and Maximum Security. Then Darren Star’s Sex and the City came along and completely altered our view of what an HBO show could be and, really, what any show could be.

SATC is a raunchy, hilarious, and raw look at the agonies and the ecstasies of dating and being a single woman in your thirties in a big city. Most of all, it’s a celebration of rock-solid female friendships. You could watch and call yourself a “Samantha,” “Carrie,” “Charlotte,” or “Miranda,” as there’s something special about each main character.

Rather than treating “women’s stories” as frivolous or unimportant, the show made searching for love, going on a date, reaching for career success, and wearing a stylish outfit as thrilling as a drama episode. The revival, And Just Like That… proves this storytelling still matters, even if it was a disappointing outing.

The Wire (2002-2008)

One of the first excellent HBO dramas, The Wire showed people how strong the storytelling in a crime series could be. Rather than just focusing on a prison like Oz, or a procedural about detectives or police officers, the show tells stories about several different characters in Baltimore, Maryland.

When people recommend an HBO show from the 2000s, they’re going to say, “You have to watch The Wire,” and it’s true. It’s a particularly exciting series to go back and watch now since it lives up to the hype. The dialogue, all-star cast’s performances, and somber tone all contribute to a pitch-perfect show.

Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

Even an unsatisfying series finale can’t fully sour public opinion on this epic fantasy that no one could stop watching or talking about during its eight-season run. The world-building, stellar performances from stars like Maisie Williams and Kit Harington, and the juggling of a massive cast can all be praised today.

HBO Max has a few awesome fantasy shows, but no one can argue with the fact that Game of Thrones is the most popular. You can never forget the emotional experience of watching season 3, episode 9, “The Rains of Castamere,” aka “The Red Wedding.” This was truly must-see TV, and fans still discuss it years later.

The Sopranos (1999-2007)

From 1996 to 2009, HBO’s marketing mantra was “It’s not TV, it’s HBO,“ and viewers were thrilled to spend Sunday nights watching a new episode of a prestige drama. The Sopranos‘ place in popular culture can’t be forgotten about, and the show is widely credited with kicking off the Golden Age of TV.

Most importantly, Tony started the “anti-hero” trend, with other drama characters like Mad Men‘s Don Draper coming up after him. The Sopranos was must-see TV as you couldn’t wait to find out more about Tony’s dangerous mob boss position and what was going on with the other characters.

The cultural discussion surrounding the series finale of HBO‘s The Sopranos is still so loud it’s almost easy to forget about how good the rest of the show is. While the “fade to black” ending and question about Tony Soprano’s (James Gandolfini) fate is powerful, you also love Tony’s no-nonsense attitude and become attached to his family.