As one of my go-to platforms, HBO Max has a plethora of outstanding shows in its catalog that serve as major draws for anyone interested in looking for something to watch. Each year, that catalog grows and continues to strengthen the platform’s reputation as home to some of the most iconic TV shows ever made.
We’ve selected five must-watch shows that aren’t just iconic — they’re absolute masterpieces. Our top pick is a scathing example of why going into business with family is never a good idea.
5
The White Lotus
People aren’t always who they seem to be
Created by Mike White, The White Lotus is an anthology series following guests and employees at a luxury resort of the same name, with each season set in a different country. So far, we’ve been to Hawaii, Sicily, and Thailand, but the narrative’s starting point always traces back to a dead body. From then on, we learn through irony and precision just who these guests really are behind their social façades.
QuizThe most iconic HBO shows of all time
Trivia challenge
From Westeros to the wire — how well do you really know HBO’s greatest television masterpieces?
DramaCharactersCreatorsPremieresClassics
Which HBO series, often credited with launching the era of prestige television, premiered in 1999 and followed a New Jersey mob boss in therapy?
Correct! The Sopranos premiered on January 10, 1999 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest television series ever made. Created by David Chase, it redefined what TV drama could be and paved the way for the golden age of prestige television.
Not quite — the answer is The Sopranos. Created by David Chase and premiering in 1999, the show followed Tony Soprano as he balanced family life with running a criminal empire, all while attending therapy sessions with Dr. Melfi. It’s frequently cited as the catalyst for prestige TV.
In Game of Thrones, which character famously declared ‘When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die’?
Correct! Cersei Lannister delivered this chilling line to Ned Stark in Season 1, and it became one of the most quoted lines in the entire series. It perfectly encapsulated the ruthless political world of Westeros and foreshadowed much of the bloodshed to come.
Not quite — it was Cersei Lannister who spoke those iconic words. She said it directly to Ned Stark in Season 1 as a warning, and it turned out to be a prophecy of sorts. The line became one of the defining quotes of the entire Game of Thrones saga.
The Wire, HBO’s critically acclaimed crime drama set in Baltimore, was created by which former journalist and police reporter?
Correct! David Simon worked as a crime reporter for The Baltimore Sun for years before creating The Wire, which drew heavily on his real-world experiences. His journalistic background gave the show an unmatched authenticity in depicting systemic failures in American cities.
The correct answer is David Simon. A former crime reporter for The Baltimore Sun, Simon used his deep knowledge of Baltimore’s streets, institutions, and politics to craft one of the most realistic and layered portrayals of urban America ever put on screen.
Which HBO anthology series, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, captivated audiences with its philosophical first season set in Louisiana in 2014?
Correct! True Detective Season 1, created by Nic Pizzolatto, premiered in January 2014 and became a cultural phenomenon almost overnight. McConaughey’s portrayal of the nihilistic Detective Rust Cohle sparked countless philosophical debates and think-pieces.
The answer is True Detective. Its debut season in 2014 starred Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle and Woody Harrelson as Marty Hart, two detectives investigating a series of ritualistic murders over seventeen years. The show’s dark atmosphere and philosophical monologues made it an instant classic.
In The Sopranos, what is the name of the psychiatrist Tony Soprano regularly visits throughout the series?
Correct! Dr. Jennifer Melfi, played by Lorraine Bracco, is one of the most important characters in The Sopranos. Her therapy sessions with Tony formed the emotional and philosophical backbone of the entire series, exploring themes of identity, violence, and self-deception.
The correct answer is Dr. Jennifer Melfi, played masterfully by Lorraine Bracco. Her fraught therapeutic relationship with Tony Soprano was central to the show’s psychological depth. The other names listed are also characters from the series, which is why this one can be tricky!
Succession, the Emmy-winning HBO drama, centers on the Roy family’s media empire. What is the name of the fictional company they control?
Correct! Waystar Royco is the sprawling media and entertainment conglomerate at the heart of Succession. Created by Jesse Armstrong, the show drew clear parallels to real-world media dynasties like the Murdochs, making the fictional empire feel disturbingly plausible.
The answer is Waystar Royco. This fictional media giant, loosely inspired by real conglomerates like News Corp, serves as the prize the Roy children are all desperately fighting over. Pierce Global Media and ATN are also referenced in the show but are separate entities.
Which HBO miniseries, based on a true story, dramatized the 1986 nuclear disaster in Soviet Ukraine and won the Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series in 2019?
Correct! Chernobyl, written by Craig Mazin and directed by Johan Renck, was a critical sensation that earned widespread praise for its harrowing accuracy and gripping storytelling. It held a near-perfect score on review aggregator sites and sparked renewed global interest in the disaster.
The correct answer is Chernobyl. The five-part miniseries aired in 2019 and depicted the catastrophic explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the subsequent Soviet cover-up. Band of Brothers and The Pacific are also acclaimed HBO miniseries, but they cover World War II rather than Chernobyl.
In Six Feet Under, the Fisher family runs a funeral home in which American city?
Correct! Six Feet Under, created by Alan Ball, is set in Los Angeles, California, where the Fisher family operates Fisher & Sons Funeral Home. The show ran from 2001 to 2005 and is celebrated for its unflinching exploration of death, grief, and dysfunctional family dynamics.
The answer is Los Angeles. Six Feet Under ran from 2001 to 2005 and used its LA funeral home setting to explore mortality and family in a deeply unconventional way. Its series finale is still widely considered one of the greatest and most emotionally resonant final episodes in television history.
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This razor-sharp social satire entertainingly mixes human drama and biting comedy with a gripping murder mystery, without weakening its elements. And because the characters change each season, the show feels like a miniseries pieced together into one big, consistent identity. Its holiday-horror structure thrives on exceptional acting and lush cinematography while dissecting modern wealth and privilege in a way that is darkly funny, deeply disturbing, and extremely well-executed.
The White Lotus has won 16 Emmys to date, including Best Limited Series.
4
The Last of Us
Television’s best video game adaptation to date
The big draw with The Last of Us is how well HBO Max adapts PlayStation’s brutal, post-apocalyptic story. The post-apocalyptic drama follows a smuggler (Pedro Pascal) as he’s tasked with escorting a teenage girl (Bella Ramsey) across the collapsed ruins of the United States after a mass fungal infection turned most of humanity into beastly, zombie-like, mushroom creatures. She is the world’s hope for a potential cure.
The series pushes this already-brilliant story beyond its creators’ wildest nightmares by taking smart, strategic liberties with source material in a way that still feels faithful to it. It’s a visual masterpiece that serves as a superb exploration of human nature and watches like a shot-for-shot recreation of the game (e.g., the series premiere when the you-know-what hits the fan). It’s also hailed as having successfully broken the decades-long video game adaptation curse. The show might be television’s best video game adaptation right now, but all of that may change when Prime Video’s God of War adaptation arrives.
The Last of Us has received a total of over 200 nominations across various award ceremonies, resulting in over 100 wins, including a Peabody Award, 4 Golden Globes, and 9 Primetime Creative Arts Emmys.
3
Game of Thrones
Dark, gritty, shocking, and breathtaking
We all love a good fight for power, especially when it’s set in an epic fantasy world involving royal houses, supernatural creatures, moral ambiguity, and fire-breathing dragons. Author George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones opened the door to expanding his franchise, which now includes House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, in the HBO Max catalog.
The political dynamic between the families and how each main character develops across the seasons are some of the most interesting parts of the show. By series end, you will be rooting for who you think deserves to sit on the Iron Throne next. The epic fantasy series is also famous for its shocking plot twists and gasp-worthy moments, all of which are well above average. For eight years, this fantasy masterpiece subverted tropes, gave us three-dimensional characters, featured massive world-building, and hit audiences with an unprecedented production value that left us breathless.
Throughout its 8-season run, Game of Thrones earned over 650 total award nominations and won over 390 of them, including a historic 161 Primetime Emmy Award nominations with 59 wins.
2
The Pitt
A spectacular medical drama with no exit
If you’re not watching The Pitt, what in this ever-loving world is wrong with you? I’m kidding. The gritty medical drama centers on ER veteran Noah Wyle as the burned-out but passionate attending physician Dr. Michael “Robby” Rabinovich in the busy Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. The hit show submerges viewers in the chaotic, high-stakes environment and explores the extensive toll it takes on the medical professionals working on the frontlines of America’s troubled healthcare system.
What makes The Pitt an absolute masterpiece is its raw, realistic tone and deeply human portrayal of life in an emergency department. Its writing is sharp and rapidly propels the narrative forward, without leaving time to think. Here, there’s only action. It’s presented in real time and filmed with handheld cameras, so viewers feel like they’re part of the action instead of mere witnesses. The show also serves as a scathing critique of social and healthcare systems in the United States, where the emergency room serves as a last resort. There’s no doubt the show is a standout achievement in the genre that’ll be difficult to top.
The Pitt has earned 13 Emmy nominations to date, winning 5, including Outstanding Drama Series.
1
Succession
Never go into business with family
A darkly comedic and Shakespearean masterpiece exploring the brutal power struggles, media manipulation, and deep emotional damage within a monstrously wealthy family and their corporate empire, Succession is a must-watch for every TV fan. Few series in television history have so precisely and cruelly portrayed the corporate world and the family world as they bleed together.
Our narrative follows the Roy family, who own one of the largest media conglomerates in the world, as its members wage relentless battles for control of patriarch Logan Roy’s (Brian Cox) empire. It’s delicious, it’s dirty, and it masterfully balances juicy drama, biting comedy, and Shakespearean-level tragedy with an echelon of skills few have ever been able to achieve. Its greatest strength lies in its performances from a remarkably talented cast, including Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Matthew Macfadyen, and Kieran Culkin, whose work steals the show each season. Its complex character dynamics are so well constructed that viewers can’t help but connect with them emotionally on every level. Each season raises the stakes, which is why, even today, the show ranks among the top reasons to subscribe to HBO Max.
Succession achieved an astonishing awards record, earning over 200 nominations and more than 80 major wins across ceremonies like the Emmys, Golden Globes, and Critics’ Choice.
Worth the subscription
With just one subscription, you’ll get access to decades of Emmy Award-winning productions, all in one place. Settle in for your next full-length binge on HBO Max. Its shows are worth it.
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