HBO is famous for creating critically acclaimed and thought-provoking content that captures the attention of audiences across the world. The American premium network has been consistently releasing high-quality programs and films since its conception in 1972, becoming the oldest and longest running television subscription service in the United States. Many of the entertainment industry’s most renowned and revered shows have called the network home, with some of Hollywood’s finest performers, visionaries, writers and directors turning to HBO to produce their content. The 2010s were a lucrative period for the TV pioneer that yielded groundbreaking and lauded programs, many of which taking the form of a miniseries.
The exceptional Kate Winslet beautifully transitioned from the cinema to the small screen when she took on the titular role in the 2011 psychological drama Mildred Pierce, later re-teaming with HBO for some of the best TV of 2021, the smash hit crime drama Mare of Easttown. Tinsel Town legends Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks produced the epic World War II extravaganza The Pacific, a follow-up to the esteemed Band of Brothers limited series that follows the efforts of three marines during the harrowing global war. These are some of the best HBO miniseries of the 2010s.
8 Chernobyl
Detailing the catastrophic April 1986 nuclear accident and subsequent cleanup efforts that followed, the 2019 historical drama miniseries Chernobyl shines a light on the courageous men and women who valiantly fought to combat the devastating explosion, depicting both the lives of those caught up in the disaster and those who responded to it. Heavily based on the memories and recollections of Pripyat locals (the ghost city ravaged by the accident) and Svetlana Alexievich’s book Voice from Chernobyl), the show is a chilling and shocking dramatization of the tragic event. The HBO series went on to win three Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes, garnering widespread critical acclaim for its exceptional attention to detail, incredible cinematography, outstanding ensemble cast, and its compelling and emotionally-driven storytelling.
7 Mildred Pierce
The brilliant Kate Winslet headlines the 2011 psychological drama Mildred Pierce, an adaptation of the Jame M. Cain novel that follows the fiercely protective and selfless eponymous mother as she attempts to survive life’s many hurdles and keep her family afloat during the Great Depression. The five-part miniseries delves into Pierce’s strained relationship with her spoiled elder daughter and the harsh realities of being a divorcée during the strenuous time in history; the HBO drama marked Winslet’s first foray into the world of television.
When discussing her experience of working on the small screen, the actress revealed to Collider, “I really felt the incredible support of HBO, constantly and daily, and that really did help us because we did have a lot to do. There was so much to get through, and it was incredibly intense for all of us, but I did feel that we had this glorious safety net just willing us along and gently guiding.”
6 I May Destroy You
The 2020 British dark comedy-drama I May Destroy You tells the moving story of aspiring young writer Arabella Essiedu, who struggles to rebuild and reclaim her life after being sexually assaulted in a nightclub and slowly reassesses the world she thought she knew. The talented Michaela Coel wrote, created, and starred in the gripping drama, winning the Primetime Emmy Award and British Academy Television Award for her powerful performance of the assault survivor.
Coel turned down a lucrative $1 million deal from Netflix because her ownership rights would have been taken away, instead joining forces with the BBC and HBO to fund the poignant project. I May Destroy You premiered to rave reviews for its acting, direction, and the great songs in the BBC series, with Vox declaring that its “strength lies in how unflinching it is staring directly into Arabella’s trauma, while also allowing just enough humor around the edges to keep from becoming pitch black.”
5 The Young Pope
The sensational Jude Law and Diane Keaton teamed up to star in the 2016 drama series The Young Pope, in which the former appears as the young and unruly Pope Pius XIII, who upon being elected sets out to openly challenge the practices and traditions set forth by the Vatican. In the fascinating show, Keaton portrays the American Sister Mary, who raised the Pope (formerly known as Lenny Belardo) and serves as both his ultimate confidante and personal secretary.
The Young Pope had a production budget of $45 million, becoming the most expensive Italian television show ever created, and built elaborate reconstructions of Vatican City; the miniseries was financed by HBO, Canal+ and Sky, taking three years to complete. The drama proved to be a worthy gamble, as its premiere went on to garner the highest ratings ever for the Sky network in Italy while earning praise for its sharp humor and Law’s colorful and commanding performance. From its music to its cinematography, its simply one of the most aesthetically beautiful and commanding miniseries of all time, and its follow-up limited series, The New Pope, is almost equally as great.
4 Watchmen
Touting a diverse and exceptional cast including Regina King, Don Johnson, and Jeremy Irons, the 2019 superhero drama Watchmen is based on the 1986 DC Comics series and set in an alternate history where mysterious vigilantes who were once viewed as heroes are now considered outlaws; the show focuses on the racist violence plaguing Tulsa, Oklahoma by a white supremacist group known as the Seventh Kavalry.
The drama’s creator and writer Damon Lindelof (Lost, The Leftovers) set out to create a “remix” of the comics rather than reboot, wanting Watchmen to depict racial tensions since the series presents both historical and present conflicts. He later told NPR he felt, “to not tell a story about race in the context of a political text in 2019 almost felt borderline irresponsible,” and Lindelof drew on the 1921 Tulsa race massacre as a focal point for the miniseries. Watchmen brilliantly deconstructs the superhero genre and is a modern masterpiece.
3 The Pacific
Serving as a companion piece to the 2001 miniseries Band of Brothers, the 2010 war drama The Pacific chronicles the experiences of three different marines from various regimes as they witness the horrors of the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Produced by Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, and Gary Goetzman, the harrowing and remarkable drama ended up costing over $200 million to produce, becoming the most expensive television miniseries ever created by any network.
The Pacific details the real-life experiences of United States Marines Robert Leckie, Eugene Sledge, and John Basilone and is based on the former two veterans’ published memoirs, providing audiences with a riveting documentation of the treacherous and emotional realities of World War 2. The series was lauded upon its debut, with the Guardian commenting, “There are scenes that will horrify you… For those who can stomach them, however, this is spectacular and profound TV.”
2 Sharp Objects
Amy Adams delivered arguably her best performance when she headlined the 2018 psychological thriller miniseries Sharp Objects, taking on the role of the struggling alcoholic crime reporter Camille Preaker as she returns to her hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri to investigate the murders of two young girls. Camille must face her own personal tragedies and demons (including dangerous self-harm) while digging into the shocking crimes, and also dealing with the presence of her overbearing socialite mother.
Adapted from Gillian Flynn’s novel of the same name, the edgy program took 10 years to reach the small screen, with the author serving as an executive producer and co-writer for the HBO miniseries. Adams went on to win the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actress and a Satellite Award for her compelling portrayal of the emotionally troubled Camille.
1 Mare of Easttown
Kate Winslet returned to the small screen for the lead role in the 2021 crime drama limited series Mare of Easttown, appearing as detective sergeant Marianne “Mare” Sheehan, who is investigating the murder of a teenager mother and disappearance of another local in her small Pennsylvania town. Mare must set aside her personal troubles and heartache while looking into the crimes, which involves the tragic suicide of her son, a messy divorce and an ongoing custody battle regarding her young grandson.
To embody the suburban Philadelphia character, the English Winslet insisted on learning the “Delco accent” as she strongly believed the setting itself was a paramount character in the story, having said, “There were a lot of things I could have really leaned into that would have made it sound gimmicky and I didn’t want that to happen. So I just had to drill it and drill it and drill it.” Mare of Easttown was a smash hit at HBO, landing the actress a Golden Globe Award and leading to talks of a potential second season, despite the program being intended as a limited series.