The 20 best HBO miniseries

In Mare of Easttown , Kate Winslet stars as the titular Mare, a detective from a small town in Pennsylvania. While investigating a local murder, she tries to keep her dysfunctional life together and deal with grief over her son's recent death. Kate Winslet is completely stripped-back and raw as Mare, ditching any previous Hollywood glamor and giving one of the best performances of her career. The series also features Evan Peters, Jean Smart, and Guy Pearce.

Largely regarded as HBO’s best miniseries of all time, Chernobyl is a grim historical drama that tells the story of the devastating explosion at the Chernobyl Power Plant in 1986. It follows the many people who were involved and affected by the disaster, including power plant workers, scientists, military personnel, firefighters, and families. The show highlights the bravery of certain characters over a period of time and feels incredibly cinematic for a TV show. Chernobyl is both brilliant and terrifying.

Based on the novel by Gone Girl Author Gillian Flynn, Sharp Objects is another thrilling small-town mystery carried by a phenomenal lead performance by Amy Adams. Adams plays Camille, a reporter who has been treated for mental illness and returns to her hometown to solve the murder of two girls. Reuniting with her neurotic and cold mother and the delicate half-sister she barely knows, Camille is forced to face her own demons while solving the case.

DC’s Watchmen was brought to the big screen in 2009, and it got the TV treatment ten years later. In a world where masked vigilantes are treated as criminals, the vigilantes attempt to rebel, while others of their kind try to stop them. This iteration offers a fresh and gritty take on the DC property, exploring political themes and adding new depth to the world. The series won several Emmys, including acting wins for stars Regina King and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. 

If Chernobyl has competition for the title of HBO’s best miniseries, Band of Brothers is the contender. The epic war drama, created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, follows the East Company of the U.S. Army’s 101st airborne division during World War II. The series is often hailed as one of the best depictions of war on screen, from immersive and realistic cinematography to character development and storytelling. It is also the fourth highest-rated show on IMDb. 

I May Destroy You is one of HBO’s most powerful and original series, thanks to the genius of Michaela Coel. Coel plays Arabella, who struggles to remember a night out with her friends. After she realizes she was drugged and assaulted, she is forced to reassess all aspects of her life. Coel is a real-life survivor of sexual assault, allowing for authentic and bold storytelling. The series can be difficult to watch, but it raises urgent discussions around consent and relationships.

In the heartbreaking drama I Know This Much Is True, viewers get two Mark Ruffalos for the price of one. Ruffalo plays twin brothers, Dominic and Thomas, with the latter suffering from schizophrenia. Dominic tries to support him and have him released, all while dealing with unresolved family trauma. Ruffalo’s dual performance is an acting masterclass, and he plays two very different characters so well that you forget that there are two Mark Ruffalos on screen. 

A companion piece to Band of Brothers , and also produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, The Pacific is another war drama that leaves an impact. The story follows three marines from different regiments during the battle between Japan and the U.S. in the Pacific during World War II. While Band of Brothers is the superior of the two shows, The Pacific is still a riveting piece of television that is both thrilling and touching. It stars Rami Malek, among others.

Megastars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant joined forces for The Undoing, a thrilling whodunnit mystery. Kidman plays Grace, a wealthy and successful therapist whose life is turned upside down when her family becomes involved in a murder case. After learning her husband may be responsible, she does everything possible to protect her son. The Undoing manages to make the classic murder mystery fresh again with a commanding performance from Kidman and her many coats.

Based on the novel by horror legend Stephen King, The Outsider sees supernatural forces collide with a classic murder case. When Terry Maitland is accused of murdering his son, those investigating start to think that other unseen forces are at play, making them question everything they believe in. The Outsider contains the perfectly creepy vibes fans have come to expect from King stories and stars Jason Bateman, Ben Mendelsohn, and Cynthia Erivo.

Angels in America is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Tony Kushner. It follows multiple storylines and characters affected by the AIDS crisis in the mid-1980s. The series features many fantastical elements while also dealing with the real-life issue of AIDS and how it affected so many people in different ways. Prestigious filmmaker Mike Nichols directs the series, which stars Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thomspon, Jeffery Wright, and Patrick Wilson.

Three-time Academy Award-winner Frances McDormand pivoted from film to television in 2014’s Olive Kitteridge. The series is set in Maine and follows a retired school teacher who tries to make her marriage work over the course of twenty-five years. Olive has a wicked sense of humor and a harsh demeanor that masks her troubled heart, making her a complex character. McDormand won an Emmy for her incredible performance, as did her co-stars Richard Jenkins and Bill Murray. 

Based on a true story, Show Me a Hero is a riveting political drama anchored by a soaring central performance from Oscar Isaac. Isaac plays Nick Wasicsko, who becomes the mayor of Yonkers in 1987 and is tasked with building public housing in the town's white and middle-class neighborhoods. This leads to conflict and divides the city, as citizens are fueled by fear and racism. Isaac makes Wasicsko a multidimensional character who is both compassionate and struggling. 

Scenes from a Marriage is an English-language remake of the 1974 Swedish miniseries directed by Ingmar Bergman. Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain play a long-time married couple who struggle to keep their relationship alive. Themes of love, monogamy, hatred, and, of course, marriage are examined through the lens of Isaac’s Jonathan and Chastain’s Mira. The story is just as powerful as it was all those years ago, and the chemistry between Isaac and Chastain is magnetic. 

The Plot Against America is a unique political drama set in an alternate reality. In this version of history, Franklin D. Roosevelt was defeated in the 1940 U.S. presidential election by Charles Lindbergh. He turns the nation towards fascism, and the story is seen through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family. While the series presents a fictional history, it is still very relevant to the real-life political climate and is elevated by some great acting performances. 

The Night Of is an addictive thriller that is also one of HBO’s most acclaimed miniseries ever. The plot follows a man who gives a lift to a mysterious woman, bringing her to a house party hosted by his friend. The following day, he wakes up to find her stabbed to death and must prove his innocence when he is charged with her murder. The Night Of is full of suspense and is brilliantly directed and acted, with a tour de force performance from Riz Ahmed in one of his breakout roles.

Based on a true crime story, The Staircase is a star-studded murder mystery brought to life by HBO’s sleek production. The show follows Michael Peterson, a crime novelist accused of killing his wife Kathleen, who was found at the bottom of a staircase in their home. It goes on to document the sixteen-year court trial that follows. The series portrays different probabilities of what may have happened and features Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Sophie Turner, and more. 

The Young Pope  is a drama with many satirical elements. It follows Lenny Belardo, who became the first American pope and the youngest at forty-seven years old. Instead of following tradition, he begins to change things and make reckless decisions, challenging the Church. The series has an original and unorthodox premise that makes for great dramatic and comedic moments. Jude Law also carries out an entertaining and multidimensional lead performance. 

John Adams sees Academy Award-nominee Paul Giamatti play the titular second President of the United States, chronicling his political life and role as one of the country’s founding fathers. It is a highly informative series that explores the U.S.’s first fifty years of development while featuring many other historical political figures such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton. Its lavish production and layered performances make for a great piece of television.

Adapted from the novel of the same name, Mildred Pierce is another hit HBO series featuring Kate Winslet and Guy Pearce. Winslet plays the titular character, a divorced single mother who opens a restaurant business to support her two daughters, the older one with whom she has a strained relationship. Winslet is as magnetic as ever, and the series is directed by acclaimed director Todd Haynes, who is responsible for films like Carol and May December.