WhenHBOlaunched in the 1970s, it primarily broadcasted theatrical films and sporting events during select hours. It was only available in certain areas of the United States and around New York City, where it was based. In 1975, the network began broadcasting in every state, which significantly increased its visibility. It wasn’t until Warner Media acquired HBO that its ambitious original programming began. In the present, that is what HBO is best known for.
With award-winning original shows likeGame of Thrones,The Wire,andThe Sopranos, they are one of the top-tier streaming services out there. As it doesn’t rely on traditional funding through advertising, HBO is able to portray more controversial and explicit subjects. This meant they could provide programming unlike that of any other network, particularly before the age of streaming services. HBO’s own streaming platformMaxhas been producing even more shows. As a result of this, there are many HBO programs that are flying under the radar and not finding their audience.
Related:The 10 Best HBO Original Comedy Series
Updated on August 5th, 2023 byFederico Furzan:This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
20Search Party (2016-2022)
Search Partyactually began its life on TBS, where it ran for two seasons before getting dropped. This is where HBO took the show on and ran with it. It stars Alia Shawkat (known forArrested Development) as the protagonist Dory Sief along with John Early, Meredith Hagner, and John Reynolds as her annoying but charming group of friends.
When a friend of theirs from college goes missing, Dory becomes obsessed with finding her and drags her friends into it. The show is quick-witted and gripping, balancing humor and tension perfectly. Each season gets more out of control than the last — in a good way — and there’s no predicting what’s coming next.Search Partyis criminally underrated for how good it is. There’s nothing else like it.
19Gentleman Jack (2019-2022)
Suranne Jones stars as Anne Lister inGentleman Jack. Lister was a real woman who lived in West Yorkshire in the late-1700s to early-1800s. She kept extensive diaries detailing her life including several lesbian affairs, which were dramatized for the show.Gentleman Jackemploys the wry, fourth-wall-breaking style we’ve all come to know and love throughFleabag.
These breaks are a nice nod to the fact that we are essentially reading her diaries by watching the program. It was canceled after just two seasons, another casualty of HBO’s recent wave of cuts, but deserved many more. There’s no stuffiness about it, which some are afraid of when it comes to a period piece; its sensibilities are modern and supremely entertaining.
18Sharp Objects (2018)
Yes,Sharp Objectswas nominated for eight Emmys, but did it win any? No, therefore it remains firmly underrated. Adapted from a novel of the same name by Gillian Flynn (writer ofGone Girl), the story centers around Camille who returns to her hometown to report on a string of murders.
Camille is played beautifully by Amy Adams, with her mother and younger sister played by Patricia Clarkson and Eliza Scanlen respectively. All three put on show-stopping performances in a story with incredible twists and turns. The series was directed by the late Jean-Marc Vallée in his signature style of quick cuts to flashbacks. Its impact was most likely undercut by the fact that it came afterBig Little Lies, which was in the same style, but with a more accessible story. Now is the perfect time, however, to giveSharp Objectsthe time in the spotlight that it deserves.
17The Rehearsal (2022-Present)
In Nathan Fielder’s latest offering,The Rehearsal, he creates scenarios in which people can rehearse for events in their own lives. With the same dry humor we’re used to fromNathan For You, but even greater pathos,The Rehearsalends up packing a real punch. One scenario he produces is for a pregnant woman, where he simulates the experience of raising a child.
As the season progresses, the overarching plot becomes more and more self-reflective and meta. It’s a fascinating career progression for Fielder and shows off his incredible talent for writing.The Rehearsalis perfect viewing for fans of awkward comedy that has depth to it as well.
16The Other Two (2019-Present)
The Other Twois about adult siblings, Cary and Brooke, whose younger brother Chase achieves sudden pop stardomà laearly Justin Bieber. The humor of the show is shocking and absurd, highlighting the alarming scenarios that child stars are placed in.
Cary and Brooke are also both hungry to share the spotlight with their brother, and this leads to some desperate situations. The show’s supporting cast is made up of strong talent from the likes of Wanda Sykes, Richard Kind, and Molly Shannon. If you’re looking for something that pokes fun at millennials, the internet, and fame in a way that manages not to be grating, this is the show for you.
Related:13 Lesser Known HBO Series From the 2000s That Are Worth Revisiting
15The Leftovers (2014-2017)
With a bizarre but interesting premise,The Leftoversquestions what it would be like if 2% of the population simply disappeared one day. It’s not preoccupied with explaining what happened or why, as the focus remains on how we would respond to an event like that. The answer, ostensibly, is not well. The cast includes heavyweights like Ann Dowd, Liv Tyler, Justin Theroux, and Christopher Eccleston, with no weak links even in minor roles.
Explorations of family dynamics, religion, and depression are at the forefront of its themes, but these are not discussed in a clichéd and tired way as they so often are. The beauty of the show comes from its commitment to ambiguity and refusal to give clear answers. Co-creator Tom Perrotta told GQ that the unsolvable mystery at the heart of the show was important because he “wanted to make an apocalyptic story where the actual ‘apocalypse’ is psychological.”
14Lovecraft Country (2020)
Lovecraft Countryis a horror-drama series about a ma called Atticus, played by Jonathan Majors, who travels across the United States in the 1950s in search of his missing father. He is also joined by Jurnee Smollett’s Letitia and Courtney B. Vance as his uncle George.
The three of them encounter trouble from both the racist inhabitants of the towns they pass through, as well as Lovecraftian monsters. With Jordan Peele as one of the show’s producers, it’s not much of a surprise that it’s equal parts interesting and suspenseful.Lovecraft Country’s soundtrack uses the likes of Etta James and Nina Simone to build a strong sense of place and history that tops off the all-around excellent program.
13Looking (2014-2015)
Set in San Francisco,Lookingtells the story of a group of three close friends. They’replayed by Jonathan Groffas Patrick, Frankie J. Alvarez as Agustín, and Murray Bartlett as Dom Basaluzzo. Despite premiering in 2014,Lookingwas HBO’s first series centering around gay men.
Significant directors of the show include Andrew Haigh, director ofLean on Pete, whose naturalistic style shines through as the primary director, and Jamie Babbit who directedBut I’m a Cheerleader. There is an authenticity to the world of these characters that lends a special feeling to the show. As usually happens with underrated shows on HBO, it didn’t bring in the viewership that was expected and was canceled after its second season.
12The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2009)
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agencyis a charming show about a woman called Precious in Botswana, who opens up a detective agency after the death of her father. Precious and her assistant Grace have wonderful chemistry that makes you feel like you’re along for the ride with them.
Richard Curtis, writer, and director of legendary rom-coms likeLove Actually, served as a producer and writer for the show, and this comes through in its endearing nature. If you needed any further incentive to start watching, the pilot features David Oyelowo and Idris Elba. With only seven episodes, it’s a quick and witty watch that will brighten up a rainy afternoon.
11I May Destroy You (2020)
Michaela Coel’s masterpieceI May Destroy Youfollows her character Arabella as she grapples with being sexually assaulted. As creator and writer of the show, Coel expertly injects humor and intrigue into her narrative, which could have been handled poorly in other hands. The inclusion of comedy doesn’t feel distasteful — it just makes the characters feel more human.
The cast is rounded out by Weruche Opia, Paapa Essiedu, Stephen Wright, and Marouane Zotti, who are all perfect with the tone of the series.I May Destroy Youis another show that while it received acclaim, deserved even more and for that reason must continue to be shouted about.
