10 Most Rewatchable HBO Series

Since its inception in the early 1970s, HBO has insisted on being a premium channel that pushes the boundaries of television. Its early success can be traced to the 1990s when shows like Sex and the City and The Sopranos broke barriers and talked about previously taboo topics like sex, violence, and drugs. HBO was also one of the first channels to get recognition for its foul-mouthed characters.

With the addition of HBO Max, the television giant has ventured into the world of streaming, and its output isn’t slowing down anytime soon. If anything, HBO’s shows seem to age like a fine wine, getting better and better over time. Some HBO shows are endlessly rewatchable because of the great acting and excellent writing contained within them. Here are some of the most rewatchable HBO shows that will keep you laughing, crying, and screaming at the TV throughout the winter.

10 Big Love (2006 – 2011)

Big Love focuses on Bill Hendrickson (played by the late Bill Pullman), a polygamist who lives with his three wives. He owns a hardware store and balances his business duties with the responsibility of raising a large family. Bill faces opposition at every turn, from the government to his ruthless father-in-law Roman (Harry Dean Stanton).

What Makes It So Rewatchable

It’s hard to believe Big Love is almost 20 years old as the themes and performances in the show seem timeless. Anchored by excellent acting by Pullman, Jeanne Triplehorn, Chloe Sevigny, and Ginnifer Goodwin, the show pulls viewers into its world and doesn’t let go. Big Love is rewatchable for its tense dramatic moments, strong writing, and a perfect cast of colorful characters.

9 Flight of the Conchords (2007 – 2009)

flight of the conchords

Release Date

June 17, 2007

Cast

Bret McKenzie, Jemaine Clement, Rhys Darby, Kristen Schaal

Main Genre

Comedy

Flight of the Conchords only ran for two seasons on HBO, but every moment of the show was packed with hilarity. The show centered around the titular comedy folk duo, who are bad at their instruments and even worse at relationships. They’re managed by an incompetent travel agent named Murray (played brilliantly by Rhys Darby), but the band is constantly hampered by their lack of ambition and music industry knowledge.

What Makes It So Rewatchable

The show is rewatchable for its catchy and funny songs, which typically include absolutely hilarious lyrics. The jokes in Flight of the Conchords never get old and the deadpan style of the show is (somewhat) wholesome and original. Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement are super likable as the duo, as is Darby, and the band’s follies are fun to watch over and over again. More recently, Darby stars in the 2023 movie Relax, I’m From the Future.

8 The White Lotus (2021 – Present)

The White Lotus

Release Date

July 11, 2021

Cast

Jennifer Coolidge, Murray Bartlett, Connie Britton, Alexandra Daddario, Fred Hechinger, Jake Lacy

Main Genre

Comedy

The White Lotus is one of HBO’s most recent hits. The show centers around a bizarre and eclectic cast of characters, all of whom are visitors to a resort in Hawaii. Each character has their eccentricities, from drug use to self-delusion. It all makes for a fun, strange trip filled with dark comedy and pithy dialogue.

What Makes It So Rewatchable

The great thing about The White Lotus is that it never leads the viewer to what is coming next. The show is rewatchable because it creates suspense but never releases that tension. Just when you think something will be resolved, it adds more chaos and keeps the audience guessing.

RELATED: 11 Actors We’d Love to See in The White Lotus

7 Girls (2012 – 2017)

Girls is a revolutionary show for millennials, even if it is a bit problematic. The show was created by Lena Dunham as a somewhat autobiographical depiction of her own life in New York City. Dunham stars as the lead character Hannah Horvath, who is a struggling writer trying to make her way and find herself in the big city.

What Makes It So Rewatchable

Throughout 62 episodes, Girls drew viewers into its world that often dealt with difficult issues like alcoholism, sexuality, isolation, and mental health The show is rewatchable for its great writing and strong performances. Zosia Mamet and Adam Driver were particularly excellent in this groundbreaking show.

6 Barry (2018 – 2013)

Barry

Cast

Bill Hader, Stephen Root, Henry Winkler

Main Genre

Comedy

When Bill Hader left Saturday Night Live, it was impossible to predict that he’d have success with an even funnier show. In Barry, Hader plays the title character who is the accidental assassin of sorts. Barry is a war veteran who wants to leave his life of crime behind him to become a stand-up comedian. But no matter what he does, Barry is sucked back into the mob and told to do their bidding.

What Makes It So Rewatchable

Barry is endlessly rewatchable because it contains a great mix of drama and comedy. Hader is more than capable of playing up both genres. The dark comedy of the show doesn’t rely on pop culture references or cheap gags. Barry is a smart, suspenseful, and very funny comedy for those who can stomach the gruesome parts.

5 Silicon Valley (2014 – 2019)

Silicon Valley

Release Date

April 6, 2014

Cast

Thomas MIddleditch, Kumail Nanjiani, Martin Starr, Amanda Crew, Matt Ross, Josh Brener

Main Genre

Comedy

Genres

Comedy

In real life, Silicon Valley in California is the hub for trendy start-ups and tech companies. Unlike Barry, the show Silicon Valley takes a very real premise and skewers it for maximum laughs. Just like The Office did for mundane office culture, Silicon Valley exaggerates life at big tech companies to levels that seem absurd and hilarious.

What Makes It So Rewatchable

Silicon Valley is easy to watch over and over again because of its likable characters, funny dialogue, and relatable plot points. A lot of people dream about working cushy jobs at startups, but when they get there, they realize it’s a lot of work for what it’s worth. You can throw on Silicon Valley in the background for some good laughs while you’re doing something else.

4 Game of Thrones (2011 – 2019)

Game Of Thrones

Release Date

December 10, 2010

Cast

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Liam Cunningham, Maisie Williams, Gwendoline Christie, Rory McCann, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Conleth Hill, John Bradley

Main Genre

Adventure

Will there ever be a show that top the scale and detail of HBO’s Game of Thrones? The show debuted in 2011 and seems to gain a cult-like following immediately, drawing viewers in with its complex characters, epic fight scenes, and taboo storylines. With nine families of nobility fighting for control of the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, it seemed like anything could happen. Heck, even Starbucks made an appearance in the series by the end.

What Makes It So Rewatchable

Game of Thrones is rewatchable because it’s nearly impossible to catch everything going on the first time around. There are so many interesting character arcs going on at the same time that you’d need a spreadsheet to keep track of them all. Everything about the show is carefully thought out: the costumes, the special effects, the sound editing, and more. It’s a technical marvel full of great performances, and it warrants multiple viewings to fully appreciate it.

RELATED: Cersei Lannister’s Best Quotes in Game of Thrones, Ranked

3 Sex and the City (1998 – 2004)

Sex and the City

Release Date

June 6, 1998

Cast

Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis

Main Genre

Comedy

HBO’s Sex and the City is the OG of raunchy, taboo comedy TV shows. Back in 1998 when the show debuted, there weren’t many shows talking about sex and relationships in the straightforward yet humorous way that Sex and the City did. But the original series was anchored by smart writing, which is why it’s an easy show to watch over and over again.

What Makes It So Rewatchable

Sarah Jessica Parker was born to play Carrie Bradshaw, a successful writer living in New York City. Carrie’s constantly trying to find herself and balance her career with her relationships. With great performances from iconic actors like Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristen Davis, and Cynthia Nixon, Sex and the City stands as one of the best comedy shows out there worth watching again and again.

2 Veep (2012 – 2019)

Veep

Release Date

April 22, 2012

Cast

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky, Tony Hale, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, Matt Walsh, Kevin Dunn, Gary Cole

Main Genre

Comedy

In Veep, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss plays Selina Meyer, who is the Vice President of the United States. She’s cool and collected on the outside, but she’s a hot mess on the inside. Surrounded by a cast of buffoons, Selina tries to navigate the red tape of American politics, always coming within an arms’ length of complete disaster at every turn.

What Makes It So Rewatchable

Veep is a sadistically funny take on life in the office, and every episode is rich with belly laughs. Whether it’s Selina’s goofy assistant Gary (Tony Hale) screwing something up, or her trusted advisor Kent (Gary Cole) giving her bad advice, the gags in Veep are always cringe-worthy yet hilarious.

1 Succession (2018 – 2023)

Succession

Release Date

June 3, 2018

Cast

Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin, Nicholas Braun, Matthew Macfadyen, Alan Ruck, J. Smith-Cameron

Main Genre

Drama

Rating

TV-MA

Put simply, Succession is a killer show. All the elements of a great show are there: excellent writing, tight suspense, great acting, and strong plot twists. The show follows Logan Roy (Brian Cox), a greedy media mogul who is unwilling to give up his empire. But his equally greedy children Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Siobhan (Sarah Snook), and Roman (Kieran Culkin) will do anything to get their share, including turning on each other.

What Makes It So Rewatchable

Succession is rewatchable because it contains some of the best television performances of the last five years. It doesn’t contain any boring or “filler” scenes, which means you’ll be on the edge of your seat the whole time. If five seasons of Succession is too much to start with, you can stream some of the best episodes to get you hooked.