When you’re trying to decide what to watch one evening, sometimes a movie is a bit too short, and other times a TV series is too long. You want to hit that sweet spot of a perfect single-night binge that will keep you captivated and ruminating on what you just watched. When it comes to prestigious TV miniseries, there is arguably no platform better than HBO Max.
HBO changed the landscape of television, from series like The Sopranos to Oz, which altered both the scale and the approach to the medium. This tradition carried forward, with the network-turned-streamer responsible for some of the most genre-defining and engrossing TV shows to date, particularly when it comes to its miniseries. For those who want a perfectly bingeable miniseries, these HBO titles will draw you in and change the way you think about life.
‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)
An early, definitive miniseries for HBO, Band of Brothers follows Easy Company of the U.S. Army’s 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment from their brutal training through a series of conflicts, including the D-Day invasion of Normandy, Operation Market Garden, and the Siege of Bastogne. Key figures lead the troop, including Major Richard Winters (Damian Lewis) and Captain Lewis Nixon (Ron Livingston), through the horrors of war, from the loss of life to the psychological toll.
Produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who are no strangers to epic-scale war movies, Band of Brothers offered a deeply emotional, authentic, and all-encompassing look at the horrors of war. It builds on each character, with different troop members given the spotlight to explore their personal experiences and background. This format not only makes it highly bingeable, as viewers will want to see and learn more, but also offers a unique perspective on World War II that has not been replicated on TV since.
‘Chernobyl’ (2019)
Giving the most comprehensive dramatization of one of the greatest man-made disasters, Chernobyl depicts the 1986 nuclear disaster in the Soviet Union. With a massive cast, the miniseries touches on the initial incident, the desperate race to stop further catastrophe from brave individuals, and the political and social fallout afterward.
The many interwoven stories and the urgency and tragic nature of the nuclear accident make this one instantly bingeable in a single sitting because you will absolutely want to know what comes next. The (mostly) factual retelling of events also delivers a deeper understanding of the disaster, as one sees it from every angle in which it was fought. After you watch, you will admire and ponder the bravery of those involved, and you’ll also be mortified by the misinformation and institutional denial that led to such a tragic event.
‘Sharp Objects’ (2018)
One of Amy Adams’s best performances to date, Sharp Objects sees her as troubled journalist, Camille Preaker, who investigates the murder of two girls, which reluctantly brings her back to her hometown. She tries to balance her work with a toxic family environment that includes a manipulative mother and a secretive half-sister. These interactions force her to confront her past insecurities, trauma, and struggles.
A wonderful re-framing of your typical crime series, the mystery-solving angle of Sharp Objects becomes secondary to exploring Camille’s past through deep character study and a brooding atmosphere. Most of all, the series will leave viewers contemplating issues like mental health and the long-term impact of one’s upbringing. While Sharp Objects can be a more challenging binge-watch as it is heavy at times, those who connect with it won’t be able to turn away.
‘We Own This City’ (2022)
Even though it’s from the creator of The Wire, We Own This City is often overlooked. The miniseries stars Jon Bernthal as Sgt. Wayne Jenkins, who is part of a corrupt Gun Task Force in Baltimore. The group uses its authority to do illegal searches, traffic drugs, and exercise brutal and extreme punishment. The series starts after their downfall, with federal investigators piecing together the case against Jenkins and his men through accounts and interviews.
The documentary-like realism approach of We Own This City delivers a realistic, unfiltered, and haunting look at abuse within the system. Here, neither side is glorified; it presents the whole system as corrupt and broken, with each altercation leaving viewers wanting more. When a TV series highlights corruption in institutions, we’re always going to then reflect on the society we have built.
‘Mare of Easttown’ (2021)
Arguably HBO’s miniseries masterpiece of the 2020’s (so far), Mare of Easttown is simple on paper: a small-town Pennsylvania detective, Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet), whose investigation of a murdered teenage girl becomes complicated. Mare, with the help of Detective Colin Zabel (Evan Peters), has to navigate personal trauma and a town harboring dark secrets.
Leading with characters that feel flawed, messy, and realistic, Mare of Easttown takes a tried-and-true murder-mystery premise and finds a tune close to perfection. The series is more than just a puzzle for Winslet’s Mare to solve; it is an emotionally rich exploration of human nature and community, which makes it difficult not to binge-watch in a single night. The earnest exploration of how a crime shakes up a community, along with the film’s shocking conclusions, ensures that Mare of Easttown will resonate with viewers long afterward.
‘The Night Of’ (2016)
In The Night Of, college student Nasir “Naz” Khan (Riz Ahmed) wakes up after a night out to find a murdered woman next to him. Unable to recall if he had any involvement, his subsequent arrest and grueling journey through the legal system always leaves that lingering question. The events place a heavy burden on Naz, and a mystery that viewers will want to stick around to see the ending.
The ambiguity of the case, whether Naz is guilty or innocent, allows for a fascinating framing of the role of the police, the legal system, and prison life. The Night Of is more focused on the process than on landing a verdict, which denies viewers a means to set their moral compass. The series will change your view of the criminal system and what justice means.
‘Telemarketers’ (2023)
This documentary miniseries, produced by the Safdie Brothers, is often overlooked, and at only three episodes, you might be able to binge-watch it alongside another entry on this list. The true-crime case follows worker Sam Lipman-Stern and journalist Pat Pespas as they expose a decades-long scam in which telemarketing companies fake charitable contributions for profit.
What makes Telemarketers bingeworthy given its subject matter? Well, most of the footage was shot during the insider investigation into the fraud, and Sam Lipman-Stern has undeniable charisma in his eccentric personality and in his tackling of corruption. Phone and online scams are nothing new, but after reflecting on how institutionalized and ignored these situations have become, you’ll look at your next phone call or e-mail with a bit more caution. Let’s not forget the Brad Pitt fan who was scammed into giving away over $800k.
‘Mildred Pierce’ (2011)
If you’re looking for a contemplative series that is a bit less grim and more prestige drama-fueled than others on the list, Mildred Pierce follows the titular single mother, Mildred (Kate Winslet), as she tries to rebuild her life as a restaurateur during the Great Depression after separating from her husband. Her goals are hindered by strained relationships and others still wielding control over her life and decisions.
Mildred Pierce delivers on a finely crafted character study, thanks to a phenomenal performance from Kate Winslet. The production truly immerses viewers in the era through fashion and aesthetics, which makes the world feel lived-in. The series delivers thought-provoking scenes as it challenges what romantic idealism, motherhood, and success mean. Parents will especially connect with the honest portrayal of how difficult sacrifice for family can be in reality.
‘The Plot Against America’ (2020)
A “what-if scenario” is almost always guaranteed to make you think about what could have been with just a few simple historical changes. In The Plot Against America, viewers are shown an alternate 1940s USA in which Charles Lindbergh defeats Franklin D. Roosevelt in the presidential race, which leads to a more authoritarian government aligned with fascist countries. The story is told through the struggles of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey who have to deal with political shifts threatening their rights and safety.
While the major catalyst is an alternative to a presidential election, The Plot Against America focuses less on the battle and its leaders and more on the impact on the people. That includes the deliberate use of sowing social division to discriminate against a group. The miniseries offers both an engrossing look at an alternate history and a thought-provoking reflection on modern-day cultural and political discourse.
HBO Max has no shortage of great miniseries on its platform, and while these are among the most thought-provoking the streaming platform offers, we want to know which ones are your favorites. What else would you recommend to fans? Let us know in the comments.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
