There are TV shows that make you emotional, and then there are TV shows that break your spirit. The HBO Max shows on this list are the darkest of the dark, and they might just make you abandon all hope in humanity. We’re not just talking about dramas that frustrate audiences, we’re focusing on the ones that really hit you where it hurts.
Sometimes, you need a good show to break your heart. Five of the shows on this list ran for multiple seasons. Four of them are limited series that manage to crush the human spirit in 10 episodes or fewer. Which one is the darkest? You’ll just have to watch and decide for yourself.
Here are 9 super dark TV shows you can watch on HBO Max right now.
9
‘The Wire’ (2002 – 2008)
Number of Seasons: 5
The Wire is an American crime drama created by David Simon, who’d go on to make Treme in 2010. The Wire explores the drug scene in Baltimore, Maryland, telling the stories of both drug dealers and law enforcement. The cast includes Dominic West (The Affair), John Doman (Gotham), Idris Elba (Luther), Frankie R. Faison (Banshee), Deirdre Lovejoy (The Blacklist), Wendell Pierce (Treme), Lance Reddick (Bosch), Andre Royo (Empire), and Sonja Sohn (Body of Proof).
While The Wire received critical acclaim pretty quickly, it has developed an even stronger following in the years since it ended. Many consider The Wire to be one of the greatest dramas of all time, painting a painful portrait of an American city and the human experience. The Wire has a 95% rating from critics and a 96% rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
8
‘The Pacific’ (2010)
Number of Seasons: 1 (Limited Series)
After the success of Band of Brothers in 2001, HBO produced The Pacific as a 10-part companion miniseries. Based on multiple memoirs, The Pacific focuses on the war experiences of Robert Leckie (James Badge Taylor), Eugene Sledge (Joseph Mazzello), and John Basilone (Jon Seda). Band of Brothers tells deeply personal human stories about allied forces fighting in the European Theater during World War II and The Pacific does the same for those fighting in the Pacific Theater.
The Pacific doesn’t just focus on the fighting, though there is plenty of it. The series examines how soldiers struggled to return home from the war — changed by what they had done and seen as well as those they lost. The Pacific received 24 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and won eight of those awards, including Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries and Outstanding Miniseries.
7
‘The Leftovers’ (2014 – 2017)
Number of Seasons: 3
The Leftovers is a supernatural drama created by Damon Lindelof (Lost) and Tom Perrotta (Little Children), based on Perrotta’s 2011 novel of the same name. The series is set three years after 2% of the human population vanished into thin air. For those who were left behind, it has been a struggle to live in a world forever changed.
The show stars Justin Theroux (Maniac), Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age), and Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who) in a cast that includes Amy Brenneman (Judging Amy), Liv Tyler (Lord of the Rings), Chris Zylka (The Secret Circle), Margaret Qualley (The Substance), Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale), Kevin Carrol (The Walking Dead), Jovan Adepo (Watchmen), and Scott Glenn (Daredevil). A grim tale of loss and survival, The Leftovers garnered strong reviews. Critics called it immersive and powerful but somber. The Leftovers was nominated for nine Critics’ Choice Awards, winning Most Exciting New Series in 2014 and Best Actress for Carrie Coon in 2016.
6
‘The Night Of’ (2016)
Number of Seasons: 1 (Limited Series)
Based on the 2008 British show Criminal Justice, The Night Of is a dark crime drama created by screenwriters Richard Price (The Wire) and Steven Zaillian (Schindler’s List). Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) stars as Nasir “Naz” Khan, a Pakistani-American college student who goes home with a woman one night only to then be accused of her murder. The cast includes John Turturro (Severance) as Naz’s attorney, as well as Michael Kenneth Williams (Lovecraft Country), Bill Camp (The Leftovers), Jeannie Berlin (Succession), Payman Maadi (A Separation), and Poorna Jagannathan (Never Have I Ever).
The Night Of examines Naz’s journey through the criminal justice system in excruciating detail, from his arrest through detainment at Rikers Island Prison while awaiting trial. The show is at times difficult to watch, especially with Ahmed’s soul-searing performance. The Night Of was nominated for 13 Primetime Emmy Awards. It won eight of those awards, including Outstanding Lead Actor for Riz Ahmed.
5
‘Sharp Objects’ (2018)
Number of Seasons: 1 (Limited Series)
Sharp Objects is a thrilling Southern Gothic mystery created by Marti Noxon (Dietland) and based on Gillian Flynn’s incredibly dark 2006 debut novel. Amy Adams (Nightbitch) stars as Camille Preaker, a crime reporter struggling with alcoholism who returns to her hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri to cover the murders of two young girls. As she returns to the place of her youth, Camille must face her own personal demons as she investigates the crimes, avoids her overbearing mother, Adora Crellin (Patricia Clarkson), and catches glimpses of her younger half-sister, Amma (Eliza Scanlen).
Sharp Objects is a brutal exploration of familial trauma and self-destruction against the backdrop of a haunting mystery. It’s gorgeously shot with exceptional performances, including a career-best performance from Adams. Sharp Objects received eight Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Patricia Clarkson won a Golden Globe for her performance, and Amy Adams won a Critics’ Choice Award for playing Camille Preaker.
4
‘Chernobyl’ (2019)
Number of Seasons: 1 (Limited Series)
Written and created by Craig Mazin (The Last of Us), Chernobyl is an absolutely gutting drama based on the infamous 1986 nuclear plant disaster in the Soviet Union. Told in just five episodes, the miniseries stars Jared Harris (The Crown), Stellan Skarsgård (Dune), Emily Watson (Dune: Prophecy), Paul Ritter (The Last Kingdom), Jessie Buckley (Taboo), Adam Nagaitis (The Terror), Robert Emms (Andor), and Sam Troughton (The Ritual).
The first episode of Chernobyl is perhaps the most difficult single episode of any series to watch on television. Seeing the effects of radiation exposure is horrifying, especially since the audience knows what is happening before the characters do. Chernobyl won 10 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Writing for Craig Mazin, Outstanding Directing for Jonah Renck, and Outstanding Limited Series.
3
‘Euphoria’ (2019 – Present)
Number of Seasons: 2 and Counting
Created by Sam Levinson (The Idol), Euphoria is a psychological drama about teens living in California. Zendaya (Dune) stars as narrator Ruby “Rue” Bennett, a queer teenager struggling with addiction and depression. The cast features Hunter Schafer (Cuckoo), Maude Apatow (The King of Staten Island), Sydney Sweeney (Immaculate), Alexa Demie (Mid90s), Barbie Ferreira (Bob Trevino Likes It), Angus Cloud (Abigail), Jacob Elordi (Saltburn), Austin Abrams (Weapons), Storm Reid (The Nun II), Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy), and Colman Domingo (The Four Seasons).
The show is known for tackling incredibly adult themes, exploring mental health, addiction, and sexual autonomy. The series has won nine Primetime Emmy Awards, with Zendaya winning Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2020 and 2022. Her performance as Rue has been hailed as a triumph. Euphoria is expected to return on HBO for its third and final season in 2026.
2
‘Perry Mason’ (2020 – 2023)
Number of Seasons: 2
Perry Mason is a historical crime drama based on the fictional character created by Erle Stanley Gardner. Matthew Rhys (Towards Zero) stars in the title role as a private investigator in the 1930s who becomes a lawyer while trying to defend a woman accused of having her own son killed. The cast for Season 1 features the talents of Juliet Rylance (The Knick), Chris Chalk (The Newsroom), Shea Whigham (Boardwalk Empire), Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Gayle Rankin (House of the Dragon), Robert Patrick (From Dusk till Dawn: The Series), Lili Taylor (Six Feet Under), and John Lithgow (Conclave).
Perry Mason is a dark, brooding character in a dark, brooding tale. The first season’s focus on the death of a young child is harrowing. It is also set against the backdrop of the Great Depression. Perry Mason was nominated for six Primetime Emmy Awards across two seasons. Rhys was also nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award, a Golden Globe, and a Satellite Award.
1
‘The Last of Us’ (2023 – Present)
Number of Seasons: 2 and Counting
Based on the hit video game, The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic drama created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. The show is set in the aftermath of a global pandemic that has decimated civilization. Game of Thrones alum Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal star as Ellie and Joel. Ellie is a teenager immune to the infection who might just be the key to developing a cure. Joel is the hardened survivor tasked with protecting Ellie, who over time reminds him of the daughter he lost when the pandemic first began.
The Last of Us is heartbreaking, poignant, and at times ruthless. Season 2 is particularly devastating. The show has won eight Primetime Emmy Awards for Season 2, including Outstanding Guest Actress for Storm Reid and Outstanding Guest Actor for Nick Offerman. It has an 83% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Season 3 of The Last of Us is expected to return sometime in 2027.
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