10 Great HBO Thriller Series That Are Totally Unpredictable

Ever notice how even friends who claim they don’t watch much TV often have HBO? Or how people who were tired of complex dramas after shows like Breaking Bad still binge-watch new series? HBO has a knack for making TV feel like a smart and worthwhile way to spend your time. And honestly, maybe it is.

HBO became a television powerhouse with hits like The Sopranos and Game of Thrones, shows that truly changed the landscape of TV. However, what often gets overlooked is HBO’s talent for creating genuinely unsettling thrillers. These aren’t the over-the-top, twist-filled dramas, but slow-paced, atmospheric thrillers where the most frightening moments often come from seemingly ordinary interactions.

HBO thrillers often excel at building suspense in a way many newer streaming shows miss. They understand the power of keeping secrets, creating ambiguous characters, and slowly revealing the plot – hooking you in before you even realize it. We decided to revisit HBO’s past to find ten thrillers that consistently keep you guessing.

10
‘We Own This City’ (2022)

HBO

With public conversation about police corruption already worn out and many feeling disillusioned, HBO released We Own This City. Despite the fatigue surrounding the topic, the show stands out as one of the network’s most realistically unsettling dramas in recent memory. It tells the story of the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force, a group so deeply involved in corruption that their actions seem unbelievable—until you realize it’s all based on real events.

Jon Bernthal delivers a compelling performance as Sergeant Wayne Jenkins, a character who is both captivating and deeply flawed. We Own This City isn’t a mystery about who did something, because the show reveals what happened right away. Instead, the tension comes from how it subverts typical storylines – you won’t get a neat resolution with a hero exposing corruption or the system fixing itself. Creator David Simon excels at showing how large institutions fail on a human level, and he does so powerfully in this series.

9
‘Perry Mason’ (2020 – 2023)

HBO

The new HBO series Perry Mason isn’t the polished lawyer you remember from old TV. This version takes us back to Los Angeles during the Great Depression, showing Matthew Rhys as a troubled private investigator before he became a famous lawyer. The first season centers around a shocking kidnapping, but instead of being overly dramatic, it’s dark, moody, and realistic.

This season gradually introduces new characters and plot twists. Tatiana Maslany joins the cast as Sister Alice, a preacher whose story unexpectedly connects with Mason’s. What’s unique about this revival is its blend of different genres – it feels like a historical crime drama, a legal thriller, and an in-depth look at its characters, sometimes even exploring themes of faith. Then, in Season 2, the show completely changes direction with a new mystery and a different feel.

8
‘Big Little Lies’ (2017 – 2019)

At first glance, Big Little Lies seems like a glamorous murder mystery about affluent women in Monterey, California. However, the HBO series – directed by Jean-Marc Vallée and adapted from Liane Moriarty’s book – is actually much more complex and disturbing. The story begins by revealing that someone died at a school event, then unravels the events leading up to it. Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley deliver consistently strong performances, but Nicole Kidman as Celeste is particularly captivating.

Throughout most of its episodes, Big Little Lies skillfully keeps you guessing about a death – who was killed, who did it, and if finding out will even be satisfying. The show is masterful at leading you astray. While the mystery grabs your attention, the real story unfolds in unexpected places, and by the time the finale arrives, the reveal of both the victim and the killer feels incredibly powerful.

7
‘The Wire’ (2002 – 2008)

Image via HBO

While often called a thriller, The Wire is much more complex. Its stories unfold slowly, building intense tension and suspense. Each season offers a detailed look at a different part of Baltimore – the drug trade, the docks, politics, schools, and the news media. The show is grounded by strong performances from Dominic West as Jimmy McNulty, Idris Elba as Stringer Bell, and Michael K. Williams as the iconic Omar Little. Unlike many crime dramas, The Wire focuses not on action, but on how institutions impact the lives of individuals.

Unlike most TV shows, The Wire doesn’t follow typical formulas. Important characters can die unexpectedly, investigations can fall apart, and even when there’s a win, it doesn’t always feel satisfying. Moments like Omar’s testimony, what happens to Stringer, and the difficult storylines involving the kids in Season 4 are all unsettling. However, after watching all five seasons, you start to recognize this pattern, and the show’s unpredictability becomes more impactful over time.

6
‘Sharp Objects’ (2018)

HBO

The eight-episode series Sharp Objects, based on Gillian Flynn’s novel, fully utilizes its length to tell a compelling story. It centers on Camille Parker, a journalist portrayed by Amy Adams, who goes back to her hometown in Missouri to report on the murders of two girls. However, as Camille investigates, she’s forced to confront her past and difficult family relationships, and the case itself takes a backseat to her personal struggles.

Amy Adams gives a remarkable performance as a woman deeply wounded, both openly and secretly. Patricia Clarkson is equally compelling as her mother, Adora, creating a uniquely unsettling presence. Director Jean-Marc Vallée uses a fragmented, dreamlike style, making each episode feel like a journey into the protagonist’s mind, where a sense of threat always lingers.

5
‘The Night Of’ (2016)

Craig Blankenhorn/©HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection

The series The Night Of begins with one poor choice and then challenges the notion that simply telling the truth will set things right. When college student Nasir Khan, portrayed by Riz Ahmed, is accused of murder following a chaotic night, the show doesn’t focus on solving the crime. Instead, it explores how systems and institutions process individuals caught within them.

The series creates a relentlessly disorienting experience, moving from police stations to jail to the courtroom, all feeling like a deliberate attempt to exhaust the viewer. John Turturro delivers a compelling performance as a world-weary lawyer, offering both sympathy and skepticism. Just when you think you know what happened, the story shifts, and the ending doesn’t offer easy answers.

4
‘Oz’ (1997 – 2003)

HBO

Before HBO became known for high-quality dramas, Oz was already a groundbreaking show. Set in a unique experimental unit within Oswald State Correctional Facility, it plunges viewers into a harsh and violent world where loyalties change quickly and there’s little sense of right or wrong. The show constantly challenges characters like Tobias Beecher, Kareem Said, and Simon Adebisi, and the narration by Augustus Hill gives the intense scenes a dramatic flair.

As a critic, I can tell you this show isn’t pretty – it’s raw, often chaotic, and deeply, messily human. What really grabbed me was its willingness to shock; just when you started rooting for someone to turn their life around, they were gone, often in a really brutal way. By the end, Oz delivered a harsh truth: no one is safe, nothing is certain, and the idea of a stable, predictable world? Forget about it. It’s a show that really messes with your expectations, and honestly, I loved it.

3
‘True Detective’ (2014 – Present)

HBO

In the thriller True Detective, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson journey through the Louisiana bayou, pondering philosophical questions while tracking a serial killer. The show goes beyond its basic plot by creating a powerful atmosphere. It jumps between 1995, when the investigation began, and a 2012 interrogation, intentionally avoiding a typical pace. Instead, it prioritizes creating a sense of mood, myth, and suspense.

The first season of True Detective doesn’t offer a very satisfying resolution to its central mystery. Season two explores the dark side of California, and season three follows Mahershala Ali as a troubled detective in Arkansas. What makes the show exciting isn’t necessarily solving the crimes, but the way each season changes its atmosphere and storytelling style – even if those changes sometimes push viewers away. Ultimately, True Detective suggests that the most compelling mysteries aren’t about the answer, but about the draining process of the investigation itself.

2
‘Task’ (2025 – Present)

Premiering in 2025, HBO’s Task is a fast-paced, thrilling series that quickly stands out from the crowd. Created by Brad Ingelsby, the show features Mark Ruffalo as an FBI agent heading a team dedicated to fighting violent crime in the neighborhoods of Philadelphia. The series focuses on the people and places of the city, painting a picture of a community marked by hardship, strong bonds, and deep-rooted conflicts.

Mark Ruffalo delivers a powerful performance, portraying a man deeply aware of the consequences of his choices. As the story unfolds, the distinction between upholding the law and taking advantage of situations becomes increasingly unclear. Critics have overwhelmingly praised the show, giving it a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and calling it a gripping, though often dark, story rooted in a specific culture.

1
‘The Leftovers’ (2014 – 2017)

HBO

The TV series The Leftovers starts with a strange occurrence: 2% of the world’s people suddenly disappear. The show follows those left behind as they struggle with loss, questions of faith, and trying to understand the unexplainable. Created by Damon Lindelof, it ran for three seasons and became known for taking bold risks with its storytelling, sometimes confusing viewers and other times deeply moving them. The show features incredible performances from a talented cast, including Justin Theroux, Carrie Coon, and Regina King.

What sets this series apart from typical thrillers is its constantly changing style. Each episode feels different – one might be a classic mystery, another a thought-provoking fable, and another a surreal, dreamlike experience. As the show progresses, it becomes increasingly unpredictable, with the creator embracing symbolism. The series finale is famously controversial because it doesn’t offer easy answers, instead choosing to leave things open to interpretation. This willingness to be ambiguous is what makes it one of HBO’s most daring thrillers.

What’s your pick for HBO’s most unpredictable thriller? Comment below!

Quiz

5 Questions

Test Your Thrill Meter: HBO’s Most Unpredictable Shows

Your Top Score

—

Attempts

—

Report Error

Found an error? Send it info@movieweb.com so it can be corrected.

2026-02-26 05:06

10 ‘We Own This City’ (2022)

9 ‘Perry Mason’ (2020 – 2023)

8 ‘Big Little Lies’ (2017 – 2019)

7 ‘The Wire’ (2002 – 2008)

6 ‘Sharp Objects’ (2018)

5 ‘The Night Of’ (2016)

4 ‘Oz’ (1997 – 2003)

3 ‘True Detective’ (2014 – Present)

2 ‘Task’ (2025 – Present)

1 ‘The Leftovers’ (2014 – 2017)

Read More