Showtime is a major player in cable television. While it doesn't quite have the prestige of an HBO or the popularity of an AMC, it has nevertheless become a household mainstay thanks to its strong lineup of television shows. Many shows that have aired on Showtime have gone on to enjoy incredible success, both in of popularity and critical evaluation. Some have even become iconic mainstays of popular culture.
They can't all be winners of course, but Showtime's greatest dramas are well-renowned within critical television circles, as is evident by their strong ratings on IMDb. These are the best of them all.
Patrick Melrose (2018): 8.1/10
Part drama, part black comedy, Patrick Melrose is a show about overcoming the past. Benedict Cumberbatch plays the titular character, a man who has been traumatized by a past that includes a negligent mother and an abusive father.
The miniseries ran on Showtime throughout the spring of 2018 and earned acclaim primarily for Cumberbatch's performance, as it's easily one of Cumberbatch's best roles. The series scored five Emmy nominations and walked away with two BAFTAs for Best Actor and Best Mini-Series.
The Tudors (2007-10): 8.1/10
One of Showtime's first "big" shows, The Tudors ran for four seasons throughout the tail end of the 2000s. While the show is ostensibly based around the reign of King Henry VIII, many elements of its story have been fictionalized and exaggerated for dramatic purposes.
Despite The Tudors being a historically inaccurate series, it nevertheless received strong viewership and decent reviews. It received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Drama Series and it won two Creative Arts Emmys for Outstanding Costumes and Outstanding Main Title Theme Music.
Yellowjackets (2021-): 8.1/10
One of Lost part Lord of the Flies, as it concerns a high school soccer team who crash land in the Northern wilderness and eventually begin eating each other.
A "present" storyline is told concurrently involving some of the survivors and a blackmailer. The series has earned acclaim for its mysterious story and strong acting, and it promises to be one of the most exciting shows of recent years.
Penny Dreadful (2014-16): 8.2/10
This horror series is named after penny dreadfuls, a type of cheap, mass-produced horror novel produced in England during the 19th century. The show's tone and characters are in keeping with the theme, starring the likes of Dorian Gray, Frankenstein's monster, and Abraham Van Helsing.
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The series earned widespread acclaim for its production values, earning numerous Creative Arts Emmy nominations and winning BAFTAs for its makeup, hair styling, music, and production design.
Californication (2007-14): 8.3/10
Following Californication stars Duchovny as Hank Moody, a hard-living novelist suffering from writer's block in California.
The show is primarily carried by Duchovny's incredible performance, which earned him four Golden Globe nominations (and one win). The series has also been praised for its warm and inviting photography, which twice won the Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography.
Ray Donovan (2013-20): 8.3/10
A thrilling crime drama, Ray Donovan is one of Showtime's most popular programs. Liev Schreiber stars as the titular character, a fixer who performs various illegal activities for his rich and famous clientele. He also clashes with his violent father Mickey Donovan after he is released from prison.
The show has earned consistent acclaim for its acting and character writing. Jon Voight scored two nominations for Outstanding ing Actor in a Drama Series, and Liev Schreiber earned three nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor.
Homeland (2011-20): 8.3/10
believe that the Showtime series was ruined, others believe that it was consistent throughout. Regardless, its legacy has been firmly established.
It received 98 award nominations and 35 wins throughout its run, including eight Emmy awards. Awards were given out for its editing, casting, writing (x2), and acting (1 for Damian Lewis, 2 for Claire Danes), and it won the main award of Outstanding Drama Series in its very first year.
Billions (2016-): 8.4/10
The premise of Billions doesn't exactly sound enticing, but it makes for wonderful viewing regardless. Damian Lewis stars as hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod, a ruthless and powerful man who accrues wealth through various illegal means. The man pursuing him is United States Attorney Chuck Rhoades, played by the always wonderful Paul Giamatti.
The series has earned good reviews throughout its run and scored two Critics' Choice Television Awards nominations in 2018 - Best Actor in a Drama Series for Giamatti and Best ing Actor for Asia Kate Dillon. The latter performance is particularly notable, as it made Billions the first American show to star a non-binary character.
Shameless (2011-21): 8.5/10
Shameless is one of the most successful American shows to be adapted from a British program. The original aired on Channel 4 between 2004 and 2013, and the American remake saw 11 full seasons before coming to an end in 2021.
The story centers around Frank Gallagher, an absentee blue collar father who neglects his six children. The series earned 16 Emmy nominations throughout its run, with many of them going towards the show's stunt team and actors William H. Macy and Joan Cusack. Cusack earned four nominations, and Macy earned six.
Dexter (2006-13): 8.6/10
Dexter is indisputably the King of Showtime. It is by far the network's most successful drama in of pop culture importance, and its first four seasons are still considered some of the best television ever made. Unfortunately, the show devolved over time and ran too long, resulting in a disappointing ending.
Regardless, the ending does not overshadow the show's legacy. It was nominated for 19 Emmy awards and won a Peabody for Excellence in Television in 2007. There was simply nothing else like it at the time, and it remains Showtime's signature program.