Best TV shows to watch on Sky Box Sets right now

Ranging from hard-hitting drama to side-splitting comedy, there should be something for everyone in our edit of the best box sets below - but if nothing takes your fancy, you can always check out our guides to the best movies on Netflix, best Netflix TV series guides and the best movies on Amazon Prime right now.

Based on a True Story

This talked-about comedic thriller certainly taps into society’s obsession with true crime and follows a realtor, a former tennis star and a plumber whose lives unexpectedly collide.

Starring Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina, we follow married couple Ava and Nathan whose dreams are far from being a reality and start to believe that their plumber is an infamous serial killer on the loose.

With season 2 confirmed and on its way to us in the near future, now is the perfect time to get caught up with the show and is the perfect binge-watch with each episode totalling to around the 30 minute mark.

Watch Based on a True Story on Sky

Funny Woman

Based on Funny Girl, the best-selling novel by Nick Hornby, Funny Woman landed on screens back in February 2023 and stars Gemma Arterton as Barbara Parker. We follow Barbara from being a Blackpool beauty queen to comedy superstar and nation’s sweetheart, finding her voice in the male-dominated world of 60s sitcoms.

The series, which is almost like a sitcom within a comedy, explores the journey that Barbara takes in order to become an understood woman in the world of comedy. At a time when women were only confined to a certain social archetype, Barbara makes the journey to London to set out to be someone – but comes across her fair share of hurdles in doing so.

Watch Funny Woman on Sky

The White Lotus

Have you ever stayed in a hotel resort and been left to wonder about each and every one of the guests you're effectively living amongst? Well, The White Lotus takes that notion to the nth degree and gives us a no holds barred look into the guests who are staying at the luxury five-star resort of the same name. While season 1 was very much centred on the theme of wealth and tourism impacting local cultures, season 2 was all about sex and sexuality set against the backdrop of a mysterious murder.

The great thing about the series is that apart from the now departed Jennifer Coolidge, the cast of this hit show is fresh each time round, giving us new stories, drama and twists to wrap our heads around. With the upcoming season set to take place in Thailand, there's no better time than ever to get acquainted with the series if you haven't binge-watched it already because once you start, you definitely won't be able to tear your eyes away.

Watch The White Lotus on Sky

Succession

Screen critics and viewers around the globe agree: Succession is one of the best TV shows on the planet right now. Nominated for a staggering 18 Emmys, the darkly comic drama from Jesse Armstrong is packed with pathos, sharp dialogue and cutting satire not to be missed.

The characters? Virtually all deeply unlikable members of the Roy family, a group seemingly modelled on the modern Murdoch media moguls. They’re headed by gruff patriarch Logan Roy (Brian Cox), a billionaire who must pick his successor to his business empire.

With the drama ramping up every minute, viewers are rewarded with rich returns by the end of each episode.

Watch Succession on Sky

Westworld

The dystopian thriller is one of Sky's big hits. Westworld is a theme park for those with money, and a lot of it. There are a bunch of semi-intelligent robots that the rich guests talk to and interact with, and yes, have sex with, and even kill. Anything is allowed to happen here, but the robots have started to become conscious and aren't happy with the set up...

Watch Westworld on Sky

Chernobyl

Horrifying, heart-wrenching and quite simply one of the best dramas produced in recent years, Chernobyl dramatizes the 1986 Ukrainian nuclear disaster and its aftermath at the titular power station.

As visually stunning as it is gripping, its mesmerising ensemble cast including Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgard, Emily Watson, Jessie Buckley and Paul Ritter guide viewers through the tragedy – and the incompetence and culture of denial that caused it. Truly unflinching and unforgettable TV.

When you're done with the series there's The Real Chernobyl to get stuck into. The documentary takes a look at the real story behind the drama taking you to the power plant to reveal the impact on the area through the eyes of the survivors.

Watch Chernobyl on Sky

Game of Thrones

Sure, its eighth and final season divided fans and critics alike. But there’s no denying this fantasy epic – a story of seven warring kingdoms, based on the books by George RR Martin – was the world’s number one show for a reason. Not only does it create a fully-realised medieval world still unmatched in TV drama, but Thrones combines this with elegant storytelling and meticulously-plotted character arcs.

Throw in standout performances from the likes of Sean Bean, Peter Dinklage, Emilia Clarke and Lena Headey and you’ve got a show that will be fondly remembered for decades to come.

Watch Game of Thrones on Sky

True Detective

On the face of it, it may look like just another anthology crime drama, each season following different detectives solving a heinous crime. But there’s nothing by-the-numbers about True Detective.

Alongside pitch-perfect scripts and stories spanning decades, its A-list cast serve up jaw-droppingly good performances – season one’s Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, in particular. Despite a misguided dramatic turn from Vince Vaughn (yes, that Vince Vaughn from Dodgeball) in season two, True Detective is nothing but an acting masterclass.

Watch True Detective on Sky

The Sopranos

It’s hard to understate the importance of The Sopranos when it first aired in 1999. This expertly-crafted, well-acted character-led series showed what TV was capable of, turning the idiot box into an art form.

The late James Gandolfini undeniably played a huge part in this, his role as therapy-seeking New Jersey crime boss Anthony Soprano anchoring the drama’s moving and darkly comic tone. However, the writing is the real hero, gifting audiences sharp dialogue and thought-provoking, surprising and compelling storytelling simply not seen before or since.

Watch The Sopranos on Sky

Watchmen

HBO's series based on the 1987 DC comic comes from the mind of Lost creator Damon Lindelof. A few changes were made from the comic – for starters, the series is set 34 years after the comic book series. Regina King stars in this slick, modern take on a common issue; racial tension. The superheroes in the series have been outlawed because of their often violent approach to tackling criminals. The series is set in 2019 and follows the uprising of a white supremacist group in Oklahoma in the USA. King is an absolute treat to watch. Even if you aren't a superhero fan you'll find yourself gripped by the compelling story.

Watch Watchmen on Sky

The Wire

Rightly touted as a masterpiece of TV storytelling by most critics, The Wire tells a multi-layered tale of crime from the perspectives of law-breakers and police in modern Baltimore. Each ambitious series unfolds slowly, opening up a screen novel for viewers that climaxes in some of the most nail-biting scenes ever aired. Matched with stellar performances from Idris Elba, Dominic West and Michael K Williams, all five seasons are a must-watch for any TV viewer.

Watch The Wire on Sky

Band of Brothers

If you've not seen this classic yet, get ready for a treat. Band of Brothers tells the story of the 101st Airborne Division in one of the best takes on World War II for the small screen. You'll spot a few familiar faces in the background too - look out for Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy and Simon Pegg. Damien Lewis stars as the lead character in this must-see series.

Watch Band of Brothers on Sky

VEEP

After satirising the inner workings of the British Government in The Thick of It, comedy-writer Armando Iannucci turned his attention across the pond to the political machinations of The White House for this sweary American series. Veep follows former US senator Selina Mayer as she finds out becoming Vice President of the United States isn't quite what she expected - and instead of trying to leave a legacy is instead caught up in political games.

Watch Veep on Sky

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Larry David's post-Seinfeld success story, this long-running comedy series sees David once again tackle the minutiae of American daily social life. Hilariously meta and mostly improvised, David plays a fictionalised version of himself who routinely breaks social conventions, is often the victim of awkward misunderstandings and just can't hide his annoyance of other people. The show's many notable guest stars often play themselves too - look out for several of David's old Seinfeld co-stars.

Watch Curb Your Enthusiasm on Sky

Parks and Recreation

Created by The Office US scribes Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, it's no wonder that Parks and Rec went on to become one of the most widely acclaimed comedies on TV during its seven-season run. Following the comical misadventures of the Parks Department of a fictional Indiana town, the political satire was so good that it attracted a few real-life politician guest stars - including John McCain, Joe Biden and even Michelle Obama. Not to knock the regular cast, however - a who's who of Hollywood, the show helped launch the careers of Chris Pratt, Amy Poehler, Aziz Anzari, Nick Offerman and Billy Eichner.

Watch Parks and Rec on Sky

Twin Peaks

If there was ever a series more bingeable than Twin Peaks, we're yet to find it. This murder mystery is set in an out of the way US town that isn't used to crime, let alone murder. The FBI is called in given the unusual nature of young Laura Palmer's death. This is far from a straight orward crime series, so expect a lot of weirdness from dream sequences to demonic leanings. There's also the newer series, Twin Peaks: The Return, released in 2017, set 25 years after the '90s original.

Watch Twin Peaks on Sky

30 Rock

Another semi-autobiographical sitcom, comedy darling Tina Fey parodies the TV production process in this landmark comedy. Along with the likes of Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan, Fey stars as the wonderfully named Liz Lemon who must deal with arrogant bosses, unreliable actors and her own tumultuous personal life all while trying to make a successful TV show. Known for its manic pacing, heavy use of cutaway gags and high attention to detail, 30 Rock won widespread critical acclaim and several Emmys - and has one of the most satisfying finales in recent memory.

Watch 30 Rock on Sky

Billions

Another stylish corporate drama, Billions takes the seemingly impenetrable world of insider trading and hedge funds and somehow turns it into several seasons of compelling drama. Based on real-life events, Billions follows US Attorney Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) as he attempts to prosecute hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod (Damien Lewis), whose money-making tactics aren't entirely legal. Often praised for its hyper-realistic portrayal of financial crime, Billions is for fans of crime drama and economics alike.

Watch Billions on Sky

Save Me

Written by and starring The Walking Dead's Lennie James, this dark drama follows down-and-out Nelly who embarks on a tireless quest when his estranged daughter goes missing. Packed with British talent including Suranne Jones, Stephen Graham and Jason Flemyng, Save Me is a hidden gem in Sky's schedules - we gave the latest series a five-star review.

Watch Save Me on Sky

Fortitude

Ever wondered how crime is solved in the Arctic Circle? Well, wonder no more thanks to this British take on the Scandi-noir, which makes full use of its isolated Arctic setting to up the tension in this psychological thriller. When the tight-knit community of Fortitude experiences its first murder, police officers suspect each other, temperatures plummet and secrets are unveiled...

Watch Fortitude on Sky

Big Little Lies

Big Little Lies is one of those shows riding the wave of Hollywood stars keen to star in TV dramas following Game of Thrones, and we're not complaining when it means we get to see Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon alongside Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz and, in season two, Meryl Streep. The drama is based on the book of the same name and tells the story of young mum Jane (Woodley) who moves to a new area with just her son in tow. Madeline (Witherspoon) latches on to the newcomer along with her friend Celeste (Kidman), but things soon take a turn and end in a murder. The original HBO series is a captivating thriller with plenty of twists and turns. If you like your characters rich and dressed to the nines but struggling with all their repressed secrets then this is for you. Expect to feel tense.

Watch Big Little Lies on Sky

Kidding

Starring a perfectly-cast Jim Carrey, Kidding follows a beloved children's television presenter who struggles to retain his sanity after a family tragedy. Featuring Carrey's token manic humour - as television personality Mr. Pickles - but also allowing him to showcase his dramatic chops when Mr. Pickles' family life implodes, Kidding pushes black comedy to its absolute limit.

Watch Kidding on Sky

Boardwalk Empire

Directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Steve Buscemi and budgeted at $18million - and that's just the first episode. Before Peaky Blinders came along, Boardwalk Empire proved that period gangster drama could work on the small screen - and did so in a big way. Through five acclaimed seasons, Buscemi's Nucky Thomson schemed against mobsters and politicians alike, including a few real-life historical figures - look out for Stephen Graham's Al Capone.

Watch Boardwalk Empire on Sky

Dexter

We can pretty much all agree killers aren’t the nicest people. But what about a killer than only kills serial killers – could they ever be a good person? That’s the question posed by this crime drama that sees Michael C Hall play police blood splatter analyst by day and murderer of murderers by night. Compelling, elegant, yet unforgivingly campy at times, Dexter is both chillingly grotesque and darkly hilarious.

Watch Dexter on Sky

The Blacklist

James Spader stars as former US Navy officer turned master criminal Raymond 'Red' Reddington. After eluding the FBI for decades, he finally turns himself in, telling operatives that he has a list of the world's most dangerous criminals. He is willing to turn informer on them if he is made immune from prosecution - but he has one unusual condition. He will only work with rookie criminal profiler Elizabeth (Megan Boone), a woman to whom he seemingly has no obvious connection.

Watch The Blacklist on Sky

Sex and the City

If the recent season of And Just Like That... has got you reminiscing over Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and the much-missed Samantha's antics, then why not revisit HBO's ground-breaking comedy drama, based on the columns by Candace Bushnell? Yes, you'll end up feeling a little perplexed as to how Carrie can afford her central Manhattan apartment by writing a few hundred words every once in a while, but the show remains a breezy, funny watch.

Watch Sex and the City on Sky

Not got Sky? Find out more about Sky's new TV in our What is Sky Glass explainer. If you’re looking for something to watch on TV tonight or what to watch now then check out our TV guide.

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