HBO’s 8-Part Crime Thriller Is One Of Its Best For An Easy Weekend Binge

HBO’s acclaimed 8-part crime thriller, which won 9 Emmys in 2024, remains one of the best series on the streaming platform for an easy weekend binge. Between its outstanding performances led by Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti, its gritty crime tone with gangster elements, and its remarkably epic ability to make a decades-old franchise feel fresh and exciting, it’s an absolute must-watch on HBO Max.

Before her breakout performances and first Emmy win for this celebrated HBO crime thriller, Milioti was previously best known for her roles in series like Black Mirror, most notably its fan-favorite episode “USS Callister,” as well as movies like Palm Springs, often considered one of the best romantic comedies of the 2020s. Even though this 8-part series has faded from the spotlight, it’s still worth an easy binge now.

HBO’s The Penguin Remains One Of Its Best Crime Thrillers

The Penguin remains one of the best crime thriller series worth streaming on HBO Max. Thanks to its limited 8-episode run, with each episode ranging from 46 to 68 minutes long, The Penguin is not only one of the best HBO miniseries ever made, but it also serves as an ideal choice for a weekend-long binge. Too long for a one-night watch and too short to last a full week, The Penguin is about as good as it gets for a weekend binge-watch on HBO Max.

A direct sequel to 2022’s The Batman starring Robert Pattinson, which introduced Farrell as the titular anti-hero protagonist, The Penguin far exceeded expectations by becoming one of HBO’s most renowned miniseries of all time. In fact, you don’t have to be much of a Batman fan, or really need to have seen the 2022 film, to enjoy and access The Penguin, which is a spectacular feat in and of itself.

The Penguin is a tragic origin story of one of the most notorious villains in the DC Extended Universe. Famously portrayed by Danny DeVito in 1992’s Batman Returns, The Penguin gets a more gritty and realistic portrayal in the HBO version. The story follows Oswald ‘Oz’ Cobb, who begins as a mid-level mobster and builds himself up as a criminal kingpin in the fictional Gotham City. The show starts just days after the ending of The Batman, so it is preferred to watch the film before diving into The Penguin.

Compared to just about any movie or show in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Penguin feels nothing like a “superhero” or “supervillain” type of series. It’s firmly entrenched in realism with heightened crime and gangster elements, likening it more to other HBO crime series like The Sopranos or The Wire than, say, The Avengers. The Penguin is also not entirely about crime, but also complex family dynamics, particularly between Oz and his mother, Francis (Deirdre O’Connell).

The Penguin Is Still Worth An Easy 8-Part Weekend Binge

Fans of crime dramas have likely already seen The Penguin due to its streaming success in 2024, but it might be time to revisit the series nearly two years after its premiere, since it is well worth a present-day rewatch. Surprisingly, there are still no confirmed plans for a second season even though it’s undoubtedly one of HBO’s most successful new shows of the 2020s. That said, expanding the 95% Rotten Tomatoes series seems like a no-brainer, if Farrell’s schedule allows for it.

There’s also the possibility that The Penguin will become the first in an anthology series of infamous Batman villains. Most notably, Barry Keoghan was briefly introduced as the Joker at the end of The Batman, so there could be potential for a Joker-specific series at HBO rather than a second season of The Penguin. Regardless of what ends up happening with the revitalized Batman universe, The Penguin will continue to stand as one of HBO’s all-time great series to enjoy for a weekend binge.