X
  • 2002
  • TV-14
  • HBO
  • 2002
  • TV-14
  • HBO
The Wire

Summary In chronicling a multi-generational family business dealing illegal drugs and the efforts of the Baltimore police to curb their trade, this series draws parallels between these organizations and the men and women on either side of the battle.The words of Gary W. Potter, Professor of Criminal Justice and Police Studies at Eastern Kentucky...

Created By: David Simon

  • 2002
  • TV-14
  • HBO
  • 2002
  • TV-14
  • HBO

The Wire

5 Seasons
Season 1 Premiere: Jun 2, 2002
Metascore Universal Acclaim Based on 95 Critic Reviews
must-watch
91
User Score Universal Acclaim Based on 2,607 User Ratings
9.0
My Score
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Where to Watch

Summary In chronicling a multi-generational family business dealing illegal drugs and the efforts of the Baltimore police to curb their trade, this series draws parallels between these organizations and the men and women on either side of the battle.The words of Gary W. Potter, Professor of Criminal Justice and Police Studies at Eastern Kentucky...

Created By: David Simon

Where to Watch

All Seasons

5 Seasons

Top Cast

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Dominic West

Detective James 'Jimmy' McNulty, Officer James 'Jimmy' McNulty

Lance Reddick

Lieutenant Cedric Daniels, Major Cedric Daniels, Colonel Cedric Daniels

Sonja Sohn

Detective Shakima 'Kima' Greggs

Wendell Pierce

Detective William 'Bunk' Moreland

John Doman

Deputy Commissioner for Operations William A. Rawls, Major William A. Rawls, Colonel William A. Rawls

Deirdre Lovejoy

A.S.A. Rhonda Pearlman

Seth Gilliam

Sergeant Ellis Carver, Detective Ellis Carver

Domenick Lombardozzi

Detective Thomas 'Herc' Hauk, Thomas 'Herc' Hauk, Sergeant Thomas 'Herc' Hauk

Clarke Peters

Detective Lester Freamon

Andre Royo

Reginald 'Bubbles' Cousins

Michael Kenneth Williams

Omar Little

Jim True-Frost

Detective Roland 'Prez' Pryzbylewski, Roland 'Prez' Pryzbylewski

Frankie Faison

Acting Commissioner Ervin H. Burrell, Commissioner Ervin H. Burrell, Deputy Commissioner for Operations Ervin H. Burrell

Corey Parker Robinson

Detective Leander Sydnor

Delaney Williams

Sergeant Jay Landsman

J.D. Williams

Preston 'Bodie' Broadus

Wood Harris

Avon Barksdale

Idris Elba

Russell 'Stringer' Bell

Aidan Gillen

Councilman Thomas 'Tommy' Carcetti, Mayor Thomas 'Tommy' Carcetti

Jamie Hector

Marlo Stanfield

View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 95 Critic Reviews
91
96% Positive
91 Reviews
4% Mixed
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 95 Critic Reviews
91
96% Positive
91 Reviews
4% Mixed
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
Jul 18, 2013
Those along for the ride since the beginning have rightly come to savor this as one of TV's premier hours --- a meticulously written, superbly acted program that demands undivided attention. [16 Sep 2004]
By Brian Lowry FULL REVIEW
100
Jul 18, 2013
It's flat-out brilliant. [1 Jun 2003]
By Bill Goodykoontz FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 2,607 User Ratings
9.0
92% Positive
2402 Ratings
2% Mixed
44 Ratings
6% Negative
161 Ratings

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 2,607 User Ratings
9.0
92% Positive
2402 Ratings
2% Mixed
44 Ratings
6% Negative
161 Ratings

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
10
egoBorder
Feb 8, 2024
An epic story about how a city functions, its scope unprecedented media. Its quality is high throughout
Report
10
keithtp
Dec 16, 2023
Incredible series, very well written story and acting is over the top! Loved it!
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100
If you stick with it, you will be rewarded with some of the most compelling, provocative drama ever produced for television.
By Charlie McCollum FULL REVIEW
90
Jul 18, 2013
An immensely satisfying - and immensely complicated - police drama. [31 May 2003]
By Jonathan Storm FULL REVIEW
90
The fans, no doubt, will be content with the conclusion of the brutal street politics--usually the best aspect of each season--as we witness a brilliantly stormy resolution of the unrest between Proposition Joe (Robert F. Chew), Marlo Stanfield (Jamie Hector), who continues to expand his power, and the charismatic, elegant brute Omar Little (Michael K. Williams), a murderous thief worth cherishing.
By Melanie McFarland FULL REVIEW
80
Apr 29, 2013
The Wire is a cop drama from top to bottom. It does take a systemic view of the issue, like "Traffic," Steven Soderbergh's drug-trade saga. But it never sacrifices drama and character for lecture. [31 May 2002, p.E14]
By Matthew Gilbert FULL REVIEW
40
Apr 29, 2013
After watching five hours of preview tapes, I'm interested to see how The Wire turns out. But without characters to care for, much less root for, I'm not exactly burning with curiosity -- the way I am with most of HBO's other series...When it comes down to The Wire, this show falls short.
By David Bianculli FULL REVIEW
See All 95 Critic Reviews
10
HollowAxis
Nov 12, 2023
Simply the best TV show I have ever seen. More like reading a novel than watching the usual TVtropes. Not sure why Iwaited 20 years to watch it... But I am glad I finally did.
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10
arunscript
Jul 7, 2023
The perfect TV series. Intellectually stimulating, gritty. Absolutely not for the mainstream viewer. Put your thinking hats on. Invest in it. It will pay off.
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10
VseVoLoD_
Dec 16, 2022
The best TV show. Ever. It's the only thing I'm ready to give 10 points on this site.
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6
gracjanski
May 5, 2022
I liked the first season. It looks like they researched a lot and put into the series, so it is like a documentary sometimes. But in the 2nd season I lost the motivation to look further: The actors are boring somehow and the **** scenes are annoying.
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3
Satanski666
Apr 7, 2023
Really enjoyed the series untill **** kissing scene, which made me want to throw up.
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See All 40 User Reviews

Details

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Production Company:
  • Blown Deadline Productions
  • Home Box Office (HBO)
Initial Release Date: Jun 2, 2002
Number of seasons: 5 Seasons
Rating: TV-14
Genres:
All Details

Awards

Image Awards (NAACP)
• 15 Nominations
Television Critics Association Awards
• 1 Win & 10 Nominations
Online Film & Television Association
• 2 Wins & 9 Nominations

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