Boardwalk Empire

Boardwalk Empire is a period drama set in the Prohibition era, which aired for five seasons on HBO from 2010 to 2014. The series, created by Terence Winter and produced by Martin Scorsese, follows the rise of political figure Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, played by Steve Buscemi, who controls Atlantic City’s illegal alcohol trade. As Nucky navigates power struggles with gangsters, politicians and law enforcement, the show delves into the dark underbelly of early 20th century America.

The ensemble cast also features notable performances from Kelly Macdonald, who received an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama nominated for her role as the determined Margaret Schroede,r and Michael Shannon, who appeared as the unyielding Bureau of Prohibition Agent Nelson Van Alden. Boardwalk Empire blends real historical figures like Al Capone (Stephen Graham) and Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg) into its fictional narrative, creating a rich and immersive world of crime, corruption and power.

The show earned multiple awards, winning 20 Primetime Emmy Awards and scoring 57 Emmy nominations overall. Among the 20 wins, only one came in the acting categories when Bobby Cannavale took home the trophy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2013. One of the show’s earliest wins came in 2011’s Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series category, which Martin Scorsese won for helming the pilot.