Every HBO Miniseries Ranked Worst To Best

34. Empire Falls (2005)

Empire Falls
HBO

Based on Richard Russo's acclaimed novel of the same name, Empire Falls comes complete with a intriguing set-up and impressive cast, including Ed Harris, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Newman, but struggles to find its footing.

It's a shame, too, because the story has all the hooks needed for an epic and compelling multi-narrative drama, but it's well-claimed that good books don't make good adaptations. Despite a striking lead performance from Harris and some brief stabs at themes such as memory and family, Empire Falls falls frustratingly short of the mark, and really deserved better.

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