Every HBO Miniseries Ranked Worst To Best
34. Empire Falls (2005)
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.