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Season 1 – Boardwalk Empire

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Boardwalk Empire Sep 2010 Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 66 Reviews 97% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Atlantic City at the dawn of Prohibition is a place where the rules don't apply. And the man who runs things -- legally and otherwise -- is the town's treasurer, Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, who is equal parts politician and gangster. Side by side with his brother Elias, Atlantic City's sheriff, and a crew of ward bosses and local tough guys, Nucky gains a reputation as the man to see for illegal alcohol. He does business with all the top gangsters -- Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, "Big Jim" Colosimo -- and he does it well ... until a former protégé takes matters into his own hands, setting the Feds on Nucky's tail.
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Boardwalk Empire — Season 1

Boardwalk Empire — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Thought-provoking, violent, and filled with lush period detail, Boardwalk Empire is a gangster drama of uncommon depth and scope.

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Critics Reviews

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Michelle Dean Bitch Media 12/30/2020
God knows I love Buscemi but so far the best compliment I can give his performance is über-competent. His Nucky does not, like Al Swearengen or Tony Soprano, leap off the screen. At least not yet. Go to Full Review John Preston Daily Telegraph (UK) 06/14/2018
All this was efficiently done - but no more than efficiently. It felt peculiarly safe, even derivative, with no great splashes of boldness. Go to Full Review Adam Sternbergh New York Magazine/Vulture 06/14/2018
It's true that there's plenty in the pilot that evokes mobster dj vu... But the show also offers its own lush pleasures. Go to Full Review Randy Dankievitch Processed Media 02/12/2020
B
But even through its weak moments, when it relies too heavily on its atmosphere or its weak romantic plot lines, Boardwalk Empire is a great watch. Go to Full Review Angie Maguire Pajiba 06/19/2018
I had mixed feelings about the premiere. Go to Full Review Scotsman Staff Scotsman 06/14/2018
It's good, obviously, but not yet great. Once the hype settles and we can forget about the money, it might be something. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Michael C @RT65973121 Sep 22 Excellent. Don't know how I missed it when it first came out. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Sep 21 12 successful episodes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ages 17 and older!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Originally aired on Home Box Office (HBO) and streaming on HBO Max!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Heidi O @RT26548776 02/19/2025 The best TV show ever. Great character development, multiple story lines, authentic sets and lighting, thoughtful dialog, and historical references. Scenes between characters are crafted like a movie rather than a TV series. Riveting! Better than "Peaky Blinders". See more Hannah V @RT94418863 11/24/2024 I still talk about this show 10 years later. If you love breaking bad and game of thrones you will absolutely love this. Incredible show. Incredible character arc. Incredible ending to it all. Watch it See more Dospi A @RT28787076 09/19/2024 One of the best tv shows ever! See more JM M @jmmch 03/24/2024 Excellent show, much better than I expected See more Read all reviews
Boardwalk Empire — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Steve Buscemi

Enoch "Nucky" Thompson

Michael Pitt

Jimmy Darmody

Kelly Macdonald

Margaret Schroeder

Michael Shannon

Nelson Van Alden

Dabney Coleman

Commodore Louis Kaestner

Shea Whigham

Elias Thompson

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 19, 2010 Boardwalk Empire Atlantic City's treasurer condemns alcohol; a housewife approaches Nucky about getting her husband a job; Nucky tells his ward bosses about the opportunity to profit from selling bootleg liquor; Jimmy makes an alliance. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 26, 2010 The Ivory Tower Agent Nelson Van Alden visits Nucky; Nucky discusses the upcoming election with his aging mentor; Margaret Schroeder seeks help in providing for her children; a traveling salesman makes a startling discovery. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 3, 2010 Broadway Limited Jimmy's future is clouded by a witness to the woods massacre; Margaret gets a new job; Chalky's team pays a big price for his success. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 10, 2010 Anastasia Jimmy forms new relationships in Chicago; Nucky celebrates a U.S. Senator; Chalky identifies a lynching suspect; Margaret and Lucy clash. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 17, 2010 Nights in Ballygran Eli, Margaret and Van Alden undermine Nucky's attempts to usher in a joyous St. Patrick's Day; James Neary is arrested. Details Episode 6 Aired Oct 24, 2010 Family Limitation Nucky investigates a boardwalk theft; Jimmy scores points with Johnny Torrio; Margaret stands up to Lucy. Details Episode 7 Aired Oct 31, 2010 Home Nucky purges some bad childhood memories; Jimmy forges a new alliance with a veteran; Luciano and a friend cut a deal with the D'Alessio brothers. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 7, 2010 Hold Me in Paradise While visiting Chicago for the Republican National Convention, Nucky gets some alarming news from Atlantic City. Details Episode 9 Aired Nov 14, 2010 Belle Femme Nucky prepares for war with a rival faction; Jimmy stands by his alibi; Margaret helps Madame Jeunet. Details Episode 10 Aired Nov 21, 2010 The Emerald City Nucky asks Margaret to toe the party line; Angela witnesses Jimmy's violent side; Capone faces a crossroads; Van Alden struggles with his emotions. Details Episode 11 Aired Nov 28, 2010 Paris Green Nucky shakes up the status quo; Jimmy deals with family issues; Van Alden addresses Agent Sebso's temptations. Details Episode 12 Aired Dec 5, 2010 A Return to Normalcy Atlantic City braces for change on election day; Torrio brokers a deal between two nemeses; Jimmy, Margaret, Van Alden and Eli think about their futures. Details

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Boardwalk Empire — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Martin Scorsese, Timothy Van Patten, Jeremy Podeswa, Alan Taylor, Allen Coulter
Executive Producer
Terence Winter, Martin Scorsese, Timothy Van Patten, Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg
Screenwriter
Terence Winter, Lawrence Konner, Howard Korder, Timothy Van Patten, Paul Simms, Margaret Nagle, Steve Kornacki, Meg Jackson
Network
HBO
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 19, 2010