The Wire | Official Website for the HBO Series

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PEABODY AWARD WINNER, NOMINATED FOR 2 EMMY AWARDS

5 Seasons | 60 Episodes | TV-MA

Follow a single sprawling drug and murder investigation in Baltimore from the perspective of cops and criminals in this classic series.

Featured Characters

James "Jimmy" McNulty
Dominic West
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William Bunk Moreland
Wendell Pierce
Shakima "Kima" Greggs
Sonja Sohn
Lester Freamon
Clarke Peters
Omar Little
Michael K. Williams

Celebrating 20 Years of The Wire

Most Iconic Lines

Take your notebooks out, because The Wire is here to give us all some of the deepest and realest quotes that have ever been delivered on screen.

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20th Anniversary Instagram Filter

Take a selfie and celebrate with your favorite The Wire quote.

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The Wire at 20 Official Podcast

In honor of its 20th anniversary, HBO is releasing a brand new podcast hosted by musician and actor Method Man, featuring revealing interviews and looking back at David Simon’s sprawling five-season drama and unpacking its ongoing legacy.

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1966-2021

RememberingMichael K. Williams

Michael Kenneth Williams was an extraordinary artist, adept at bringing characters like Omar Little, Chalky White, and Montrose Freeman into vivid color. A beloved member of the HBO family for more than 20 years, Williams is remembered not only as an immensely talented actor, but as a civil justice advocate. He will be profoundly missed.

It's All Here

The Cast Remembers the Show’s Legacy

The series meant as much to them as it does to you. Sonja Sohn, Wendell Pierce, and more offer insight.

1.The Target

Baltimore detective Jimmy McNulty gets assigned to a new task force.

2.The Detail

McNulty feels the heat when a witness who testified against D'Angelo is killed.

3.The Buys

The early-morning 'field interviews' by Herc, Carver and Prez result in a minor riot.

4.Old Cases

Greggs and McNulty try to get Hardcase to turn informant as arraignment begins for those caught in the raid.

5.The Pager

McNulty's detail finally gets 'clone' pagers to track Barksdale and his gang, but nobody can crack the codes used by the callers.

6.The Wire

McNulty and Greggs ask for a delay in a murder bust in order to preserve the wiretap.

7.One Arrest

Tipped off by the wire, Greggs, Herc, Carver and Freamon make a bust, but the incident makes Avon and Stringer suspicious.

8.Lessons

An unlikely source gives McNulty the tag of Stringer Bell's car. Later, Omar earns his 'loose cannon' reputation.

9.Game Day

Barksdale plays an expensive game of one-upmanship with an east-side rival.

10.The Cost

With Wallace in custody, McNulty and Daniels must figure out what to do with him in the time before he testifies.

11.The Hunt

Burrell orders Daniels to hit dealers for results that will impress the media. Meanwhile, Greggs is in the ICU.

12.Cleaning Up

With the detail's future hanging in the balance, Daniels faces off against Burrell and his political allies.

13.Sentencing

Daniels and McNulty turn to a higher authority to crack the case.

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We Own This City

Executive produced by George Pelecanos and David Simon -- and based on the book by Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton -- We Own This City is a six-hour, limited series chronicling the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force.

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