HBO Max has a variety of content from which to choose, which is why the streaming service (and HBO network) often receives Emmys, Golden Globes, and countless other awards. There are also always new shows coming to HBO Max each month, including Emmy-winning series like The White Lotus, Succession, and Barry.
Deciding what to watch next can be difficult which is why we are here to help. We have curated this list of the best shows on HBO Max right now, including both high-profile titles, like the final season of Succession, exciting new shows like The Last Of Us, returning shows like Perry Mason, and ones that might fly under the radar, like Garcia! Browse this list and you’re sure to find your next binge obsession.
Looking for something else? We’ve also rounded up the best shows on Hulu, the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Amazon Prime Video, and the best shows on Disney+.
Recently added to HBO Max
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Succession2018 -
Perry Mason2020
4 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Comedy
Cast
Hiam Abbass, Nicholas Braun, Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin, Peter Friedman, Natalie Gold, Matthew Macfadyen
Created by
Jesse Armstrong
With several Emmy wins under its belt, including Outstanding Drama Series, Succession has become one of HBO’s most popular series. Waystar Royco is a global media and hospitality empire headed up by the cutthroat, cruel Logan Roy. As he reaches retirement age and suffers a health setback, he must look to his rich and entitled children to find a successor. But who of his four children, from the arrogant playboy to the power-hungry and visionary addict, is really ready and deserving? And will Logan ever be ready to hand over the reins anyway?
The question of who will take over hovers above every episode and season as the company, Logan, and the Roy family engage in dirty tactics, flaunt their wealth, and find themselves constantly embroiled in controversy. With everything coming to a head in the fourth and final season, Succession is poised to go down in history as not only one of the best shows on HBO, but also one of the best shows of this decade, period.
2 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Mystery, Crime
Cast
Matthew Rhys, Juliet Rylance, Chris Chalk
Created by
Rolin Jones, Ron Fitzgerald
An HBO original and based on the same characters featured in the 1957 series (and 1973 revival) that were created by author Erle Stanley Gardner, Perry Mason is a period series starring Matthew Rhys as the title character, a famous defense lawyer during the Great Depression. While dealing with personal demons, including divorce and lingering trauma from the Great War, he quickly becomes immersed in a child kidnapping trial.
Combining all the best elements of a procedural legal drama with the elegance and flair of the 1930s, the second season of Perry Mason will appeal to both fans of the original and the revival as well as those new to the story and its characters who love the genre.
1 Season
Genre
Drama, Crime, Mystery
Cast
Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Edgar Ramírez
Created by
David E. Kelley
You’ll be at the edge of your seat through every episode of this thrilling psychological thriller, with both Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant delivering incredible performances as a wealthy married couple whose lives get upended following a brutal murder. A traditional whodunit, it has so many extenuating elements that it’s easy to end up down the Reddit rabbit hole of theories to try and figure things out before finishing the series. Based on the 2014 novel You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz, the wonderful cast of The Undoing brings the story to life in a way that makes viewers totally invested in both the stories and characters.
1 Season
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Cast
Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna
Created by
Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann
Pedro Pascal stars in this post-apocalyptic drama as Joel, a smuggler transporting a teenage girl named Ellie (Bell Ramsey) out of a quarantine zone and across the U.S., two decades after the end of modern civilization. Through the brutal journey, the two must rely on one another more than they realized, but Joel has his own demons, tormented by his past. Considered to be the largest TV production ever in Canada (it was filmed in Alberta) and the first from HBO to be based on a video game, The Last of Us boasts an impressive supporting cast as well. This includes Gabriel Luna (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Tommy, Joel’s younger brother and a hopeful former soldier, and Merle Dandridge as Marlene, head of a resistance movement, who is reprising her role from the video games. Guest stars include Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus) and Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) as survivalists, and Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets) as the leader of a revolutionary movement.
4 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama
Cast
Diane Guerrero, April Bowlby, Joivan Wade
Created by
Jeremy Carver
With a star-studded cast including Brendan Fraser, Matt Bomer, April Bowlby, Timothy Dalton, Diane Guerrero, and Michelle Gomez, Doom Patrol is based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name. Set in a different timeline from Titans (in which Bomer and Fraser have also appeared), Doom Patrol‘s unlikely heroes are not your typical superheroes: they received their powers through tragic means, and thus have become ostracized by society. Thanks to a medical doctor known as the Chief, however, they have found a home in his mansion, where he protects them from the normal citizens who want them gone.
2 Seasons
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur, Reneé Rapp
Created by
Mindy Kaling, Justin Noble
College is typically where young people figure out who they are and occasionally experiment while establishing their sexual identities. That’s largely the premise of The Sex Lives of College Girls, which is admittedly a lot funnier than real-life college adventures. Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet), Bela (Amrit Kaur), Leighton (Reneé Rapp), and Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott) all come from different backgrounds, and they take very different approaches to their sex lives. For example, Leighton is a closeted lesbian, while Bela is very enthusiastic about being sex-positive. But it’s bonds of friendship that ground this show and give the laughs greater context.
3 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama
Cast
Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, James McAvoy, Lin-Manuel Miranda
Created by
Jack Throne
Dafne Keen turned a lot of heads with her star-making turn in Logan. But she’s really stepped up in HBO and BBC’s adaptation of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials. In an alternate world where souls appear as companion animals, Keen plays Lyra, a young girl who finds herself torn between her uncle, Lord Asriel Belacqua (James McAvoy), and the enigmatic Mrs. Coulter (Ruth Wilson). Meanwhile, in a world very much like our own, young Will Parry (Amir Wilson) learns a family secret that will bring him inexorably closer to Lyra. This family-friendly fantasy is still unfolding, but it’s a winner for fans of all ages.
2 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Mystery
Cast
Jordan Alexander, Whitney Peak, Eli Brown, Emily Alyn Lind, Evan Mock, Thomas Doherty
Created by
Joshua Safran
HBO Max also has the original Gossip Girl series available to watch, but the recently launched 2021 incarnation is both a sequel and a soft reboot. Only Kristen Bell remains as the voice of Gossip Girl, because there’s a whole new cast of kids to anonymously sling dirt and rumors about. Julien Calloway (Jordan Alexander) and her friends are students at Constance Billard, an elite private school in New York City. Julien may be the new “it” girl, but she and her fellow students have a dark side as well. That’s one of the reasons why the Gossip Girl persona has been revived, and everyone’s delicious secrets are already starting to come to light.
2 Seasons
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Mystery
Cast
Alexandra Daddario, Jake Lacy, Connie Britton, Steve Zahn, Jennifer Coolidge, Murray Bartlett, Sydney Sweeney, Brittany O'Grady
Created by
Mike White
It’s probably a good thing that the chain of White Lotus luxury resorts isn’t actually real. Because the vacations in seasons 1 and 2 just go completely off the rails. And that’s before the dead bodies start showing up! Initially planned as a single season, The White Lotus follows an odd assortment of guests and the beleaguered hotel staff who labor to keep them happy. It works really well as both a comedy and a drama, which is why we’re currently checking in for the new episodes streaming each week. You don’t necessarily have to watch season 1 to enjoy season 2, both with different settings and (almost) entirely new casts.
1 Season
Genre
Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Francisco Ortiz, Veki G. Velilla, Emilio Gutiérrez Caba
Created by
Sara Antuña, Carlos de Pando
If you’ve seen Austin Powers, the premise of García! may seem very familiar. But trust us, it’s not a farce. Veki Velilla stars as Antonia, an investigative reporter in Spain who discovers that a super-agent named Garcia (Francisco Ortiz) was created in the ‘50s before he was placed in cryogenic suspension for decades. After Antonia frees Garcia from his long slumber, they form an odd partnership as they attempt to prevent modern-day fascists from overthrowing Spain’s government and seizing control of the country.
1 Season
Genre
Drama, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery
Cast
Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Rhys Ifans
Created by
George R. R. Martin, Ryan Condal
Anyone who claimed that fans didn’t care about Game of Thrones after the divisive final season turned out to be quite wrong. House of the Dragon has already proven to be a monster hit, with an early renewal for a second season. Milly Alcock stars as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, although she will soon relinquish the role to Emma D’Arcy. Following the death of her mother and her infant brother, Rhaenyra was named heir to the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. However, her childhood best friend, Lady Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey), has married Rhaenyra’s father and become the new queen. And as the queen becomes a woman (played by Olivia Cooke), her rivalry with her former friend will throw House Targaryen into turmoil.
3 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Animation, Crime, Action & Adventure, Comedy
Cast
Kaley Cuoco, Lake Bell
Created by
Dean Lorey, Patrick Schumacker, Justin Halpern
After a very long hiatus between seasons, Harley Quinn is back on HBO Max for a third season! Unlike many previous incarnations of Harley (Kaley Cuoco), this one is striking out on her own alongside a new crew: Clayface (Alan Tudyk), Doctor Psycho (Tony Hale), and King Shark (Ron Funches). But just as Harley comes within reach of taking over Gotham City’s underworld, she realizes that she has romantic feelings for her best friend, Poison Ivy (Lake Bell). And unfortunately for Harley, Ivy isn’t initially willing to act on the love she feels as well. Not that Batman is faring any better. His fading romance with Catwoman is a recurring gag on the series.
1 Season
Genre
Drama, Crime
Cast
Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Michael Stuhlbarg
Created by
Antonio Campos
The Staircase is not a love story, but it is a gripping true crime miniseries based upon the real-life tale of Michael Peterson (Colin Firth). When Michael’s second wife, Kathleen Peterson (Toni Collette), is found dead in their home, the crime novelist faces murder charges for her demise. Michael’s family doesn’t know what to think, and Michael somewhat brazenly allows a documentary crew to chronicle the story of his defense and his family life. The supporting cast is truly impressive, with a lineup that includes Michael Stuhlbarg, Dane DeHaan, Olivia DeJonge, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sophie Turner, Odessa Young, Parker Posey, and Juliette Binoche.
1 Season
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Amber Grappy, Michelle De Swarte, Amira Ghazalla
Created by
Lucy Gaymer, Sian Robins-Grace
Imagine if Rosemary’s Baby was played for laughs instead of terror. That’s a pretty good shorthand description for The Baby, a new horror-comedy on HBO Max that is very darkly funny. Natasha (Michelle de Swarte) is a woman who not only doesn’t want kids, she practically detests them. Moments after witnessing a woman commit suicide, a baby literally falls into Natasha’s arms. And no matter who she tries to pawn the kid off on, the baby’s apparent supernatural powers give them a grisly death before the child ends up back in Natasha’s life. It’s clear that the baby wants Natasha, but she certainly doesn’t want any part of this.
1 Season
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Cast
Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins
Created by
Jen Statsky, Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs
The second season of HBO Max’s Hacks has arrived, and it’s continuing the same winning formula as the first. Jean Smart plays Deborah Vance, an aging comedian whose material just isn’t hitting anymore despite her obvious talent. At the same time, TV writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) is in danger of losing everything she built over some poorly chosen social media posts. However, Ava’s gift for comedy may be just the thing that Deborah needs to reinvigorate her act. And while there is definitely a friendship of sorts between Deborah and Ava, the show’s funniest moments come when they are at odds with each other.
1 Season
Genre
Crime, Drama
Cast
Ansel Elgort, Ken Watanabe, Rinko Kikuchi
Created by
J.T. Rogers
HBO Max took viewers into the Japanese underworld of organized crime in the new series, Tokyo Vice. Based on the non-fiction account of journalist Jake Adelstein (Ansel Elgort), the show follows his attempts to become a crime reporter in Japan. Detective Hiroto Katagiri (Ken Watanabe) offers Jake some perspective from the law enforcement side. However, Jake’s growing contacts in the city’s seedier areas give him contacts in the Yakuza as well. And once Jake is even a small part of their world, it starts to bleed into every aspect of his life.
3 Seasons
Genre
Comedy, Crime
Cast
Bill Hader, Stephen Root, Henry Winkler
Created by
Bill Hader, Alec Berg
Was it really years between new seasons of Barry? Don’t worry, Season 3 is finally here, and Barry Berkman (Bill Hader) is facing the ultimate test of his character. After spending years as a professional assassin, Barry found that he loved acting so much that he wanted to pursue it as his new vocation. However, the people who knew Barry in his previous life keep pulling him back into a mess of murder and mayhem. And now that Barry’s secret has been exposed to someone close to him, it’s only a matter of time before his world goes to pieces again.
1 Season
Genre
Drama
Cast
John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Sally Field
Created by
Max Borenstein, Jim Hecht
There are 30 teams in the NBA, but only one Los Angeles Lakers. And in the ‘80s, the Showtime-era Lakers redefined modern professional basketball. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty dramatizes their story with familiar faces like John C. Reilly as Lakers owner Jerry Buss, Jason Clarke as general manager Jerry West, and Adrien Brody as coach Pat Riley. But there are also newcomers who have to portray some of the most famous basketball players of all time, like Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson and Solomon Hughes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. So far, we’re very excited about this trip down memory lane. Showtime is back, baby!
1 Season
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Rhys Darby, Taika Waititi, Kristian Nairn
Created by
David Jenkins
Our Flag Means Death is one of the rare period comedies to emerge in a long time. The series is based upon the real life of Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby), an aristocrat who just couldn’t live without some excitement in his life. That’s why Stede became a pirate captain. Unfortunately for Stede, he has no idea how to be a pirate, and the very real pirates in his crew could turn on him at any time. But thanks to Stede’s unexpected friendship with the legendary pirate Blackbeard (Taika Waititi), the crew of the Revenge might be able to make it on the high seas after all.
1 Season
Genre
Drama
Cast
Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Morgan Spector
Created by
Julian Fellowes
Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes has come to HBO with a new period drama, The Gilded Age, which takes place in a relatively unexplored period in American history. Two decades after the Civil War, an orphaned young woman named Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) moves in with her rich aunts, Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon). Marion soon finds herself in the middle of a social struggle between Agnes and her new neighbor, Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon). But it’s up to Marian to decide whether she will pick a side or choose her own path in New York City.
1 Season
Genre
Action & Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma
Created by
James Gunn
Peacemaker is about as far from the A-list of superheroes that you can possibly get. And yet the Peacemaker series is one of the most enjoyable DC-inspired programs of the past few years. John Cena reprises his role as Peacemaker/Christopher Smith from director James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, and Gunn also returned to create this showcase for Cena. Within the series, Peacemaker finds that he’s no longer able to kill as easily as he used to, just at the moment his skills are needed to save the world from a very unexpected threat. This show also has some truly heartfelt moments along with great comedy and action. But fair warning: This series is absolutely not for kids.
15 Seasons
Genre
Drama
Cast
Parminder Nagra, Linda Cardellini, David Lyons
Created by
Michael Crichton
Jurassic Park novelist Michael Crichton drew upon his own medical training when he created ER for NBC in 1994. It quickly became the most influential medical drama on TV and ran for 15 seasons. It also made George Clooney, Julianna Margulies, Anthony Edwards, and Eriq La Salle into stars. The show offered a more realistic take on the medical traumas that came through the doors of County General Hospital, while also taking an unflinching look at the men and women who made it their duty to save lives. Doctors and nurses came and went over the show’s long tenure, but it remains compelling viewing over a decade after it went off the air.
5 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Mystery
Cast
Anna Torv, Jasika Nicole, Joshua Jackson
Created by
J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci
Is The X-Files too tame for you? If so, then Fringe is the show for you. This sharply made sci-fi procedural features Anna Torv as FBI Agent Olivia Dunham, a woman who is tasked with investigating the strange and unusual cases alongside a literal mad scientist, Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble), and his estranged son, Peter (Joshua Jackson). Fringe largely embraces single-episode narratives, but it also has richly rewarding season-long arcs involving parallel universes, psychic abilities, and even a quest to save the future. It also has an ending that gives a satisfying payoff to its five-season run.
1 Season
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, Daniel Zovatto
Created by
Patrick Somerville
HBO Max’s adaptation of Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven hits differently after nearly two years in a real pandemic. Within the miniseries, most of humanity is wiped out by a virulent flu during a global pandemic. Years later, Kirsten (Mackenzie Davis) is a performer in a traveling troupe of actors. Unfortunately, the group’s journey is upended by a deadly cult. And soon, Kirsten finds her own life in danger when the cult comes after her. This is a very dark story, and yet also oddly uplifting at times. Because even in this bleak new world, there’s still hope.
5 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Bruce Boxleitner, Jerry Doyle, Mira Furlan
Created by
J. Michael Straczynski
Babylon 5 may look a little dated compared to today’s sci-fi series, but J. Michael Straczynski’s magnum opus left a huge mark on the television medium by embracing a model he called “a five-year novel for television.” In the far future, humanity narrowly survives a war with aliens and establishes the Babylon 5 space station in the hopes of maintaining intergalactic peace. However, the alien races plot against each other and Earth, unaware that another faction is secretly moving against all of them. Straczynski’s gift for dialogue and speeches is on full display, and it’s an unforgettable experience.
1 Season
Genre
Documentary
Have you ever noticed that the media tends to fixate on missing white women? If so, you’re not the only one. Journalists Geeta Gandbhir and Soledad O’Brien touch on that phenomenon in the new documentary series Black and Missing. However, the focus of this real-life story is on Derrica and Natalie Wilson, the founders of the Black and Missing Foundation. It’s their calling to bring awareness to missing people from marginalized communities. The apathy and indifference they encounter may be systemic, but it doesn’t always have to be this way. Awareness of the issue can help bring about change, but we aren’t there yet.
1 Season
Genre
Mystery, Drama, Crime
Cast
Ben Mendelsohn, Cynthia Erivo, Bill Camp
Created by
Richard Price
Stephen King’s The Outsider was adapted in 2020 as a gripping 10-episode miniseries that has one foot in true crime and another in horror. When a young boy named Frank Peterson is brutally murdered, Little League coach Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman) is accused of the murder. Detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) is particularly incensed because he had a link with Terry years earlier when Ralph’s son was still alive. Yet the evidence against Terry doesn’t add up, and there may be something supernatural afoot that defies any conventional explanation.
1 Season
Genre
Drama, War & Politics
Cast
Damian Lewis, Donnie Wahlberg, Eion Bailey
Band of Brothers is the only show in HBO’s history that was created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg after their collaboration on Saving Private Ryan. Erik Jendresen wrote and executive produced the miniseries that dramatized the story of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which is better known as Easy Company. Each episode puts a different character in the spotlight and incorporates real history as Easy Company experiences every stage of war, from the beginning all the way to the end.
Digital Trends streaming roundup
11 Seasons
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Larry David, Jeff Garlin
Created by
Larry David
Larry’s back. For the last 21 years, the co-creator of Seinfeld, Larry David, has starred as himself in HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. But it wouldn’t be accurate to describe the show as a reflection of reality. Instead, David’s largely improvised series amplifies many of the most absurd elements of his life to great comedic effect. Essentially, Larry’s a selfish jerk who gets upset when anyone other than him breaks social norms. The only people who can really tolerate Larry for long stretches of time are his best friend and manager, Jeff Greene (Jeff Garlin), and the houseguest who never left, Leon Black (J. B. Smoove). The eleventh season of Curb has begun, and we expect Larry’s reaction to the events of the past year will be worth waiting for.
1 Season
Genre
Drama
Cast
Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson
Created by
Craig Mazin
The best way to describe HBO’s Chernobyl is to call it a historical tragedy. The miniseries dramatizes the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in the Soviet Union and the subsequent investigation into how it happened. This show doesn’t shy away from the most horrific aspects of radiation poisoning, and it’s not for the faint of heart. Jared Harris leads the ensemble cast as Valery Legasov, one of the lead investigators who personally oversees the Chernobyl cleanup efforts. As Valery searches for answers, he has to pay a high personal cost as well. No one emerges from Chernobyl unchanged by the experience.
1 Season
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Cast
Kate Winslet, Julianne Nicholson, Jean Smart
Created by
Brad Ingelsby
Kate Winslet leads a magnificent cast in HBO’s latest miniseries, Mare of Easttown. Winslet plays Detective Sergeant Marianne Fahey “Mare” Sheehan, a woman haunted by her son’s suicide and the unsolved murder of a young girl a year earlier. In the present, Mare’s personal life is in turmoil as she deals with a divorce from her husband, Frank Sheehan (David Denman). Meanwhile, her former daughter-in-law, Carrie Layden (Sosie Bacon), is suing Mare for custody of her grandson, Drew. However, a new murder case will soon draw Mare into an even more intense web of danger and deceit.
3 Seasons
Genre
Western, Crime
Cast
Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker
Created by
David Milch
Deadwood was the HBO series that elevated expletives into high art. It was also an incredibly well-made Western that captured the post-Civil War period in Deadwood, South Dakota. Series creator David Milch populated the town with many real historical figures, including Al Swearengen (Ian McShane) and Sheriff Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant), in addition to original characters as the major players vie for control of the town. McShane’s performance was unforgettable even when paired with a stellar supporting cast. Regardless of how you feel about Westerns, you have to see Deadwood. It is legitimately one of the best shows that HBO has ever made.
4 Seasons
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Alia Shawkat, John Reynolds, John Early
Created by
Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers
When an old college acquaintance named Chantal goes missing, Dory sets out on a mission to find her, with the help of her boyfriend and friends. While the others aren’t so keen on bothering with the investigation, Dory is convinced that Chantal is in danger. Initially dubbed a dark comedy, through its seasons, the series has adjusted the tone and genre. It starts with a classic mystery and Nancy Drew-like detective work, but things shift to more of a psychological thriller vibe for season 2. Season 3, meanwhile, is a subtle nod to courtroom drama narratives, inspired by the Amanda Knox trial, with satire sprinkled in reminiscent of The Bling Ring. There’s something unique with every season, but the tones all pay homage to some of the most revered film and television styles, so you get a bit of everything with this series.
4 Seasons
Genre
Action & Adventure, Animation, Drama, Mystery
Cast
Kevin Conroy, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Loren Lester
Created by
Bruce Timm, Eric Radomski
Widely considered to be the best television adaptation of the popular DC Comics character along with his sidekick Robin and arch-nemesis the Joker (voiced by Mark Hamill), this animated series from the ’90s lasted two seasons and 85 episodes. Despite lacking the flashy graphics and animations of modern-day animated series, it will delight any fan of the superhero genre, young or old. Named The Adventures of Batman & Robin for its final 15 episodes and in reruns, the film noir aesthetics with complex and dark plots make the nostalgic series just as entertaining and enthralling for adults as it is exciting for kids. Also named among the best animated series of all time, it’s a top option in HBO Max’s lineup.
7 Seasons
Genre
Drama
Cast
Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff
Created by
Aaron Sorkin
Martin Sheen plays President Josiah Bartlet in this long-running Aaron Sorkin serial political drama. It’s one of Sheen’s most memorable roles, and it’s not uncommon to find this show on every list of the best TV series of all time. Known for popularizing the long hallway walk-and-talk shots that have become commonplace in political dramas, The West Wing approaches the White House in such a way that has sparked conversation, with some questioning its legitimacy and exaggerations. But it is a television show, after all, designed to entertain. And it’s a must-watch, not only for the compelling stories about the inner workings of politics but also for the talented performances from the top-notch cast.
1 Season
Genre
Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollett, Wunmi Mosaku
Created by
Misha Green
Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams are behind this drama-horror series about a young Black man who travels across the United States in the ’50s, during a time when segregation was the norm. His mission: to locate his missing father. But when he arrives in the town that the famous horror author H.P. Lovecraft highlighted in his seemingly-fictional stories, he discovers dark secrets lurking there that are enough to make one wonder if the stories were fiction after all. Along with Peele and Abrams serving as executive producers, the series stars Courtney B. Vance, Jurnee Smollett, and Tony Goldwyn.
31 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Short
Cast
Mel Blanc, June Foray, Arthur Q. Bryan, Bea Benaderet, Stan Freberg, and others
Created by
Warner Bros.
Introduce a new generation of kids to the ACME Corporation, falling anvils, and endless sight gags, or relive your own youth with classic catchphrases like, “What’s Up, Doc,” or, “I say, I say, I ain’t no chicken!” with the original Looney Tunes cartoons. Airing from 1930 through 1969, the animated shorts harken back to a time when cartoons were much simpler — and arguably more violent. From the music to the iconic characters like Bugs Bunny, Wile E. Coyote, Speedy Gonzales, Road Runner, Tweety, and Elmer Fudd, it’s thoroughly entertaining for Saturday morning viewing. Once you’ve powered through those episodes, check out HBO Max’s rebooted Looney Tunes Cartoons, which are based on the original.
4 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Cast
Danica McKellar, Jesse McCartney, Nolan North
Created by
Greg Weisman, Brandon Vietti
DC Universe’s loss is HBO Max’s gain. Young Justice is one of the greatest superhero cartoons ever made, thanks to its fantastic writing and terrific performances by the cast. The so-called sidekicks come into their own by starting their own team under Batman’s supervision. Over time, the show has allowed the kids to grow into young adults. More importantly, Young Justice’s creative team isn’t afraid to take chances as well. Heroes rise, fall, and even die, with dramatic stakes. Even a nearly decade-long wait between seasons 2 and 3 couldn’t diminish our love for this show.
7 Seasons
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky, Tony Hale
Created by
Armando Iannucci
Julia Louis-Dreyfus won six consecutive Emmy Awards for playing Selina Meyer, the fictional vice president (later president) of the United States in this political satire comedy that wrapped in 2019. The series itself also received critical acclaim throughout its seven-season run. Fans couldn’t get enough of watching Meyer and her team as they engaged in political games. The show calls out and exaggerates the absurdity of politics in a way that makes it universally funny.
5 Seasons
Genre
Crime, Drama
Cast
Dominic West, Lance Reddick, Sonja Sohn
Created by
David Simon
Though it ended in 2008, this crime drama is still widely considered to be one of the best TV series of its generation. Created and written by former police reporter David Simon, it takes an authentic look at various institutions and their sometimes twisted and controversial relationships to law enforcement. A different story is introduced every season, tackling topics from the illegal drug trade to schools and education. With Dominic West and Idris Elba among the top-billed cast, it’s no surprise the series lasted a successful five seasons and appears on many “must-watch” lists.
6 Seasons
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon
Created by
Darren Star
Live vicariously through four 30- and 40-something single friends in New York City navigating their hectic careers and dating lives. The romantic comedy-drama, which debuted in 1998, is credited with helping put HBO on the map, and for good reason. Throughout its six seasons from 1998 to 2004, the show received 54 Emmy nominations (seven wins) and 24 Golden Globe nominations (eight wins) and spawned two feature films and even a prequel series. It remains a pop culture phenomenon that presents life, love, sex, and relationships in a raw, emotional, and honest way from the eyes of four very different adult women.
5 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Cast
Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer
Created by
Dan Harmon, Justin Roiland
Rick Sanchez is a mad scientist who reappears after having gone missing for 20 years. He now lives with his daughter and her family, including his grandson Morty Smith. And together, he and Morty navigate regular daily life along with inter-dimensional adventures. The adult animated sci-fi sitcom has aired for four seasons on Adult Swim and has been lauded by critics and audiences alike, who have called it kooky and described the storylines as “densely plotted science fiction escapades” and “intricately hilarious misadventures.”
8 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Action & Adventure
Cast
Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams
Created by
David Benioff, D. B. Weiss
Chances are you’ve already watched this fantasy series, which was HBO’s anchor for eight seasons from 2011 through 2019. Based on the George R.R. Martin series of fantasy novels, it was rich in scenery, costumes, and storylines depicting the fight for the Iron Throne among the various houses and individuals within the fictional world of Westeros. It broke viewership records for HBO, and it’s not uncommon for fans to watch this series from beginning to end, again and again, picking up on new details each time. If you haven’t yet watched, what are you waiting for?
13 Seasons
Genre
Action & Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, John Bishop
Created by
Sydney Newman, Donald Wilson, C. E. Webber
Produced by the BBC since 1963, the revival version of this long-running British sci-fi series has found a streaming home on HBO Max. It follows the stories of a Time Lord called The Doctor who travels through time in the TARDIS spaceship to help civilization. Since The Doctor is an extraterrestrial being that can appear human, the role has been handled by 13 different actors to date. The most recent version of The Doctor is played by Jodie Whittaker, who has held the role since 2018. The revival series began in 2005, and you can watch episodes dating all the way back to that first season.
6 Seasons
Genre
Drama
Cast
James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Created by
David Chase
When it comes to crime dramas about mobster families, it doesn’t get much better than The Sopranos, which has been named on many lists as being one of the greatest TV series of all time. For six seasons, we followed the Soprano family led by Tony (the late James Gandolfini) as he attempted to balance his life in New Jersey as a father and husband and his position as the leader of an Italian-American criminal organization. It launched in 1999 and was among the first series to bring shocking main character deaths to the small screen, continuing the cliffhanger endings and cringeworthy moments through to its ending in 2007 with an iconic diner closing scene.
6 Seasons
Genre
Comedy, Family, Drama
Cast
Will Smith, James Avery, Alfonso Ribeiro
Created by
Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz
If you want to know the story about how Will Smith became the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, tune into this classic ’90s sitcom starring the now A-list Hollywood actor. Smith stars as Will, a young man who, as the popular theme song says, is sent to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle after he gets into a fight on the basketball court. His mom, worried about her son growing up in a rough Philadelphia neighborhood, decides this is the only way for him to have a better life. Naturally, the dichotomy between Will from Philly and Uncle Phil with his mansion, butler, and stuck-up kids leads to plenty of clashes between family members. It’s six seasons of pure fun along with those signature moral lessons at the end of every episode that defined sitcoms of the ’90s.
12 Seasons
Genre
Documentary
Cast
Anthony Bourdain
Gone far too soon, Anthony Bourdain left behind a legacy in the culinary world. And that legacy included this sensational TV series that saw him travel the world to discover different cultures, cuisines, and local delicacies. For 12 seasons, Bourdain took viewers everywhere from the hidden gems in Los Angeles to Myanmar, Congo, Copenhagen, and Beirut, sampling all kinds of food and teaching viewers more about culture and travel than even the best travel shows could accomplish. Not surprisingly, the series was nominated for 31 Primetime Emmy Awards during its run and won a dozen. It’s the perfect show for foodies and those with serious wanderlust.
2 Seasons
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie, Rhys Darby, Kristen Schaal
Created by
James Bobin, Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie
For two seasons, Flight of the Conchords turned failure into joyful fun. The HBO show followed two New Zealand musicians — Jemaine (Jemaine Clement) and Bret (Bret McKenzie) — as they tried to make it in big, bad New York City. They would spontaneously break into song multiple times an episode, sometimes revealing their innermost thoughts to the audience and breaking the fourth wall in hilarious fashion. Some of the show’s songs continue to stand the test of time, such as Robots and Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros, though, some of the best scenes were the meetings the band held with their manager, Murray Hewitt (Rhys Darby).
24 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Comedy
Cast
Trey Parker, Matt Stone, April Stewart
Created by
Trey Parker, Matt Stone
In addition to Friends, one of HBO Max’s big streaming snags was the entirety of the South Park catalog. The controversial animated show following four friends growing up in South Park, Colorado, has now aired for 23 seasons on Comedy Central, spanning more than 300 episodes. The show has frequently received criticism — and it often takes aim at taboo subjects in a way that can make viewers uncomfortable — but it also remains one of the smartest satires on television, its fearlessness often serving as a tremendous asset in comparison to safer shows on the airwaves.
1 Season
Genre
Crime, Drama, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Regina King, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jeremy Irons
Created by
Damon Lindelof
A new version of Watchmen could’ve easily been met with skepticism, especially after the poor reception for the 2009 film of the same name. HBO’s limited, nine-episode limited series made an instant impact in 2019, but its importance didn’t start rising until 2020. From the complexity of its characters to its incredible acting performances — particularly that of Regina King — to its highlighting of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, Watchmen was never afraid to reflect the worst of society back to its audience, making it a valuable media prism through which to view the racial reckoning of the times.
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