32 Best Shows On HBO Max Right Now

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Thirty years ago, HBO launched with the tagline, “It’s not TV. It’s HBO,” signaling its intention to be a premium cable network. HBO rapidly gained a reputation for high-quality programming and for pushing boundaries with bold and innovative content that hadn’t been seen on television before.

HBO has changed a lot over the years with different streaming services and company structures. It’s now part of Warner Bros. Discovery, which is potentially going to be bought by either Paramount or Netflix. Even though HBO Max now has a much wider range of shows and movies, the content originally produced by HBO continues to be known for its high quality.

Oz

1997-2003

HBO’s groundbreaking drama, Oz, immediately established the network’s reputation for realistic and intense depictions of sex and violence. The series takes place inside an experimental unit called ‘Em City’ at the Oswald State Correctional Facility. If you enjoyed the gritty realism of Orange Is the New Black and are looking for something even more intense, Oz is a great choice.

I Love LA

2025-Present

Kenny Laubbacher / HBO

Rachel Sennott’s new show might be the best comedy currently portraying life for young adults in the city. It stands out because the characters, who mostly work with social media influencers, feel authentic and flawed without falling into tired tropes or seeming spoiled. The show proves you can depict young people as struggling without making them unlikeable or predictable.

The Righteous Gemstones

2019-2025

Image via Max

There’s really nothing else like the show The Righteous Gemstones. It’s a hilarious and often bizarre comedy, but also surprisingly heartfelt. The series, which follows the wealthy and eccentric Gemstone family and their megachurch, ended in 2025 to positive reviews. Both its third and fourth (final) seasons have a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Sex And The City

1998-2004

With Sex and the City, HBO demonstrated that complex stories about women deserved a place alongside popular, male-focused dramas in high-quality television. Debuting just before The Sopranos, the relatable and often chaotic relationships of Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha quickly became one of HBO’s most enduring and beloved shows.

IT: Welcome To Derry

2025-Present

This new movie, based on Stephen King’s popular novel, actually adds a lot to the story. King’s original IT has a rich backstory that the previous films didn’t fully cover. Fans of the recent movies will enjoy seeing familiar faces – the same director and actor who played Pennywise return for this one.

Rick And Morty

2013-Present

Rick and Morty demonstrates that animated shows for adults can be surprisingly complex. You can enjoy it as a funny adventure, or dive deeper and find thought-provoking themes about life and the universe. Plus, the show boasts one of the most creative and memorable opening sequences on television, setting a new standard for animation.

The Sopranos

1999-2007

It’s no surprise that The Sopranos is so closely associated with HBO and high-quality television. James Gandolfini’s portrayal of Tony Soprano is exceptional, and the show’s storyline is equally compelling. The contrast between his ordinary family life – including therapy sessions – and the violent world of organized crime creates a strange sense of involvement for the viewer, making us question the show’s moral boundaries.

Hacks

2021-Present

Image via Max

The show Hacks features a wonderful pairing between Ava and Deborah, representing two very different generations. The veteran comedian and her young writer’s assistant show us, with both humor and grace, how much they can each learn from the other. Unlike Reboot, which often felt forced, Hacks is genuinely touching and filled with characters you won’t forget.

The West Wing

1999-2006

Often considered the best political drama ever made, The West Wing is warm, funny, and thought-provoking. With the show now available on both Netflix and HBO Max, it’s a great time to revisit or discover Aaron Sorkin’s most popular creation. Unlike many fictional depictions of the White House, The West Wing offers a hopeful and inspiring look at a presidency built on ambition and strong values.

The Newsroom

2012-2014

The 2012 drama The Newsroom showcased Aaron Sorkin’s fast-paced writing style in a contemporary news environment. What set it apart was its unique approach: the show followed the staff of a fictional news network as they covered actual events from the years leading up to its premiere. It’s a show many remember fondly, especially for the pilot episode’s opening monologue, which quickly became a viral sensation both within the show’s storyline and in real life.

Friends

1994-2004

The continued success of Friends isn’t a surprise. The characters—like the masseuse who also plays music, the paleontologist with a complicated love life, and the everyday guy dealing with past issues—are all wonderfully unique. That’s what makes them so memorable and endearing. Watching an episode feels like hanging out with your own friends in your living room.

Six Feet Under

2001-2005

HBO’s Six Feet Under is a prime example of the network’s commitment to high-quality television, regardless of genre. The show, centered around a family who runs a funeral home, is remarkably original. It uniquely combines a ‘case-of-the-week’ format with in-depth character arcs and unexpected, dreamlike sequences, transforming a serious topic into a surprisingly life-affirming experience.

White House Plumbers

2023

The five-part series White House Plumbers deserves more recognition. Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux are fantastic as they play the real-life characters who were involved in the Watergate scandal. The show manages to be funny and satirical while still acknowledging the seriousness of what happened.

Euphoria

2019-Present

The popular show Euphoria is coming back for its third season in April 2026. While the show has its moments, Zendaya’s incredible performance as Rue is a major reason to watch. The series powerfully portrays Rue’s difficult journey with mental health and addiction, giving it real weight and impact beyond its more dramatic plots.

Barry

2018-2023

It’s completely unexpected when a professional hitman named Barry starts following someone to an acting class and decides he wants to become an actor himself. This strange combination of his two worlds – the dangerous life of a mob hitman and the often-fake world of acting – cleverly points out the dishonesty within Hollywood and the surprising humanity found among criminals. Each world helps to reveal truths about the other that wouldn’t be possible to see in isolation.

Heated Rivalry

2025-Present

Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max

As a total cinema devotee, I’ve been following the buzz around HBO Max’s newest hit, and let me tell you, it’s deserved! This series, based on a popular novel, started with a built-in fanbase thanks to its enemies-to-lovers hockey storyline. But it’s gone way beyond that! The writing is legitimately good, and the leads, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, are absolutely fantastic. It’s a show that’s captured a lot of attention, and for good reason!

The Wire

2002-2008

The Wire is known for its incredibly realistic portrayal of the Baltimore police and the world of crime, almost like a lifelike painting. The show’s characters, both cops and criminals, are developed with careful detail, giving them a genuine and human quality. This creates a stark, truthful depiction of law enforcement in the city.

The Pitt

2025-Present

Image via Max

Like its incredibly realistic portrayal of life, The Pitt was a big winner at the 2025 Emmys. The show is filmed like 24, unfolding in real-time, which puts viewers right in the middle of the intense 15-hour shifts faced by the staff at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. If you haven’t seen it yet, now’s a great time to watch season 1 – season 2 premieres on Thursday, January 8th.

The Leftovers

2014-2017

The TV show The Leftovers explores the aftermath of a mysterious event where 2% of the world’s population suddenly vanished. While created by one of the minds behind Lost, The Leftovers successfully delivers a powerful story, boasting a fantastic start, a compelling continuation, and what many consider to be one of the greatest series finales ever made.

Game Of Thrones

2011-2019

It would be hard to fully appreciate the expansive world of Game of Thrones without the show’s compelling stories and well-developed characters. Remarkably, the series, based on George R.R. Martin’s books, remains popular, and a second prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is coming out this year.

Big Little Lies

2017-Present

The fact that so many shows have tried to copy Big Little Lies shows how important it is. The show is both captivating and emotionally resonant, thanks to its intricate secrets and the strong bonds between the women in the Monterey community – even after the central murder is solved. Originally intended as a one-time story, a third season is now being developed.

Deadwood

2004-2006

The show Deadwood is well-known for its realistic portrayal of the actual town and people of Deadwood in the late 1800s, featuring historical figures like Wyatt Earp and Calamity Jane. But it’s also remarkable for its unique artistic style – both in how it looks and how it’s written – blending history with a strong creative vision.

Avenue 5

2020-2022

Avenue 5 is a surprisingly hilarious show that doesn’t get enough attention. It’s about the passengers and crew of a luxury spaceship whose short eight-week cruise turns into a three-year journey back to Earth after an accident. The show is full of funny characters – the crew is completely incompetent, and the passengers are spoiled – and Hugh Laurie gives a fantastic, but often overlooked, performance.

The Last Of Us

2023-Present

Image via Max

At its core, this game adaptation is a story about revenge, set during a zombie apocalypse. The emotional connection between the characters Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, and Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, is central to the show, even after Joel’s death. Much of the second season focused on Ellie’s quest for revenge, and that theme of vengeance will continue in the upcoming third season.

True Detective

2014-Present

HBO

I’m completely hooked on this show! Every season, we get a fresh mystery and a brand new pair of detectives to follow. What’s really cool is how they’re all dealing with their own personal issues while trying to solve the case. While each season is great in its own way, the first one, with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, is just something special – truly unforgettable.

The Rehearsal

2022-Present

Nathan Fielder’s show, The Rehearsal, is a fascinating and unusual experiment where he meticulously recreates life scenarios to help people practice difficult conversations or events. It’s undeniably strange, largely due to Fielder’s own awkwardness, but completely captivating. The second season, benefiting from a larger budget and clearer direction, is particularly unmissable.

True Blood

2008-2014

With vampires, werewolves, fairies, and other supernatural creatures, this series could have easily become too much for viewers. However, it stayed engaging thanks to its compelling stories and relatable characters. Sookie Stackhouse, played by Anna Paquin, is particularly charming and a joy to watch throughout the entire show.

Sharp Objects

2018

This compelling limited series is as good as Big Little Lies. Sharp Objects is deeply sad and atmospheric, just like the Gillian Flynn novel it’s based on. The story follows a journalist with a difficult past who goes back to her hometown to cover the murders of two girls. The mystery and the characters’ emotions are closely connected, making the story increasingly suspenseful.

The White Lotus

2021-Present

This collection of murder mysteries is a funny, sharply observed satire presented as if it’s completely serious. The characters are deeply invested in their own problems, but the glamorous setting of the White Lotus resort and the looming threat of murder create a contrast that highlights how unimportant their concerns really are.

Mad Men

2007-2015

Mad Men offered a detailed and realistic look at life in the 1960s. By focusing on the world of advertising, the show’s characters embodied the strengths, weaknesses, and beliefs of that era. Beyond simply recreating the past, Mad Men also provides a modern perspective by emphasizing how different the 1960s were from today.

Somebody Somewhere

2022-2024

The show Somebody Somewhere lives up to its name – it beautifully captures everyday life. It centers on Sam and Joel, two friends in a small Kansas town, and how they find happiness in simple moments and cope with difficult times. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking, Somebody Somewhere is a show everyone should see.

Succession

2018-2023

Despite featuring characters who are often difficult to like, Succession is a remarkably compelling show. The series follows the Roy family, a wealthy dynasty, as they battle for control of their media empire. It’s made relatable through witty writing, clever humor, and moments that surprisingly evoke empathy. Stellar performances from Kieran Culkin, Jeremy Strong, and Sarah Snook solidify Succession‘s place as a standout title in the HBO Max catalog.

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2026-01-07 19:56