5 Underrated HBO Max Shows You Need To Watch

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HBO Max has a huge library of great TV shows, and it’s easy to overlook some hidden gems. Here are five of the best shows on HBO Max that you might not have discovered yet. HBO is known for producing high-quality television, and many of the greatest shows of all time have come from the network.

Many people are familiar with HBO’s most popular shows. Series like The Sopranos, The White Lotus, and Game of Thrones are widely known, but for true TV fans, there’s another great selection, including Westworld, Barry, and Eastbound & Down. While these shows have a dedicated following, they haven’t reached quite the same level of mainstream popularity as some of HBO’s biggest hits.

HBO Max has a lot of hidden gems you might not know about. You might have quickly glanced at their covers while browsing, or seen them suggested after watching something similar. Don’t dismiss these shows just because you haven’t heard of them – they could be really good!

Life’s Too Short (2011-2013)

In 2011, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and Warwick Davis created the funny sitcom Life’s Too Short. Davis played a comedic version of himself, but this character was far from flattering – he was portrayed as boastful, scheming, and unkind.

As a movie and TV fanatic, I gotta say, there’s something so satisfying about seeing an actor play a truly awful version of themselves. It’s what makes Life’s Too Short so hilarious! It also gives all the celebrity guests the perfect excuse to really lean into exaggerated versions of their own public personas. Honestly, the show is just unapologetically crude, over-the-top, and consistently funny – I couldn’t stop laughing.

Insecure (2016-2021)

Issa Rae brings a fresh and important voice to television, and her show Insecure perfectly showcases her talent. The series follows Issa and her friend Molly, both in their late 20s, as they figure out their lives, careers, and love lives in South Los Angeles. They first met at Stanford University and continue to support each other through all of life’s challenges.

Issa and Molly’s story tackles the challenges of being Black in America with a smart and often funny perspective. The show is well-written, honest, and doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, offering a real and relatable look at the lives of Black women today.

Rome (2005-2007)

If you missed Rome, don’t feel bad – it was unfortunately canceled after just two seasons, so it didn’t get a proper conclusion. Still, those two seasons tell a fantastic story, and the ending feels more like a pause, suggesting future adventures, rather than a frustrating cliffhanger.

This series takes place in the early years of the first century and shows how Julius Caesar (played by Ciarán Hinds) gained power in ancient Rome. The story is told through the experiences of two soldiers, Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson), who are figures briefly noted in Caesar’s own historical accounts. It’s a visually stunning and well-acted show with a compelling story.

Vice Principals (2016-2017)

As a huge fan of Danny McBride and Jody Hill’s work, I think Vice Principals is seriously their best show – even better than Eastbound & Down or The Righteous Gemstones, if I’m honest. It stars McBride alongside Walton Goggins, who you might now know from The White Lotus, and they play Neal Gamby and Lee Russell. It only ran for two seasons, but it’s fantastic.

Gamby and Russell are high school vice principals who will do anything – even bend the rules – to become principal when their boss retires. This HBO show is incredibly well-written, with a particularly satisfying conclusion, and it’s also genuinely funny.

My Brilliant Friend (2018-2024)

Based on the first four books in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan series, My Brilliant Friend is a heartfelt story about the enduring friendship between two women. Starting in a poor neighborhood in Naples, Italy, Elena and Lila’s bond grows and changes over many years, with different actresses portraying them at various stages of their lives.

Against the backdrop of post-World War II Italy, Elena and Lila both long to break free from the difficult and bleak lives in their village, but they eventually discover that achieving their dreams doesn’t necessarily bring fulfillment. This sweeping story, an epic from HBO Max, is brought to life by the fantastic connection between the actresses portraying the two friends.

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2025-11-03 21:29