When Hbo Max launched, it came with an advantage that Disney+ and Apple TV+ didn’t have: Beyond flagship original series like Love Life and Legendary, there is also the full weight of Warner Bros. legacy — specifically, the decades of producing amazing film and television. On the TV side, this is especially exciting, because thanks to the prestige network which makes up 50 percent of this service’s name, that means a ton of exciting series.
In addition, there are also a lot of TV shows which have been in streaming flux for a while. Some of them, like Doctor Who and Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s original version of The Office, are now coming to HBO Max thanks to a deal made between Warner and the BBC. Some of them, like Friends and Pretty Little Liars, you might not have ever known were owned by Warner Bros., thanks to the way deals between networks and studios work. In short: There’s a lot of great TV shows to watch on HBO Max.
Below are the 50 best series currently available to stream on HBO Max, with a special emphasis on the HBO original series that have helped the network win dozens and dozens Emmys over the course of its lifetime. And things are only going to get better from here, as there are a ton of other classic series which will eventually join the service, plus a number of exciting originals that, fingers crossed, will be finished in time to join this list.
The Flight Attendant
Created by: Steve Yockey
Cast: Kaley Cuoco, Michiel Huisman, Rosie Perez, Zosia Mamet, T.R. Knight, and Michelle Gomez
The Flight Attendant is not just the best HBO Max original series thus far, it’s one of the best TV shows of 2020. It’s a mystery-thriller whodunit with a strong character hook, as Kaley Cuoco plays a flight attendant who has a one-night-stand with one of her passengers, only to wake up the next morning to find his throat slit. Instead of calling for help, she cleans it up and gets the heck out of there, setting into motion a series of events that will put her and her friends and family in serious danger. But while the mystery is wildly compelling, the show also offers a strong character arc for Cuoco as she plays an alcoholic in denial. She spirals and battles her own demons while also fighting for her life and trying to unravel this mystery, and Cuoco is absolutely incredible in the role. This 7-episode limited series is a very easy – and satisfying! –binge-watch. – Adam Chitwood
Perry Mason
Created by: Rolin Jones and Ron Fitzgerald
Cast: Matthew Rhys, Tatiana Maslany, Juliet Rylance, Chris Chalk, Shea Whigham, and John Lithgow
If you’re into film noirs, detective stories, and courtroom dramas, then HBO’s spin on Perry Mason may be right up your alley. This new take on the iconic TV show presents an origin story of sorts for the titular lawyer, as Matthew Rhys plays Mason as a washed-up P.I. who, throughout Season 1, gets wrapped up in a mystery involving the murder of a child that leads him down some treacherous paths. The whole thing has the tone and atmosphere of a film noir a la Chinatown, and Rhys brings a quiet sadness to the titular role that makes Perry Mason tremendously empathetic. The show is half film noir and half courtroom drama, but it’s all fascinating and packed with complex characters and terrifically cinematic cinematography, music, and production design. – Adam Chitwood
Raised by Wolves
Created by: Aaron Guzikowski
Cast: Amanda Collin, Abubakar Salim, Winta McGrath, Travis Fimmel, Niamh Algar, and Felix Jamieson
You will know by the end of the first episode of Raised by Wolves whether this show is for you, but I can promise you one thing: you are not prepared for how insanely weird this sci-fi series gets. The Ridley Scott-directed pilot burns through a season’s worth of story in one hour, as the show follows a pair of androids who land on a far-away planet with packed embryos and the stated mission of restarting humanity anew. A civil war between religious fanatics and atheists on Earth has turned our home planet into a barren wasteland, but surprises abound once these travelers arrive on this here planet and they learn that it may hold more secrets than they expected. This thing is wildly cinematic and unendingly compelling, and has already been renewed for a second season. Fans of hard sci-fi and Scott’s Alien films will find much to love. – Adam Chitwood
The West Wing
Created by: Aaron Sorkin
Cast: Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford, Allison Janney, Rob Lowe, John Spencer, Richard Schiff, Dule Hill, Elisabeth Moss, and Stockard Channing
The West Wing is one of the best and most enjoyable TV shows ever made, as it takes viewers inside the day-to-day operations of The White House with that iconic Aaron Sorkin touch. It’s essentially the story of public servants trying to do the right thing day in and day out, and offers a more hopeful or optimistic view of the federal government than some might be anticipating. And while some aspects of the show have aged a bit, on the whole it holds up tremendously well – largely thanks to the incredible ensemble cast and Sorkin’s brilliant scripts (he wrote every episode of the first four seasons). If you’ve never seen The West Wing, now’s a great time to catch up with this joyous, compelling, largely feel-good drama. – Adam Chitwood
Silicon Valley
Created by: Mike Judge, John Altschuler, and Dave Krinsky
Cast: Thomas Middleditch, Kumail Nanjiani, Martin Starr, Josh Brener, Zach Woods, Suzanne Cryer, Jimmy O. Yang, and T.J. Miller
One of the best HBO comedies of the last decade, Silicon Valley is a brilliant, hilarious six-season satire of the gig economy and the boon of Big Tech. The show begins at a Google-like company where a lowly employee (played by Thomas Middleditch) stumbles upon a game-changing idea and decides to start his own start-up. Over the course of six seasons, the small staff of this start-up navigate the challenging, hypocritical world of tech in Silicon Valley, all while the writers take sharp aim at companies like Google and Apple. – Adam Chitwood
South Park
Created by: Trey Parker and Matt Stone
Cast: Trey Parker and Matt Stone
It’s insane that not only has South Park been on the air since 1997, but Trey Parker and Matt Stone have been the creative voices in charge of the series ever since. Usually a creator will leave for greener pastures and the show becomes a shell of its former self (see: Family Guy, The Simpsons), but not with South Park. As a result, this Comedy Central series’ signature brand of off-color humor and social commentary has continued to evolve over the years, tackling various major issues, trends, and presidencies. – Adam Chitwood
Love Life
Created by: Sam Boyd
Cast: Anna Kendrick, Zoë Chao, Peter Vack, Sasha Compere, Lesley Manville
Anna Kendrick, over the years, has played a lot of characters who have trouble finding love, but the HBO Max flagship scripted series Love Life is singularly obsessed with her romantic woes. Each episode of the series executive produced by Paul Feig zeroes in on one of Darby’s (Kendrick) relationships as a young single woman living in New York. Describing the show as “a millennial Sex and the City” is a bit reductive, and also undercuts the charms of Kendrick’s performance and the premise, which promises an anthology-style structure, with each season focusing on a new protagonist. This means that Love Live will escape the hardest part of doing a romantic comedy TV show — every season can have a happy ending. – Liz Shannon Miller
Looney Tunes Cartoons
Executive producers: Pete Browngard, Sam Register
Cast: Eric Bauza, Jeff Bergman, Bob Bergen
Bugs, Daffy, Elmer and the gang are all back for what, on the surface, looks like a return to the classic hand-drawn animated shorts. But the writing of this HBO Max seires has been updated just enough to reflect the modern era, while also remaining true to the spirit of the original characters. For those who loved the golden era of the series, Looney Tunes Cartoons delivers an appealing balance of nostalgia and originality. And an entire new generation of animation fans will have the opportunity to discover the anarchic joys of this iconic signature. – Liz Shannon Miller
Legendary
Showrunners: Jane Mun and Josh Greenberg
Cast: MC Dashaun Wesley, DJ MikeQ, Law Roach, Jameela Jamil, Leiomy Maldonado, Megan Thee Stallion
Between RuPaul’s Drag Race and Pose, ballroom culture has never been more prominent or popular, and fans of either (or both) of those shows will relish this reality competition series, which pits “houses” against each other to win the title of “Superior House.” Even if you’ve never seen Paris Is Burning, host Dashaun Wesley and the judging panel are there to explain the nuances of the scene, and the outrageous outfits and incredible dancing each team puts on display will captivate you. – Liz Shannon Miller
The Not Too Late Show With Elmo
Created by: Sesame Workshop
Cast: Elmo
The last time puppets were seen hosting a talk show, it was ABC’s ill-fated The Muppets reboot. But Up Late With Miss Piggy was a show-within-a-show — The Not Too Late Show With Elmo, meanwhile, is pure bite-sized talk show fun, with everyone’s favorite furry three-and-a-half-year-old welcoming Jimmy Fallon, The Jonas Brothers, Kacey Musgraves, John Mulaney, Lil Nas X, and more to join him for very short periods of time. The format is simple and just adult enough to make the series fun family viewing, especially if you’re a Sesame Street fan looking for a touch of whimsey in chaotic days. – Liz Shannon Miller
Barry
Created by: Bill Hader and Alec Berg
Cast: Bill Hader, Henry Winkler, Sarah Goldberg, Stephen Root, and Anthony Carrigan
We knew Bill Hader was funny, but the SNL veteran’s HBO series Barry proves he’s an incredible filmmaker to boot. Created by Hader and Alec Berg (Silicon Valley), the half-hour series stars Hader as a hitman who decides he’s done with killing people and wants to become an actor instead. He starts taking classes in Los Angeles from a washed up, semi-egotistical actor named Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler), but finds that leaving the hitman game behind is easier said than done. Dryly funny, violent, and surprisingly emotional, Barry is a show that defies description other than “it’s phenomenal.” It’s not necessarily a drama, not necessarily a comedy. It’s just damn good storytelling, with Hader directing some of the best/funniest/most impressive episodes of TV in recent memory. – Adam Chitwood
Bored to Death
Created by: Jonathan Ames
Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis, Ted Danson, Heather Burns
Trust Jonathan Ames to never do anything normally. Bored To Death, created by the author, is ostensibly a comic take on classic private detective tropes, but with the twist that Jason Schwartzman is “playing” a struggling writer named Jonathan Ames who happens to do some investigating as a side business. Add in the fact that his best friends are played by Zach Galifianakis and Ted Danson, and you know you’re in for a very specific sort of vibe here. Perhaps the best way to describe it is this: Enjoy this one after a trip to your local dispensary for supplies. – Liz Shannon Miller
Carnivàle
Created by: Daniel Knauf
Cast: Michael J. Anderson, Adrienne Barbeau, Patrick Bauchau, Clancy Brown, Debra Christofferson, Tim DeKay, Clea DuVall, Cynthia Ettinger, John Fleck, Carla Gallo, Toby Huss, Amy Madigan, Diane Salinger, Nick Stahl, Karyne Steben, Sarah Steben, Brian Turk, Ralph Waite
It’s been 15 years since Carnivàle went off the air, and we are still not exactly sure what the hell this show was about. However, we knew we wanted to keep watching The series started off like any other prestige HBO period drama might, an impeccably made look at a 1930s traveling show populated by society’s outsiders. But that was just surface dressing for creator Daniel Knauf‘s master plan: a supernatural story about the battle between good and evil, with apocalyptic repercussions. It was a ride not properly appreciated in its time, but will still leave you spinning today. – Liz Shannon Miller
Crashing
Created by: Pete Holmes
Cast: Pete Holmes, Artie Lang, Lauren Lapkus, Jamie Lee
This one may be a little niche, but if it’s your jam you’ll be really into it. Crashing is a half-hour comedy series inspired by the life of comedian Pete Holmes, a devout Christian who began his career in standup just as his marriage was falling apart. The title refers to the fact that Pete ends up crashing on the couches of a number of different comedians while trying to make headway in NYC following his dream, after catching his wife cheating on him. It’s a funny and deeply sweet show, as Pete’s sincerity and good nature sometimes butts heads against the rough and competitive world of stand-up comedy. If you’re a comedy nerd, you should check this one out. – Adam Chitwood
Deadwood
Created by: David Milch
Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker, Jim Beaver, Brad Dourif, John Hawkes, Paula Malcomson, Leon Rippy, William Sanderson, Robin Weigert, W. Earl Brown, Dayton Callie, Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe, Kim Dickens, Anna Gunn, Jeffrey Jones, Sean Bridgers, Garret Dillahunt, Titus Welliver
David Milch’s much-loved drama set in the Old West town of Deadwood frequently finds itself on critics’ shortlists of the best TV shows of all time. It’s a dark ensemble western loaded with so many memorable characters and amazing actors that it feels like it should be illegal. It’s also mostly a true story, with the vast majority of the cast playing real people, including Timothy Olyphant as the reluctant peacekeeper Seth Bullock and Ian McShane as the villainous brothel owner Al Swearingen. The show focuses on the town of Deadwood, South Dakota and the shrinking idea of the lawless American frontier, following Deadwood’s transition from camp to town and ending with South Dakota’s statehood. I could spend the rest of this blurb just rattling off the incredible cast — Brad Dourif as the prickly Doc Cochran, William Sanderson as the dimwitted E.B. Farnum, freaking John Hawkes as Bullock’s business partner Sol Star, an incredible Robin Weigert as Calamity Jane, and that’s just four people. Suffice it to say that absolutely every single person on this show is killing it. The show got canceled prematurely after the end of the third season, but Milch and the entire cast reunited last year for a movie that wraps up the rest of the storylines. It’s legitimately the best western I’ve ever seen, and easily one of the best dramas ever, so watch the dang thing already. – Tom Reimann
Doctor Who
Created by: Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber, Donald Wilson (classic series), Russell T. Davies (relaunch)
Cast: Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whittaker
He (or she) has worn many faces, but one fact has remained true for over 50 years: The Doctor is here to make people better. HBO Max is the exclusive home of the iconic BBC sci-fi series, beginning with the 2005 relaunch featuring Christopher Eccleston as the madman with a blue box, and Billie Piper as Rose, the London shopgirl he sweeps away for adventures in space and time. Since writer Russell T. Davies brilliantly updated the classic premise for a modern audience, the show has gone through countless cast changes, including the landmark decision to introduce Jodie Whittaker as the first female Doctor, but while the quality of the series has wavered over the years, the series still sparks with mystery, imagination, humor, and heart — and the Daleks are still really, really effing scary. – Liz Shannon Miller
