We could earn a fee from hyperlinks on this web page.
The Max streaming app has all the time benefitted from being the house for HBO hits like Sport of Thrones, The White Lotus, and The Final of Us, however the streamer has additionally produced some high quality unique programming. Hacks is a buzzy award winner, and reveals like Peacemaker and The Intercourse Lives of Faculty Women have drawn eyeballs towards the previous “HBO Max.” Extra just lately, The Pitt is burning up social media, and Spanish-language import When No One Sees Us is drawing vital acclaim.
Given the quantity of streaming content material on the market, and the variety of reveals Max has already produced, there are some nice decisions which may have flown beneath your radar. In our present streaming period, through which good reveals aren’t simply canceled however erased from existence (farewell, Raised by Wolves), it by no means hurts to take a second to contemplate the marginally much less talked-about reveals which are equally worthy of your consideration.
(The reveals discovered beneath are all Max originals, which implies they have been both initially produced for and/or are at present distributed completely by the streamer, at the least in North America. Stuff that initially premiered elsewhere within the U.S., like Grownup Swim’s latest buzzy hit Widespread Aspect Results, do not qualify.)
The Pitt (2025 –, renewed for a second season)
E.R.‘s Noah Wyle is again in scrubs as Dr. Michael “Robby” Rabinavitch, senior attending on the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital’s emergency room. Robby’s mentor died through the top of COVID-19, and he’s solely simply recovering from his traumatic experiences. It is gonna be an extended day, although: Every episode represents a single hour of a tumultuous 15-hour shift, peppered by tragedies together with a mass taking pictures. It appears like medical dramas are a dime a dozen, however this one is kind of a bit extra attention-grabbing, and so much buzzier, than most. You may stream The Pitt right here.
Hacks (2021 –, fourth season coming April 10)
After getting canceled over a tweet, 25-year-old author Ava (Hannah Einbinder) struggles to get her profession again so as, reluctantly taking a job for Deborah Vance (Jean Good)—a comedy trailblazer who stays common with an older Vegas crown, however whose profession is essentially on autopilot. They’re a wholly mismatched pair, however their chemistry is finally explosive, with Jean Good doing among the finest work of her unimaginable profession because the (usually) deeply unlikeable Vance, and Einbinder greater than holding her personal in return. It is humorous, bitchy, and surprisingly shifting when it needs to be. You may stream Hacks right here.
When No One Sees Us (2025, first season ongoing)
A particular police thriller imported from Spain, When No One Sees Us stars Mariela Garriga (Mission Unattainable – Lifeless Reckoning) as a Cuban-American particular agent of the U.S. Military, and Maribel Verdú (Pan’s Labyrinth) as a Spanish Civil Guard sergeant, each investigating an obvious dying by extraordinarily violent suicide on an air base throughout Holy Week. It is a twisty-turny thriller, however the performances and the emphasis on character over plot make it an absolute standout. You may stream When No One Sees Us right here.
Trixie Motel (2022 – 2024, two seasons)
A pick-up in its second season from Discovery+, Trixie Motel poses that all-important query: how would a drag queen with disposable revenue run a lodge? Within the first season, RuPaul alum Trixie Mattel and then-partner David Silver purchase a run-down Palm Springs motel and switch it right into a campy desert vacation spot; within the second the 2 purchase and embellish a brand new house. Superstar company cease by to assist the pair drag up their lodging. It is fluffy, flashy, and enjoyable. You may stream Trixie Motel season one right here, and Drag Me Residence, the second season, right here.
Doom Patrol (2019 – 2023, 4 seasons)
Max’s early DC present was initially ported from the now-defunct DC Universe streamer (previous and future episodes are actually Max-exclusive), a largely forgotten effort. Thank goodness it survived; although ended after 4 seasons, it was an uncharacteristically daring and freaky entry within the superhero canon. Almost indescribably bizarre, the present contains characters just like the non-binary Danny the Road (a literal road), paranormal investigators the Intercourse Males, Imaginary Jesus, and orgasm-generating physique builder Flex Mentallo—whereas additionally grounded in some actually wonderful, continuously emotional character work from the complete forged, together with Brendan Fraser, Matt Bomer, Michelle Gomez, and Timothy Dalton. It’s additionally very queer and intercourse constructive, making it a standout among the many normally chaste and straight world of superhero cinema. You may stream Doom Patrol here.
Full Circle (2023, miniseries)
Creator Ed Solomon (Now You See Me) and director Steven Soderbergh navigate a giant forged and a labyrinthine plot involving homicide, kidnapping, company espionage, and magic—the title refers to a homicide ritual performed by a Guyanese crime lord (performed by CCH Pounder) that entails drawing a literal circle in New York, centered on the scene of a homicide. There are a number of too many balls within the air at any given time, however watching the chaos unfold is addictive. Pounder is joined by Zazie Beetz, Claire Danes, Timothy Olyphant, and Dennis Quaid. You may stream Full Circle right here.
Scavengers Reign (2023, one season)
A professional advice for this one, solely as a result of it was cancelled after its first season with loads left unresolved. However! It is a good, impressively voice acted, and fantastically animated sci-fi epic following the stranded survivors of the crashed interstellar cargo ship Demeter 227. The online of pure life on the world on which they discover themselves is unusually complicated, an the foundations they’re used to do not appear to use. The creators are buying a second season round, however it appears possible we’ll be left with a number of questions—which is possibly not the worst factor. You may stream Scavengers Reign right here.
The Flight Attendant (2020 – 2022, two seasons)
Kaley Cuoco performs hard-living (i.e. alcoholic) flight attendant Cassie Bowden, who, within the first episode, wakes up in a Bangkok lodge room with no reminiscence of the evening earlier than. Which may very well be a great factor or a foul factor, provided that she’s sharing a mattress with a lifeless passenger from her final flight. Afraid to name the police, she tries, on her personal, to piece collectively the more and more convoluted reminiscences of that final evening. Impressively twisty-turny, but in addition with a hallucinogenic sense of enjoyable, it is an impressively distinctive present that earned a number of Emmy nominations, together with for an excellent Cuoco. Regardless of producing loads of buzz and seemingly good numbers, it was canceled after two seasons—which can develop into one thing of a theme with Max. You may stream The Flight Attendant right here.
The Intercourse Lives of Faculty Women (2021 – 2025, three seasons)
Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet) is an endlessly naïve scholarship pupil; Bela (Amrit Kaur), is an aspiring comedy author on the make for the most popular guys; Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott) is an overachieving athlete and senator’s daughter; Leighton (Reneé Rapp) is a closeted sorority lady. They’re randomly assigned to room collectively as freshmen on the fictional Essex Faculty in Vermont, a mismatched quartet exploring younger maturity collectively. Created by Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble, the comedy-drama is not practically as salacious as its title suggests: There’s intercourse, for positive, however like Intercourse and the Metropolis earlier than it, the humorous and queer-friendly present is extra about feminine friendship. You may stream The Intercourse Lives of Faculty Women right here.
Jellystone! (2021 – 2025)
The Hanna-Barbera cartoon pantheon has been largely dormant in latest many years, however it is a enjoyable revisit, with the titular city serving as house to dozens of characters from again within the day, led by Mayor Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear (now a physician at Jellystone Hospital), Augie Doggy, Jabberjaw, High Cat, and dozens extra, with out-of-towners like The Jetsons and Area Ghost popping in once in a while. The present’s foolish, anarchic type is unquestionably not a one-for-one match to the supply materials, however it’s not a horrible factor that the present is concentrated on interesting to fashionable youngsters somewhat than their mother and father (or grandparents, at this level). It is enjoyable for that older elementary age group. You may stream Jellystone! right here.
Gremlins: Secrets and techniques of the Mogwai (2023 –, second season ongoing)
It was bizarre, however kinda cool, that the unique Gremlins film was marketed towards youngsters, provided that the plot activates moments like a Mogwai blowing up in a microwave and an anecdote about somebody’s lifeless dad mouldering in a chimney dressed like Santa Claus. That every one being stated, this animated prequel is legit kid-friendly, even when it would not draw back from the Looney Tunes-esque type of the live-action motion pictures. It additionally takes the awkward Orientalism of these motion pictures and makes it a advantage: Sam Wing (performed by Hollywood legend Keye Luke in Gremlins) is, right here, a 10-year-old boy who meets Gizmo and is then compelled to affix him on a journey by means of the Chinese language countryside, generally encountering legendary creatures. The stacked voice forged contains Izaac Wang, Ming-Na Wen as Fong Wing, B. D. Wong, and the nice James Hong. You may stream Secrets and techniques of the Mogwai right here.
The Different Two (2019 – 2023, three seasons)
Heléne Yorke and Drew Tarver stars as a few meandering siblings whose lives are turned the wrong way up when their youthful brother turns into a viral sensation. The present has numerous enjoyable dissecting fashionable popular culture, and, although it has a candy facet, it’s among the finest cringe comedy you will discover on Max. As class satires go, it by no means fairly achieved Succession ranges of obsession, however deserves a bit extra love. You may stream The Different Two right here.
Tokyo Vice (2022 — 2024, two seasons)
Your tolerance for Ansel Elgort could range (given assault allegations), however he stars right here alongside always-welcome Japanese actors Ken Watanabe and Rinko Kikuchi as a younger journalist who turns into embedded with veteran detectives in Tokyo’s vice squad circa 1999. The present pays tribute to each the glitzy and splendidly seedy points of the title metropolis, whereas additionally working as an efficient crime drama set in a really totally different context from extra typical America-set reveals. You may stream Tokyo Vice right here.
Rap Sh!t (2022 — 2023, two seasons)
Issa Rae follows up Insecure with the story of socially aware Miami rapper Shawna (Aida Osman), who winds up promoting out, at the least in her personal eyes, when she groups up together with her good friend Mia (KaMillion), whose common OnlyFans brings the brand new rap group a built-in fanbase. In the meantime, Shawna’s boyfriend Cliff (Devon Terrell) has to come back to phrases with the truth that Shawna’s extra business profession path would possibly put his goals of political success in peril. Like Insecure, it’s deeply humorous, but in addition has loads to say about friendship and ambition between younger Black girls. You may stream Rap Sh!t right here.
The Massive Brunch (2022, one season)
Lastly: a actuality present for individuals who love brunch (a few of whom, I’m knowledgeable, would possibly even be straight). Schitt’s Creek’s Dan Levy hosts the cooking present involving ten cooks competing for the cash to make all their goals come true (to the tune of $300,000)—however provided that they will make the proper brunch. The present avoids the demanding components of a Gordon Ramsey-type competitors, whereas being fairly a bit funnier than a GBBO. It’s a strong entry within the reality-cooking world with a novel type, although its one-and-done single season (at the least thus far) might be a professional or a con relying on how hooked you end up. You may stream The Massive Brunch right here.
It’s a Sin (2021, miniseries)
Russell T. Davies (Queer as People, Physician Who) revisits the Nineteen Eighties by means of the story of a gaggle of buddies residing in London through the top of the HIV/AIDS disaster. The miniseries brings a powerful forged to bear on a narrative that tracks them by means of the early days of queer liberation by means of the growing menace of a illness that nobody within the broader world was prepared to speak about, a lot much less do something about. You may stream It is a Sin right here.
Peacemaker (2022 –, renewed for a second season)
A humorous and violent shiny spot within the wildly convoluted onscreen world of DC Comics, Peacemaker spins out of James Gunn’s snarky 2021 entry The Suicide Squad, with John Cena reprising his function. Having survived the occasions of that movie, he is recruited as soon as once more by america authorities to affix a staff making an attempt to cease mysterious butterfly creatures inhabiting human hosts. It is obtained the identical bloody comedian tone of the film, however provides simply sufficient dimension, and an emotional arc, to the the jingoistic superheroes’ story that it is simple to root for him, whilst his self-awareness stays restricted. It additionally appears to be a little bit of a bridge between the previous DC film universe and the upcoming, James Gunn-lead one—the upcoming second season will observe the occasions of the brand new Superman film, and there is additionally a Viola Davis-lead Waller spin-off within the works. You may stream Peacemaker right here.
South Aspect (2019–2022, three seasons)
Creators/writers Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle (who even have elements within the sequence) introduced a novel type to their three-season sitcom set in Englewood—the close-knit forged and manufacturing crew (Bashir’s brother, Sultan, performs one of many leads) give the present a familial vibe. it follows two mismatched buddies (Sultan Salahuddin and Kareme Younger) looking for success whereas operating a rent-to-own retailer amid a extensively numerous ensemble, and looking for some sort of accord with the native PD. You may stream South Aspect right here.
What do you assume thus far?
Via Our Eyes (2021, miniseries)
An unique manufacturing from Sesame Workshop, every episode of the docuseries offers with a particular subject going through youngsters, and every is directed by a special gifted and acclaimed director. The 4 present episodes have interaction with youngsters with incarcerated mother and father, households displaced by local weather crises, the youngsters of veterans counting on caregivers, and people with out everlasting housing. The sequence presents a uncommon perspective, and takes an appropriately simple and trustworthy strategy with out feeling the necessity to manipulate our feelings. It’s a miniseries for the time being, though there is likely to be extra coming. You may stream Via Our Eyes right here.
Equal (2020, one season)
The well-done docuseries pulls in some star energy to inform tales round among the most important occasions in LGBTQ+ historical past through the twentieth century. The mixture of speaking head-style discussions alongside scripted reenactments is especially efficient. You may stream Equal right here.
Julia (2022 – 2023, two seasons)
I’m more and more drawn to tales of people that made it later in life, most likely unrelated to being solidly middle-aged whereas having achieved (as but) nothing of notice. Sarah Lancashire performs Julia Youngster magnificently, capturing a lot of her distinctive type and patter, and the present has numerous enjoyable with the manufacturing woes of early public tv. Though it has a light-weight contact, the present’s additionally an necessary reminder of the significance of a lady like Julia, a lady in her 50s who develop into an unlikely trailblazer as not simply an on-camera character, but in addition as an modern producer. One other one which deserved greater than two seasons, however nonetheless pleasant. You may stream Julia right here.
Anticipating Amy (2020, one season)
Not a stand-up particular (though it does interweave with the event of 1), however as an alternative, one other in Max’s spectacular and (pretty) numerous docuseries choices. What would possibly in any other case be a conceit venture (a doc about comic Amy Schumer’s difficult being pregnant) is buoyed by an actual sense of honesty, and by dialogue of her husband Chris’s autism prognosis across the identical time. It most likely requires a little bit of an appreciation for Schumer stepping into, however it’s a reasonably fascinating journey.
Titans (2018–2023, 4 seasons)
There’s an virtually relentless “edginess” to an terrible lot of the films and reveals based mostly on DC superheroes, feeling at instances as if they’re apologizing for the supply materials. Titans is correct there, however with swearing, fucking, and a few pretty intense violence. What it has, although, that among the motion pictures lack, is an addictive high quality that mimics the texture of getting actually into a great long-form superhero comedian e book storyline—however extra swearsy. You may stream Titans right here.
Younger Justice (2010–2022, 4 seasons)
That is the little cartoon that might: canceled manner again in 2013, picked up by the defunct DC Universe streamer for season 3, after which getting a closing season as a Max unique (these first three seasons are additionally on Max). There’s a purpose it has hung in there, even with out the title recognition of a few of DC’s different stuff: It’s an impressively animated sequence that pulls from any variety of comics sources whereas scrupulously growing its characters. Not like numerous cartoons (or comics), it’s additionally allowed its characters to develop up over time and launched new generations of heroes alongside the way in which. You may stream Younger Justice right here.
Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults (2020, one season)
It’s not all the time a simple watch (the ending episode, not surprisingly, is downright harrowing), however it’s not a horrible time to revisit the story of the Heaven’s Gate UFO-worshipping cult and its chief, Marshall Applewhite. The group had come to imagine strongly in concepts which are basically goofy, with deeply tragic penalties. Which is all sounding somewhat acquainted these days. The doc makes use of never-before-released footage. You may stream The Cult of Cults right here.
Station Eleven (2021, miniseries)
The miniseries, based mostly on the Emily St. John Mandel novel, was launched at both the most effective time or the worst potential time, the story of a flu pandemic landed on the previous HBO Max proper in the course of the primary section of COVID. The present follows Kirsten Raymonde, a younger stage actor whose efficiency in a manufacturing of King Lear is minimize brief by the onset of a virus with a 99% fatality charge. We meet Kirsten on the outset of the pandemic, after which go to her 20 years on, nonetheless an actor, in a world very a lot modified. It’s a sluggish burn, however finally, the sequence makes a shifting case for the facility of artwork, even (or particularly) in moments when survival is on the road. You may stream Station Eleven right here.
Harley Quinn (2019– , renewed for a sixth season)
Kaley Cuoco voices Harley on this very grownup cartoon sequence starring the anti-hero who made her debut in Bruce Timm and Paul Dini’s Batman: The Animated Sequence manner again within the day. Don’t anticipate conventional superheroics—it’s very a lot a zany comedy, however it’s usually humorous and delivers some strong queer illustration. A Kite Man spin-off is within the works. You may stream Harley Quinn right here.
The Staircase (2022, miniseries)
Going past the usual true crime tropes, The Staircase stars Colin Firth as Michael Peterson, the real-life novelist convicted of homicide after his spouse, Kathleen, was discovered lifeless on the backside of the title’s staircase. Uniquely, the miniseries offers not primarily with the occasions surrounding the dying, however as an alternative the aftermath, and the filming of a French documentary throughout Peterson’s authorized battle. The consequence is a great take a look at the media’s impression on crime and punishment in our true-crime obsessed world. You may stream The Staircase right here.
Love & Dying (2023, miniseries)
The story of Seventies housewife Sweet Montgomery has been advised a number of instances earlier than, most memorably by way of a 1990 TV film and a Hulu sequence from simply final yr. Right here, Elizabeth Olsen provides a stellar efficiency as the lady who kills her lover’s spouse, possibly in self-defense? It hits loads of the anticipated true crime notes, however Olsen’s efficiency is top-tier, humanizing the lead character. You may stream Love & Dying right here.
Search Celebration (2016–2022, 5 seasons)
This very darkish comedy turned an HBO Max/Max unique following its cancellation by TBS—however it nonetheless counts, kicking off with a Veronica Mars vibe involving Alia Shawkat’s Dory and her hunt for a lacking school good friend. The largely narcissistic characters are trying to find which means and a spotlight as a lot as for the lacking good friend, whereas the present grows weirder, funnier, and extra attention-grabbing with every season, turning into a convincing chronicle of the absurdities of contemporary millennial existence. You may stream Search Celebration right here.
Our Flag Means Dying (2022 – 2023), two seasons
I believe everybody most likely is aware of about this one already—at the least these of you who’re extraordinarily on-line—however the swashbuckling pirate comedy isn’t solely splendidly goofy and humorous, it additionally options, unexpectedly, probably the most plausible and compelling homosexual romances of the final a number of years, so I simply needed to provide it somewhat further love. Max minimize it brief after a mere two seasons which, boo! However that does not imply it isn’t price diving in. You may stream Our Flag Means Dying right here.
