Whether it’s HBO exclusives, Max originals, or top series from other studios, HBO Max has got a ton of great shows for your to watch. But how do you choose from Max’s 1,300 + series? Easy, you just check out our list of the best shows on HBO Max.
Here are our top 10 HBO Max shows:
- Friends
- The Gilded Age
- Game of Thrones
- Rick and Morty
- Six Feet Under
- Shameless
- The Sopranos
- True Detective
- Succession
- The Big Bang Theory
But, beware as some of these shows might not be available where you live. HBO Max shows different content in different countries. To get around this, and watch anything that’s available on HBO, you can just use a good streaming VPN, like NordVPN.
If you want to check out our complete list of the 30 best series on the HBO Max streaming service, keep reading.
HBO Max or Max is in the top five of most popular streaming services in the US, and for a good reason: the platform offers over 3,000 movies and shows. Many of these are Max exclusives that aren’t available anywhere else.
Therefore, the question isn’t whether you should be getting HBO Max, but rather what shows to watch on HBO Max! We’ve got the answer. Below, you’ll find the very best shows on HBO Max right now.
Is the HBO Max streaming service not available in your region? No worries! All you have to do is get a virtual private network (VPN) to bypass geo-restrictions and watch all the HBO Max content you want. We recommend NordVPN, the best VPN to unblock HBO Max from anywhere in the world.
What’s New This Month on Max? (Dec 2023)
Below, you’ll find our top picks for the best new December 2023 releases on HBO Max.
- Skyfall (2012): Released December 1st
- Murder In Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning: Released December 4th
- Great Photo, Lovely Life (HBO Original) (2023): Released December 5th
- Boom Boom Bruno: Released December 7th
- Trees and Other Entanglements: Available December 12th
- Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?!: Drops on HBO Max December 16th
- Daniel: Will be released December 20th
- Spirited Away: Live On Stage: Available on Christmas Eve, December 24th
- Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too!: This fun animated series releases on Christmas day, December 25th
- Oprah and The Color Purple Journey: Available on December 28th
- Time Bomb Y2K: Drops on HBO Max on December 30th
For more suggestions on what to watch on HBO Max, specifically TV shows, check out our list of the 30 best series on HBO Max.
The 30 Best HBO Max Shows to Stream Right Now
With over 1,300 series on offer, you’d think it would be easy to find something you like on HBO Max. However, in our experience, this huge offering can actually be overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve included some of the best and most popular HBO shows across many different genres below. That way, you can easily find a title that will appeal to you. Also, whether you’re looking for a recent series or some of the classics, we’ve got you covered.
Do remember that HBO Max’s content catalog varies across countries. Therefore, you might not find some of the series listed below. If this happens, you can just use a good premium VPN, like NordVPN, to watch HBO Max from anywhere and unblock your favorite TV shows.
Without further ado, here are the 30 best HBO Max shows right now.
1. Friends
Watch: Friends
Classic sitcom Friends is one of those older series that has stood the test of time. Many fans still consider it one of the best TV shows ever. The sitcom depicts the lives of six very good friends: Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe.
All six friends work and live in ’90s Manhattan and support each other through thick and thin.
Whether you want to watch Friends for Joey’s shenanigans with his many lady friends, the up-and-down love story between Rachel and Ross, or Phoebe’s adventures, which seem to make up a separate story altogether, you’re bound to have a good time with this ensemble cast.
In 2021, our Friends reunited again during Friends: The Reunion. You can watch the latter and all 10 seasons of the original show on HBO Max.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy |
| Notable Cast | Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer |
| Creator | David Crane and Marta Kauffman |
| Years | 1994 – 2004 |
| Number of seasons | 10 |
2. The Gilded Age
Watch: The Gilded Age
The Gilded Age is a historical drama set in New York during the late 19th century. The series sees somewhat of a cultural war between several rich families to see which will prevail: new money or old money.
Some have described The Gilded Age as the American version of Downtown Abbey because of the huge popularity both titles enjoy in the genre and the accurate costumes and depictions of the time period in both series.
The Gilded Age deals with themes such as wealth, poverty, power, friendship, and love. Last but not least, this series is a must for anyone who enjoys some impressive and flamboyant costumes! Check out both seasons now on HBO Max.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Historical drama |
| Notable Cast | Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton |
| Creator | Julian Fellowes |
| Years | 2022 – present |
| Number of seasons | 2 |
3. Game of Thrones
Watch: Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is an absolute masterpiece within the fantasy genre and one of the best HBO Max shows. The ultra-popular series is set in a mythical world full of dragons, mermaids, White Walkers, and other creatures.
Game of Thrones is based on a series of books by writer George Martin. This medieval-themed fantasy series takes place on the fictional continent of Westeros and depicts a struggle for power between several powerful families.
Apart from many mythical creatures and monsters, Game of Thrones also addresses the drama and struggles of us mere humans. Many consider this series one of the best TV shows ever. A lot of this has to do with the series’ outstanding actors and guest stars (see below).
We strongly recommend you check out all eight seasons of Game of Thrones on HBO Max. For the real die-hard fantasy fans among us, we also recommend the new Game of Thrones prequel: House of the Dragon.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Notable Cast | Peter Dinklage, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Sophie Turner |
| Creator | David Benioff D. B. Weiss |
| Years | 2011 – 2019 |
| Number of seasons | 8 |
Note that there are still countries where the HBO Max streaming service is unavailable. This might just mean you’ll have to miss out on one of the greatest shows ever to grace television. But fear not! With NordVPN, you can easily unblock HBO Max and Game of Thrones wherever you are.
4. Rick and Morty
Watch: Rick and Morty
If you’re wondering where to watch Rick and Morty, HBO Max is the place to go. Rick and Morty is a popular animated comedy series. Even though it’s animated, it’s definitely targeted at adults.
Rick is a sociopathic but genius scientist who drags his daughter’s entire family, especially his timid grandson Morty, along with him on his absurd intergalactic adventures.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy, Animation |
| Notable Cast | Justin Roiland, Sarah Chalke, Chris Parnell, and Spencer Grammer |
| Creator | Dan Harmon, Justin Roiland |
| Years | 2013 – present |
| Number of seasons | 7 |
5. Six Feet Under
Watch: Six Feet Under
As the name suggests, Six Feet Under tells the story of a family of undertakers in Los Angeles. As is somewhat inevitable in this gloomy but humorous series, Nathaniel Fisher, the head of the Fischer family, passes away after an accident in the very first episode.
The series’s five seasons highlight the adventures and misadventures of the other family members.
The show mainly garnered popularity because of its willingness to address a theme most of us don’t like to think or talk about: death. Every episode of the series starts with someone’s passing.
Other difficult topics are discussed as well, such as homosexuality, religion, and adultery. The aforementioned, and the overall quality of the show, have won it plenty of awards, among which are nine Emmys and three Golden Globes.
Are you one to appreciate a drama series with a fair bit of dark humor? Then you should check out the first season all the way up to the fifth and final season of Six Feet Under.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama, Comedy |
| Notable Cast | Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy, Lauren Ambrose, Freddy Rodríguez |
| Creator | Alan Ball |
| Years | 2001 – 2005 |
| Number of seasons | 5 |
Note that Six Feet Under isn’t available on HBO Max in every country. If you want to watch the show regardless of where you are, you should use our best VPN for HBO Max: NordVPN.
NordVPN has 6000+ servers in 61 countries, so it will be a piece of cake to find a server in a region where HBO Max is available and watch the drama that unfolds in Six Feet Under. We certainly have done it with our favorite shows on HBO Max.
6. Shameless (US)
Shameless (US) is a remake of the UK-based series of the same name that started almost a decade earlier. The series follows the dysfunctional Gallagher family who live in South-Side Chicago, a notoriously rough area of Chicago.
Frank, head of the Gallagher family and a single father of six, spends his days drunk. This leaves his children fending for themselves and figuring life out on their own, often leading to hilarious situations.
To illustrate the above, Carl Gallagher has one of the most interesting character arcs in the show: he more or less starts out as a wannabe gangster, but eventually, thanks to the guidance of the father of his ex-girlfriend, who cheats on him, becomes a police officer.
An interesting feature of Shameless is that one of the main characters breaks the fourth wall at the start of every episode. They then address the audience directly and recap the most important parts of the previous episode.
If you’re a fan of a good comedy, we definitely recommend checking out all 11 seasons of Shameless.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy |
| Notable Cast | William H. Macy, Jeremy Allen White, Ethan Cutkosky, Cameron Monaghan, Emmy Rossum, Emma Kenney |
| Creator | John Wells |
| Years | 2011 – 2021 |
| Number of seasons | 11 |
Unfortunately, not all HBO users will be able to follow Carl and the other Gallaghers on their adventures since the show is blocked in some countries. All you need to undo this, however, is a good VPN. We recommend NordVPN, a true unblocking powerhouse. NordVPN also has some great discounts for new subscribers.
7. The Sopranos
Watch: The Sopranos
This gangster classic details the life of mob boss Tony Soprano. He’s the imposing head of the DiMeo crime family. The organization is headquartered in Newark, New Jersey.
The show doesn’t just expose you to typical mafia life, complete with illegal gambling, extortion, and other crimes. It also gives you plenty of insight into Tony’s own life and struggles.
The Sopranos is one of the best HBO Max shows, as it perfectly combines drama and humor. We definitely recommend checking out all six seasons of the series and watching its prequel movie, The Many Saints of Newark. The latter is also on HBO Max.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama, Crime |
| Notable Cast | James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Dominic Chianese, Steven Van Zandt |
| Creator | David Chase |
| Years | 1999 – 2007 |
| Number of seasons | 6 |
8. True Detective
Watch: True Detective
True Detective is one of the most popular anthology series on HBO. In this case, the anthology format consists of a different murder mystery every season with completely different characters.
This series is a great choice for fans of the detective genre and those who want to experience a series with unique twists and popular actors as cast. You don’t just have to take it from us: the series won no fewer than five Emmy awards! Check out all three seasons on HBO Max.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Mystery, Thriller |
| Notable Cast | Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Potts (season 1) |
| Creator | Nic Pizzolatto |
| Years | 2014 – present |
| Number of seasons | 3 |
9. Succession
Watch: Succession
Succession is, without a doubt, one of the best HBO Max shows and one of the network’s biggest successes. In fact, in 2022, the series won an Emmy for the best drama series. The show follows the dysfunctional but incredibly wealthy Roy family. The latter owns the largest media company in Succession’s fictional world.
In the series’s first season, Roy’s children are all competing for power within the company. All in all, the show combines drama and humor in a creative and engaging way. If you want to watch Succession, there’s nothing stopping you from binging on Season 1 up until the fourth and final season of the series.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama, Comedy |
| Notable Cast | Hiam Abbass, Nicholas Braun, Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin, Peter Friedman, Natalie Gold |
| Creator | Jesse Armstrong |
| Years | 2018 – 2023 |
| Number of seasons | 4 |
Although Succession is one of HBO’s most popular shows, it isn’t available in every country. Fortunately, you can use NordVPN and its robust unblocking capabilities to get around this geo-restriction. NordVPN is our go-to provider when we come across geo-blocks, and it never fails to deliver.
10. The Big Bang Theory
Watch: The Big Bang Theory
Our whole universe was in a hot, dense state
Then, nearly 14 billion years ago, expansion started, wait…
TBBT might not have been around 14 billion years, but it sure feels like we’ve seen Leonard, Sheldon, Penny, Howard, and Raj forever. Don’t get us wrong. We definitely mean that in a good way, as our favorite geeks have entertained us with their adventures for countless hours.
Whether you’re reliving how Leonard blew up their apartment’s elevator, experiencing Howard’s awkward but hilarious flirting with Penny, or just enjoying how Sheldon drives all his friends and enemies crazy, you’re bound to have a good time and learn something sciency in the process.
If you like a healthy dose of science and humor, the Big Bang Theory is the show for you. Head on over to HBO to watch The Big Bang Theory and enjoy all 12 seasons and 279 episodes.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy |
| Notable Cast | Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik, Melissa Rauch |
| Creator | Chuck Lorre |
| Years | 2007 – 2019 |
| Number of seasons | 12 |
11. Band of Brothers
Watch: Band of Brothers
Band of Brothers follows several American paratroopers who were part of Easy Company. The series is set during the last few months of WW2 and shows the preparations and execution of several risky parachute missions into hostile territory.
The series is based on a book of the same name by Stephen Ambrose and is inspired by real events. Band of Brothers was produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, who already had prior experience working on a WW2-themed production together: Saving Private Ryan.
Band of Brothers is, without a doubt, one of the most popular series about WW2 of all time. Its 10 episodes are a must-see for any history buff.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Historical drama |
| Notable Cast | Damian Lewis, Donnie Wahlberg, Ron Livingston, Matthew Settle, David Schwimmer |
| Creator | Erik Jendresen, Tom Hanks, John Orloff, and others |
| Years | 2001 |
| Number of seasons | 1 |
Many history fans might not have access to Band of Brothers, as the series is missing from some countries’ Max catalogs. Fortunately, you can watch Band of Brothers from anywhere in the world, as long as you use the best streaming VPN: NordVPN.
NordVPN is our top VPN for HBO Max, as it can easily bypass geo-restrictions and comes at an affordable price.
12. House of The Dragon
Watch: House of the Dragon
House of The Dragon is a prequel to the popular fantasy series Game of Thrones. The show sees King Viserys I overseeing an unprecedented time of peace in Westeros.
However, there is a lot of uncertainty about who will take the Iron Throne after King Viserys I. As true fantasy fans will know, this uncertainty eventually results in a brutal civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. House of the Dragon tells the story of the events leading up to this war.
We definitely recommend this Game of Thrones prequel, as we believe it is one of the best HBO Max shows! And the second season is coming soon!
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Notable Cast | Rhys Ifans, Matt Smith, Graham McTavish |
| Creator | Ryan Condal |
| Years | 2022 – present |
| Number of seasons | 1 |
13. Our Flag Means Death
Watch: Our Flag Means Death
Our Flag Means Death is your answer to what would happen if a wealthy landowner had a pirate fantasy. The series is set in the 18th century, the golden age of pirating, and sees Stede Bonnet kiss his cush and comfortable life farewell to become a pirate.
As you’d expect, Stede isn’t exactly pirate material. Stede and his fellow pirates, who are just as unsuitable for the job, often cause hilarious situations thanks to their inexperience roaming the seven seas or any sea.
The captain and his crew struggle due to both naval warships, as well as other bloodthirsty pirates. Spoiler alert!: If all of this isn’t enough, eventually, Stede runs into the infamous Blackbeard and his crew, and he and Blackbeard fall in love.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Romantic comedy |
| Notable Cast | Rhys Darby, Ewen Bremner, Joel Fry, Samson Kayo, Nathan Foad, Vico Ortiz |
| Creator | David Jenkins |
| Years | 2022 – present |
| Number of seasons | 2 |
Unfortunately, the HBO Max streaming service isn’t available worldwide yet. However, this doesn’t mean that you’ll have to miss this great historical comedy, as you can unblock the series with a good VPN. NordVPN has an extensive network of thousands of servers, so you can unblock HBO Max and watch the show in minutes.
14. The Wire
Watch: The Wire
The Wire is, without a doubt, one of the biggest hits on HBO Max. The show follows police officer Jimmy McNulty around Baltimore, where he has to navigate his way through many hardened and dangerous criminals.
The series mainly deals with drug-related crimes in Baltimore’s urban center and touches on themes like power, race, and different socio-economic classes. You can watch all five seasons of this great crime-drama series on HBO Max.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama, Crime |
| Notable Cast | Dominic West, Sonja Sohn, Lance Reddick, Wendell Pierce, Deirdre Lovejoy, Clarke Peters, Reg E. Cathey, Domenick Lombardozzi |
| Creator | David Simon |
| Years | 2002 – 2008 |
| Number of seasons | 5 |
15. The White Lotus
Watch: The White Lotus
If you want to watch one of the best Emmy-winning TV shows, then The White Lotus is definitely worth it. It is an HBO original drama-comedy anthology series. It revolves around the guests and employees of the fictional White Lotus hotel chain.
The show depicts the often hilarious interactions between the hotel’s guests and its employees, who both suffer from various psychological dysfunctions. These make the interactions all the more interesting.
The series isn’t all jokes: it also investigates and criticizes the dark side of the lives and mentalities of the rich and privileged. It uses a healthy dose of dark comedy to do so.
Currently, the show has two seasons, with the first one taking place in Maui and the second in Sicily.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Black Comedy, Comedy-drama |
| Notable Cast | Jennifer Coolidge, Tanya McQuoid-Hunt, Jon Gries, Greg Hunt, F. Murray Abraham, Bert Di Grasso, Adam DiMarco, Albie Di Grasso, Meghann Fahy |
| Creator | Mike White |
| Years | 2021 – present |
| Number of seasons | 2 |
16. Euphoria
Watch: Euphoria
Euphoria is a popular drama series that revolves around the lives of a group of high schoolers and is considered one of the top HBO Max shows. However, the show isn’t all about cheerleading and prom queens, as it deals with some very tough and complicated themes, such as drugs, sexual violence, social media, and trauma.
The series’s protagonist is Rue, a 17-year-old girl who abuses drugs to deal with her trauma. The show sees her struggling to stay sober and navigate through adult life.
Euphoria currently has two seasons. A third season has been confirmed.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Notable Cast | Zendaya, Maude Apatow, Nina King, Hunter Schafer, Eric Dane |
| Creator | Sam Levinson |
| Years | 2019 – present |
| Number of seasons | 2 (season 3 has been confirmed) |
17. ER
Watch: ER
As the name suggests, ER (Emergency Room) is all about the experiences of a group of emergency doctors and nurses at Chicago’s County General Hospital.
As you’d imagine, the long-running and highly popular show features tons of intense scenes. Life-or-death decisions and other chaos you’d expect in an ER are all too frequent in this series. However, the show also takes the time to address the characters’ personal lives.
ER was especially popular in the mid to late 90s, during which it won many Emmy awards and boasted about 30 million viewers. However, in our opinion, the intense hospital drama still holds up today, and it’s a great watch for anyone looking to binge on a 15-season-long series.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Notable Cast | Anthony Edwards, George Clooney, Sherry Stringfield, Noah Wyle, Julianna Margulies, Eriq La Salle, Gloria Reuben |
| Creator | Michael Crichton |
| Years | 1994 – 2009 |
| Number of seasons | 15 |
What do you do if Max is blocked where you live and can’t watch ER? Easy: just get the best streaming VPN on the market. For us, that is none other than NordVPN. We have been using NordVPN religiously to unblock popular streaming platforms, including HBO Max.
18. Gossip Girl and the Gossip Girl reboot
Watch: Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl is an immensely popular drama series on HBO Max. The show depicts the lives of several rich teenagers who live on the Upper East Side of New York.
As the name suggests, the story is told by a blogger who likes Gossip, Gossip Girl. It’s her mission to leak every scandal the teenagers engage in.
Apart from the original series, you can also watch the reboot of Gossip Girl on Max. This Max original is a spin-off that involves a more recent generation of teenagers getting to know Gossip Girl.
If you want some easily digestible drama, Gossip Girl might just be the series for you. The original series has six seasons. The reboot offers two seasons of high-school drama.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Notable Cast | Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford, Taylor Momsen, Ed Westwick, Jessica Szohr |
| Creator | Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage |
| Years | 2007 – 2012 |
| Number of seasons | 6 |
19. Sherlock
Sherlock is a British mystery crime drama based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes detective stories. Unlike the original story, Sherlock is set in modern London. Fans of the series who could access BBC iPlayer could watch the show there. However, it is also now available on the HBO Max streaming service.
Sherlock Holmes, who labels himself a “consulting detective,” solves all sorts of mysteries in modern London. Thanks to his astounding intellect and incredible problem-solving skills, he becomes somewhat of a celebrity. Both the British government and normal civilians regularly ask him for assistance.
During investigations, Sherlock frequently relies on the help of his flatmate and friend, Dr. John Watson. The latter just got back from his military service in Afghanistan as a medic.
Sherlock’s story has four seasons and 13 episodes in total. Each episode has an exceptionally long runtime – for a series – of 85 to 90 minutes.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Crime, Mystery, Comedy-drama |
| Notable Cast | Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Rupert Graves, Una Stubbs |
| Creator | David Arnold, Michael Price |
| Years | 2010 – 2017 |
| Number of seasons | 4 |
20. The Flash
Don’t worry: even though its name suggests otherwise, binging The Flash will take you a good while. In fact, there are nine seasons for you to devour on HBO Max.
The Flash is, of course, based on DC Comics’ Barry Allen, who uses his inhuman speed to fight criminals and malicious metahumans. In a twist of events, Barry discovers that Harrison Wells, his mentor, is actually his archenemy, the Reverse-Flash.
If you like some fast-paced superhero action, you can’t afford to miss The Flash.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Superhero, Action |
| Notable Cast | Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Danielle Panabaker, Rick Cosnett, Carlos Valdes, Tom Cavanagh |
| Creator | Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Geoff Johns |
| Years | 2014 – 2023 |
| Number of seasons | 9 |
Unfortunately, The Flash series isn’t available in every HBO Max library. Fortunately, you can access the US HBO Max library (Max) to watch the show from anywhere with NordVPN. This provider has never disappointed us when it came to bypassing geo-blocks to watch content worldwide.
21. Boardwalk Empire
Watch: Boardwalk Empire
Boardwalk Empire takes place in the first part of the 19th century in Atlantic City. This crime series is based on a true story and revolves around the Prohibition period in the US from 1920 to 1933. During this period, buying, selling, and producing alcohol were illegal.
The prohibition of alcohol led to a soaring crime rate, and that’s exactly what the series depicts: an Atlantic City that’s rife with corruption, gambling, and prostitution. The show follows politician and gangster Nucky Thompson, played by Steve Buscemi.
Nucky’s great performance in Boardwalk Empire earned him a Golden Globe. Boardwalk Empire also won a Golden Globe for best television series in 2011. That’s plenty of reason to check out all five seasons of this award-winning crime series.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama, Crime |
| Notable Cast | Steve Buscemi, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Stephen Graham, Michael Pitt |
| Creator | Terence Winter |
| Years | 2010 – 2014 |
| Number of seasons | 5 |
22. Generation Kill
Watch: Generation Kill
Generation Kill is a raw mini-series based on the 2003 Iraq invasion. The show’s story is based on the experiences of Iraq War correspondent Evan Wright. He was embedded into the Marine’s first Reconnaissance Battalion during the early stages of the invasion.
Apart from some raw and dark events you’d expect in a war, the series, surprisingly, contains tons of humor, too. The dialogue between the soldiers and between them and Evan makes for some humorous interactions at times.
The series is based on a book by the same name by Evan and consists of one season and seven episodes.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | War drama |
| Notable Cast | Alexander Skarsgård, James Ransone, Lee Tergesen, Billy Lush, Rey Valentin, Jon Huertas, Kellan Lutz, Pawel Szajda, Stefan Otto |
| Creator | Evan Wright |
| Years | 2008 |
| Number of seasons | 1 |
23. Girls
Watch: Girls
Girls is a popular HBO Max show revolving around four young women who live and work in New York. The series deals with several different smaller stories, discussing themes like friendships, relationships, and life in general.
Interestingly, many consider Girls the realistic version of Sex and the City. Perhaps it’s this raw realism that has won the series several Golden Globes, DGA Awards, and Emmys.
If you’re looking for a great series by women, for women – and anyone else who likes a good comedy – Girls is a great choice. You can check out all six seasons on HBO Max.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy |
| Notable Cast | Lena Dunham, Allison Williams, Jemima Kirke, Zosia Mamet, Adam Driver |
| Creator | Lena Dunham |
| Years | 2012 – 2017 |
| Number of seasons | 6 |
Is HBO Max not available where you live yet? Don’t worry! You can still watch Girls from anywhere with a good streaming VPN, like NordVPN. This VPN will reroute your traffic through one of many countries where the HBO Max streaming service and Girls are available to give you access.
24. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Watch: Last Week Tonight
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is a satirical news show presented and created by comedian John Oliver. During the show, he discusses current events that affect the US and the rest of the world.
He touches on the core of socio-political issues and does so with a humorous twist. People who like to learn about current events and enjoy some good old satire in the process should check out the show’s nine seasons.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy, News, Satire |
| Notable Cast | John Oliver |
| Creator | John Oliver |
| Years | 2014 – present |
| Number of seasons | 10 |
25. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty
Watch: Winning Time
As the name suggests, Winning Time is all about the NBA during the 80s and its main protagonist: The LA Lakers. The latter dominated the NBA in the 80s, in part thanks to stars such as Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The series is a dramatization of the different Lakers teams that bossed the NBA in the 80s. As the series revolves around a team rather than a single protagonist, it relies on an ensemble cast of some incredible actors, such as John Reilly, Jason Segel, and Rob Morgan.
The show has two seasons, with the first focusing on Magic Johnson’s rookie season: 1979-1980. The second season takes place between 1980-1984.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sports drama, Biography |
| Notable Cast | John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Jason Clarke, Adrien Brody, Gaby Hoffmann, Tracy Letts, Jason Segel |
| Creator | Max Borenstein, Jim Hecht |
| Years | 2022 – 2023 |
| Number of seasons | 2 |
If you’re a basketball fan, you can’t miss this series about one of the best teams ever to play the game. Fortunately, you won’t have to, even if Max is blocked where you are. Simply use NordVPN to unblock HBO Max and Winning Time from anywhere.
26. Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York
Watch: Last Call
This shocking mini-series documentary highlights the horrible murders of four Queer men in New York. Richard Rogers, a serial killer who targeted members of the LGBTQ+ community, was convicted for two of these murders and is suspected to also be responsible for the others.
All four men were either gay or bisexual and were last seen in one of New York’s gay bars. They were then led away by Richard, presumably for romantic motives, and were killed and dismembered.
The series spends lots of time discussing the aftermath of the murders for surviving family members and friends. Also, it aims to showcase the strong bias that existed at the time – in the early 90s – against the queer victims in both the press as well as the judicial system.
Are you interested in learning about the hardships of the LGBTQ+ community, and do you like crime documentaries? Then you should check out both of this show’s seasons.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Documentary |
| Notable Cast | – |
| Creator | Grace Fardella, Yusef Alsuhaimi |
| Years | 2023 |
| Number of seasons | 1 |
27. Love & Death
Watch: Love & Death
Love & Death tells the story of an affair that leads to a vicious murder. The show is a biographical crime drama miniseries based on the story of Candy Montgomery.
Candy was thought to be the perfect housewife. That is until she engaged in an affair with a fellow churchgoer and ended up murdering his wife in 1980. The gruesome murder was carried out by striking her victim 41 times with a wood-splitting axe.
Love & Death is one of the most popular HBO Max shows by far. In fact, on June 1st, 2023, HBO announced it was their most-watched original limited series globally. The show has seven thrilling episodes for you to devour.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Crime, Drama |
| Notable Cast | Elizabeth Olsen, Jesse Plemons, Lily Rabe, Patrick Fugit, Krysten Ritter, Tom Pelphrey, Elizabeth Marvel, Keir Gilchrist |
| Creator | David E. Kelley |
| Years | 2023 |
| Number of seasons | 1 |
28. Project Greenlight: A New Generation
Watch: Project Greenlight
Project Greenlight has an interesting and refreshing premise: a group of newbie filmmakers get the chance to direct a feature film. The series began more than 20 years ago, in 2001. It was launched by hugely successful actors and producers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon.
Before the start of each Project Greenlight season, thousands of scripts are submitted. The best ones are then chosen, and the writers of these scripts get the chance to make their dream a reality.
However, as the contestants will soon find out, sometimes making a movie is more like a nightmare than a dream. Project Greenlight highlights the ups and downs of the stressful process of moviemaking.
Project Greenlight: A New Generation is the fifth season of Project Greenlight, and you can catch it now on Max.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Reality, Contest |
| Notable Cast | – |
| Creator | Alex Keledjian |
| Years | 2023 |
| Number of seasons | 5 |
Unfortunately, this inspiring contest series isn’t available in all countries where the HBO Max streaming service operates. The good news is that you can get around this geo-restriction and keep the filmmaking dream alive with our top streaming VPN, NordVPN.
29. The Other Two
Watch: The Other Two
The Other Two is a fun comedy with an interesting premise: two older siblings have to deal with their younger brother’s overnight success. Chase, the youngest of three children, became a famous singer overnight thanks to his YouTube channel.
Chase’s siblings, Cary, an aspiring actor, and Brooke, a former dancer who doesn’t really know what she wants to do next, have to grapple with Chase’s sudden success.
The above leads to humorous and, at times, uncomfortable situations, such as being invited to a movie premiere but not being allowed on the red carpet. The siblings also face personal struggles, such as Cary getting told he has to sound “less gay” during the audition for a commercial.
We recommend hopping over Max to check this one out. The third and final season of the show has just ended this year.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy |
| Notable Cast | Heléne Yorke, Drew Tarver, Case Walker, Ken Marino, Molly Shannon, Wanda Sykes, Brandon Scott Jones, Josh Segarra |
| Creator | Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider |
| Years | 2019 – 2023 |
| Number of seasons | 3 |
30. Chernobyl
Watch: Chernobyl
This striking mini-series is, as the name suggests, heavily based on the true story of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The series examines the causes of Reactor Number Four exploding during a low-intensity test at the nuclear power plant.
Needless to say, this historical drama isn’t the right option if you’re looking to watch a feel-good family movie. However, for those interested in catastrophes of great historical relevance, Chernobyl is an excellent pick. The show has won an Emmy for the best mini-series.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Historical drama |
| Notable Cast | Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson |
| Creator | Craig Mazin |
| Years | 2019 |
| Number of seasons | 1 |
Why You Need a VPN to Unblock Content on HBO Max/Max
HBO’s geo-restrictions may prevent you from watching one of the shows in our list above. This is where a VPN comes in. A virtual private network can bypass geo-blocks and offer you access to your favorite streaming provider. In this case, it will let you enjoy the best HBO Max movies and TV shows.
You see, just like TV networks, streaming platforms need to own the rights to any content they show. Moreover, these rights need to be purchased per country or region. Since this is a very costly affair, most streaming services don’t have the licensing rights to all their shows in every country.
Because of the above, you might not find a particular show in your country’s HBO Max/Max. Moreover, if you live in the US but you’re traveling abroad, you won’t have access to much of your Max US content while overseas unless you get a US IP address.
Fortunately, you can easily get around all of these geo-restrictions by using a good VPN, such as NordVPN. This provider offers 1,970+ servers in the US, so you can access all of your favorite content on HBO Max (the US HBO Max version has the most extensive library).
Using a VPN to Unblock HBO Max Shows
A VPN is simply a piece of software that allows you to securely connect to a remote server anywhere in the world. As such, you can reroute your internet traffic through any country where the VPN provider offers servers.
The above will change your IP address to the IP address of the particular server you’re sending your traffic through. This can make it seem like you are in a different country than is actually the case.
The above will allow you to circumvent geographic restrictions by streaming services, websites, and any other online service! Just connect to a server in a country where the content you’re looking for is available, and off you go!
How to Use a VPN to Watch HBO Max: Step-by-Step
It’s simple and easy to access your favorite shows on HBO Max once you’ve installed your VPN.
To do so, just follow these steps:
- Get a subscription with a good streaming VPN that’s compatible with the HBO Max streaming service. We strongly recommend you go with NordVPN, as this VPN provider offers outstanding streaming speeds and great Max unblocking features.
- Download the NordVPN app on the device on which you wish to stream HBO. NordVPN is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and even smart TVs.
- Connect to a server in a country where the show you want to watch is accessible.
- Go to HBO Max/Max, log into your account, and enjoy your favorite show!
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
Tip: Get a Free HBO Max Trial With Amazon Prime Video
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to get a free Max trial through HBO. Luckily, Amazon has capitalized on this demand for free HBO Max trials. Amazon Prime Video members can add many streaming “channels,” which are just subscriptions, to their Prime Video package.
These channels aren’t free: every add-on of a streaming service costs a fee. In the case of HBO Max, the cost is $14.99 a month. The good news, however, is that signing up to the HBO Max streaming service through Prime gets you a seven-day free trial.
Conclusion: Watch the Best HBO Max Series Online
HBO Max has some of the best shows you can stream on offer, with top series like Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, The Big Bang Theory, and many others. Max is also one of the best options for original TV shows.
We’re sure there are some great HBO Max shows that aren’t on this list, such as Young Sheldon, The Last of US, and others. However, we hope this list is a good starting point!
Even though Max has a lot going for it, it still deals with the same issue that almost all streaming services face: an inability to show its content in every country due to content licensing rights.
Fortunately, you can bypass geo-restrictions and watch your favorite content on HBO Max wherever you are. All you need is a good VPN that will allow you to unblock any show on HBO. We prefer NordVPN as our go-to Max-VPN, thanks to its blazing-fast speeds and robust unblocking abilities.
Have you already checked out most of the great shows in this article? Fear not, because there’s still lots of streaming to do! Just check out the articles below for some inspiration.
- The Best Netflix TV Shows: Watch Worldwide!
- What to Watch on Hulu: The Best Shows and Movies on Hulu
- Best Streaming Services Right Now
Do you have any specific questions about HBO Max and the best shows on the streaming platform? Check out our FAQ below to see if we’ve answered your question. Can’t find your question? Be sure to leave a comment below!
Absolutely! Right now, these are some of the best series on HBO Max:
- Friends
- The Gilded Age
- Game of Thrones
- Rick and Morty
- Six Feet Under
- Shameless
- The Sopranos
- True Detective
- Succession
- The Big Bang Theory
It’s hard to say which Max show is the most streamed as HBO doesn’t release those numbers. However, it’s likely that Game of Thrones is the most popular show of all-time on HBO Max, considering the HBO exclusive has been the service’s flagship show for so long.
Based on popularity, it’s probably a toss-up between these three shows: Friends, The Gilded Age, and Game of Thrones.
