While Netflix may be the streaming giant everyone knows, Max (formerly HBO Max) is quietly building an empire of high-quality content that often surpasses its rival. This list highlights 13 standout series that showcase the platform’s strength in storytelling and character development.
Whether you’re in the mood for a tense thriller or a light-hearted comedy, these shows prove that Max is home to some of the best content available today.
Succession

While Netflix’s The Crown (2016-2023) artfully portrayed the power dynamics of Britain’s royal family, Max’s Succession (2018-2023) has redefined the genre through its savage take on corporate dynasty. This critically acclaimed drama, which chronicles the power struggles within the Roy family, the owners of a global media empire, is a scathing satire of wealth and power.
Why It’s Worth Your Time: The show’s brilliant writing and impressive ensemble cast create a perfect storm of family drama, corporate intrigue, and dark comedy. The episodes are packed with quotable lines and shocking twists that will keep you hooked.
Standout Element: Jeremy Strong’s intense portrayal of Kendall Roy, Logan Roy (Brian Cox), the family patriarch’s heir apparent, is a tour de force, embodying the show’s blend of tragedy and farce.
The Last of Us

Stranger Things (2016-Present) may have nostalgia on its side, but The Last of Us (2023-Present) proves that video game adaptations can be high art. This post-apocalyptic drama follows Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) as they navigate a world ravaged by a fungal infection that turns humans into zombie-like creatures.
Why It’s Worth Your Time: It’s a masterclass in adaptation, expanding on the game’s story while maintaining its emotional core. The show’s ability to build tension and deliver heart-wrenching moments is commendable.
Must-Watch Moment: Season 1, Episode 3, “Long, Long Time,” offers a beautiful and devastating standalone story that showcases the series’ range.
The White Lotus

For those seeking a vacation-themed series, The White Lotus (2021-Present) offers a far more incisive and thought-provoking experience than Netflix’s Emily in Paris (2020-Present). This anthology series by Mike White follows the guests and employees of the fictional White Lotus resort chain, peeling back the layers of privilege and human nature.
Why It’s Worth Your Time: Each season offers a fresh location and cast, delivering sharp social commentary wrapped in a mystery. The show’s ability to balance cringe comedy with genuine pathos makes for compelling viewing.
Standout Performance: Jennifer Coolidge’s Emmy-winning turn as Tanya McQuoid is both hilarious and heartbreaking, making her the show’s unlikely emotional anchor.
Barry

While Russian Doll (2019-2022) impressed with its time-loop concept, Barry (2018-2023) takes the cake for blending genres in the most unexpected ways. Starring Bill Hader as Barry Berkman, a hitman who discovers a passion for acting while on a job in Los Angeles — the show follows Barry as he tries to leave his violent past behind, and his two worlds collide in increasingly dangerous ways.
Why It’s Worth Your Time: The series’ unusual blend of dark comedy and emotional depth is unlike most anything on TV. Hader’s performance and direction (he helms many episodes) create a tonal tightrope walk that’s thrilling to watch.
Key Element: Barry’s exploration of the performative nature of identity adds richness to the premise, asking provocative questions about change and redemption.
Hacks

Both Hacks (2021-Present) and Netflix’s The Kominsky Method (2018-2021) tackle aging in the entertainment industry, but Hacks manages to bring a fresher, more dynamic energy to the table. Hacks is a comedy-drama series that centers around the professional relationship between a legendary Las Vegas comedian (Jean Smart) and a young comedy writer (Hannah Einbinder) hired to freshen up her act.
Why It’s Worth Your Time: Smart’s tour de force performance as Deborah Vance is reason enough to watch, but the show’s astute examination of generational divides in comedy and show business makes it truly special.
Highlight: The chemistry between Smart and Einbinder crackles with tension and humor, creating a compelling dynamic that evolves beautifully over the series.
The Gilded Age

Created by Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey (2010-2015) fame, this period drama delves into the social upheavals of 1880s New York as “old money” families clash with the newly wealthy.
Why It’s Worth Your Time: With its sumptuous costumes and set designs, The Gilded Age (2022-Present) offers a visually stunning glimpse into a fascinating historical period. The large ensemble cast injects quite a bit of substance, particularly in its portrayal of class dynamics and societal change.
Standout Element: The show’s attention to historical detail, from etiquette to technology, makes for quite an enjoyable viewing experience.
Mare of Easttown

Mare of Easttown (2021) offers a compelling rundown of crime in small-town America, while also focusing on character development, setting it apart from typical murder mysteries. Kate Winslet stars as Mare Sheehan, a detective in a small Pennsylvania town investigating a local murder while grappling with her own past traumas and family issues.
Why It’s Worth Your Time: Winslet delivers a career-best performance in this gripping limited series crime drama. The show’s thorough presentation of community ties and generational trauma gives it an edge.
Key Aspect: The series’ sense of place is palpable, with the economically struggling town becoming a character in its own right.
The Rehearsal

Nathan Fielder’s experimental comedy series helps ordinary people rehearse for big moments in their lives with elaborately constructed sets and hired actors, from confessing lies about educational history to practicing parenthood. The show uses meticulous recreations of real locations and situations, with actors trained to simulate various potential outcomes.
Why It’s Worth Your Time: It’s a mind-bending exploration of human behavior that blurs the lines between reality and fiction. Fielder’s deadpan approach to increasingly complex scenarios creates moments of both hilarity and profound discomfort.
Thought-Provoking Element: The show raises fascinating questions about authenticity, free will, and the nature of reality itself.
Peacemaker

This irreverent superhero series, a spin-off from The Suicide Squad (2021 film), follows the violent misadventures of Christopher Smith/Peacemaker (John Cena) as he joins a black ops squad to save the world.
Why It’s Worth Your Time: Cena’s comedic chops shine in this over-the-top series that balances crude humor with surprising heart. Its blend of action, comedy, and character growth offers a fresh take on the superhero genre.
Don’t Miss: The show’s opening credits sequence, featuring the cast dancing to “Do Ya Wanna Taste It,” has become iconic in its own right.
Station Eleven

In the realm of post-apocalyptic storytelling, Station Eleven (2021) offers a more lyrical and hopeful vision than most typical shows of the genre. Based on Emily St. John Mandel’s novel, this drama follows several characters before and after a devastating flu pandemic.
Why It’s Worth Your Time: Unlike many dystopian stories, Station Eleven focuses on resilience and the enduring power of art. Its non-linear storytelling creates a vivid picture of interconnected lives that makes the miniseries worth the watch.
Standout Aspect: The show’s deep dive into how stories and culture persist even in the face of societal collapse offers a refreshing and hopeful perspective on the post-apocalyptic genre.
Our Flag Means Death

This period comedy series follows the adventures of Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby), a pampered aristocrat who abandons his life to become a pirate, eventually crossing paths with the infamous Blackbeard (Taika Waititi).
Why It’s Worth Your Time: It’s a delightfully quirky take on the pirate genre, blending historical elements with modern sensibilities. Our Flag Means Death‘s (2022-2023) LGBTQ+ representation and exploration of identity hit different because it portrays queer relationships without the typical dramatization often found in other media.
Chemistry Watch: The evolving relationship between Stede and Blackbeard forms the emotional core of the series, offering both hilarious and touching moments.
Harley Quinn

This adult animated series follows Harley Quinn (voiced by Kaley Cuoco) as she breaks up with the Joker (voiced by Alan Tudyk) and attempts to make it on her own as Gotham City’s criminal queen pin.
Why It’s Worth Your Time: With its irreverent humor and willingness to poke fun at DC lore, Harley Quinn (2019-Present) offers a fresh and adult-oriented take on the superhero genre.
Unexpected Depth: Despite its over-the-top comedy, the show explores themes of self-discovery and toxic relationships with surprising nuance.
Watchmen

While The Umbrella Academy (2019-2024) offers quirky superhero fun, Watchmen (2019) takes the superhero genre to new heights. Set 34 years after the events of the groundbreaking graphic novel, this limited series traverses an alternate America where masked vigilantes are treated as outlaws and racial tensions simmer in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Why It’s Worth Your Time: Damon Lindelof’s “remix” of the source material is a bold, relevant take on superhero mythology that tackles complex themes of race, power, and justice. The show’s ability to honor the original while crafting a wholly new story is remarkable.
Must-See Moment: The series opens with a harrowing depiction of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a historical event that sets the tone for the show’s unflinching examination of America’s racist past and present.