When it comes to some of the best shows on television, Max, formerly HBO Max, is often at the top of that list. The streaming service not only offers its own slate of originals, but also library content from HBO. This dates all the way back to shows like Sex and the City and The Sopranos, the latter of which is celebrating 25 years since it went on the air this year. The momentum continues with shows that will likely be just as fondly remembered a quarter century from now, like The Last of Us, The White Lotus, and Succession.
If you’re looking for something to watch, you’ll find a show that fits on Max. There’s something in every genre, for every mood, of every length and type. The best shows on Max right now are an eclectic mix, so browse this list to find the ones to watch. From new seasons of popular shows to new series, these selections will easily fill your TV schedule.
Looking for something else? We’ve also rounded up the best shows on Hulu, the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Amazon Prime Video, and the best shows on Disney+.
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Curb Your Enthusiasm2000
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Tokyo Vice2022
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Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000) new
Larry David is annoyed with a lot of things: fake people, traditional conventions, false enthusiasm, and the usual ridiculous things, situations, and people he comes across in everyday life. At least this is how the character based on him is in Curb Your Enthusiasm, one of the best sitcoms of the last several decades. Set to end after its 12th season, Curb Your Enthusiasm was so popular that fans stuck with the show, even when it went on hiatus repeatedly, with years between seasons.
Many of the scripts are based on David’s real-life feelings and perspective of the world and social norms, highlighting his dry sense of humor. With a strong supporting cast that includes Cheryl Hines as David’s wife and Jeff Garlin as his manager and best friend, something in this show just clicks. There isn’t an actual story: much like Seinfeld, which David created, Curb Your Enthusiasm is basically a show about nothing. But the writing, improvised moments, David’s blunt observations, and watching others try to tolerate his behavior is magic.
Tokyo Vice (2022) new
Max (formerly HBO Max) takes viewers into the Japanese underworld of organized crime in Tokyo Vice. Based on the nonfiction account of journalist Jake Adelstein (Ansel Elgort), the show follows his attempts to become a crime reporter in Japan. Detective Hiroto Katagiri (Ken Watanabe) offers Jake some perspective from the law enforcement side. However, Jake’s growing contacts in the city’s seedier areas give him insight into the Yakuza as well. And once Jake is even a small part of this world, it starts to bleed into every aspect of his life.
The blood-soaked crime drama adds new characters in the second season and dives deeper into the personal lives of each character you got to know in season 1.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014) new
The recipient of more than two dozen Primetime Emmy Awards, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but as far as satirical news/late night shows go, Oliver really has the market cornered. It’s all for good reason: he’s hilariously engaging, bitingly honest, and never shies away from any topic or stance, no matter how controversial.
Renewed through 2026, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver sparks debate and conversation, presenting the American news in a way that both educates and lightens the mood. Oliver’s sharp tongue, passion for the topics he talks about, and perspective as a British outsider help bring some of his points home.
The Cleaning Lady (2022)
The Cleaning Lady stars Elodie Yung as Thony De La Rosa, a Cambodian-Filipino former surgeon who takes a job as a cleaning lady in order to remain in the U.S. Her son is critically ill and requires a treatment that’s only available in Las Vegas. Desperate for money to save her son’s life, Thony goes from standard cleaning to wiping up crime scenes and keeping secrets for the mob.
The first two seasons also starred the late Adan Canto in the main role as gangster Arman Morales. The actor sadly passed from cancer, and reportedly was not able to participate in the filming of the upcoming third season due to his declining health. Oliver Hudson also stars as FBI agent Garrett Miller, who suspects Thony of wrongdoing and has dedicated his time to taking down Arman. Reviews have been polarizing, so it’s best to watch and judge for yourself.
True Detective (2014)
True Detective has three full seasons under its belt, with fans enduring a five-year wait for season 4. The anthology crime drama has a different story in every season, along with a completely different cast, with names like Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Rachel McAdams, Taylor Kitsch, Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Mahershala Ali, Stephen Dorff and, most recently, Jodie Foster in Detective Country, counted among the leads.
A different crime is at the heart of every season, along with the authorities investigating it. Every season features enticing twists and turns and tells thought-provoking stories, all driven by incredible performances from the respective casts. The scene shifts to chilly Alaska in season 4. Consistently, each new narrative in True Detective (season 2 excepted, perhaps) gets darker and more haunting.
Rick and Morty (2013)
Silicon Valley (2014)
Mike Judge has come a long way from his Beavis and Butt-Head days. While Judge has previously directed live-action comedy films, Silicon Valley gave him an even bigger platform to expand his mastery of the medium. The series follows programmer Richard Hendricks (Thomas Middleditch) as he and his friends try to launch a new startup company called Pied Piper. Their trials and tribulations run the gamut from hilarious to dramatic. Judge and his co-creators assembled a talented supporting cast that includes T.J. Miller, Kumail Nanjiani, Martin Starr, and Amanda Crew, nearly all of whom have gone on to even bigger things after the show’s six-season run.
Silicon Valley is heavy on tech industry references, so anyone who understands the space will get every insider reference and joke, and theorize about what real-life tech CEOs, billionaires, and investors various characters were likely modeled around. But even those who aren’t so entrenched in the tech space will laugh the entire way through at the absurd “nerd” humor.
Bookie (2023)
Chuck Lorre and Charlie Sheen have put their once held difference aside and are surprisingly working together on a new show. It’s the first collaboration since the public controversy surrounding Sheen’s exit from Two and a Half Men. Sheen isn’t the main character on Bookie, however. He’s playing a version of himself in a supporting role. At the center of Bookie is Danny, played by stand-up comedian Sebastian Maniscalco. He’s facing an end to his livelihood with the possibility of sports gambling becoming legalized in California. As he grapples with the potential repercussions, Danny must tie up loose ends with his many often unstable Los Angeles-based clients.
Maniscalco is backed by a strong supporting cast, including Omar J. Dorsey as his best friend and former NFL player Ray, Vanessa Ferlito as his sister Lorraine, and Jorge Garcia as reformed drug dealer Hector. Bookie offers the same charming, crass, sometimes even dry humor fans of Lorre’s many shows have come to know and love.
30 Coins (30 Monedas) (2020)
Father Vergara, a former convict and exorcist, is exiled from the church and moves to a remote town in Spain to work as a priest. But when strange and paranormal things begin to happen, the mayor and a local veterinarian suspect that Vergara’s arrival might have sparked the puzzling occurrences. The unlikely pair team up with him to investigate the mystery behind a coin he owns and learn more about Vergara’s troubled past. What they find, however, is more than they could ever have imagined.
The mystery, fantasy, horror series 30 Coins, also known as 30 Monedas, is offered in Spanish language with subtitles. Paul Giamatti joined the cast for season 2 in the role of Christian Barbrow, a tech billionaire from America who also heads up a mysterious brotherhood. The series has a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score, with critics saying it offers “propulsive action, effective haunts, and just the right amount of absurdity.”
Friends (1994)
With the untimely passing of Matthew Perry, who’s most recognizable role was as Chandler Bing in this iconic sitcom, it’s a good time to binge all 10 seasons of Friends. Remember not only what makes the series part of pop culture history but also how fabulously hilarious Perry and the rest of the talented cast were in their roles. Relive some of the best episodes of Friends and the funny moments, quotable quotes, and sarcastic one-liners.
Scavengers Reign (2023)
Combine your love of sci-fi with adult animation in Scavenger’s Reign, an animated drama about a group of survivors on a cargo ship that was destroyed after landing on an alien planet. The planet is habitable, but it’s also filled with plenty of danger.
There are five main characters, including Azi (Wunmi Mosaku) and her robot friend Levi, voiced by Alia Shawkat, along with Ursula (Sunita Mani), Sam (Bob Stephenson), and Kamen (Ted Travelstead). While Scavenger’s Reign hasn’t been one of the more high-profile show launches, the critics who have watched have given it a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, calling the series “magnificent” and “hypnotic.” There are a dozen episodes in season 1.
Our Flag Means Death (2022)
Doom Patrol (2019)
Gangs of London (2020)
Part of the AMC+ Picks on Max collection of shows that will be available for 60 days, Gangs of London is a British series based on the video game of the same name. As the title indicates, the series follows several rival gangs throughout London and their struggles for power. The story begins when the head of the most powerful crime family in the city is assassinated and an all-out war brews as the gangs try and uncover who ordered his murder. Meanwhile, an undercover police officer has managed to infiltrate one of the gangs and hopes to bring the crimes to an end.
Highly praised by critics who call Gangs of London a “modern crime family masterpiece,” the series has a total of two seasons and 17 episodes available to stream for a limited time.
A Discovery of Witches (2018)
Another selection within the AMC+ Picks on Max collection, A Discovery of Witches is worth watching before it’s gone. Diana (Teresa Palmer) is a historian and witch who comes across a bewitched manuscript in a local library. This forces her to get back into the world of witchcraft, working alongside a vampire named Matthew (Matthew Goode) to investigate the secrets behind the magical beings described in the book. But it won’t be easy as Diana and Matthew must thwart threats from other creatures.
The British fantasy series has three seasons, which originally aired from 2018 through 2022. The chemistry between the two leads is a particular standout of the series, which was nominated for Best New Drama at the National Television Awards.
Killing Eve (2018)
A hit Emmy-winning series for Hulu, Killing Eve is now available to stream on Max for a limited time as another option in the new AMC+ Picks on Max collection. The spy thriller based on the Luke Jennings novel series and features Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) as its head writer for the first season. It explores the relationship between a psychopathic assassin named Villanelle (Jodie Comer) and a British intelligence investigator named Eve (Sandra Oh), who has been tasked with capturing her.
The two women soon strike up an intense bond as they each obsess about their respective missions. A love story as much as it is a spy thriller, Killing Eve ended its run with a fourth and final season in 2022. If you haven’t yet encountered spoilers about the explosive ending, it’s worth a watch to see one of the best female-led series of the decade.
Harley Quinn (2019)
The Righteous Gemstones (2019)
John Goodman heads up the ensemble cast in this Danny McBride-created black comedy crime series about a family of televangelists and megachurch pastors. They speak the word of the Lord, but their padded pocketbooks suggest they really speak the word of capitalism. The family’s opulent lifestyle also indicates that donations from parishioners are being used for a lot more than just giving back.
Goodman is Eli Gemstone in The Righteous Gemstones, a widow who heads up the church/company, while his three children Jesse (McBride), Judy (Edi Patterson), and Kelvin (Adam DeVine) are involved in varying ways. But their immaturity and spoiled nature mean they’re not up to the task of actually running things. Called “uproariously funny,” reviews for The Righteous Gemstones get better with each season.
Barry (2018)
Somebody Somewhere (2022)
Receiving rave reviews for its first season and now back for a second season, Somebody, Somewhere is a comedy-drama starring comedian, actor, singer, writer, and cabaret performer Bridgett Everett. She’s a woman named Sam dealing with a midlife crisis following the death of her sister.
Inspired by Everett’s real life, the show boasts a perfect Rotten Tomatoes rating, with critics calling Everett “captivating” and applauding the way the show “exposes the human condition with tenderness, grace, and warmth.”
Succession (2018)
With several Emmy wins under its belt, including Outstanding Drama Series, Succession has become one of HBO’s most popular series. Waystar Royco is a global media and hospitality empire headed up by the cutthroat, cruel Logan Roy. As he reaches retirement age and suffers a health setback, he must look to his rich and entitled children to find a successor. But who of his four children, from the arrogant playboy to the power-hungry and visionary addict, is really ready and deserving? And will Logan ever be ready to hand over the reins anyway?
The question of who will take over hovers above every episode and season as the company, Logan, and the Roy family engage in dirty tactics, flaunt their wealth, and find themselves constantly embroiled in controversy. With everything coming to a head in the fourth and final season, Succession is poised to go down in history as not only one of the best shows on HBO, but also one of the best shows of this decade, period.
The Last of Us (2023)
Pedro Pascal stars in this post-apocalyptic drama as Joel, a smuggler transporting a teenage girl named Ellie (Bell Ramsey) out of a quarantine zone and across the U.S., two decades after the end of modern civilization. Through the brutal journey, the two must rely on one another more than they realized, but Joel has his own demons, tormented by his past.
Considered to be the largest TV production ever in Canada (it was filmed in Alberta) and the first from HBO to be based on a video game, The Last of Us boasts an impressive supporting cast as well. This includes Gabriel Luna (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Tommy, Joel’s younger brother and a hopeful former soldier, and Merle Dandridge as Marlene, head of a resistance movement, who is reprising her role from the video games. Guest stars include Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus) and Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) as survivalists, and Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets) as the leader of a revolutionary movement.
The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021)
His Dark Materials (2019)
The White Lotus (2021)
It’s probably a good thing that the chain of White Lotus luxury resorts isn’t actually real. Because the vacations in seasons 1 and 2 just go completely off the rails. And that’s before the dead bodies start showing up!
Initially planned as a single season, The White Lotus follows an odd assortment of guests and the beleaguered hotel staff who labor to keep them happy. It works really well as both a comedy and a drama, which is why we’re currently checking in for the new episodes streaming each week. You don’t necessarily have to watch season 1 to enjoy season 2, both with different settings and (almost) entirely new casts.
House of the Dragon (2022)
Hacks (2021)
Peacemaker (2022)
Fringe (2008)
Station Eleven (2021)
The Outsider (2020)
Band of Brothers (2001)
Chernobyl (2019)
Mare of Easttown (2021)
Deadwood (2004)
Search Party (2016)
Batman: The Animated Series (1992)
The West Wing (1999)
Young Justice (2010)
Veep (2012)
The Wire (2002)
Sex and the City (1998)
Game of Thrones (2011)
Doctor Who (2005)
The Sopranos (1999)
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (2013)
South Park (1997)
Watchmen (2019)
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