Best Shows on HBO Max Right Now (January 2022)

HBO Max has grown to be one of the top streaming services for on-demand movies, shows, and originals. Not only does HBO Max stream all original HBO Max series, but the service offers films from Warner Bros, Summit Entertainment, Universal Pictures, and 20th Century Studios. It’s library holds thousands of shows that are all available on-demand, spanning many decades and genres.

The AT&T-owned company released HBO Max in May of 2020 to reach a wider audience and allow viewers to enjoy HBO content from their streaming devices. Below are our favorite HBO Max shows that are available on the streaming service which can be downloaded easily. HBO Max can be streamed for $14.99 a month without ads, or $9.99 a month with ads (except for HBO shows, which are ad-free with both plans).

HBO Max has complete seasons of in-depth television series, reality TV specials, and a wide variety of choices, all on-demand and able to stream from the comfort of your home. Its unique catalog and HBO-exclusive content make it a favorite for television and movie fans. Live television shows stream on the app at the same time as they broadcast coast-to-coast. With more than 580 television shows available, it’s packed with plenty of options to stream. We’ve narrowed down our top choices for best series on HBO Max here!

The Best HBO Max Shows:

Friends (1994)
Adventure Time (2010)
The White Lotus (2021)
Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown (2002)
The Wire (2002)
South Park (1997)
Samurai Jack (2001)
Sex and the City (1998)
Doctor Who (2005)

Warner Brothers and HBO built a repertoire of exciting shows available on-demand. From new HBO series to animated shows and classic sitcoms, stream any genre on the app. See this list to read about some of the best HBO max shows to watch today.

Friends

Release Year: 1994
Rating: 14+ (source)
Stars: 4.7 out of 5
# of Seasons: 10

A 90’s series set in Manhattan, Friends is one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. A group of six men and women share an apartment in the Big Apple. The iconic gang includes Jennifer Anniston, Matt LaBlanc, Courtney Cox, David Schwimmer, and Lisa Kudrow.

The series follows their journeys through marriages, children, break-ups, promotions, and of course, their favorite coffee shop Central Perk. Family becomes friends, and friends become family in the lighthearted, exciting show.

Adventure Time

Release Year: 2010
Rating: PG (source)
Stars: 4.6 out of 5
# of Seasons: 10

For more than a decade, Finn and his colorful friends delighted viewers with their shenanigans. He and Jake, his best friend and shape-shifting dog, go on adventures in the Land of Ooo in their quests to protect the Candy Kingdom.

The duo’s friendships with kings and princesses are surreal and humorous. Both sweet and slightly weird, the show takes place in a post-Apocalyptic setting. Adventure Time has funny and melancholy elements as it follows Finn in his journey across dimensions.

The White Lotus

Release Year: 2021
Rating: 17+ (source)
Stars: 4 out of 5
# of Seasons: 2

The White Lotus follows guests’ stories at a tropical resort shot at the Four Seasons on Maui. It’s a murder mystery unraveling the events preceding the discovery of unknown human remains found in a box. The show tells about the dramatic and sometimes mundane lives of three groups of guests and the hotel staff. The theme of money and relationships plays out in different ways.

Jennifer Coolidge (Legally Blonde) plays a compelling grieving single mother with her attention-grabbing demeanor and sometimes painful awkwardness. A newlywed couple experiences a Honeymoon gone wrong, with convincing performances. It’s a short series and is one of the newest HBO releases.

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown

Release Year: 2002
Rating: 13+ (source)
Stars: 4.6/5
# of Seasons: 5

CNN’s travel series Parts Unknown is hosted by the late writer and chef Anthony Bourdain. The former host of “No Reservations” was inspired by his experiences in Lebanon — he aims to tell more of the Middle-Eastern country’s story while in the kitchens and at the tables of the people who live there. Viewers witness the food and culture of various global traditions and get a behind-the-scenes look at the people’s lives in politically heated areas.

The small production team shot in areas like Haiti or Iran and filmed over ten days. Anthony Bourdain maintained lifelong friendships with some of the people he met, like the Iranian couple Jason Rezaian and Yeganeh Salehi. Parts Unknown gives a personal look at the adventures of a world traveler and the ups and downs that can happen.

The Wire

Release Year: 2002
Rating: 18+ (source)
Stars: 4.9/5
# of Seasons: 5

“The Wire” is critically acclaimed and one of the most well-received shows on HBO Max. It’s an on-screen crime novel with engaging characters and dark humor, shedding light on the realities of urban life through the lens of police wiretappers. It tells stories of the various Baltimore individuals and lives that build the institutions, such as the education system in season 4, co-written by an actual Baltimore public school teacher.

Show writer David Simon, a former Baltimore newspaper journalist, helps create true-to-life events. He worked with Ed Burns, former Baltimore city police officer of 20 years and teacher, to write the show. The show is shot mainly on location, with locals filling in the roles of extras and characters named after real people.

South Park

Release Year: 1997
Rating: 15+ (source)
Stars: 4.5/5
# of Seasons: 24

Fans of classic cut-animation comedy series that spans 24 seasons (more than 300 episodes!) can catch all their favorite characters on HBO Max. While its core cast is a group of third graders, the crass humor and taboo political subjects make it a show for grown-ups. The franchise spurred video games and a big-screen movie to draw viewers into the South Park universe further.

Samurai Jack

Release Year: 2001
Rating: TV-14 (source)
Stars: 4.4/5
# of Seasons: 5

The artsy Samurai Jack redefined cartoons and was created as an animated version of a David Carradine kung-fu movie. Genndy Tartakovsky’s follow-up to Dexter’s Laboratory, a relatively small group of illustrators worked to bring Samurai Jack to the screen. Its beautiful illustrations take center stage to set the scene telling the story of a do-gooder, time-traveling samurai with a magical sword and his battles with his nemesis. The final season aired 13 years after the fourth season on Adult Swim.

Sex and the City

Release Year: 1998
Rating: 16+ (source)
Stars: 4.3 out of 5
Seasons: 6

Join Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha and their journeys in love, friendship, family, and career. The series won multiple Emmys and Golden Globes. Sex and the City is one of the best HBO shows to watch to prepare for the upcoming revival series. Two feature films were created about the characters, and the lovable group of fierce females became household names.

Poignant and cheeky, the plotlines and acting push boundaries and make people laugh. The character lives in a fantasy of food, fashion, and friends filmed in New York City.

Doctor Who

Release Year: 2005
Rating: 8+ (source)
Stars: 4.2 out of 5
Seasons: 12

The BBC sci-fi fantasy series continues its legacy on HBO Max. More than 13 actors have played the title character, and both the classic series and the revival are available for streaming. Embark on journeys in the TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimensions In Space) with this intellectual gem. New episodes broadcast live.

Honorable Mentions:

Because of HBO Max’s wide range of content, we couldn’t limit ourselves to just one list. Here’s some of the best HBO Max series that didn’t make it to our top picks, but are still worth checking out!

Game of Thrones
The Nevers
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
The Big Bang Theory
Watchmen