Summary

• Max's original programming rivals HBO with standout shows like Station Eleven and Peacemaker.
• Diverse genres like comedy and drama can be found in the impressive lineup of Max shows.
• Exclusive series like Dune: The Sisterhood and Harry Potter are anticipated additions to Max's collection.

While Max (formerly known as HBO Max) has a wide collection of content, some of the best shows on Max are from its original programming. Though HBO has some of the best original shows on television from The Sopranos to The Wire to Game of Thrones, Max has been building an impressive roster of series created exclusively for their streaming service. Not only are these shows among the best shows on Max, but they also stand out as some of the best television currently being made.

As with HBO, there is a wide variety of what Max offers its subscribers in terms of original content. There are intense dramas like Station Eleven, hilarious comedies like Our Flag Means Death, and even comic book adventures like Peacemaker. There are a lot of exciting Max shows on the horizon, from Dune: The Sisterhood, to the Harry Potter series to the slate of upcoming DCU shows, but for now, the best shows on Max highlight the amazing original programming.

Velma (2023-Present)

A Clever Reimagining Of Mystery Inc.

Velma reimagines the classic Scooby-Doo universe with a bold, meta-comedic twist that resonates well with the contemporary audience. This series cleverly navigates the fine line between homage and evolution, offering a refreshing take that feels more apt for today's diverse and progressive viewers than any traditional reboot could.

Despite its daring divergence from the original, it retains a profound affection for the essence of Mystery Inc., with a special focus on its brilliant yet underexplored member, Velma Dinkley. The storyline centered around Velma's quest to unravel the mystery of her mother's disappearance is both engaging and heartfelt.

Watch Velma on Max

Bookie (2023-Present)

A Series Centered On Sports Gambling

Bookie is a masterful blend of humor and drama, presenting a gripping narrative that explores the life of a bookie wrestling with the imminent legalization of sports gambling. This show stands out for its ability to weave complex characters and their equally complex relationships into a storyline that is as funny as it is poignant. The lead characters share a dynamic chemistry, bringing to life the challenges and nuances of navigating a rapidly changing industry. With its edgy content and compelling storytelling, Bookie finds its unique voice by diving into the margins of society and human nature.

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Gossip Girl (2021-2023)

A Worthwhile Revival Of The Original Series

Among the best original shows on Max are a few reboots of some old favorites, including the latest version of Gossip Girl. Like the original, the show follows privileged New York teens whose lives are filled with drama, scandals, and lies. But they soon find that there's nothing they can hide as a mysterious blogger begins revealing everything about them. While there are things Gossip Girl does better than the original in terms of its storytelling, the new characters never quite clicked like the original cast did. However, it remains an exciting and worthwhile revival of the popular series.

Watch Gossip Girl on Max

DMZ (2022)

Ava DuVernay's Adaptation Of A DC Comic

Ava DuVernay is one of the most talented filmmakers working today, so it's a shame that her big Max series DMZ wasn't popular. Based on a DC comic, the show is set in the near future as America is torn apart by civil war. It follows Rosario Dawson as Alma, a medic who journeys to the demilitarized zone of Manhattan in search of her son. While many felt the show took an interesting premise and failed to ignite it, there was potential for the story to grow, but it ended as a short four-episode miniseries.

Watch DMZ on Max

Selena + Chef (2020-Present)

Selena Gomez's Fun COVID-19 Experiment

In the current golden age of television with so many prestige dramas and acclaimed comedies, it's surprising for a celebrity cooking show to reach audiences in this way. However, Selena + Chef arrived at a perfect time when audiences wanted something relaxing, charming, and positive, which the show delivers in spades. Starting during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Selena Gomez began documenting her attempts at cooking. Now, each episode features a famous pro chef teaching Selena and the segments maintain the endearing quality of an amateur cook just doing her best.

Watch Selena + Chef on Max

Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (2022)

The Reboot Series Is Almost As Good As The Original

Pretty Little Liars was sometimes seen as the lesser version of Gossip Girl when it was originally on the air. However, in terms of the max original reboots of the two shows, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin comes out on top. The show follows a new group of characters as they are contacted by a mysterious threat who holds them responsible for a death their mothers supposedly caused years ago. The new cast is effective while the slasher vibes mixed with the mystery make it a gripping return to this series.

Watch Pretty Little Liars on Max

Love & Death (2023)

Elizabeth Olsen Leads A Star-Studded True Crime Drama

Love & Death is the true story of a suburban murder with Elizabeth Olsen playing Candy Montgomery, a Texan housewife who begins an affair with a married man from her church which ultimately leads to a deadly decision. The miniseries became the most-watched original limited series in Max's history. It is a grisly story with a strange tone, but the whole thing is held together by a terrific lead performance by Olsen as well as an impressive supporting cast including Jesse Plemons in an Emmy-nominated role.

Watch Love & Death on Max

Julia (2022-2023)

An Insightful Look Into The Life Of A 1960s Pop Culture Sensation

Julia Child is one of the most celebrated television personalities with her cooking show in the 1960s becoming a pop culture sensation. However, the show Julia is an exploration not only of Child as a charming and winning personality on television, but also a trailblazing force behind the scenes. Sarah Lancashire gives an outstanding performance by inhabiting Child's iconic persona which carries the show. Its mix of a period drama and a lighthearted comedy makes it an endlessly charming watching experience.

Watch Julia on Max

The Staircase (2022)

A True Crime Series Where A Crime Novelist Becomes A Murder Suspect

The Staircase's true story has been another fixation of the true-crime boom in recent years and the Max original miniseries on the subject further explores the gripping case. Oscar-winner Colin Firth stars as crime novelist Michael Peterson who calls the police to report that his wife fell down the stairs and died only for him to quickly become a suspect. What is interesting is that the show is based on a documentary that followed the case and that documentary plays a big role in this show. Firth's performance strikes an unsettling yet authentic tone that elevates the entire story.

Watch The Staircase on Max

South Side (2019-2022)

A Underrated Chicago-Based Comedy

Some of the best shows on Max are comedies that not enough people have discovered. One such show is South Side, which takes place in Chicago and follows two best friends and recent community college graduates who look to build a business empire in their neighborhood with a variety of outlandish hustles. While the series deals with a lot of heavy social and political issues concerning the reality of the lives of these characters, it never loses the ability to find humor in its stories and deliver some huge laughs.

Watch South Side on Max

Search Party (2016-2022)

A Dark Mystery Series With Surprisingly Huge Laughs

It can be a difficult tone to reach with dark comedies yet Search Party pulls it off brilliantly. The show follows a group of friends who begin looking into the mysterious disappearance of a girl they used to know and find themselves pulled into the case much deeper than they ever intended. Alia Shawkat, John Reynolds, John Early, and Meredith Hanger make up the four core characters of the series and they all bring so much humor and fun to their unique characters amid this surprisingly dark tale.

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Rap Sh!t (2022-2023)

A Witty, Clever, & Unique Look At The Music Industry

Issa Rae gained well-deserved acclaim for creating and starring in her own HBO series Insecure. Rae steps behind the scenes as the creator of another winning series on Max with Rap Sh!t. The show follows two estranged friends who reunite with a shared dream of becoming the hottest rap group in the industry. The series is a clever look at the music industry from a different perspective. The show is a sharp and fun ride following these two likable characters with humor and a wonderful friendship at the center to keep it grounded.

Watch Rap Sh!t on Max

And Just Like That... (2021-Present)

A Continuation Of Sex And The City

Sex and the City is one of the most iconic HBO shows of all time and now the sequel series is a hit for Max. The show sees the return of Carrie Bradshaw along with her friends Miranda and Charlotte over a decade after they were last seen together. The women are at different stages in their lives with new challenges and the same strong friendship. While the show isn't as solid as the original in the eyes of some viewers, most fans are more than pleased to return to these characters and their intoxicating world.

Watch And Just Like That... on Max

Full Circle (2023)

Ocean's Eleven Director Steven Soderbergh Delivers A Thrilling Miniseries

Though a new series, Full Circle already stands out as one of Max's best offerings. From director Steven Soderbergh, the crime drama begins with a planned kidnapping that is not as it seems and unfolds a wider mystery surrounding various characters and dark secrets. The cast of Full Circle is a star-studded affair with Zazie Beetz, Claire Danes, Timothy Olyphant, and Denis Quaid among the outstanding ensemble. It is a gripping and grounded mystery with a dark sense of humor yet keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.

Watch Full Circle on Max

Warrior (2019-2023)

Based On An Early Concept By Bruce Lee

While the show didn't start as an HBO production, the company's Max service acquired it after the original network, Cinemax, concluded production on it. Warrior is an exciting mix of martial arts and crime drama, all with an original story based on an early concept by Bruce Lee. The show's first two seasons received positive receptions, as well as a newfound following, thanks to the exposure HBO Max provides. The third season continues to expand the ambitious crime story while also offering some of the best action and fight sequences on television.

Watch Warrior on Max

Doom Patrol (2019-2023)

An Overlooked & Wonderfully Bizarre Superhero Series

When it comes to live-action adaptations of obscure comic book superhero teams, Doom Patrol is on plenty of fans' minds. The show has been consistently well-received for being wonderfully bizarre and telling intimate, heartfelt, and character-driven stories about a band of misfits. The show is, unfortunately, more "under the radar" when compared to other mainstream comic book shows and movies, but it has developed a well-deserved following thanks to its quirky and lovable characters and outlandish storylines. Sadly, despite the passion of fans, Doom Patrol was canceled following its fourth season.

Watch Doom Patrol on Max

Tokyo Vice (2022-Present)

Another Great Crime Drama From Michael Mann

With Michael Mann (Heat) directing the first episode of the series, Tokyo Vice kicks off on an intense beat and never relents. The series stars Ansel Elgort as a talented American journalist who takes a job as a crime reporter in Tokyo and finds himself gradually pulled into the world of organized crime in the city. Ken Watanabe gives a career-best performance as an honest and dedicated detective who fights against a system that makes his job harder. The gripping tale and the Tokyo setting help to make Tokyo Vice a great addition to Mann's crime repertoire.

Watch Tokyo Vice on Max

Harley Quinn (2019-Present)

A Raunchy Comedy Featuring The Greatest Depiction Of Harley Quinn

Although she began as one of Batman's most iconic supervillains, Harley Quinn has transitioned into an antihero across most of the mediums she features in. DC's comics even have the once-sidekick to the Joker as a member of the Batfamily now. Max's Harley Quinn animated series is perhaps the best production starring the character and is some of the best DC content the streamer has. Harley Quinn is another show that's made full use of its light restraints, delivering a combination of hilarious meta-humor and emotional character arcs, with Kaley Cuoco lending her voice to the titular antihero.

Watch Harley Quinn on Max

Our Flag Means Death (2022-2023)

A Hilarious Take On Life At Sea

Taika Waitit has helped to create some of the best comedy shows on television right now with What We Do in the Shadows and Reservation Dogs. Our Flag Means Death continues to show his talents. Our Flag Means Death is inspired by a true story and stars Rhys Darby as Stede Bonnet, an aristocrat who leaves his wealth and family to become a "gentleman pirate" on the high seas. The fun premise creates the opportunity for some big laughs, but there is also the unexpected sweetness of the show in the relationship between Stede and Waititi's Blackbeard.

Watch Our Flag Means Death on Max

The Sex Lives Of College Girls (2021-Present)

Max's Best Coming-Of-Age Story

Mindy Kaling is another winning voice on television and The Sex Lives of College Girls is one of her best shows. The college comedy follows four friends at university who embrace the freedom of young adulthood and discover things about themselves. As with And Just Like That and Rap Sh!t, the show excels due to its effective story of female friendship at its center and the chemistry between the cast members. However, it is also a hugely entertaining comedy in a setting where these young characters have fun, make mistakes, and grow as women.

Watch The Sex Lives of College Girls on Max

The Flight Attendant (2020-2022)

A Unique Murder Mystery Series Starring Kaley Cuoco

Former The Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco made a turn for an HBO Max comedy-drama with The Flight Attendant, with the show garnering a positive reception in its debut. Its first season earned high marks for its clever and creative blend of dark humor with all of the drama of an enticing murder-mystery plot. The second season proved the show could maintain its mix of intrigue and a great sense of humor with Cuoco earning another Emmy nomination. With the unexpected direction the show has taken, there was excitement over The Flight Attendant season 3 but the show was canceled.

Watch The Flight Attendant on Max

Station Eleven (2021-2022)

A Dystopian Miniseries About A Group Of Traveling Performers

For a concise viewing, the miniseries Station Eleven - based on Emily St. John Mandel's novel of the same name - tells a gripping dystopian story with an inventive premise. The series takes place 20 years after civilization broke down as the result of a flu pandemic, with a group of traveling performers having a run-in with a dangerous cult. This adaptation garnered critical acclaim for handling its slow-burn narrative across 10 episodes in a thought-provoking manner. HBO has long been known for delivering great miniseries and Station Eleven is one of their best.

Watch Station Eleven on Max

Hacks (2021-Present)

A Sharp Commentary On Cancel Culture

HBO Max's Hacks is a more grounded comedy-drama that's also earned exceptional praise. The story centers around a stand-up comedian desperate to maintain her relevance by teaming up with a writer who's been fired from her job over a controversial Tweet. Hacks received its critical acclaim primarily for its clever and relentless humor, real-world critiques, and Jean Smart's top-notch performance as the comedian Deborah Vance. In fact, Smart has won two Emmys for her leading role in the show's two seasons.

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Peacemaker (2022-Present)

The Suicide Squad Spinoff Became An Instant Hit

James Gunn's DCU is taking shape but fans already got a taste of what he brings to the universe with his The Suicide Squad spinoff series. The John Cena-led Peacemaker received critical acclaim for balancing raunchy humor with sincere character drama, which was bolstered by the passionate performances of the cast across the board. Gunn is now working on Peacemaker season 2, and the Max show's success also likely cemented him as the right man to take the DCU in a new direction.

Watch Peacemaker on Max

The Other Two (2019-2023)

A Unique But Relatable Comedy About Sibling Jealousy

HBO Max's The Other Two is a more straightforward comedy and one that was also acquired from another network, as the series initially aired for Comedy Central before being moved onto Max. The Other Two features an entertaining and modern premise of two millennial siblings dealing with career struggles after their 13-year-old brother gains overnight fame and success online.

The show's third season continued its biting satire of celebrity and the show business world while also introducing some more serious elements. Sadly, the show was canceled after its third season, much to the disappointment of fans.

Watch The Other Two on Max