HBO’s rebranded streaming service Max is the natural successor to a network that transformed television. Unsurprisingly, this means that the best TV shows on Max rank among the most popular and significant series of all time. Max’s vast and eclectic catalog includes originals-turned-classics such as The Sopranos, The Wire, and Sex and The City. When it comes to top-tier entertainment, few streaming services can compete, and this hasn’t changed going into 2024 thanks to the incredible range of TV shows available on Max right now.
Max and HBO’s original programming is rarely anything less than stellar, with many of the network’s shows accruing huge fan bases. Projects like Euphoria and Game of Thrones have helped shape the cultural zeitgeist, becoming sensations for a vast audience. Their availability on Max is understandably exciting, both for long-term fans and potential newcomers. To help viewers make the most of their subscription, or get a sense of what else is available, here are the 30 best TV shows available on Max in September 2024.
Related
30 Best Movies On Max (August 2024)
From sobering dramas like Raging Bull to mind-bending sci-fi epics like The Matrix, the best movies on Max include some of the all-time greats.
Best Comedy TV Shows On Max
Shameless (2011-2021)
After years of existing more-or-less exclusively on Netflix, the hit comedy-drama Shameless is now available on Max. Running for 11 seasons between 2011 and 2021, Shameless focuses on the Gallagher family, a working-class American household trying to scrape by and stave off destitution in Chicago. While this premise seems incredibly bleak (and the show is by no means short of emotional moments), Shameless is still a comedy at heart, with the lives of Frank Gallagher and his chaotic kids — whether young children or adults — containing as many hilarious situations as it does difficult ones.
Shameless was an undisputed hit throughout the duration of the time it was on the air, with the event its weakest seasons making for some of the best TV of the last few decades. The show and cast were nominated for and won multiple awards, including plenty of Primetime Emmys and Golden Globes. While the entire cast of Shameless give standout performances, William H. Macy often steals the show as Frank Gallagher, and his daughter Fiona remains a career-defining role for Emmy Rossum.
The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)
Lasting for 12 seasons, 279 episodes, and winning 58 awards across its decade-plus run, The Big Bang Theory is inarguably one of the most popular sitcoms of all time, and definitely among the best on Max. The show focuses on four friends who are all advanced scientists at Caltech – physicists Leonard and Sheldon (Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons), astrophysicist Raj (Kunal Nayyar), and engineer Howard (Simon Helberg). When Cheesecake Factory waitress Penny (Kaley Cuoco) moves in next door to Leonard and Sheldon’s apartment, it sets off events that see the awkward quarter coming out of their shells in hilarious fashion.
Every season of The Big Bang theory is hilarious, but the show truly gets into its stride when Howard’s girlfriend Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) and Sheldon’s eventual partner Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik) join in the third, rounding out the cast. The show has a dazzling array of guest stars throughout its run, and as far as easy-watch bingeable sitcoms go, The Big Bang Theory is hard to beat.
Young Sheldon (2017 – Present)
The spinoff of The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, is also available to stream on Max and equally ranks among the best shows on the platform, though for different reasons. Whereas The Big Bang Theory is a light comedy filmed in front of a studio audience, Young Sheldon has no laugh track and is markedly more down to earth. While Jim Parsons provides narration as the adult Sheldon, his titular younger self is played by Iain Armitage, with the rest of the regular characters being members of Sheldon’s family, the Coopers, in Texas in the early 1990s.
Young Sheldon has a very different tone to its parent show, and is at its heart a coming-of-age dramedy that doesn’t shy away from some of the more difficult aspects of family life. Sheldon is the central character, though he increasingly takes a back seat for other members of the Cooper family, such as his siblings George Jr. and sister Missy, as well as his mother and father, Mary and George Sr. Young Sheldon is enjoyable whether Max subscribers are fans of The Big Bang Theory or not — a true testament to the shows quality that it stands alone despite being a prequel spinoff.
The Righteous Gemstones (2019-)
Dysfunctional families are the stuff that TV comedy dreams are made of, and The Righteous Gemstones doesn’t disappoint. It centers on the titular Gemstone clan, a family of televangelists led by patriarch Eli Gemstone (John Goodman), the lead pastor of the Gemstone Salvation Center, a megachurch in Charleston, South Carolina.
This is Danny McBride’s third series for HBO, after Eastbound & Down and Vice Principals, and it’s quite possibly his best. He’s in top form playing his typical loudmouth, profane characters, and the contrast between Jesse’s personality and his job as an associate pastor is a big reason why The Righteous Gemstones is so hilarious.
Barry (2018-2023)
Perhaps the darkest comedy series on Max, Barry may seem like it has a fun premise — an unhappy hitman accidentally joins an acting class and wants to give up his profession to try and make it as a Hollywood star — but it’s really a haunting meditation on past trauma and finding one’s purpose in life.
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t laughs to be had, particularly from pompous acting coach Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler) and bubbly mobster NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan). But Bill Hader, who also co-created the show with Alec Berg, is the true standout as the titular anti-hero, and he’s won two Emmys for his work. For those who like their comedy with a side of existential dread, Barry is their best bet.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2024)
From the show about nothing to a show about his life, Curb Your Enthusiasm sees Seinfeld co-creator Larry David play a semi-fictionalized version of himself. Peak cringe comedy, each episode inevitably sees Larry get himself into a social conflict, often sprung from either his flouting or ignorance of social conventions.
Larry David is hilarious in Curb Your Enthusiasm, but he’s bolstered by a deeply talented supporting cast, with the profane Susie (Susie Greene) and the blunt yet mellow Leon (J. B. Smoove) two particular standouts who always deliver the laughs. With over 20 awards to its name and all 11 seasons to stream on Max, Curb Your Enthusiasm makes for a pretty, pretty, pretty good bingewatch.
Hacks (2021-Present)
Hacks debuted in 2021, with season 3 arriving on Max in 2024, and is one of the most critically acclaimed shows on the platform, able to boast receiving multiple Primetime Emmy Awards and the Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy. Jean Smart stars in Hacks as Deborah Vance, a stand-up comedian in Vegas who is at risk of losing her residency. Needing some fresh input, Vance teams up with up-and-coming writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), and the two form an unlikely friendship (and, at times, rivalry) that’s as hilarious as it is captivating.
Hacks manages to balance many intimate and emotional moments with some incredibly laugh-out-loud scenes. Max subscribers who also enjoy shows that turn the entertainment industry into a story setting will feel right at home, as Hacks also stands as an incredible critique of the world of professional comedy that notoriously pulls no punches. The cast also includes the likes of Kaitlin Olson of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia fame, as well as several acclaimed guest stars such as Patton Oswalt and Christopher Lloyd.
Best Drama TV Shows On Max
Industry (2020-Present)
Industry is a British-American TV show made by HBO and the UK’s BBC. It’s an incredibly compelling ensemble-drama set in the fast-paced world of London’s financial hub. Specifically, Industry focuses on a group of young finance graduates who find themselves pitted against one-another when they apply for a position at Pierpoint & Co, a prestigious (and fictional) investment bank based in the UK capital. The cast list is huge, and includes the likes of Game of Thrones stars Kit Harington and Will Tudor in recurrent appearances.
Starring Marisa Abela, Harry Lawtey, Ken Leung, and Myha’la Herrold as the only permanent fixtures in the incredibly wide ensemble cast, Industry has been praised by fans and critics for a variety of reasons. While the first season received a somewhat middling response, season 2 and beyond received almost universal acclaim. The sharp script has been a particular highlight for many, and Industry echoes shows like The West Wing and Suits in the way that it interweaves the professional language of its setting (in this case, finance) into incredibly scathing back-and-forths between its various fleshed-out characters.
Industry
season 3 arrived in 2024, and will be running from August through to September.
The West Wing (1999-2006)
Aaron Sorkin’s political drama The West Wing is currently available to stream on Max, meaning subscribers who haven’t yet seen it can find out why it’s considered such a high-point for TV dramas. The West Wing focuses on a wide ensemble of characters, all of whom are various staffers and aides for fictional US president Jed Bartlett. Michael Sheen stars as President Bartlett in what is arguably a defining role for his career, though he’s far from the only stand-out cast member or character in the show.
Other West Wing alumni include John Spencer as Leo McGarry, Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman, Allison Janney as press secretary C.J, and Rob Lowe as Sam Seaborn. The West Wing is incredibly acclaimed, and won over 100 awards during its run, including three Golden Globes and 26 Primetime Emmys. The show also attracted a variety of guest stars, such as the likes of John Goodman and Matthew Perry. As far as the drama TV shows on Max go, The West Wing stands as one of the few that many consider unmissable.
The Gilded Age (2022-Present)
Julian Fellowes crosses the pond to share the stories of 1880s New York elite with The Gilded Age. The Downton Abbey creator focuses his HBO series on the Upper East Side’s rapidly changing high society as the old-money socialite Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) contends with her Fifth Avenue neighbors, the new-money Russells (Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector). Caught in the middle is Agnes’ young niece Martha Brook, who is reliant on Agnes’ charity but yearns for her freedom.
A Fellowes show through and through, The Gilded Age is full of astonishing period costumes, powerhouse performances, and scandalous storylines that still manage to offer a deep commentary on society.
Chernobyl (2019)
The miniseries thoroughly deserved its Outstanding Limited Series Emmy win
From Band of Brothers to John Adams, nobody does a historical miniseries better than HBO, and Chernobyl is another resounding example. The miniseries tells the story of the horrific 1986 Chernobyl power plant disaster from several characters’ perspectives, from those who were involved in it to those who dealt with its aftermath.
Chernobyl is unsurprisingly a difficult watch and its relentless pacing is unforgiving for the viewer, but this provides an immersive experience that allows the audience to fully grasp the tragedies of the disaster. The miniseries thoroughly deserved its Outstanding Limited Series Emmy win, and it’s one of the best dramas on Max.
Band Of Brothers (2001)
Created by the Hollywood dream team of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, Band of Brothers is not only one of HBO’s best miniseries but its best shows period. Starring a cast of TV’s best actors, from Billions‘ Damian Lewis to Blue Bloods‘ Donne Wahlberg, Band of Brothers centers on a group of WW2 paratroopers and their astonishing achievements in the war.
The miniseries is a frank and honest depiction of war and all its horrors, but it is neither gratuitous nor romantic and sentimental. Band of Brothers won multiple awards, including Outstanding Miniseries at the Emmys, and there’s a reason it’s still being talked about over 20 years later.
The
Band of Brothers
sister series
The Pacific
is also available to stream on Max.
Succession (2018-2023)
Both a pitch-black comedy and touching family drama, Succession has been rightly praised as one of the stand-out TV shows of the past decade. Brian Cox stars in Succession as the foul-mouthed patriarch of an empire-owning American family tasked with figuring out how best to secure his legacy once he’s gone.
Deliciously sweary, with some of the sharpest dialogue ever committed to the small screen, Succession uses real-life inspiration to tell a gripping original story that doesn’t let up until its devastating finale.
Succession
has won an astounding 84 awards and received 229 nominations, including multiple Primetime Emmy’s for Outstanding Drama Series.
The White Lotus (2021-Present)
A satirical swipe at classism and the hollowness of pecuniary wealth, The White Lotus is a truly original addition to Max’s roster. The anthology spends each new season at a different branch of the White Lotus hotel — initially in Hawaii, and then in Italy.
With some notable exceptions, a different cast of characters comes under the spotlight, creating different stories to explore with each outing. Frequently funny, The White Lotus is also an uncomfortable critique of the things society supposedly values.
The Last Of Us (2023-Present)
One of the most successful videogame-to-screen adaptations ever, The Last of Us rewrote the rulebook on what a live-action version of a game can be. The post-apocalyptic drama stars Pedro Pascal as Joel, a smuggler tasked with aiding Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, a teenager immune to the pandemic that destroyed humanity.
The show was co-created by Craig Mazin, known for Chernobyl, and Neil Druckmann, the original game’s director, and has been credited for its faithful retelling of the original story, as well as its ability to adapt the source material to a different format when necessary. With season 2 on the way, The Last of Us is already established as one of 2023’s best TV series.
The Last of Us
was nominated for 117 awards and won 36, including Golden Globe nominations for Best Television Series – Drama, and Best Actor and Actress in a television drama for both Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.
Best Fantasy Shows On Max
The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)
Vampires are one of the most common fantasy creatures to be adapted on both the big and small screens, though few versions of the blood-sucking creatures of the night have amassed a cult following quite like The Vampire Diaries. Amassing 39 awards during its run with a staggering 114 nominations, The Vampire Diaries was critically acclaimed from the moment it debuted on the CW back in 2009. However, while its success with critics is certainly admirable, it’s nothing compared to just how popular the show (and its subsequent spin-offs) were with audiences.
The Vampire Diaries has a fanbase that’s just as strong today as it was back in 2017 when the final season aired. Fans and (eventually) critics alike both praise the show’s fiendishly twist-filled story, well-fleshed-out characters, and sharp script. Max subscribers looking for an incredibly bingeable show that hits the perfect spot between easy-watching and intriguingly deep need look no further, and it’s clear to see why The Vampire Diaries remains one of the most beloved series of the last few decades.
House Of The Dragon (2022-Present)
Following the contentious conclusion to the sweeping fantasy drama Game of Thrones, expectations were mixed ahead of House of the Dragon‘s debut. As it turns out, fans needn’t have worried. The prequel, set about 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, chronicles the power-hungry Targaryen family and the beginning of their decline. Matt Smith, Paddy Considine, and Emma D’Arcy deliver riveting performances, while the series’ plot dispenses with Game of Thrones’ more controversial elements to tell a streamlined and thrilling story.
House of the Dragon season 2 is currently underway, having made its debut in June. The second season of the Game of Thrones spinoff has also arrived at Max alongside the HBO network, meaning Max subscribers can keep up with each episode of the hit show from the moment it arrives. The first season of HotD was incredibly well received by the majority of GoT fans and, given what’s known to come thanks to the source material by George R.R. Martin, it’s only going to get even more intense.
Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)
One of the most-talked-about fantasy dramas ever made, Game of Thrones was the definitive TV experience for nearly a decade. Attracting huge viewership numbers, the show chronicled the epic struggle for the throne of Westeros between competing factions.
Blending action with backstabbing political intrigue, the show’s initial strength came from its willingness to kill off anyone and everyone in aid of furthering the story. Despite being marred by a sub-par finale, Game of Thrones remains one of the best TV shows on Max.
Best Crime TV Shows On Max
The Sopranos (1999-2007)
Often hailed as the greatest TV show of all time, The Sopranos helped redefine the modern television landscape. With ambitious storytelling, electric writing, and some of the most iconic performances ever seen on the small screen, it’s little wonder the show continues to receive acclaim.
The plot revolves around Tony Soprano, portrayed by James Gandolfini, an Italian mobster based out of New Jersey who struggles to balance family life with the pressures of being a crime boss. Influential long after its conclusion, The Sopranos deservedly features on multiple “must-watch” lists of the best television series.
The Wire (2002-2008)
Just as The Sopranos redefined Mafia TV shows, The Wire was a fiercely original update to the classic police procedural. Inside of showing the war on drugs from one side of the legal line, the show created a rich tapestry of characters spanning every stage of the process – from hard-boiled detective Jimmy McNulty, to the charming and dangerous drug kingpin Stringer Bell.
The Wire probably ranks among the most ambitious shows ever made, with each series switching up the focus to paint a comprehensive portrait of the drugs trade. Led by an incredible ensemble cast, it remains one of the best TV shows ever.
True Detective (2014-)
It is difficult to overstate how compelling and exciting True Detective was during its astonishing debut season in 2014. Nick Pizzolatto’s anthology crime drama begins with a demonic tale of abuse and murder set in Louisiana, showcasing two exceptional performances from McConaughey and Harrelson.
Subsequent seasons boast equally impressive casts, with the likes of Rachel McAdams, Colin Farrell, and Mehershala Ali all appearing.
New episodes of
True Detective
season 4, officially titled
True Detective: Night Country,
are also available to stream on Max.
Best Science Fiction & Superhero TV Shows On Max
True Blood (2008-2014)
Max is home to some of the best TV shows of the last several decades, as well as many that transcend several different genres, and one of the strongest examples of both categories is True Blood originally airing on HBO between 2008 and 2014, True Blood is a crime show, mystery drama, and fantasy horror series, and it carries off all three incredibly well. Many supernatural creatures exist in the world of True Blood, with Vampires being a key focus. However, the show mixes these with many genre tropes of procedural crime dramas, and the deep character exploration also won it many fans.
True Blood mainly focuses on Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), a half-human, half-fae woman in the small Lousiana town of Bon Temps. The town is a veritable hotbed of supernatural activity, and over the course of the show, Sookie finds herself in the middle of all manner of different conflicts, mysteries, and sinister events. However, while the fantasy-horror elements are a large part of the show’s appeal, it’s also been praised for its social commentary too, especially when it comes to issues like discrimination and drug addiction.
Doctor Who (2001-Present)
British sci-fi series Doctor Who has been a staple of the genre on the small screen for decades, and now the most recent 13 seasons (starting with Christopher Eccleston’s 2005 turn as the Ninth Doctor) are available to stream on Max. A number of actors have portrayed the titular Doctor over the years thanks to the hero’s ability to regenerate with a new face and body every time they die. Max subscribers can enjoy the adventures of not only Eccleston’s version, but also David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, and Jodie Whittaker.
Doctor Who is one of the most popular takes on time-travel, with the Doctor and their various companions traveling through time and space in the iconic TARDIS, a time machine/spacecraft that’s shaped like a vintage police phone box. With a wide variety of adversaries, including the Daleks, Cybermen, and recurring nemesis The Master. Episodes that take place in the annals of history and the farthest-flung reaches of the future, Doctor Who truly has something for almost everyone to enjoy.
Station Eleven (2021)
Sci-fi fare can be eerily timely, and this is definitely true for Max miniseries Station Eleven, based on the bestselling Emily St. John Mandel novel of the same name. Released during COVID-19 (with its production impacted by the pandemic), Station Eleven takes place 20 years after a flu pandemic wiped out most of civilization.
It follows a performing troupe called the Traveling Symphony as they try to give hope (and find it themselves) in a broken world. While most dystopian stories are bleak and depressing, Station Eleven, though not without its hardships, maintains a hopeful tone throughout, and whether viewers are watching it in a pandemic or not, it’s a beautiful reminder that the show must always go on.
Peacemaker (2022-)
Reprising his somewhat surprising breakout role from James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, John Cena returns for the stand-alone series Peacemaker. Despite his pacifistic pseudonym, Peacemaker is one of the most violent characters in the DCU and rarely misses a chance to pick a fight.
Gunn returns as writer and director, providing more of the signature humor and wit that made the character so popular in the 2021 DCEU entry. Alongside Cena, co-star Jennifer Holland also delivers a superb performance, making Peacemaker one of the best sci-fi shows on Max.
Best Animated TV Shows On Max
Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)
Max is the go-to streaming service for all things DC Comics, and one of the best animated adaptations of any DC property is currently available for subscribers — Batman: The Animated Series. Running from 1992 to 1995 when it first aired, Batman: The Animated Series is still considered by many viewers and critics alike to be the pinnacle of superhero TV shows, animated or otherwise. It spawned multiple follow-ons, including Justic League, Superman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, and Static Shock.
Not only does Batman: The Animated Series remain incredibly popular, but it was also nominated for multiple awards, including Daytime and Primetime Emmy’s. The cast includes the likes of the late Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, and it’s also the show that introduced Harley Quinn, who later became an integral part of the DC Comics canon. It’s an incredibly dark and noir show, with a tone that at often times is surprising considering it was aimed at younger viewers.
South Park (1997-Present)
Many of the sitcoms among the best TV shows available on Max were hugely influential, which is one of the key reasons the streamer attracts so many subscribers. South Park is no exception, and when it debuted in 1997 it too gripped the cultural zeitgeist, though for almost entirely different reasons to shows like Friends and The Big Bang Theory. Almost every episode of South Park was controversial and laced with some of the most edgy humor to grace the small screen — and it was always, without fail, absolutely hilarious.
South Park takes place in the titular town and focuses on Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and Cartman. Nothing is off-limits for South Park, and thanks to the ability of creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone (who also voice the majority of characters) to get episodes turned around so fast, it’s always incredibly relevant. With 26 seasons and counting, South Park isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, and Max subscribers who like their humor to toe the line between acceptable and grossly offensive need look no further.
Harley Quinn (2019-)
After Margot Robbie’s portrayal in the DCEU, Harley Quinn has become one of DC’s most recognizable characters. However, anyone familiar with the character through film alone may well be shocked at the gloriously profane representation seen in Harley Quinn.
Offering a less-than-serious take on some of Batman’s most recognizable opponents and compatriots, the show is gratuitously vulgar and frequently hilarious, thriving in its ability to lampoon characters that can become tediously serious in other projects. Critically acclaimed across its run, Harley Quinn continues to be a major hit for Max into its fourth season.
Rick & Morty (2013-)
Created by Community‘s Dan Harmon, Rick and Morty is understandably considered to be one of the most significant animated shows of the past decade. Following the Back to the Future-inspired adventures of boorish genius Rick Sanchez and his skittish grandson Morty, the show is a madcap adventure that spans different dimensions, planets, and timelines.
Laced with inventive comedy and classic standalone stories, Rick and Morty is a hugely entertaining riot from beginning to end. Rick and Morty season 7 arrived on Max in January too, making February one of the best times to catch the show on the platform.
Adventure Time (2010-2018)
Animated series often fall into two camps: pure kid fare or wildly meant for adults, like Family Guy. That’s what makes Adventure Time such a treasure — it’s sharp enough to appeal to adults while still having a sense of whimsy, fun, and lack of mature themes that older kids and teens can enjoy too. It centers on friends and adoptive brothers Finn the Human and Jake the Dog who have magical shape-shifting powers and together they, of course, go on adventures.
Adventure Time won eight Emmys over the course of its run and its awards pedigree, combined with the show’s proud gender inclusivity and diversity, make it one to add to the streaming queue.
