Picking the best shows on Max (formerly known as HBO Max) is far from easy. There's a reason why the HBO brand has become synonymous with quality – it's the home of some of the very best shows of all time, from big-hitters like The Sopranos to Game of Thrones, to lesser-known classics like The Leftovers. It continues to make many of the greatest new shows around to this day.
There's The Last of Us (soon to return for season 2), Succession, House of the Dragon and many more besides, in addition to staples that are always calling for a rewatch. Max's library really is just an embarrassment of riches, and since most of the shows run for multiple seasons, starting something involves some level of commitment. That's where we come in, to help you choose your next televisual obsession with ease.
Just like we did with our list of the best movies on Max, we've picked out 10 simply incredible series you should choose on the streaming service this month. These are the 10 best shows on Max, accept no substitutes.
10. House of the Dragon
Year: 2022
Seasons: 2
Game of Thrones was a true behemoth of television, a dragon that towered over pop culture for almost a decade. HBO's first attempt at a spinoff, the House of the Dragon prequel, doesn't quite soar in the same way, but watching white-haired Targaryens battle for the Iron Throne all over again is still a thrill that can't be missed.
In a standout cast bursting with talent, it's the dual talents of Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cook that will burn in your memory long after the show's over and the timelines converge. House of the Dragon season 3 is also on its way, so now is the time to get caught up with one of the best shows that Max has to offer.
If you need a Westeros refresher, you can read our House of the Dragon timeline guide or check out this House of the Dragon season 2 review.
9. Doom Patrol
Year: 2019
Seasons: 4
The heroes of Doom Patrol are a scrappy, ragtag bunch of weirdos whose powers have only brought them trouble, but the real tragedy is how overlooked DC's best series was across four seasons. Such bizarre source material shouldn't work in live-action, yet even with The Beard Hunter and the horny cockroach and, of course, those zombie Were-Butts, Doom Patrol was just as heartfelt as it was hilarious.
It helped that the cast was so game, too, including Brendan Fraser and Matt Bomer, who gave two of their most moving performances here despite rarely appearing as their characters in the flesh. It's rather fitting that these strange oddballs weren't widely appreciated at the time, though, because that's true to the essence of Doom Patrol, through and through.
While Doom Patrol is over, you can still keep up to date on the newest superheroes by reading our handy guide on all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows.
8. The Last of Us
Year: 2023
Seasons: 1
Video game adaptations often make people cry for all the wrong reasons, but with such cinematic source material to work with, The Last of Us is the rare show that gets it right, channeling the bleak apocalyptic horror of the games through a tender lens. Much of that emotional heft comes from Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, who trek together across a zombified wasteland in search of hope, but the show succeeds on just about every other level, too, and even more when it deviates from the game.
Who could have ever known that the mushroom zombie show would give us one of the most enduring gay love stories of the past decade? The Last of Us season 2 is also racing towards us this month, so now is the best time to catch up on all the Clicker action over on Max.
For more information on this post-apocalyptic gem, read our The Last of Us episode 1 review.
7. Our Flag Means Death
Year: 2022
Seasons: 2
What starts off as a slightly uneven comedy about a fledgling pirate determined to escape a midlife crisis becomes much more poignant as he falls in love with Taika Waititi's ruthless Blackbeard. Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi are endlessly charming as the two pirates who meet in the middle and find something special, despite hailing from two very different worlds.
Season two, especially, is the equivalent of buried treasure for anyone who hasn't discovered the delights of Our Flag Means Death yet. Jump aboard and binge both seasons as heartily as you can before joining the campaign to renew this series for another much-needed and well-deserved third season.
Check out our Our Flag Means Death season 2 review for more details on this delightful pirate streaming pick.
6. Scavengers Reign
Year: 2023
Seasons: 1
Scavengers Reign literally transports you to another world with its story of a spaceship crew stranded on a strange alien planet where they must do everything they can to survive. Hypnotically beautiful yet disturbingly dangerous, the eco-system they find themselves in is one of animation's most visually inventive.
Every frame could be hung in the Louvre, and the same could be said for every page of the script as well because this is astonishingly well-written and paced, capturing deeply complex existential thoughts and philosophical musings with gorgeous symbolism in an eco-horror framework. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better sci-fi to represent the best this genre is capable of.
Read our list of the best animated TV shows of all time if you want more recommendations, like Scavengers Reign!
5. Station Eleven
Year: 2021
Seasons: 1
Depending on your outlook, Station Eleven either dropped at the worst or best time possible, arriving in the middle of the pandemic. "Worst" because it asks us to visit a fictional world that's been ravaged by disease like our own, or "Best" because it asks viewers to reckon with the pain we all faced while finding something beautiful in that strength to endure.
Those willing to stick with Max's adaptation of the book were deeply rewarded by a deeply emotional, bittersweet tale that reminded us how powerful art and expression can be at a time when that was the only thing keeping us all sane back home.
4. Hacks
Year: 2021
Seasons: 3
The legendary Jean Smart plays a very different kind of legend in Hacks, which returns this month for season 4. As the cantankerous comedian Deborah Vance, Smart is brash and gaudy and even unlikeable at points, but you'll love her anyway thanks to Jean's charisma, which carries Deborah through a hilarious set one minute and a deeply heartbreaking revelation the next.
Paired with Hannah Einbinder's 25-year-old mentee, an outspoken oversharer who's often offended by Vance, the two find they have much more in common than either of them initially realize. So begins an incredibly smart two-hander who's rightly nabbed Smart an acting Emmy for every season produced so far. Expect people to look back on Hacks as legendary in its own right in years to come, the kind of series that only comes once a decade or once a streamer, as might be more fitting these days.
3. The Leftovers
Year: 2014
Seasons: 3
Is The Leftovers the best show you've probably never heard of? Based on Tom Perrotta's novel of the same name, the show takes place in a world where 2% of the population vanish overnight in an event dubbed "the Sudden Departure." Rather than explain what happened to these people, however, this alternately gripping, heartbreaking, and often weirdly hilarious series is about how people confront the inexplicable in their everyday lives. Some join cults. Others buy into wild conspiracies. And some, like Justin Theroux's damaged cop Kevin Garvey, begin to believe that they have a cosmic destiny.
The Leftovers, particularly in its first season, can be bleak, but we promise that it's worth sticking with. Season 2 moves the series into thriller territory, while season 3 grapples with an apparently looming apocalypse, before ending with what many critics have called the best final episode of a TV show ever made.
2. Succession
Year: 2018
Seasons: 4
If you ever start to wonder if your family might be a bit dysfunctional, look no further than the Roys. This comedy-drama created by Jesse Armstrong charts the highs and lows of Logan Roy, the owner of global media conglomerate Waystar RoyCo, and his children, Kendall, Roman, Shiv, and Connor. The show kicks off with Logan looking for a suitable successor amid his blood-thirsty brood after some health concerns.
Soon, everyone – and their partners – come out of the woodwork desperate for a slice of wealth. Brilliantly scripted, incredibly acted, and perfectly paced, Succession is a masterpiece. It feels like a show that could have run for years, but there are only four seasons to enjoy. We'll take some solace, at least in the fact they're perfect.
After more HBO picks? Check out our list of the best movies on Max right now.
1. The Sopranos
Year: 1999
Seasons: 6
Often crowned as one of the best TV shows ever made, our list would be incomplete without The Sopranos. Created by David Chase, the series focuses on Tony Soprano (played masterfully by James Gandolfini), as he balances family life with being a mobster in New Jersey.
The epic family saga covers six seasons, and a huge 86 episodes, as it follows the ups and downs of everyone in Tony's orbit. Particular shoutouts go to Edie Falco as his wife Carmela and Michael Imperioli as his protégé Christopher, who are frequent scene stealers. Aside from being a masterclass in acting, the writing, direction, and music make this show worthy of a legacy of one of the most influential series ever made.
For more on Max, check out our guide on all the deals and prices available. We also have a list of the best shows on Netflix and the best shows on Amazon Prime if you fancy more streaming picks.
