The Best HBO Max Shows To Stream Now

Updated as of August 1, 2020

HBO Max launched in May, with a handful of originals, including Anna Kendrick–starring series Love Life, reality competition programming Craftopia and Legendary (one for crafting fans, one for ballrooom voguers), kids’ programming Looney Tunes Cartoons and The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo, and documentary film Off The Record.

The upstart streamer with the gold-plated HBO brand name boasts a deep well of content from the libraries of the brands bundled under the WarnerMedia division of AT&T, as well as licensed content like the complete collection of Studio Ghibli films and 700 episodes of iconic BBC series like Doctor Who, The Office, and Luther.

Read more: “Best Movies HBO Max Right Now”

Below are HBO Max originals ranked by Tomatometer, including newcomers like the second season of Doom Patrol (pictured above and a shared title with DC Universe), season 3 of Search Party, and the premiere season of Trigonometry. Several titles, like the second seasons of  Summer Camp Island and Esme & Roy, don’t have scores yet, and a number of upcoming titles will join the list soon, like miniseries Expecting Amy and season 1 of Close Enough.

Keep checking back to find out which HBO Max originals are worth a watch.

Updated: ranking updated to reflect score changes

Love Life: Season 1 (2020)
62%

#11

Adjusted Score: 64.773%

Critics Consensus: Love Life's first season breezes by on Anna Kendrick's charms, but those looking for a real connection may find its featherweight familiarness frustrating.

Synopsis: Anthology series featuring Darby Carter from first to everlasting love, including the people she encounters along the way.... [More]

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Rob James-Collier, Andrea Lowe, Zoë Chao

Directed By: Sam Boyd

The Not Too Late Show with Elmo: Season 1 (2020)
81%

#10

Adjusted Score: 81.342%

Critics Consensus: With great guests, fun games, and a lot of silly songs, The Not Too Late Show with Elmo is a fitting bedtime show for tots that parents may even enjoy as well.

Synopsis: Elmo is the host of his very own talk show and he's going to bring you some (not-too-late) fun with... [More]

Starring:

Looney Tunes Cartoons: Season 1 (2020)
85%

#9

Adjusted Score: 85.677%

Critics Consensus: A vibrantly goofy return to form, Looney Tunes Cartoons is perfectly calibrated cartoon comedy.

Synopsis: Looney Tunes Cartoons echoes the high production value and process of the original Looney Tunes theatrical shorts with a cartoonist-driven... [More]

Starring:

Craftopia: Season 1 (2020)
86%

#8

Adjusted Score: 50.478%

Synopsis: Craftopia is an epic kids crafting competition show hosted and executive produced by YouTube influencer Lauren Riihimaki aka (LaurDIY). Creating... [More]

Starring: Lauren Riihimaki, LaToya Moore-Broyles

Trigonometry: Season 1 (2020)
88%

#7

Adjusted Score: 59.031%

Synopsis: A love story about three people who are made for each other.... [More]

Starring: Gary Carr, Ariane Labed

Expecting Amy: Miniseries (2020)
85%

#6

Adjusted Score: 85.09%

Critics Consensus: Much like Schumer herself Expecting Amy is an open book, capturing the joys and horrors of pregnancy with unflinching honesty and humor.

Synopsis: Miniseries following comedian Amy Schumer throughout her difficult pregnancy, career and life.... [More]

Starring:

Search Party: Season 3 (2020)
90%

#5

Adjusted Score: 90.761%

Critics Consensus: Search Party's third season changes the satirical scenery without losing any of its bite, while giving its capable cast plenty of moments to shine.

Synopsis: A dark comedy that centers on four self-centered twentysomethings who gather together in the wake of their college acquaintance's vanishing.... [More]

Starring: Alia Shawkat, John Early, John Reynolds, Meredith Hagner

Legendary: Season 1 (2020)
90%

#4

Adjusted Score: 90.761%

Critics Consensus: With host Dashaun Wesley's charms, talented houses, and seemingly endless joy, Legendary is a ballroom extravaganza for die-hards and newcomers alike.

Synopsis: Pulling directly from the underground ballroom community, voguing teams (aka "houses") must compete in unbelievable balls and showcase sickening fashion... [More]

Starring: Dashaun Wesley, DJ MikeQ, Law Roach, Jameela Jamil

Doom Patrol: Season 2 (2020)
96%

#3

Adjusted Score: 97.096%

Critics Consensus: As entertaining as the first, but with more emotional depth, Doom Patrol's second season explores darker corners without sacrificing any of its wonderful weirdness.

Synopsis: A re-imagining of one of DC's most beloved group of outcast Super Heroes: Robotman, Negative Man, Elasti-Girl and Crazy Jane,... [More]

Starring: Matt Bomer, April Bowlby, Timothy Dalton, Brendan Fraser

Directed By: Kristin Windell, Samira Radsi, Jessica Lowrey, Glen Winter

Close Enough: Season 1 (2020)
100%

#2

Adjusted Score: 100.006%

Critics Consensus: Completely absurd and yet, utterly relatable, Close Enough captures the strange experience that is being an adult.

Synopsis: From JG Quintel, creator of the Emmy(R) Award-winning Regular Show comes a surreal animated comedy about a married couple, their... [More]

Starring:

#1

On the Record (2020)
100%

#1

Adjusted Score: 102.312%

Critics Consensus: On the Record uses harrowing first-person accounts to powerfully and persuasively confront the entrenched sexism of an industry and its culture.

Synopsis: Directed and produced by Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering (The Hunting Ground, The Invisible War), and first reported by the... [More]

Starring: Sil Lai Abrams, Tarana Burke, Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, Drew Dixon

Directed By: Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering