(Photo by HBO Max)

The Best HBO Max Shows To Stream Now

Updated as of January 4, 2021

HBO Max launched in May 2020, 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, British import I Hate Suzie, 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 series ranked by Tomatometer, including new-to-the-service series like Search Party, Harley Quinn, and Doom Patrol, late 2020 splashy releases The Flight Attendant and Raised By Wolves, and historical LGBTQ miniseries Equal. In order to be included series must have a Fresh score on the Tomatometer, which means series like the Spanish import Veneno aren’t included — yet.

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

Recently Added: Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults, The Trial of Christine Keeler, Adult Material: Season 1

Veneno (0)
100%

#23

Synopsis: The series follows Valeria, a young journalism student who discovers she has more in common with La Veneno than she... [More]

Starring: Isabela Torres, Daniela Santiago, Lola Rodríguez, Paca la Piraña

Directed By: Javier Calvo

Karma (2020)

#22

Synopsis: Kids competition show that will feature sixteen contestants, ages 12 to 15. They will go completely off the grid to... [More]

Starring: Michelle Khare

Summer Camp Island (2018)

#21

Synopsis: Pals Oscar the elephant and Hedgehog spend the summer at a unique camp, solving mysteries while participating in ordinary camp... [More]

Starring: Elliott Smith, Oona Laurence, Julia Pott, Kimiko Glenn

Love Life (2020)
64%

#20

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

Raised by Wolves (2020)
72%

#19

Synopsis: From executive producer Ridley Scott, Raised by Wolves centers on two androids tasked with raising human children on a mysterious... [More]

Starring: Amanda Collin, Abubakar Salim, Winta McGrath, Travis Fimmel

The Trial of Christine Keeler (2019)
75%

#18

Synopsis: The minister, his mistress, and her lover the spy. The story of the woman at the centre of one of... [More]

Starring: Chloe Harris, Ellie Bamber, Sophie Cookson, Emilia Fox

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

#17

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:

Equal (0)
83%

#16

Synopsis: EQUAL honors the rebels of yesteryear with never-before-seen archival footage along with stylistic depictions that bring to life the gripping... [More]

Starring: Billy Porter, Alexandra Grey, Anne Elizabeth Ramsay, Anthony Rapp

Expecting Amy (2020)
85%

#15

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

Starring: Amy Schumer, Bridget Everett, Kim Caramele, Rachel Feinstein

Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults (0)
86%

#14

Synopsis: Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults is a thorough examination of the infamous UFO cult through the eyes of its... [More]

Starring:

Craftopia (2021)
86%

#13

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 (2020)
88%

#12

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

Starring: Gary Carr, Ariane Labed

Looney Tunes Cartoons (2020)
88%

#11

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

Starring:

Adult Material (2019)
90%

#10

Synopsis: Adult drama that delves inside the porn industry from the perspective of poster girl Jolene Dollar, who juggles her on-set... [More]

Starring: Hayley Squires, Sheridan Smith, Rupert Everett, Joe Dempsie

Legendary (2020)
90%

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

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

A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote (2020)
92%

Adjusted Score: 59.787%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Starring: Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Rob Lowe, Janel Moloney

Directed By: Thomas Schlamme

I Hate Suzie (0)
94%

Synopsis: Billie Piper stars in a bold, bracing, Sky original drama about the moment in life when the mask slips, asking... [More]

Starring: Billie Piper, Leila Farzad

Harley Quinn (2019)
94%

Synopsis: Follow Harley's adventures after she breaks up with the Joker and strikes out on her own. With the help of... [More]

Starring: Kaley Cuoco, James Adomian, Lake Bell, Alan Tudyk

Directed By: Colin Heck, Tom Derosier, Vinton Heuck, Christina Sotta

Doom Patrol (0)
96%

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: Pisay Pao, Joivan Wade, Diane Guerrero, Tommy Snider

Directed By: Rebecca Rodriguez, Harry Jierjian, Glen Winter, Wayne Yip

Search Party (2016)
97%

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, John Brently Reynolds

Directed By: Charles Rogers, Sarah-Violet Bliss