HBO Max: movies, TV shows, price, free trial, and more explained
From its original TV shows to app details, here’s everything you need to know about HBO Max.
HBO Max has been taking on the big players in the US streaming market since it launched in May 2020. Nearly three years on, the platform boasts one of the strongest content line-ups out there.
Pulling together movies from the immense Warner Bros. back catalog, the prestige TV shows traditionally associated with the HBO brand, and much more, HBO Max’s line-up is strong enough to compete with rival services like Netflix and Disney Plus.
In terms of TV shows, that means critically acclaimed HBO classics like The Sopranos, Succession and its latest hit The Last of Us sitting alongside hit comedies like Rick and Morty, Friends, and South Park. Meanwhile, movie fans can enjoy everything from DC Comics adaptations (The Dark Knight, The Suicide Squad, and beyond) to Studio Ghibli’s beloved film range.
If you’re curious about HBO Max and want to know whether the service is worth $15.99 a month (without ads), this guide is a great place to start. We explain everything you need to know, including what HBO Max is, how much it costs, what you can watch and much more.
Where is HBO Max currently available?
House of the Dragon began streaming on HBO Max in August 2022 (Image credit: HBO)
After originally launched exclusively in the US, HBO Max expanded to the Nordic countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland) as well as Spain and Andorra in 2021. In March 2022, the streamer was rolled out in 15 more European territories, including Portugal, Poland, the Netherlands, and Croatia.
UK audiences don’t currently have access to HBO Max. However, HBO signed a four-year contract with UK broadcaster Sky in 2019, allowing the latter to air certain HBO-produced movies and TV shows. HBO Max, then, isn’t likely to arrive across the pond before that partnership potentially concludes in 2024, though there are rumors that it’ll be renewed before it runs out.
The absence of HBO Max in the UK doesn’t altogether deprive British viewers of HBO-produced content. Many of the studio’s biggest properties are available to watch through a compatible Sky or Now TV subscription, with only a few movies and TV shows proving exceptions to the rule.
The complexion of HBO Max and its availability looks set to shift dramatically in 2023. The platform’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), is planning to combine HBO Max with Discovery Plus to form a new super streamer sometime this year, so HBO Max as we know it may only continue to exist for a matter of months.
Explaining how this new streamer will prove to be greater than the sum of its parts, WBD executive JB Perrette said in August 2022: “HBO Max has a competitive feature set, but has had performance and customer issues. Discovery Plus has best-in-class performance and consumer ratings, but more limited features. Our combined service will focus on delivering the best of both.”
The exact nature of this combined service is unclear, but it’s safe to assume that all of HBO Max’s content will be shifted onto WBD’s new super streamer when it eventually launches.
How much does HBO Max cost?
There are plenty of reasons to serve the popcorn on HBO Max. (Image credit: Shutterstock / Ascannio)
Two HBO Max subscription tiers are currently available. After a recent price increase, the main, ad-free tier costs $15.99 (around £13 / AU$23) per month, while a cheaper, ad-supported tier costs $9.99 (around £8 / AU$14) per month.
The latter offers access to the same library of movies and TV shows, but subscribers aren’t able to download content for offline viewing. Video quality is also capped at 1080p.
That main $15.99 price puts HBO Max at the more expensive end of the streaming service spectrum. By comparison, Disney Plus prices are $7.99 (with ads) or $10.99 (without ads) / £7.99 / AU$11.99 per month. Meanwhile, Netflix’s standard tier costs $15.49 / £10.99 / AU$16.99 per month. To learn more and compare the service to the competition, check out our dedicated HBO Max price guide.
It’s also worth noting that all existing direct HBO subscribers get HBO Max for free, as well as those subscribed to the channel via the following:
Altice One
Atlantic Broadband
Apple TV
AT&T TV
AT&T U-verse
Cox
DIRECTV
Optimum
RCN
Spectrum
Suddenlink
Verizon FIOS
WOW!
Xfinity
Hulu
Incidentally, if you’re also subscribed to HBO through a third-party app or service (see the following list), the HBO Max help site says subscribers get HBO Max ad-free for nothing: Amazon Appstore, Apple, Google Play, Roku Channel Store, Samsung TV, WarnerMedia, Consolidated Communications, Liberty, North State, Optimum, Service Electric Cablevision, Verizon Fios, and Ziply Fiber.
Those subscribed to HBO through AT&T-related services can also watch HBO Max content for no additional cost. AT&T now has a dedicated page on deals that include access to the streamer.
How long this arrangement will last, though, is unclear. As alluded to above, WBD executives have said that HBO Max subscription prices will almost certainly head “north” in the coming months following the launch of the company’s new combined streamer, while the ad load on HBO’s cheaper, ad-supported subscription tier could potentially double.
The revelations were made during WBD’s recent Q3 earnings call with Wall Street analysts, and came after the company reported lower-than-expected results. Evidently, WBD is planning to respond to the slowdown by putting a premium price tag on the company’s still-unnamed combined streamer, which is rumored to launch some time in 2023 . We’ll update this page when we know more about how the move will affect HBO Max pricing.
Is there a HBO Max free trial?
Sorry, folks in the USA – while you could once have tried HBO Max for seven days before committing, that option is no longer available. Having said that, if you’re accessing the streamer in a country that has only recently gained access to the service, HBO may still be offering a free trial. Take a read of our HBO Max free trial article for more.
HBO Max movies: what’s worth watching?
Dune is one of the many movie highlights available on HBO Max. (Image credit: Warner Bros.)
Pricey as it is, HBO Max is pretty phenomenal when it comes to movie selection. While Netflix’s movie library always has a bunch of highlights from other studios (check out our pick of the best Netflix movies), the base HBO Max is working from comprises many amazing movies from Warner Bros’ history, meaning you get a massive range of DC Comics movies – from Batman (1989) to Joker, The Dark Knight and Aquaman – straight out of the box.
Genre movies are generally very well-repped on HBO Max, too, with The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix trilogies currently available to stream. Take a look at our dedicated guide to the best HBO Max movies for our top-tier choices or our new HBO Max movies list for the latest additions.
One of HBO Max’s bespoke channels features Studio Ghibli movies, giving subscribers access to every animated film from the legendary studio behind Spirited Away, with the exception of the brilliant Grave of the Fireflies. Another channel is TCM (Turner Classic Movies) and, while it’s not quite as specialist as The Criterion Channel, you won’t be short of classics to enjoy, such as Citizen Kane and All The President’s Men.
Basically, you’ll never run out of things to watch on HBO Max. While subscribers in 2023 will no longer get access to day-and-date movie releases (which saw the likes of Dune and The Matrix Resurrections released directly onto the streamer in tandem with their theatrical debuts), HBO Max still gives Netflix and Disney Plus more than a run for their money when it comes to blockbusters. Newer movies like The Batman continue to arrive on the platform around 45 days after their theatrical release, too.
HBO Max shows: what’s streaming?
Succession‘s eagerly anticipated fourth and final season debuts on HBO Max on March 26. (Image credit: HBO)
Obviously, HBO’s original series are at the core of the offering here, with everything from The Wire and The Sopranos to Game of Thrones and Chernobyl.
But HBO isn’t just known for its riveting dramas. Comedies like Curb Your Enthusiasm and Veep are here, along with documentaries like McMillions and The Case Against Adnan Sayed. HBO’s rich history of stand-up specials is also showcased, with some of the biggest comedians in America represented.
What’s more, older shows on the platform from Warner’s archive (and beyond) help supplement HBO’s TV offering. Rick and Morty‘s first four seasons can be streamed, while HBO Max has the exclusive rights to show Friends and South Park in the US. The Big Bang Theory, The Middle, Young Sheldon, The Nanny, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air are among the sitcoms you can enjoy on the service.
You’ll find loads of great animated shows, too. Batman: The Animated Series is a classic from the ’90s, and it’s joined by the Superman show, as well as the more futuristic Batman Beyond. If you’re craving anime, Crunchyroll has a channel on HBO Max that offers a broad selection, while access to Cartoon Network encompasses shows like Steven Universe and Dexter’s Laboratory. Check out our best HBO Max shows list for more recommendations on the platform’s TV highlights.
Import shows include the original UK version of The Office, crime drama Gomorrah and recent seasons of Doctor Who, though the BBC’s Time Lord is heading to Disney Plus some time in 2023 following a new agreement.
Euphoria has been one of HBO Max’s edgiest – and most acclaimed – dramas of recent years. (Image credit: HBO)
And finally – and, for many, most importantly – HBO Max has a suite of original series that just can’t be rivalled by the likes of Netflix and Prime Video. Succession (whose fourth and final season kicks off on March 26), Euphoria, House of the Dragon, Raised by Wolves, The Flight Attendant, and Search Party are just a few of the streamer’s premium TV gems – and then there’s the small matter of The Last of Us TV show, which has been a major topic of watercooler conversation during the early months of 2023.
It’s not yet clear how WBD’s upcoming super streamer will manage HBO Max’s stellar TV offering, but we’d wager that the platform’s biggest shows will make the transition to this new on-demand offering.
HBO Max vs HBO: what’s the difference?
HBO has trimmed its streaming options down to just HBO Max and HBO as of 2023 – mostly to avoid confusion. The difference simply comes in the range of programming subscribers have access to. By subscribing to just HBO, you’ll get every original series the premium channel is known for, as well as its movies. But HBO Max gets you more than double the content – including the likes of Friends, Adult Swim, kids’ entertainment, and HBO Max’s own range of originals.
Really, there’s no reason to get HBO over HBO Max – they cost the same, and you get more stuff with the latter.
HBO Max devices and apps: how can you stream it?
There’s no shortage of specialist channels on the HBO Max platform. (Image credit: Future)
Here is the list of officially supported devices you can use with HBO Max. There’s no limit to how many devices you can use with the streaming service but, for security reasons, the number of simultaneous streams permitted is capped at three.
PlayStation 4/PlayStation 5
Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X
Roku (OS 10.0 and later)
Cox Contour 2 and Contour Stream Player
iOS (12.2 or later)
Android (5.0 or later)/Android TV
Chromecast
Apple TV 4K or HD
Chrome/Firefox/Microsoft Edge
Xfinity X1 and Flex
Samsung Smart TVs (2016 onwards)
HBO Max app features explained
There are plenty of ways to personalize HBO Max to suit your tastes. (Image credit: HBO Max)
HBO Max lets you download content for offline viewing. It also has a PIN system for parental control, personalized profiles, and brand-based content hubs similar to how Disney Plus categorizes Star Wars movies and Marvel movies. As mentioned earlier, these include TCM, Studio Ghibli, DC, Crunchyroll, Looney Tunes, and Sesame Workshop.
Subscribers also have the option of ‘co-viewing’ homepages that represent the tastes of multiple people in your home. The homepage has themed selections of content to enjoy, too, if you’re a little sick of Netflix’s algorithmic recommendations.
Does HBO Max support 4K streaming?
Yes. HBO Max launched support for 4K streaming on a selection of 4K-compatible devices (see the list below) in December 2020 – though you’ll have to be subscribed to the ad-free tier of the service to benefit.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Cube
Android TVs, including: AT&T Streaming Box
Apple TV 4K
Xbox Series X
Sony PS5
Google Chromecast Ultra and Chromecast with Google TV
Roku Ultra 4800x, Roku 4k TVs, Roku Premiere, and Roku Streaming Stick+
Xfinity X1 (Xi6) and Flex
Could HBO Max win the streaming wars?
Is HBO Max the world’s best streaming service? (Image credit: monticello / Shutterstock.com)
HBO is a name synonymous with prestige TV, from groundbreaking shows like Oz and The Sopranos through to Game of Thrones and Chernobyl. With HBO Max, that association is still a massive asset. In the age of peak TV, HBO has more than held its own, producing the likes of Succession, Euphoria and Mare of Easttown while remaining at the center of the TV conversation.
That status is what HBO Max is building (or rather, has built) upon: the best TV of the last two decades, coupled with every major brand Warner can throw at it. Not all streaming services will survive this content war, but HBO Max has a lot in its corner, especially with its big investment in blockbuster movies.
It’s already a great streaming service – the question is whether its originals make it stand out in an overpopulated US streaming landscape, especially when the price of entry is still relatively high. For our money, HBO Max’s TV offering does indeed make the streamer worth the price – but WBD’s ambitious on-demand plans for 2023 have put HBO Max in an uncertain position for the future.
If you’d like to research some other streamers, have a look at our guides to Peacock TV, Paramount Plus, and Hulu.