Determining what the best Max shows are can be a fool's errand. Indeed, with hundreds if not thousands of series to choose from, it's a very subjective topic for a lot of people.
So, how have we decided which shows deserve to appear on this list? In order to qualify for a spot on our best shows on Max list, a program needs to fulfil one of the following criteria: hold a Rotten Tomatoes (RT) critical score of 85% or above, be one of the most streamed series made by HBO, or pass both tests. As long as they do, you'll know they come high recommended by our team of experts, who have scoured the TV library of one of the world's best streaming services to find them. Here, then, are the 38 best Max series to catch today. Enjoy!
Best comedy shows on Max
Barry
Seasons: 4
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 98%
Saturday Night Live graduate Bill Hader is both co-creator and star of Barry, a show about a professional hitman who performs a career U-turn and tries to become a Hollywood star after turning his back on a life of crime. Indeed, the eponymous character tries to put his criminal past behind him to embrace his new career but, as he soon learns, he can't outrun his old life. I found there to be plenty of drama in Barry’s often drastic efforts to keep his two lives separate, but the show’s comic edge keeps things from getting too dark. A worthy and arguably underrated inclusion on this list.
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Seasons: 12
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 92%
After co-creating the all-conquering sitcom Seinfeld, few would have predicted Larry David’s next move. Backed by HBO money, he made a fictionalised version of himself (and Hollywood friends like Ted Danson) the center of a semi-improvised comedy called Curb Your Enthusiasm, which has gone on to be a cult phenomenon for the Warner Bros-owned studio. While Curb is frequently so cringeworthy it makes you want to hide behind the sofa, David turns the comedy of embarrassment into an artform. For me, if there was ever a comic-book hero whose superpower was putting their foot in it, David's screen self would be the blueprint.
Flight of the Conchords
Seasons: 2
Age rating: TV-14
RT score: 94%
There are plenty of top-tier musical comedy acts around these days but, for a time, Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie - New Zealand’s fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk comedy folk duo, apparently - were the kings of this particular ring. Flight of the Conchords, their two-season comedy series, proved as much, too, which the duo playing fictionalised versions of themselves, trying to make a success of themselves in New York – despite having only one fan, the obsessed Mel (Kristen Schaal), and an ineffectual manager (Rhys Darby). A classic of the mid- to late 2000s, in the time before streaming was a thing, I regularly found myself re-watching Clement and McKenzie's charming and over-the-top hilarious double act time and again, so I'd heartily recommend this to anyone who enjoys earworm tunes mixed with reams of comedy. Altogether now: I'm the hiphopopotamus, my rhymes are bottomless!
Friends
Seasons: 10
Age rating: TV-14
RT score: 78%
It comes across a tad dated these days but, like a coffee from Central Perk, it’s refreshing to know that Friends will always *ahem* be there for you whenever anyone of a certain age wants to stream one of the world's most popular sitcoms for the umpteenth time. A powerhouse of its time, Friends turned its six-strong cast – Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and the late Matthew Perry – into some of the biggest stars on the planet. Emboldened by their natural on-screen (and off-screen) chemistry, sharp writing, emotional story beats, and more than enough slapstick and cringe-inducing comedy to shake a stick at, Friends is the equivalent of a warm TV hug for me. Yes, some of its jokes make for uncomfortable viewing in 2024, but it's nonetheless one of the best shows ever made, hence its inclusion here. Want to know where to start with its 10-season run? Read our guide of the best Friends episodes for some great recommendations.
Girls
Seasons: 6
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 89%
Created by and starring Lena Dunham, this iconic show follows four girlfriends in New York as they struggle through their day-to-day lives. That means juggling career decisions and complicated relationships, while leaning on their inner circle for support. Girls primarily revolves around Dunham’s character Hannah, a writer looking for her shot at the big time, but intertwines with each unique story of her friends Marnie, Jessa, and Shoshanna. Girls tackles topics that divided viewers, but it remains a poignant and truthful examination of 20-something life that I couldn't help but enjoy.
Hacks
Seasons: 3
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 99%
It's high time that this Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder-starring comedy drama series was recognized as one of the best Max shows around. Hacks, which stars Smart as washed-up comedian Deborah and Einbeinder as her protege Ava, who reignites Deborah's career, is a sumptuously great show that thematically explores the ever-evolving power dynamic between the pair. Indeed, their relationship starts out as a pretty frosty one, but soon they find a way to work together, which proves that opposites really do attract. Equal parts riotous and heart-wrenching, Hacks' recent award wins are proof that it's an utterly fantastic show. Little wonder Hacks has been renewed for a fourth season, then.
I Hate Suzie
Seasons: 2
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 97%
Doctor Who alum Billie Piper reunites with her Secret Diary of a Call Girl collaborator Lucy Prebble for this powerful satire on the entertainment industry. It’s the story of former pop idol and TV star Suzie Pickles (Piper), who finds her personal and professional lives unravelling after nude photos are leaked online by phone hackers. I found both seasons of this UK-developed comedy drama to be simultaneously hilarious and heart-breaking, with much of Suzie’s fictional career closely mirrors Piper’s own adds extra weight to her brilliant performance.
I May Destroy You
Seasons: 1
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 98%
A blind-siding dark comedy, I May Destroy You is both laugh out loud funny and emotionally devastating. I'll never forget the first time I saw this obscenely amazing show, which stars (and was written by) Coel. In it, she plays Arabella, a young woman who, after what was expected to be a typical night out, wakes with no memory of what she did, where she want, or what happened. It doesn't take long for Arabella to put the puzzle pieces together, though, and realizes she was not only drugged, but also raped. A show filled with incredibly frank and brave moments that sparks plenty of discussions about consent and other hard-hitting topics, I May Destroy You is TV at its emotionally stunning best. It absolutely blew me away upon first viewing and, if it doesn't do the same to you, I'm not sure what else I can say to convince you to stream it ASAP.
Pushing Daisies
Seasons: 2
Age rating: TV-PG
RT score: 96%
Six Feet Under with a quirky and fantastical edge, Pushing Daisies tells the story of a piemaker with an unlikely power: if he touches anything that's died, he can bring it back to life. His gift is a double-edged sword, however, because if he touches something he’s already resurrected for a second time, it’ll be dead forever. Working from this sky-high concept, future Hannibal creator Bryan Fuller crafted an unlikely but winning mix of detective drama and romantic comedy, as piemaker Ned (Foundation’s Lee Pace) was doomed never to touch his back-from-the-dead childhood sweetheart Chuck (played by Anna Friel). If, like me, you have a low tolerance for whimsy it’s probably best to avoid this one but, for everyone else, Pushing Daisies is a minor fantasy classic that was cancelled way before its time.
The White Lotus
Seasons: 2
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 92%
One of the most talked about shows recent years, Mike White’s comedy-drama is, in my humble opinion, essential viewing. An anthology series, each season of The White Lotus follows a new group of holiday makers as they try to relax at an often sun-drenched location, but often find themselves butting heads with each other as well as the resort's suitably memorable staff. White, whose previous filmography includes School of Rock and – weirdly – The Emoji Movie, ensures there’s a dark edge to many of the laughs, in a show that extends HBO’s impressive track record in prestige TV. Read our review on The White Lotus season 2 to see if it's the kind of thing you'll like, but I can't recommend this satire-laced show enough to anyone who'll listen.
Best crime shows on Max
Boardwalk Empire
Seasons: 5
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 92%
Boardwalk Empire started with a bang when it arrived in 2010, with legendary movie director Martin Scorsese helming its pilot. The show then ran for five seasons on HBO, charting the rise of Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson (played by Steve Buscemi) as he rises through the political scene and takes control of Atlantic City, New Jersey. However, Nucky’s ascent doesn't always go according to plan, which is afflicted by run-ins with rival politicians, and the gangsters he works with, to take advantage of prohibition-era bootlegging. A period crime drama that encapsulates everything that’s great about HBO's impressive suite of content and, in my view, one that fans of Peaky Blinders will lap up.
Mare of Easttown
Seasons: 1
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 95%
A gripping and at-times emotional watch, Mare of Easttown is as riveting a drama as we've come to expect from HBO. Kate Winslet heads it up as Marianne 'Mare' Sheehan, a police detective from Pennsylvania investigating the mysterious murder of a teenage mother as she navigates her own troubled home life. I'd argue that this is Winslet at the top of her acting game; the breakout Titanic star delivering a stunning, multi-layered performance that turns Mare of Eastttown from a good show into a great one. Stick it on your best Max shows watchlist and, once you've watched it, I implore you to check out these six similarly gritty dramas worth streaming on Max.
The Penguin
Seasons: 1
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 95%
This show, man... this show. The first of a couple of planned spin-offs from 2022's The Batman movie, The Penguin is a TV juggernaut that, in my mind, deserves to sit alongside such esteemed company like The Sopranos in HBO's crime drama pantheon. Set one week after The Batman's ending, it sees Oz Cobb (the absolutely electrifying Colin Farrell) make a play to become Gotham City's new crime kingpin. However, with Sofia Falcone (the equally amazing Cristin Milioti) and the wider Falcone hierarchy, not to mention their arch-rivals in the Maroni crime syndicate, standing between him and his dream, Oz has plenty to contend with in one of the best Max shows ever created. Do not sleep on this explosively epic Batman-adjacent series, trust me.
The Sopranos
Seasons: 6
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 92%
It's fitting that one of The Penguin's most comparative shows sits right beneath it on our best Max shows list. 25 years have passed since The Sopranos changed the face of television as we know it, with the James Gandolfini-fronted crime epic kickstarting a golden age of serialized TV storytelling that audiences have enjoyed on numerous platforms and cable networks since. Created by David Chase, this legendary program tells the story of mafia head Tony Soprano (Gandolfini), who regales his life's tale through his familial and business-minded life, as well as conversations with his therapist. A truly transformative series that continues to resonate with diehards and newcomers alike – and one I'll never get tired of seeing again and again. Its prequel film, The Many Saints of Newark, is also available to watch on Max.
True Detective
Seasons: 4
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 79%
Like Friends, I went back and forth on including True Detective in this guide because of its RT critical rating. Considering how popular its first and fourth seasons – the latter's full title being True Detective: Night Country – are, though, I felt obliged to keep it in. For the uninitiated: like Fargo's TV spin-off on Hulu, True Detective is an anthology show that tells a standalone tale with a new cast of characters played by some heavy-hitting actors. Season 1, which sees Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson's Louisiana detectives pursue a serial killer, is the obvious stand-out, but the Jodie Foster-starring Night Country, plus Mahershal Ali's star turn in its third chapter, are also compelling in their own ways. My advice? Skip season 2 and, once you've seen the other three, prepare yourself for the previously announced fifth season of True Detective to land on Max and HBO in the near future.
The Wire
Seasons: 5
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 94%
When it comes to The Wire, you probably fall into one of two camps. You’ve watched it and have spent the last two decades telling everyone you know that they should see David Simon’s ambitious, Baltimore-set cop drama because it’s the greatest TV show ever made. Or, you’ve spent the last decade and a half listening to people telling you The Wire is the greatest TV show ever made, but haven't got round to watching it yet. The good news is that, whether you’re a fan keen for a re-watch or a newbie looking to see what the fuss is about, you can stream it right now – and, by god, you'll want to. I could elaborate more on its plot, themes, and sensational performances, but I think it's best if you go into The Wire with as little information as possible and enjoy (if that's the right word I can use to describe it) what's on offer once you hit play on its opening episode. You can thank me, and everyone else, for the epic recommendation once you're done.
Best drama shows on Max
Band of Brothers
Seasons: 1
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 94%
There are certain TV shows that just stay with you long after you've watched them for the first and only time – and Band of Brothers is one of mine. A big-budget adaptation of Stephen E. Ambrose’s book of the same name, it dramatizes the exploits US paratrooper unit Easy Company at the height of World War II to stunningly brutal and soul-crushing effect. With powerhouse industry veterans, including legendary director Steven Spielberg and beloved actor-producer Tom Hanks, behind it, and an all-star cast of established stars and up and comers, this miniseries is mesmerizing in its harrowing depiction of the horrors of war. Once you're done watching it (and you'll need to take some time away from any war-based content once you are), The Pacific, which follows three marines from different regiments as their stories intertwine during the WWII battle between US and Japanese forces, is also worth seeing. Masters of the Air, one of the best Apple TV Plus shows, rounds out the Spielberg-produced trio on one of Max's rival services.
Big Little Lies
Seasons: 2
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 89%
Stars/producers Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, plus creator David E. Kelley (Boston Legal, Ally McBeal) pull together a truly A-list cast for this memorable adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s novel. There’s been a murder among the well-to-do residents of Monterey, California, but Big Little Lies doesn’t tell you the identity of the victim or who did the crime. Cue plenty of flashbacks as events are gradually pieced together. With a roll call that boasts Witherspoon, Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Alexander Skårsgard, Adam Scott, Laura Dern and Zoë Kravitz, this would be captivating TV if they’d all just turned up to read the telephone directory. But, armed with Kelley’s script, a wicked sense of humor, and plenty of twists and turns, this is undoubtedly one of the best Max shows. Season 2 adds Meryl Streep to the mix and is nearly as good as the first, in my mind, too!
Chernobyl
Seasons: 1
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 95%
In 2019, HBO brought the historical tragedy of the Chernobyl Power Plant in Ukraine to life in this heart-breaking drama, retelling the story of how one of the worst nuclear disasters in history came to pass. The five-part miniseries, which counts Foundation's Jared Harris among its cast, depicts stories of the catastrophe and its devastating aftermath, in which many sacrificed their own lives to save others. Developed by Craig Mazin (he of The Last of Us TV show fame), Chernobyl is a powerfully moving piece of prestige television that'll sit with you – as it did with me – long after its final credits sequence has rolled. Make sure you're in the right frame of mind before you catch it as, oh boy, it's a tough watch at the best of times.
Deadwood
Seasons: 3
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 92%
With a few notable exceptions, TV-based Westerns have been out of fashion for most of this century. HBO’s timing arguably wasn’t the best, then, when it bankrolled creator David Milch’s ambitious trip to Deadwood, South Dakota between 2004 and 2006. Frequently celebrated as one of the best shows of its era, Milch skilfully interweaved real American history with the fictional story of the eponymous town populated by a memorable cast, including The Mandalorian’s Timothy Olyphant as sheriff Seth Bullock, and – in a role for the ages – John Wick's Ian McShane as saloon owner Al Swearengen. I believe it deserved to run much longer than its three-season run – it got a brief reprieve in 2019’s Deadwood: The Movie, mind you – and I'll die on that hill if I have to.
Euphoria
Seasons: 2
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 88%
Few shows can claim to have catapulted their talented cast into the A-list stratosphere than Euphoria can. The young-adult drama has provided a platform for some of the world's biggest stars, including Spider-Man's Zendaya, Saltburn's Jacob Elordi, and Immaculate's Sydney Sweeney, to show off their undisputed acting talents, all the while doing so in a hard-hitting series that explores peer pressure, drug use, and numerous teen and young-adult-centric issues. Set in a high school, it follows a group of students navigating their lives, including Rue (Zendaya) and her constant struggle with drug addiction, Nate (Elordi) and his troubled relationship with his macho father, and Jules (Hunter Schafer) and her battle to find belonging with her transgender identity. Given each actor's recent big screen success, it'll come as no surprise to learn that Euphoria season 3 still hasn't started filming yet. I'm confident, though, that we'll eventually see Rue and company return in this outstanding HBO show very soon.
Industry
Seasons: 3
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 90%
Labeled as the obvious successor to, erm, Succession, Industry follows a group of young graduates competing for a limited set of permanent positions at Pierpoint & Co, a prestigious investment bank in the heart of the city of London. Desperate to win the job, the young pretenders push themselves to extremes to win the approval of clients and their superiors, regularly crossing the line as they do so. Led by a handsome cast, Industry fizzes with intrigue and energy, and is well worth an investment of your time. Its latest season acquired some serious star power in the form of Game of Thrones alumnus Kit Harington, who helped Industry finally break into the mainstream. For those of us who've religiously watched it since day one, it deserves all of the plaudits I'm now seeing it receive.
It's a Sin
Seasons: 1
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 97%
A five-part British drama that first appeared in the UK on Channel 4 and is now streaming in its entirety on Max, It's a Sin follows a group of friends during the early stages of the AIDS epidemic in 1980s London. Each one has their own heart-rending story to tell in a show that explores what life was like when people were suffering from a new disease that was feared, misunderstood, and often considered a death sentence. This absorbing and at-times difficult-to-watch drama is brought to life by the energetic and sensitive writing of Russell T. Davies (Doctor Who) as well as the acting of a brilliant ensemble cast led by Olly Alexander, lead singer of Years & Years. One not to be missed, in my view.
The Last of Us
Seasons: 1
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 96%
Largely inspired by Naughty Dog's acclaimed and multi-award-winning videogame franchise of the same name, The Last of Us tells the tale of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), two traumatized individuals who are thrown together by circumstance after crossing paths in a post-apocalyptic America that's been ravaged by a fungal outbreak that turned the population into crazed, zombie-like cannibals known as "the infected". As someone who enjoyed the games immensely, I was hesitant about how well The Last of Us' story would translate into a different medium. I need not have worried: equal parts heart-breaking, action-packed, horrifying, and dramatic, it's another TV powerhouse from HBO executives, plus its talented cast and crew. Read our The Last of Us season 1 review for more on what we thought, and then catch up on everything I've seen about The Last of Us season 2 before it debuts sometime in 2025.
The Leftovers
Seasons: 3
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 91%
Lost co-creator/showrunner Damon Lindelof spun another high-concept mystery tale with this HBO supernatural drama, which ran for three seasons from 2014-2017. Based on Tom Perrotta’s novel, The Leftovers takes place in a world still reeling from the shock disappearance of 2% of the population three years earlier. As it dives headlong into the spiritual consequences of a seriously unconventional situation, Justin Theroux's police chief – Kevin Garvey – finds himself caught between family issues and the various cults that emerge in the wake of the "Sudden Departure". For me, it's a compelling, thought-provoking ride but, this being a Lindelof show, don’t expect The Leftovers to give you all its answers on a, well, plate.
Station Eleven
Seasons: 1
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 98%
Based on an Emily St. John Mandel novel, Station Eleven is yet another HBO series that depicts a dystopian future that could actually happen. Set 20 years after a flu pandemic that caused a worldwide apocalypse, it follows a group of people working as traveling performers to get by. Then they encounter a violent cult led by a man with links to one of the group. This impressive small screen adaptation truly brings Mandel's dystopian world to life, creating an intriguing, contrasting counterpart to fellow post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us. If pushed for an answer, I'd say the latter just about edges it in terms of overall quality, but I'd recommend Station Eleven to anyone looking for a quick fix to scratch that dystopia-fuelled itch.
Succession
Seasons: 4
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 95%
After seeing British writer Jesse Armstrong deliver a fantastically cringe-inducing series called Peep Show in the early 2000s on Channel 4 in the UK, I didn't expect one of his future forays to focus on an interfamilial boardroom tussle for control of an entertainment empire. That, though, is exactly what Armstrong turns his hand to with Succession, a majestically dramatic and darkly humorous drama that shines a light on the fictional and dysfunctional Roy family. Brian Cox stars as patriarchal figure Logan Roy, whose cold and calculating persona are perfect for the cut-throat world of business endeavors, but not so much for being a loving father who doesn't put his children through the emotional and psychological wringer as they fight to become his heir-apparent. A series built on engrossing corporate backstabbing, sibling feuds, and some of the best writing of the modern era. Binge watch all four seasons now, I implore you.
Best fantasy shows on Max
Game of Thrones
Seasons: 8
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 89%
Ah, Game of Thrones – the massively popular high fantasy show that, for a time, was a cultural juggernaut that provided plenty of watercooler moments for years and years... and then proceeded to slap you and I in the face with one of the worst endings to a series in living memory. An expensively assembled adaptation of George R.R. Martin's epic A Song of Ice and Fire novels (he's yet to have finished them, somehow) and set in the fictional Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, it follows a number of warring families for vie for control of the franchise's legendary Iron Throne. That's the general gist of things, anyway, but if I say much more I'll spoil is best moments for anyone who's yet to view it. With absolutely epic and gruesome large-scale battles, lashings of humor, plenty of fantastical elements, and numerous character deaths (don't settle on a favorite or they'll be bumped off), Game of Thrones was a superb series until its damp squib of a finale. Stream it in its entirety and then see if you agree with our best Game of Thrones seasons ranking.
House of the Dragon
Seasons: 2
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 87%
If, like me, you haven't had your Westerosi fill after Game of Thrones, the first of many prequel spin-offs – House of the Dragon – is also well worth investing in. Based on 'Fire and Blood', aka Martin’s history of the Targaryen dynasty, and set two centuries before its forebear, House of the Dragon focuses on the infamous civil war that erupts within House Targaryen that eventually leads to the iconic dragon-riding family's downfall. Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans, and Paddy Considine – the last of the bunch delivering a particularly powerhouse performance in season 1 – are among its starry cast. One of the best Max shows around, House of the Dragon's first two seasons are available now in their entirety. Stream season 1 first and then read my review of House of the Dragon's sophomore season to see how it fares. Once you're caught up, get the lowdown on everything my Westerosi spy network has told me about House of the Dragon season 3.
Best horror shows on Max
Uzumaki
Seasons: 1
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 80%
HBO isn't as well regarded as other streamers for its TV horror output, but this body horror-fuelled anime was deemed unmissable upon its September 2024 release. Well, until viewers were left unimpressed by the sudden drop off in its animation quality in later episodes. Based on Junji Ito's horror manga series of the same name, Uzumaki focuses on the citizens of Kurouzu-cho, a fictional team that's plagued by a supernatural curse involving spirals. If, like me, body horror creeps you out, you'll want to give this one a wide berth because, as a Japanese animated series, its visuals really go all out to unsettle anyone who streams it. However, should you be able to stomach its aesthetic and highly original story, you'll get a kick out of Uzumaki. Don't be shocked if you see it on our best anime shows guide soon.
Best sci-fi shows on Max
Doctor Who
Seasons: 13
Age rating: TV-14
RT score: 90%
A British sci-fi institution if ever there was one, Doctor Who has enjoyed a wonderful renaissance since Russell T. Davies revived the classic show way back in 2005. Since then, we've (myself included) enjoyed a whole host of famous faces as the titular Time Lord, albeit in seasons that have varied in quality. The original David Tennant era – he returned briefly for the series' 60th anniversary specials, which you can only stream on Disney Plus – is the best of the lot in my opinion, but each Doctor has some episodes that are worth catching. To start you off, we've compiled a list of the 20 best Doctor Who episodes that are must-see television, so stick one of those on first to see if you'll follow me and many others in becoming a bonafide Whovian.
Dune: Prophecy
Seasons: 1
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 75%
I'm a big fan of Denis Villeneuve's Dune movies, so I was certainly intrigued by the prospect of a prequel show – Dune: Prophecy – fleshing out this universe and adding more *ahem* spice to proceedings in the sci-fi franchise. Unfortunately, after watching its first four episodes, I've been left underwhelmed by its pedestrian plot that, in essence, is struggling to do its best Thrones impression. Still, it's early days for the series, so I'm willing to stick with it (and keep it in this guide) for now. Dune: Prophecy has got a lot of work to do, though, to retain its place on this list in the weeks to come. Anyway, for anyone interested, here's a brief story synopsis to give you an idea of what it's about: "Set 10,000 years before the events of Dune, the series follows sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen as they combat forces that threaten the future of humanity, and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit."
Fringe
Seasons: 5
Age rating: TV-14
RT score: 90%
Long before Marvel, DC, and Rick and Morty decided to explore the multiverse, this brilliant drama series from the J.J. Abrams stable was blazing a trail through parallel worlds. Although it started out as a poor facsimile of The X-Files, Fringe quickly grew into something much more ambitious, as FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) teamed up with eccentric genius Walter Bishop (John Noble) and his son Peter (Joshua Jackson) to study the weird events of "the Pattern". Made in the pre-streaming era, Fringe proved how brilliant network TV can be when studio executives give writers the freedom to tell the story they want to tell. The story evolves through each of its five seasons, loaded with memorable characters, ingenious ideas, and iconic imagery – and I wouldn't mind betting it's the only one of the best Max shows to feature a cow as one of the recurring cast. One I can heartily recommend to sci-fi lovers and general viewers alike.
Rick and Morty
Seasons: 7
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 90%
Rick and Morty may not be as prolific as The Simpsons, South Park, or Family Guy – it’s managed just 71 episodes in a decade and earned its fair share of negative press due to some allegedly unsavory incidents involving co-creator Justin Roiland – but, for me, it deserves a place in the pantheon of classic TV animation. After starting out as an NSFW twist on Back to the Future’s Marty McFly and Doc Brown, the story of an ordinary kid and his genius grandfather has evolved into a unique mix of sophisticated sci-fi gags, intricate plotting, and family soap opera. As with The X-Files, the jury’s out on whether it’s better when telling standalone stories or advancing its increasingly complex arc plot, but Rick and Morty remains the jewel in Adult Swim’s crown. You'll want to give it a time-traveling whirl as soon as you can, believe me.
Scavengers Reign
Seasons: 1
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 100%
In my view, Scavengers Reign is one of the most underrated Max shows ever. Based on 2016 Adult Swim short Scavengers, it's the story of the survivors of a crashed cargo ship who crash land on an alien planet and, surprise surprise, soon realize it's not the idyllic "home away from home" that they believe it to be. Despite having a perfect critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, Scavengers Reign still hasn't earned the wider recognition it so desperately deserves (it recently joined Netflix's back catalog but, unfortunately, a second season won't be made by the streaming titan). It's absolutely gorgeous to look at, tells a compelling and emotionally engaging story, and it's pretty terrifying at various points. Man, its animation style really makes its sci-fi horror pop on numerous occasions, too. Don't make me shout about how good it is from the rooftops for the rest of my life, dear reader!
Best superhero shows on Max
Doom Patrol
Seasons: 4
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 98%
With the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) drawing its last breath in late 2023, it's worth remembering that the comic book giant's TV output has frequently eclipsed its movies over the last decade. That likely won't be the case moving forward with the DCEU reborn as the more interconnected DC Cinematic Universe (DCU) under the stewardship of James Gunn and Peter Safran but, the Arrowverse notwithstanding, this take on an unlikely team of DC superheroes embraces its weirdness in spectacular style. Largely based on legendary writer Grant Morrison's run on the comic book, Doom Patrol brings together cyborgs, shapeshifters, and even a villain who routinely breaks the fourth wall to create a unique blend of comedy and pathos. A series I couldn't get enough of during its four-season run and, given Gunn's penchant for D-list heroes with a dysfunctional family vibe, one I could've seen doing extremely well as part of the DCU. Ah well...
Peacemaker
Seasons: 1
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 93%
The only DCEU series that's being carried over into the DCU – and which is part of the DCU Chapter One line-up – Peacemaker is an outlandishly great superhero series that shines a light on the violent red-white-and-blue antihero/villain with questionable morals from 2021's The Suicide Squad movie. John Cena, who played the character in that film, returns as the titular individual (real name Christopher Smith) who's recruited by the morally complex Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) to take down some pretty gnarly parasites with world domination on their minds. Cue some riotously brilliant jokes, action set-pieces, tongue-in-cheek superhero-inspired moments, and even the odd tug of the old heartstrings for good measure. Peacemaker season 2 is in the final throes of filming ahead of its 2025 release on Max and HBO – and, if it's as good as its predecessor was, you won't hear me complaining about how it's being retrofitted into the DCU after initially being part of the DCEU.
Watchmen
Seasons: 1
Age rating: TV-MA
RT score: 96%
As a huge fan of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' legendary graphic novel, I wasn't sold on the idea of a TV sequel to Watchmen when it was first announced. So, color me pleasantly surprised when it didn't just put my mind at ease, but also became one of my favorite HBO shows of the past decade upon its 2019 arrival. Regina King plays Detective Angela Abar, a wholly original character who, by night, masquerades as a vigilant known as, well, Sister Night. The limited series opens with Abar investigating the Seventh Kavalry, a white supremacist group born out of deceased vigilante Rorschach's morally complicated ideals, but soon evolves into a mass conspiracy thriller that may reshape the very fabric of this alternate universe's United States of America. A pulsating miniseries with plenty of references to the source material, Watchmen is, in my opinion, a worthy continuation of one of the most influential works in comic-book history.
For more Max-based recommendations, read our guide on all of the new Max movies to arrive this month. Alternatively, see what the best Max movies are or get the lowdown on how much a Max subscription costs.
