The 31 Best Shows on HBO Max

Because of how well it did, HBO decided to give the limited series a full season. The seemingly idyllic setting of this satire about vacationers at a high-end resort has some hidden flaws. Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra Daddario, Steve Zahn, Molly Shannon, and others in the ensemble cast of The White Lotus are the comical catalysts that propel the show to new heights. A murder mystery that saves the big reveal for the end will keep you entertained even more.

The Staircase, a miniseries on HBO based in part on a documentary of the same name from 2004, is a compelling adaptation of a true story with fully realized characters and an impressive ensemble cast. Michael Peterson, portrayed by Colin Firth, is a novelist and the husband of Kathleen (Toni Collette) who is found dead in what appear to be suspicious circumstances. Obviously, you're interested in what happens next. Other stars, including Sophie Turner, Dane DeHaan, Parker Posey, and others, also lend their talents to the drama.

Drama miniseries starring Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina, Tomb Raider 2018) as Mira, an up-and-coming actress who plays the muse for a criminal gang in a remake of the real-life French silent film The Vampires. Developed by Olivier Assayas, the series is based on his cult classic film of the same name from 1996. Watch this HBO show if you're interested in compelling characters, smart dialogue, and shows that have something to say about the state of modern filmmaking.

This drama based on the life of TV chef and cookbook author Julia Child serves up plenty of laughs (and mouthwatering visuals) along with its biographical details. Sarah Lancashire is captivating throughout as the iconic American chef who launched a thousand cooking shows with her groundbreaking series The French Chef. HBO Max has confirmed it will be dishing out a second season, and all eight episodes are currently available on the service.  

Station Eleven is a must-see for any fan of post-apocalyptic television. You won't know what's going to happen next thanks to the show's nonlinear narrative, and the show's well-developed characters are another plus. A young girl named Kirsten and an adult named Jeevan seek refuge as the rest of the world is wiped out by a flu-like virus. But then it jumps ahead 20 years, which allows for new dramatic turns and keeps us guessing about the past. It's excellent television, and it may even appeal to viewers who don't typically seek out apocalyptic fiction.  

Mare Sheehan, a detective in a small town, is looking into the murder of a young woman, but her own life has been troubled by the separation from her husband and the passing of her son.

Season 2 of Euphoria is currently streaming on HBO Max. The captivating performances, stunning visuals, and bold handling of serious themes in this show justify its devoted fan base. Stick around just to see Zendaya, who plays the teen Rue, the star of Dune.

This seafaring comedy stars Rhys Darby as Stede Bonnet, an aristocrat who gives up his comfortable life and family to become the captain of a pirate ship. He makes a series of hilarious gaffes during the performance. The show's seafaring crew, led by Bonnet, is very different from the tough, swashbuckling group you might find in something like Pirates of the Caribbean (they spend their downtime hand-sewing and they enjoy a competently narrated bedtime story). Plenty of belly-achingly funny situations result. Fans of Game of Thrones may recognize Kristian Nairn, who plays Hodor, among the cast, and Taika Waititi, who plays Blackbeard, also appears.

In addition to writing, directing, and starring in this new HBO series, Nathan Fielder (of "Nathan For You" fame on Comedy Central and cringe comedy fame in general) also stars. The comedian goes to great lengths in the show to allow audience members to practice for upcoming moments. In the pilot, Fielder helps a man get ready to confess to his friend by recreating the bar where they plan to meet (with incredible accuracy). After anticipating every bizarre scenario, we watch as the two friends' actual conversation unfolds. The Rehearsal is an odd but fascinating film that deserves your attention.

Starring and created by Issa Rae (of HBO's critically acclaimed series Insecure) for a half-hour, Rap Sh*t is a comedy series. It reunites three high school pals Mia is a make-up artist and a single mother with multiple jobs, and Shawna is an aspiring, socially conscious rapper. After reconnecting in their twenties, the young women in the pilot episode make a viral rap video that goes viral online. The main characters' incessant use of their mobile devices for social media and video recording adds a unique dimension to the show.  

This comedy-drama series is highly regarded, and it's only fair that the spotlight be on Jean Smart. Smart plays Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comedy diva who must choose between appealing to a younger audience and fading into obscurity, and she does so by throwing iPads into swimming pools and delivering withering looks. To update her material, she has teamed up with the equally snarky Ava (Hannah Einbinder), a young comedy writer. Hacks is one of the best originals to come out of HBO Max because it expertly combines the biting insight into how the comedy industry treats women with the warmth of an odd couple buddy comedy.

A classic screwball comedy, Starstruck stars Rose Matafeo at the height of her goofy charm. She portrays Jessie, a Londoner in her twenties who gets drunk on New Year's Eve and has a one-night stand with Nikesh Patel's celebrity, Tom Kapoor. In this film, Jessie plays a number of roles, including a nanny for a Hollywood star and an usher at the movies. In this smart, well-assembled comedy, Minnie Driver steals the show as Tom's agent.

This drama, co-created by Mindy Kaling, follows four 18-year-old female friends as they embark on their first year of college in the Green Mountain State. The freshmen at this university all have unique personalities, and as a result, they all approach love and sex in unique ways. The show's female lead characters have great chemistry and make it funny and binge-watchable. A modern teen comedy with real-life messes, likeable protagonists, and crude humor.

It's possible that we're already watching 2021's best TV series. In the 1980s, when HIV/AIDS was first being diagnosed, It's a Sin follows a group of young gay men living in London. Russell T. Davies, the show's creator, approaches this unusual look at the beginning stages of what became a death sentence with his trademark irrepressible joy of life. The friendly, empathetic characters keep on living it up to the tune of a catchy '80s soundtrack, bouncing between crowded apartment buildings and neighborhood watering holes. It's a Sin is a soaring triumph that anyone can fall in love with because it's fast-paced, stylish, and eye-opening, and because of the prevailing sense of hope it conveys.

Lucy Prebble, who wrote Billie Piper's Secret Diary of a Call Girl, reunites with Piper for I Hate Suzie. The end result is an emotional roller coaster driven by Piper's raw performance. She takes on the role of Suzie, a Hollywood actress who is rocked by a celebrity phone hacking scandal just as she is about to land a role in a Disney film. Each episode delves into a different phase of trauma, asking how one's life can be turned upside down by compromising leaks, but also how it can be set free. Suzie and her manager, Naomi (Leila Farzad), have a beautiful friendship amid the vicious satire.

One critic, Richard Knightwell of CNET, thought that 2020 "sucked." Every day when you woke up, things were a little bit worse than the day before. A sliver of sunshine, however, would occasionally break through the overcast sky. Betty, a story about a group of adolescent skateboarders in sunny New York, was a welcome exception. HBO's TV sequel to the indie hit Skate Kitchen painted a picture of young women charging headfirst into the world, pushing off and gaining speed and reducing obstacles to things waiting to be jumped over while still looking cool. While watching this show, my daughter turned one, and I can't wait to give her a go on a skateboard. If she's looking for a Betty crew, I hope she finds one. "

This comedy by a couple of writers for Saturday Night Live relies heavily on the inherent comedic potential of sibling rivalry. Cary (Drew Tarver) and Brooke (Heléne Yorker) are siblings in their late 20s who deal with the unexpected fame of their 13-year-old brother, who channels Justin Bieber on the internet. The story was written by Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider. Molly Shannon's performance as their doting mom Pat, who pushes them through life's wide open windows, is delightful. The Other Two's pop culture satire and unexpectedly heartfelt storylines are a winning combination once you get past the gimmicky premise. Fans of Schitt's Creek should check this out.

The Gemstones are a famous family of televangelists, and this outrageous series focuses on their highly dysfunctional family dynamic. Blackmailing a family member sets off a season of outrageous antics. An absurd and addictive black comedy led by John Goodman as patriarch Eli and supported by performances from Danny McBride, Edi Patterson, and Adam Devine. HBO has already renewed the show for a third season, despite the fact that the second one just concluded.  

Ghosts, the new sitcom from the creators of Horrible Histories, improves with each new episode. Charlotte Ritchie, of Feel Good and Call the Midwife fame, plays Alison, a woman fixing up the old mansion she inherited with the help of her husband, an amateur builder. The ghostly current residents are not cooperative with their renovation plans because they want the house all to themselves, and money isn't helping. Ghosts features an impressively high rate of gags, a talented comedic ensemble, and an endearing arc of friendship, making it a great choice for those seeking purely light-hearted viewing. In the end, it's just a lot of fun to be silly with.

Bill Hader, a former Saturday Night Live cast member, walks out of a hotel room where a body has been left with utter nonchalance in the opening scene of the film Barry. The character Barry Berkman, played by the actor, is a hitman who is unhappy with his life and work but whose path is changed when he visits Los Angeles and is forced to take an acting class. Barry emphasizes the "dark" in "dark comedy" with its graphic violence and emotionally troubled main character. Moreover, it is hilarious, and there are three seasons available for marathon viewing. The scenes between Bill Hader and Henry Winkler's acting coach in the show are worth watching on their own.  

In this satirical series, the members of the family that owns the largest media and entertainment company in the world fight among themselves to succeed their ailing father.  

Following the misfortunes of a woman who loses everything after the untimely death of her husband (don't ask how he died), this black comedy transports us from London to Newcastle, Australia. Sammy, destitute and unable to provide for her two children, is forced to move back to her hometown with them. Sammy does everything in her power to get back to London, and there are some particularly cringeworthy moments when she and her bickering brother are reunited.

Due to HBO Max's interest, the show's third and fourth seasons are now being produced by the streaming service. The latter is probably the best of the series so far; it pushes the story of four oblivious millennials to new heights, and features a bizarrely brilliant cameo from Susan Sarandon. Dory, a young woman in her twenties, plays amateur detective to find a woman she barely knew in university. As it turns out, she's on a quest for something else entirely: herself. Her boyfriend Drew, Elliott, and the hilariously blonde Portia are all equally vain. Dark comedy, mystery, and completely bonkers characters come together perfectly in this offbeat show. Rare and valuable enough to be kept in a museum

One of the best new shows on HBO Max, "The Following," stars Kaley Cuoco in a compelling thriller. Cassie, played by Cuoco, is a carefree flight attendant who has an inappropriate sexual encounter with a passenger during a wild night out. When she comes to in Bangkok, she has almost no recollection of the previous night and finds a dead body in her bed. She finally comes to her senses and tackles the mystery of what happened with the help of the deceased's spirit. Keep an eye out for a great opening credit sequence and a deep psychological layer. The ineptitude of the detective and his bumblings through a world full of cold killers make for a hilarious combination.

Intense car chase in the Australian outback sets the tone for The Tourist. Even more specifically, Jamie Dornan, star of Belfast, is being relentlessly pursued by a semitrailer off road and through the desert. Dornan's character has total amnesia and wakes up in the hospital. The Tourist, a fascinating and unexpected miniseries, follows Dornan on his quest for understanding. This is a case of a mystery that doesn't need solving. Tonight's Must-See Television

This DC spinoff takes place after the events of 2021's The Suicide Squad and follows Peacemaker (John Cena), our giant, costumed protagonist, as he is released from the hospital. In spite of his self-proclaimed superhero status, Peacemaker's catchphrase, "peace, no matter how many people I have to kill to get it," belies his true nature. The show reveals that Peacemaker will not be going back to jail, but rather will be participating in a black ops mission that will (yet again) require him to get his hands dirty. The show's jokes hit frequently, and the supporting cast is great fun.

This intriguing docuseries is directed by award-winning filmmaker Nanfu Wang (One Child Nation, In the Same Breath), and it's about the 1985 murder of 68-year-old Helen Wilson in the town of Beatrice, Nebraska. Six people were convicted of her murder and later exonerated, adding a lot of drama to the story. The effects on Wilson's family and the town of Beatrice are explored in the pilot. Former policeman turned private investigator Burt Searcy is also featured in the show.  

Crime drama Tokyo Vice, adapted from a book by journalist Jake Adelstein, has made its slick debut on HBO Max with its first season. The film, starring Ansel Elgort, is set in Japan in the late 1990s and follows a young American journalist who has just moved to the country and joined the staff of a major Japanese newspaper. There is a dark and dangerous world out there, full of gruesome murders, flashing lights, and ruthless crime bosses.

David Simon and George Pelecanos, who previously collaborated on The Deuce, Treme, and The Wire (which Simon created), are responsible for this critically acclaimed crime miniseries. Reinaldo Marcus Green, of King Richard's, directs. The riveting six-part series examines police corruption in Baltimore through the lens of the Gun Trace Task Force, and it's based on a nonfiction book written by a reporter for the Baltimore Sun.

Season 5 of the Italian crime drama based on a true story cemented the show's reputation as one of the best of its genre. The story of a Naples crime family's struggle for control after the arrest of the clan leader stands out for its realism. Gomorrah is a new, fully realized TV show thanks to its compelling story and tense, claustrophobic setting.

This four-hour special came out two years after the end of Adventure Time, and it's a fantastic reward for the show's many devoted viewers. This miniseries does a fantastic job of fulfilling the expectations of a spinoff by adding new dimensions to the Land of Ooo universe and introducing engaging new characters. Finn and Jake, his magical dog friend, as well as Princess Bubblegum, Marceline the Vampire Queen, and BMO, embark on exciting new adventures. The hour-long format is a refreshing departure from the norm and an excellent addition to the thrilling story. Quite the emotional roller coaster, complete with all the elements that made the original classic.