HBO Max: The best TV shows and movies available at launch and beyond
HBO Max has gone live today, after seven months of anticipation.
The WarnerMedia platform is launching with six originals and a selection of fan favourites.
In the coming months, HBO Max will take full advantage of the Warner Bros catalogue, reviving some beloved classics both on the TV and on the film sides.
HBO Max will also pick from other libraries such as DC and CNN to enrich its content.
Here are some of the most exciting offerings coming to HBO Max from day one and beyond:
Originals
On the Record
This documentary focuses on accusations of sexual misconduct against hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.
It premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and was originally backed by Oprah Winfrey and Apple TV+.
On the Record was picked up by HBO Max after Winfrey and Apple dropped it in January.
Legendary
This ballroom dance competition features Dashaun Wesley (seen in season two of Pose) as its MC and MikeQ as its DJ.
Jameela Jamil, Law Roach, Megan Thee Stallion, and Leiomy Maldonado have all been recruited as celebrity judges.
Love Life
This anthology series aims to provide a fresh take on the rom-com. Each season is meant to tell the story of one character’s love life, with each episode focusing on a different relationship.
The first season stars Anna Kendrick, Lesley Manville, Zoë Chao, Peter Vack, and Sasha Compere.
Classics
Some of these, such as Friends, The Big Band Theory, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, will be available at launch. Others will be added by HBO in the following months.
TV shows:
Friends
The sitcom left Netflix in January and hasn’t been available on a streaming service since.
All 10 seasons are now returning to the HBO Max vault, ahead of a planned cast reunion that had to be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Big Bang Theory
This is the first time all of the sitcom’s 12 seasons will be available to stream.
The Big Bang Theory wrapped up in May 2019.
Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown (CNN)
The beloved chef explores cuisines from around the world – and on one occasion, dines with Barack Obama in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Doctor Who
It’s never a bad time to travel aboard the Tardis. HBO Max is now the exclusive streaming home for the Doctor and the Doctor’s companions.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Will Smith recently hosted a Fresh Prince cast reunion on his Snapchat series.
Now, fans can fully embrace the nostalgia by streaming the sitcom’s six seasons.
Gossip Girl
HBO Max is preparing a reboot of the teen drama – and while the new version will be set years after the original, it’s probably not a bad idea to prep by revisiting Serena and Blair’s original mishaps.
Movies:
The Matrix Trilogy
With Matrix 4 in the works, now’s a good time for a deep dive into Neo’s fight against the machines.
All live-action DC movies from the past decade
HBO Max hasn’t released a detailed list, but this would include 12 films:Jonah Hex, Green Lantern, The Dark Knight Rises, Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, Shazam!, Joker, and Birds of Prey.
13 Going on 30
Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo make a great pairing in this quintessential rom-com about the power of embracing your inner teen.
When Harry Met Sally
Speaking of quintessential rom-coms... The genre doesn’t get much better than when Nora Ephron, Meg Ryan, and Billy Crystal partner up.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
A Lord of the Rings tv show is currently in production (with delays due to the coronavirus pandemic) so now’s the time to brush up on your knowledge of Middle-earth.
The Bodyguard
If you’ve never seen this 1992 classic, here’s your chance. It also happens to be the birth place of Whitney Houston’s iconic version of “I Will Always Love You”, a timeless standard.
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