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
Barry is a criminally underrated show that deserves your attention (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 4Age rating: TV-MART score: 98%
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm was one of the longest running HBO series until its recent ending (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 12Age rating: TV-MART score: 92%
Flight of the Conchords
Flight of the Conchords is an incredibly offbeat comedy-musical series (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 2Age rating: TV-14RT score: 94%
Friends
Friends is still one of HBO's most popular shows (Image credit: Prime Video ) Seasons: 10Age rating: TV-14RT score: 78%
Girls
Girls put Lena Dunham (second right) on the A-list creators' map (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 6Age rating: TV-MART score: 89%
Hacks
Hacks is finally earned the respect it deserves after its recent awards wins (Image credit: HBO Max) Seasons: 3Age rating: TV-MART score: 99%
I Hate Suzie
Billie Piper wows as Suzie Pickles in I Hate Suzie (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 2Age rating: TV-MART score: 97%
I May Destroy You
I May Destroy You is an engrossing series that turned Michaele Coel into an overnight star (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 1Age rating: TV-MART score: 98%
Pushing Daisies
Pushing Daisies is a dark comedy that starred Lee Pace (second left) and Anna Friel (center) (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 2Age rating: TV-PGRT score: 96%
The White Lotus
The White Lotus has been a surprise hit for Max and HBO (Image credit: HBO Max) Seasons: 2Age rating: TV-MART score: 92%
Best crime shows on Max Boardwalk Empire
Boardwalk Empire is an impressive period crime drama (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 5Age rating: TV-MART score: 92%
Mare of Easttown
Mare of Easttown is Kate Winslet at the top of her game (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 1Age rating: TV-MART score: 95%
The Penguin
The Penguin is an absolutely brilliant crime drama (Image credit: Warner Brothers / HBO) Seasons: 1Age rating: TV-MART score: 95%
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is one of the greatest HBO shows of all-time (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 6Age rating: TV-MART score: 92%
True Detective
True Detective's first season is still considered to be the best entry in the anthology show's back catalog (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 4Age rating: TV-MART score: 79%
The Wire
The late Michael K. Williams was one of the many breakout stars of The Wire (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 5Age rating: TV-MART score: 94%
Best drama shows on Max Band of Brothers
Band of Brothers is still one of the finest – and most harrowing – war series of all-time (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 1Age rating: TV-MART score: 94%
Big Little Lies
Big Little Lies stars many well-known female actors, including Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Nidman, and Laura Dern (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 2Age rating: TV-MART score: 89%
Chernobyl
Chernobyl is a heart-wrenching series that's based on a real-life nuclear catastrophe (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 1Age rating: TV-MART score: 95%
Deadwood
Deadwood is a compelling western that stars Ian McShane and Timothy Olyphant (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 3Age rating: TV-MART score: 92%
Euphoria
Euphoria season 3 is on the way at some point (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 2Age rating: TV-MART score: 88%
Industry
Industry's third season saw Kit Harington (bottom right) join the acclaimed show's cast (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 3Age rating: TV-MART score: 90%
It's a Sin
It's a Sin is an engrossing albeit heart-wrenching British drama series (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 1Age rating: TV-MART score: 97%
The Last of Us
The Last of Us is an incredibly faithful TV adaptation of the one the best video games of the past decade (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 1Age rating: TV-MART score: 96%
The Leftovers
Justin Theroux plays police chief Kevin Garvey in The Leftovers (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 3Age rating: TV-MART score: 91%
Station Eleven
Station Eleven wowed critics back in 2021, but not many people watched it (Image credit: HBO Max) Seasons: 1Age rating: TV-MART score: 98%
Succession
Succession was one of HBO's biggest success stories of the mid- to late 2010s. (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 4Age rating: TV-MART score: 95%
Best fantasy shows on Max Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is viewed as the show that ushered in the era of prestige TV (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 8Age rating: TV-MART score: 89%
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon season 2 wasn't as good as the first, but it's still a fantastic series (Image credit: Theo Whiteman/HBO) Seasons: 2Age rating: TV-MART score: 87%
Best horror shows on Max Uzumaki
Uzumaki had a perfect RT score until viewers started to criticize its animation style in later episodes (Image credit: Adult Swim) Seasons: 1Age rating: TV-MART score: 80%
Best sci-fi shows on Max Doctor Who
You can watch series 1 through 13 of Doctor Who's TV revival on Max (Image credit: BBC) Seasons: 13Age rating: TV-14RT score: 90%
Dune: Prophecy
Dune: Prophecy takes place 10,000 years before Paul Atreides becomes the so-called Lisan al Gaib (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 1Age rating: TV-MART score: 75%
Fringe
Fringe is another fascinating TV series from sci-fi auteur J.J. Abrams (Image credit: Warner Bros. Television) Seasons: 5Age rating: TV-14RT score: 90%
Rick and Morty
Rick and Morty is an animated institution at this point (Image credit: Adult Swim) Seasons: 7Age rating: TV-MART score: 90%
Scavengers Reign
Scavengers Reign is one of two Max series on the list with a perfect critical RT score (Image credit: Max) Seasons: 1Age rating: TV-MART score: 100%
Best superhero shows on Max Doom Patrol
Doom Patrol is a rare DC Comics-inspired TV show that's really fun to watch (Image credit: HBO Max) Seasons: 4Age rating: TV-MART score: 98%
Peacemaker
Peacemaker is returning for a second season sometime in 2025 (Image credit: WarnerMedia) Seasons: 1Age rating: TV-MART score: 93%
Watchmen
A follow-up to one of the best graphic novels of all-time, 2019's Watchmen TV series was a critical success (Image credit: HBO) Seasons: 1Age rating: TV-MART score: 96%
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 .
