Honestly, HBO Max has changed its branding more times than the sigil of a House in Westeros, but in the end, it’s still the place to find smart, addictive, and sometimes crazy TV. No matter if you want high-quality drama, a laugh-out-loud comedy, or dragons spewing fire for your weekday nights, the platform is there for you. Here are the top 10 shows you can binge right now – starting with 10, as waiting is always more fun.
10. The Righteous Gemstones
Danny McBride’s televangelist sitcom is a delicious trainwreck you can’t look away from. John Goodman keeps the Gemstone family earthbound—kind of—while his children (Adam DeVine, Edi Patterson, and Walton Goggins) spin into greed, plots, and sheer anarchy. The last season just finished, but the chuckles (and jaw-drops) are worth revisiting.
9. Hacks
Jean Smart is a total force as Vegas stand-up legend Deborah Vance, delivering both keen-edged jabs and surprising vulnerability. Alongside Hannah Einbinder’s jaded young writer, the series has become one of HBO’s crown jewels, winning Emmys and remaining as sharp in season four as it was on debut.
8. The White Lotus
Rich individuals, poor decisions, stunning resorts—Mike White has solved the equation. Every season releases a new group of actors is released into heaven, only for chaos to descend into scandal and homicide. Season three’s Thai backdrop introduced new players such as Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, and Parker Posey, with Sam Rockwell even making a cameo appearance. Season four is in the works… just not until 2026.
7. The Last of Us
Last but not least, a video game adaptation done right. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey anchor this post-apocalyptic tale with equal doses of grit and heart. The second season jumps forward five years, delving into Joel and Ellie’s tense dynamic as new threats arise—bigger, badder infected. Come for the action, stay for the emotional gut punches.
6. House of the Dragon
If you’ve been missing your Westeros fix, this prequel scratches the itch. Set two centuries before Game of Thrones, the show chronicles the Targaryen family’s bloody unraveling. Expect political betrayals, shocking deaths, and, of course, fire-breathing dragons galore. It’s classic Thrones with a fresh coat of scales.
5. The Yogurt Shop Murders
This doc series addresses one of Austin’s most grim unsolved crimes—the 1991 killing of four teenage girls. Rather than sensationalizing, it centers on the families behind and the weight of the lingering questions left. With A24 and Emma Stone at the helm, it’s haunting and deeply human, making it a must-watch for true crime enthusiasts.
4. Succession
The Roy clan has provided us with some of the most cutting, vicious television of the past decade. From boardroom betrayals to meme-sparking zingers, Jesse Armstrong’s four-season tour de force illustrated that power and family don’t combine—at least not well. Although it concluded in 2023, its status as peak prestige TV is cemented.
3. Curb Your Enthusiasm
Larry David perfected cringe comedy before anyone else even tried. After 20+ years, Curb just wrapped its twelfth and final season, but the laughs remain timeless. And while this chapter is closed, David isn’t done with HBO—he’s already developing a new sketch series. Awkward encounters and overreactions guaranteed.
2. The Sopranos
No list would be complete without the mob boss who transformed television in an instant. Tony Soprano of James Gandolfini is both frightening and strangely sympathetic, and this blend of mafia soap and therapy sessions is endlessly fascinating. Its DNA permeates contemporary TV, and if you crave more, spin off into The Many Saints of Newark or the docu-series Wise Guy.
1. The Wire
David Simon’s The Wire isn’t HBO’s best—it’s one of the greatest shows ever produced, period. Every season destroys a different corner of Baltimore, from the narcotics trade to the schools to the media, and presents a searingly accurate portrait of American institutions. With writing and performances that are unsurpassed, it’s a master class in television storytelling.
From mobsters and dragons to stand-ups and plotting billionaires, HBO Max keeps showing us why it’s the streaming destination for TV that counts. Whether you’re in it for drama that reaches the stakes, biting comedy, or tales that just won’t quit your brain, this rundown has something to keep you stuck to the couch.