Max
6.6HBO prestige TV plus Warner Bros. movies and Discovery
Best forAnyone who wants the deepest catalog of prestige drama — HBO's back catalog (The Sopranos, The Wire) plus new hits like White Lotus — and doesn't mind paying $16–$20/mo for it.
Scores — click any row to see our rationale
Monthly Cost & Tiers▼5/10
Original & Exclusive Shows▼9/10
Simultaneous Streams & Sharing▼6/10
4K & Video Quality▼7/10
Ads & Ad-Free Options▼6/10
Pros
✓The complete HBO back catalog — every episode of The Sopranos, The Wire, Game of Thrones, Succession, and Curb Your Enthusiasm — is exclusive to Max
✓New Warner Bros. theatrical films typically arrive on Max within 90 days of their cinema release — window length varies by title
✓White Lotus Season 3 and other ongoing HBO originals are only watchable here — no other service can license them
✓Discovery content (nature documentaries, reality TV, Food Network, HGTV) is folded in, broadening the library significantly beyond HBO
✓Ad-supported tier at $9.99/mo gives full access to the content library, including new HBO originals
✓DC films and series (including the full Batman, Superman, and Justice League catalog) are exclusive to Max
Cons
✕4K is locked behind the $22.99/mo Premium tier — the $18.49/mo ad-free plan only streams in 1080p
✕No live sports or live TV — Max is purely on-demand, so it can't replace a cable or satellite subscription
✕The 2023 rebrand from HBO Max to Max added Discovery content, which some subscribers feel dilutes the premium HBO feel of the service
✕Ad-free standard plan allows only 2 simultaneous streams — households with 3+ viewers will need the $22.99/mo Premium plan
✕The Warner Bros. theatrical window is not fixed — some films arrive on Max in 60–90 days, others take longer; Warner Bros. abandoned its prior 45-day policy
✕No meaningful original kids' content outside of DC animation — families with young children will find Disney+ far better stocked