HBO MAX: What Should I Watch?

HBO finally reenters the streaming game with a smashing new hit; HBO MAX. Though HBO NOW was always in the market, it's presence was never felt as strongly. From their grand collection of shows and movies, we can assume, this won't be another "Quibi situation." The launch of the streaming service did see a great deal of turbulence, the platform now seems to be gaining some traction. 

HBO MAX offers some long-awaited favorites and a lot of brilliant new content. This list offers a sneak peek into the vas library that HBO MAX holds. Scroll down to see if they have anything you like…

RUN

One mundane morning, upon receiving an unexpected text from her high school sweetheart, Ruby Richardson (Merritt Wever) leaves her humdrum life behind, to elope with Billy (Domhnal Gleeson). 

RUN starts as a comedy- thriller and quickly jumps genres. The eight-episode series is a unique amalgamation of genres and moods, never quite settling in, constantly switching tracks. The creator of this show, Vicky Jones, has been a long time collaborator on Phoebe Waller-Bridge's "Fleabag." Much like Fleabag, RUN draws a lot from Bridge's razor-sharp wit and ability to make anything funny.

Friends

One of the most popular shows ever, Friends, made its exit from Nextflix on January 1st, 2020. Soon after that, the pandemic hit, and millions of people have locked in; longing for feel-good titles to watch. So, WarnerMedia made Friends the highlight of HBO MAX.

Friends is a 90s sitcom, about privileged white people in their late 20s, trying to navigate life from their unreasonably expensive apartments. This show is a great watch, and an even better rewatch. The quirky humor of the show is easy to consume and hilarious when you get to know the characters. 

All of the Harry Potter film franchise

The force of Nostalgia hits hard with these movies. For a lot of people in my demographic, the Harry Potter franchise was an integral part of their coming of age. The film series ruled the box office for a decade, and it remains one of the most successful movie sagas of all time.

The Harry Potter movies visualized what book readers had long fantasized about in their heads. It has been nine years since the last film was released, but the buzz is strong as ever. The series is a pop- culture phenomenon that promises to put a smile on your face.

I recently had a great time rewatching the entire franchise. It was a wholesome experience watching the young actors grow as people, performers, and characters. The four directors who shaped the saga, brought their own little color to the films while staying true to Rowling's text.

Now that HBO MAX has all the movies, and you have a lot of time, it seems like the best time for an HP Marathon. And, in case you were wondering, "Prisoner of Azkaban" in my personal favorite.

The Best of Studio Ghibli

The crown jewel of this streaming service is this collection of awestriking and immersive stories produced by the legendary Studio Ghibli. While the rest of the world was enjoying these beautiful Japanese fantasy tales on Netflix, Americans had no other option, but to buy or rent. But not anymore, HBO MAX offers 21 of all the 22 Studio Ghibli movies. 

Since 1986, Studio Ghibli has been on top of the animation game, combining a charming and empathetic worldview with immersive adventures. Miyazaki has been the face of the production house and he is the creative mind behind classics like My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Spirited Away. 

With the help of many other directors, Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata filled up the Studio Ghibli library with some of the most captivating stories. The filmography has something for everyone. My partner enjoys the plentiful consolation provided by the lush, hand-painted imagery in "The Tale of Princess Kaguya." And I, on the other hand, favor "Princess Mononoke", and Miyazaki's talent for making epic stories feel small and personal.

A plethora of witty HBO Originals

HBO is known for its quality content. The network seems to have a solid screening process and a determined R&D department, as their work never fails to satisfy. HBO MAX gives you access to all the best of HBO, as it should. If you are in the mood of a situational comedy that just doesn't quit, you can laugh Larry David's absurdities in "Curb Your Enthusiasm." 

If you can't decide between a Sci-Fi or a Western, HBO's "Westworld" offers a perfect blend of the two. "Barry" is a portrait of someone so unhappy in their own skin that they're trying to scrape their way out by any means necessary. But, it's a very funny show.

Their collection offers numerous obsession-worthy dramas to choose from, like "The New Pope", "The Deuce", "I Know This Much is True", "The Young Pope", "Sopranos", and my personal favorite, "Succession." Succession is an exhilarating dramedy about monstrous rich people who will devour anything or anyone that stands in their way. If you need anything else, scroll for more options.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Will Smith more or less plays himself in this iconic 90s sitcom. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air introduced mainstream audiences to Will Smith as an artist, which allowed him to become the profitable, blockbuster movie star we know today. Though the show touches upon the racial and ethnic issues of the decade, much of the sitcom's appeal has to be credited to Smith and his effortless charm and charisma.

Most of the Lord of the Rings franchise

This franchise is a towering achievement in the world of moviemaking. The films in the series have the ability to maintain a great balance between the fantasy elements and the emotional journey of the characters. These Tolkien films have a mass and seriousness that very few sword-and-sorcery films of the past 40-odd years have attained.

Like for many other titles in this list, it had been a struggle to find the LOTR movies online. But now, HBO MAX makes the annual LOTR marathon a little easier to execute. The only movie it's missing is the good one of all the Hobbit series- "The Desolation of Smaug." 

Ready or Not

This was one of the most underrated films of 2019. "Ready or Not" about a night-long game of hide-n-seek in an enormous mansion, where if you lose- you die. It's a tale of a twisted family that loves to play games with the newcomers. Stuck in the middle of this insanity is a young bride, who desperately wants to get out. The film is a  witty, endlessly suspenseful slasher, that critiques privilege and entitlement.

This WarnerBrothers classic has been a huge part of the pop- culture for close to a century now. The show first came out in 1931 and since then it's been a benchmark of amazing slapstick comedy, impressions, and snappy- quirky storytelling. HBO MAX offers the entire collection of Looney Tunes; everything from 1931 to 2005. In addition, it also offers new, original shorts that still preserve the true essence of the characters. 

Adult Swim animation

Adult swim is known for its edgy content. Their shows are part of the nighttime programming block of the children's basic cable network Cartoon Network. Currently, their most loved show is "Rick and Morty"- a show about a mad scientist with a serious superiority complex, and his adventures with his shallow yet innocent grandson.

The network also offers other brilliant shows like "Space Ghost", "Primal" and "Samurai Jack." You also have the option of choosing from the hilarious comedies such as, "Robot Chicken" and "Home Movies." Adult Swim has a lot more content that HBO will eventually add on to the platform.

The Dark World of DC

While DC Universe remains the best place for streaming all of the DC Entertainment, HBO MAX is a close second, with its large assortment of Batman movies. Along with that, the streaming service offers the animated adaptations of an array of DC comics like "Beware the Batman", "Batman" the Killing Joke". 

For all the tragedy enthusiasts out there, the platform has Todd Phillips' "Joker." If you prefer something more silly, or nostalgic, you can watch "Teen Titans" or "Wonder Woman animated show."

And, for all the Zack Snyder diehards out there, the streaming service will have the Snyder Cut of Justice League in 2021.