From 'The Pitt' to 'Peacemaker,' These 10 HBO Max Shows Are Perfect From Start to Finish

From 'The Pitt' to 'Peacemaker,' These 10 HBO Max Shows Are Perfect From Start to Finish Noah Wyle standing with his arms crossed looking off-camera in The Pitt.Image via HBO Max By  Justine Kraemer Published 12 minutes ago

Justine Kraemer is a Senior List Writer at Collider and a freelance writer based in Ontario, Canada. She is passionate about finding new angles on the latest movies and TV shows. With over five years of industry experience, her goal is to highlight lesser-known and interesting elements of pop culture projects. 

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When it comes to prestige television, few platforms deliver as consistently as HBO Max. The streaming service is home to series that don’t just start strong, but that remain exceptional all the way through. For fans craving gritty drama, razor-sharp comedy, or thought-provoking sci-fi, HBO Max offers shows that never lose momentum or compromise their creative vision. These series avoid filler, embrace complexity, and reward viewers who pay attention. Even when the subject matter is outlandish or fantastical, the stories remain grounded in emotional truth.

What truly sets these series apart is their unwavering quality from the pilot to the finale. In an era where even great shows can falter mid-run or end on a disappointing note, HBO Max's standouts maintain a rare level of cohesion. Tight writing, confident pacing, and fully realized character arcs ensure that viewers stay invested from the first episode right up to the final moments. The best HBO Max series that have consistently been 10/10 feature deeply human stories with memorable characters whose stories always resonate.

1 'Our Flag Means Death' (2022–2023)

Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby looking in the same direction in Our Flag Means Death.Image via HBO Max

Our Flag Means Death is a comedic, queer-positive reimagining of the Golden Age of Piracy that follows Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby), a wealthy aristocrat who abandons his comfortable life to pursue his unlikely dream of becoming a pirate captain. Utterly unprepared for the realities of piracy, Stede struggles to earn the respect of his chaotic crew until he crosses paths with the infamous Blackbeard (Taika Waititi), who is intrigued by Stede's gentleness and eccentricity.

Our Flag Means Death stands out as one of HBO Max's greatest series and is perfect from start to finish because it's so unapologetically unique. The central love story between Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard is explicitly romantic, tender, and treated with narrative seriousness rather than subtext or "will-they-won't-they" teasing. Beyond these two incredible characters, this ensemble cast is layered, funny, and heartbreakingly sincere. Characters who might have been jokes in another series are given arcs about trauma, belonging, self-worth, and reinvention.

2 'The Flight Attendant' (2020–2022)

Kaley Cuoco as Cassie in 'The Flight Attendant' Season 2.Image via HBO Max

The Flight Attendant is a darkly comedic thriller that follows Cassandra "Cassie" Bowden (Kaley Cuoco), a glamorous but self-destructive flight attendant whose partying lifestyle takes a deadly turn when she wakes up in a Bangkok hotel room next to a murdered passenger, with no memory of the night before. As she becomes entangled in an international conspiracy, Cassie must navigate a web of lies, deception, and danger while confronting her own alcohol-use disorder and personal demons.

The Flight Attendant stands out as one of HBO Max's best shows because it masterfully blends suspense, dark comedy, and complex character work in a way few thrillers do. While the series is thrilling and tense, it balances the suspense with sharp, self-aware humor and moments of vulnerability, making the story both entertaining and emotionally rich. Overall, The Flight Attendant is the perfect mix of tension, humor, style, and character-driven storytelling, making it one of HBO Max's most unforgettable series.

3 'Peacemaker' (2022–)

John Cena as Peacemaker dancing to "Oh Lord" by Foxy Shazam during the Peacemaker Season 2 title sequence.Image via HBO Max

Peacemaker is an action-comedy series that follows Christopher Smith, aka Peacemaker (John Cena), an overzealous, socially clueless antihero who believes in achieving peace at any cost, no matter how violent or absurd the methods. After the events of The Suicide Squad, he's reluctantly recruited into a covert black-ops team tasked with stopping a mysterious extraterrestrial threat known as Project Butterfly. Peacemaker's second season follows Chris as he discovers an alternate universe where he's a beloved superhero, and his father is alive.

Peacemaker is a brilliant HBO Max series because it's such a refreshing take on the superhero genre. Cena brings depth, vulnerability, and comedic precision to a character who could've easily been a one-note joke. His portrayal turns Peacemaker into a layered, sympathetic, and hilarious lead who's easy to root for even at his most flawed. In just two seasons, Peacemaker manages to be funny, violent, and ridiculous, which makes it a perfect series to invest in.

4 'Tokyo Vice' (2022–2024)

Chihara-kai member, Sato, played by Show Kasamatsu, looking off-screen in Tokyo Vice, Season 2.Image via HBO Max

Tokyo Vice is a crime drama inspired by journalist Jake Adelstein's (Ansel Elgort) memoir about his experiences investigating the criminal underworld in Tokyo. The series follows Jake, who joins a major Japanese newspaper and quickly becomes entangled in a dangerous web of yakuza power struggles, police corruption, and political intrigue. As he partners with a seasoned detective and forms uneasy connections with underworld figures, Jake navigates cultural barriers, personal risk, and moral ambiguity while trying to uncover the truth.

Tokyo Vice stands out as one of HBO Max's most iconic series because it immediately sets itself apart from other crime dramas with its unique approach to the genre. The series avoids sensationalism and instead portrays the yakuza, police, and press as morally grey actors. The series also adopts a slow-burn, prestige-drama approach, building suspense through character relationships, quiet threats, and escalating danger rather than constant action.

5 'Minx' (2022–2023)

Oscar Montoya, Ophelia Lovibond, Lennon Parham and Jake Johnson look frantic with unrolled film in Minx.Image via HBO Max

Minx is a comedy-drama set in the 1970s that follows Joyce Prigger (Ophelia Lovibond), a determined but uptight feminist writer who dreams of publishing a serious women's magazine. Her plans take an unexpected turn when she partners with Doug Renetti (Jake Johnson), a charismatic adult-magazine publisher, to create "Minx", the first erotic magazine aimed at women. As Joyce navigates clashes between her ideals and the realities of the adult-entertainment industry, the show explores themes of feminism, sexual liberation, and the importance of creative ambition.

Although Starz picked up Minx's second season, it still stands out as one of HBO Max's best original projects. The show balances thoughtful commentary on gender and power with laugh-out-loud humor. Its dialogue is witty without being preachy, and its jokes land without undermining the serious ideas the series explores. Minx manages to be playful, sexy, thoughtful, and empowering all at once, which is a rare mix that appeals to fans of both smart comedy and character-driven drama.

6 'Julia' (2022–2023)

Julia Child (Sarah Lancashire) filming her cooking show in 'Julia'.Image via HBO Max

Julia chronicles the life of Julia Child (Sarah Lancashire) during the creation of her pioneering television program The French Chef. The series is set in the early 1960s, and follows Julia as she transforms from an enthusiastic home cook and cookbook author into an unexpected TV icon. Supported by her devoted husband Paul (David Hyde Pierce), close friends, and a growing circle of collaborators, Julia pushes against cultural norms to bring French cooking and her infectious personality to American audiences.

Julia is such a perfect HBO Max series from start to finish because it makes a cultural icon accessible. Sarah Lancashire brings extraordinary warmth, nuance, and charisma to Julia, capturing her curiosity, humor, and generosity without reducing her to caricature. Her performance alone elevates the series. The show highlights Julia Child's groundbreaking role in shaping modern food television and shows how she transformed obstacles including sexism, ageism, industry skepticism into opportunities for reinvention and joy.

7 'Pretty Little Liars: Orginial Sin' (2022–2024)

The cast sit on a couch with serious expressions in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.Image via HBO Max

Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin is a slasher series, and the fourth series in the Pretty Little Liars franchise. This chapter follows a new group of teen girls in the blue-collar town of Millwood. After a mysterious figure known as "A" begins tormenting them, the girls discover that their mothers were involved in a tragic event from 1999 that left a classmate dead. "A" forces them to confront the buried secrets and sins of the previous generation.

Unlike the original Pretty Little Liars, Original Sin leans into true horror, including slasher aesthetics, atmospheric tension, and genuine scare, giving the franchise a fresh identity instead of repeating past formulas. The show goes beyond being a simple teen mystery, which makes it such a perfect HBO Max series. Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin tackles generational trauma, bullying, class divides, and the consequences of parents’ actions on their children.

8 'Station Eleven' (2021–2022)

Mackenzie Davis as Kirsten wearing found materials as clothes with a serious expression in Station ElevenImage via HBO Max

Station Eleven is a post-apocalyptic series that follows a group of interconnected characters before, during, and twenty years after a devastating flu pandemic wipes out most of humanity. The series specifically focuses on Kirsten (Mackenzie Davis), a child actor who grows up to join the Traveling Symphony, a troupe of performers who bring Shakespeare and music to scattered survivor communities. Station Eleven follows several timelines, and features the stories of several characters who have had to face an entirely new world.

Station Eleven is such a perfect HBO Max series because it's one of the streaming service's most thoughtful and artistic projects. Instead of focusing on violence or survivalism, the show centers on art, empathy, and human resilience. Its quieter, contemplative approach sets it apart from other dystopian dramas. Ultimately, Station Eleven is about why we create art, how people save each other, and what survives after everything else is gone. Its message of hope resonated profoundly with audiences, especially in the wake of a real-world pandemic.

9 'Hacks' (2021–)

Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder backs to each other with crossed arms on a beach in Season 4 of Hacks.Image via HBO Max

Hacks is a comedy-drama series that follows the unlikely professional relationship between Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), a legendary but fading Las Vegas stand-up comedian, and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), a young, outspoken comedy writer whose career has stalled after a social-media scandal. The two are forced together by their shared agent, and clash in every way possible. As the series has continued, however, the two have pushed one another to grow personally and artistically.

From the beginning of its run, Hacks has established itself as a perfect HBO Max series. The series balances razor-sharp humor with genuine emotional depth. Its dialogue is witty and incisive, yet it never sacrifices character development. Hacks explores issues like generational divides, the pressures of the entertainment industry, sexism in comedy, and the role of social media in modern fame, all while remaining universally entertaining to viewers across generations.

10 'The Pitt' (2025–)

The Pitt is HBO Max's unique medical drama that takes place in the course of a single 15-hour shift in the emergency department at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. The series mainly follows Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch (Noah Wyle), who leads his team as they do their best to care for patients who are often experiencing the worst days of their lives. The Pitt makes an effort to highlight the emotional and physical toll emergency medicine takes on those who clock in for these shifts every day.

Although The Pitt is just getting started after a stellar first season, the show has already cemented itself as one of HBO Max's best series of all time. The series effectively presents characters who have to manage their own traumas while still doing their best to save lives in a strained healthcare system. While deeply serious and often heart-wrenching, The Pitt also allows moments of dark humor and humanity, which makes it unforgettable.

Like Follow Followed The Pitt TV-MA Drama 5 10 Release Date January 9, 2025 Network Max Showrunner R. Scott Gemmill Directors Amanda Marsalis

Cast

See All

• Noah Wyle Dr. Michael 'Robby' Robinavitch
• Tracy Ifeachor Dr. Heather Collins

Writers Joe Sachs, Cynthia Adarkwa Genres Drama Main Genre Drama Seasons 2 Producers John Wells, Noah Wyle, R. Scott Gemmill, Damian Marcano, Simran Baidwan, Erin Jontow Creator(s) R. Scott Gemmill, John Wells, Noah Wyle Streaming Service(s) MAX Powered by Expand Collapse

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