HBO Max: movies, shows and everything about the streaming service explained

Date:
Tue, 01 Feb 2022 15:36:18 +0000

Description:
From original TV shows to app details, here's a breakdown of the HBO Max streaming service.

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What is HBO Max? The still-young streaming service, which launched in the US back in May 2020, is essentially Warner Bros' attempt to take on Netflix and Disney in the streaming space.

Unlike previously existing services HBO Now and HBO Go, though, HBO Max has a broader range of content, which includes the complete roster of classic HBO-produced shows (like The Sopranos and The Wire) alongside newer HBO originals (like Succession and Euphoria ) and a vast movie library.

New HBO shows land on HBO Max the same time as they air, too so it really is a far-reaching service. And it should be, for the $14.99 per month price.

Below, then, we're going to give you a primer on HBO Max: what it is, what it costs, what's available on the service and whether you should subscribe in 2022. Want to know which streaming service is the best? We've got your answer Where is HBO Max currently available?



Having originally launched in the US exclusively, HBO Max is now also available in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland) as well as in Spain and Andorra.

From March 8, 2022, the streamer will begin rolling out in 15 more European territories , including Portugal, Poland, the Netherlands and Croatia. Six further regions, including Greece and Turkey, are set to get access to the service later in the year. WarnerMedia anticipates having expanded HBO Max to 190 countries by 2026.

UK audiences, though, will have to wait a while longer to access HBO Max.HBO signed a four-year contract with UK broadcaster Sky in 2019 allowing the latter to air certain HBO-produced movies and TV shows, so HBO Max isnt
likely to arrive across the pond until that partnership has concluded in
2024.

That being said, the absence of HBO Max in the UK doesnt altogether deprive British viewers of HBO-produced content. As above, many of the studios
biggest properties are available to watch through a compatible Sky (or Now
TV) subscription, with only a few movies and TV shows like The Fallout and South Side exceptions to the rule. How much does HBO Max cost?



Two HBO Max subscription tiers are currently available. The main, ad-free
tier costs $14.99 (around 11 / AU$22) per month, while a cheaper,
ad-supported tier costs $9.99 (around 8 / AU$14) per month.

The latter offers access to the same library of movies and TV shows, though subscribers aren't able to download content for offline viewing, and video quality is also capped at 1080p. (Image credit: WarnerMedia)

That main $14.99 price puts HBO Max at the more expensive end of the
streaming service spectrum, though it's also the same price as HBO Now (and the former offers a decidedly better entertainment package for the money).

By comparison, as of 2022, Disney Plus costs $7.99 / 7.99 / AU$11.99 per month, while Netflix's standard tier costs $13.99 / 9.99 / AU$16.99 per
month. To learn more and compare to the competition, check out our dedicated HBO Max price guide.

It's also worth noting that all existing direct HBO subscribers will get HBO Max for free, as well as those subscribed to the channel via the following: Altice One Atlantic Broadband Apple TV AT&T TV AT&T U-verse Cox DIRECTV Optimum RCN Spectrum Suddenlink Verizon FIOS WOW! Xfinity Hulu

Incidentally, if you're also subscribed to HBO Now through a third-party app or service (see the following list), the HBO Max help site says subscribers get HBO Max for nothing: Apple, Google Play, Samsung TV, Hulu, Verizon, Optimum, Consolidated Communications and Liberty.

As above, those subscribed to HBO through AT&T-related services can also
watch all the HBO Max content they want for no additional cost.AT&T now has a dedicated page on deals that include access to the streamer. Is there a HBO Max free trial?



Sorry, folks while you could once have tried HBO Max for seven days before committing, that option is no longer available. Having said that, if you're accessing the streamer in a country that has only recently gained access to the service, HBO may still be offering a free trial.

Take a read of our HBO Max free trial article for more. HBO Max movies:
what's worth watching? (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Pricey as it is, HBO Max is pretty phenomenal when it comes to movie selection. While Netflix's movie library always has a bunch of highlights
from other studios, the base HBO Max is working from comprises many amazing movies from Warner Bros' history meaning you get a massive range of DC
Comics movies, from Batman (1989) to Joker, The Dark Knight and Aquaman, straight out of the box.

Genre movies generally are very well-repped on HBO Max, too, with The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix trilogies currently available to stream. Take a look at our dedicated guide to the best HBO Max movies for the latest additions.

One of HBO Max's bespoke channels is Studio Ghibli movies, which gives subscribers access to every animated film from the legendary studio behind Spirited Away (with the exception of Grave of the Fireflies). Another channel is TCM (Turner Classic Movies) the latter might not be as specialist as The Criterion Channel, but you won't be short of classics to enjoy, from Citizen Kane to All The President's Men.

Basically, you'll never run out of things to watch on HBO Max. While subscribers in 2022 will no longer get access to day-and-date movie releases (which saw the likes of Dune and The Matrix Resurrections released directly
to the streamer), HBO Max still gives Netflix and Disney Plus more than a run for their money when it comes to blockbusters. HBO Max shows: what's streaming? (Image credit: HBO)

Check out our best HBO Max shows list for recommendations on the platform's
TV highlights. Obviously, HBO's original series are at the core of the offering, here. Everything from The Wire to The Sopranos to miniseries like Show Me A Hero and The Night Of are available to stream but HBO isn't just known for dramas, of course. Comedies like Curb Your Enthusiasm and Veep are here, too, along with documentaries like McMillions and The Case Against
Adnan Sayed. HBO's rich history of stand-up specials is also here to enjoy, with some of the biggest American comedians represented.

What's more, older shows on the platform from Warner's archive (and beyond) help supplement HBO's TV offering. Rick and Morty's first four seasons can be streamed, for instance, and HBO Max has the exclusive rights to show Friends and South Park in the US. The Big Bang Theory, The Middle, Young Sheldon, The Nanny and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air are among the sitcoms you can enjoy on the service.

You'll find loads of great animated shows in here, too. Batman: The Animated Series is a classic from the '90s, and it's joined by the Superman show, as well as the more futuristic Batman Beyond. If you're craving anime, Crunchyroll has a channel on HBO Max that offers a broad selection to enjoy, while access to Cartoon Network encompasses shows like Steven Universe and Dexter's Laboratory.

Import shows include the newer seasons of Doctor Who, The Office (UK) and crime drama Gomorrah.

And finally, HBO Max has a suite of original series that's set to grow massively over the coming years. Succession , Euphoria , Raised By Wolves,
The Flight Attendant and Search Party count among just some of the streamer's up-and-coming gems. HBO Max vs HBO: what's the difference?



HBO has trimmed its streaming options down to just HBO Max and HBO as of 2022
mostly to avoid confusion. The difference simply comes in the range of programming subscribers have access to. By subscribing to just HBO, you'll
get every original series the premium channel is known for, as well as its movies. But HBO Max gets you more than double the content including the
likes of Friends, Adult Swim, kids' entertainment and Max's own range of originals.

Really, there's no reason to get HBO over HBO Max they cost the same, and
you get more stuff with the latter. HBO Max devices and apps: how can you stream it? (Image credit: Future)

Here is the list of officially supported devices you can use with HBO Max. There's no limit to how many devices you can use with the streaming service, but for security reasons, the number of simultaneous streams permitted is capped at three. PS4/PS5 Roku (OS 9.3 and later) Cox Contour 2 and Contour Stream Player Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X iOS (12.2 or later) Android (5.0
or later)/Android TV Chromecast Apple TV Chrome/Firefox/Microsoft Edge
Xfinity X1 and Flex Samsung Smart TVs (2016 onwards) HBO Max app features: downloads and recommendations explained (Image credit: HBO Max)

HBO Max lets you download content for offline viewing. It also has a PIN system for parental control, personalized profiles and brand-based content hubs similar to how Disney Plus categorizes Star Wars and Marvel as
mentioned earlier, these include TCM, Studio Ghibli, DC, Crunchyroll, Looney Tunes and Sesame Workshop.

Subscribers also have the option of 'co-viewing' homepages that represent the tastes of multiple people in your home.The homepage has themed selections of content to enjoy, too, if you're a little sick of Netflix's algorithmic recommendations. Does HBO Max support 4K streaming?



Yes. As of December 2020,HBO Max supports 4Kstreaming on a selection of4K-compatible devices (see the list below), though only if subscribers are signed up to the ad-free tier of the service. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and
Fire TV Cube Android TVs, including: AT&T Streaming Box Apple TV 4K Google Chromecast Ultraand Chromecast with Google TV Roku Ultra 4800x, Roku 4k TVs, Roku Premiere, and Roku Streaming Stick+ Xfinity X1 (Xi6) and Flex Could HBO Max win the streaming wars? (Image credit: monticello / Shutterstock.com)

HBO is a name synonymous with prestige TV, from shows like Oz and The
Sopranos through to Game of Thrones and Chernobyl. With HBO Max, it'll likely come to mean something else entirely but that association is still a massive asset. In the 'Peak TV' age, HBO has more than held its own, producing the likes of Succession and Watchmen and remaining the center of the TV conversation while a streaming arms race occurred around it.

That is what HBO Max is building upon: the best TV of the last two decades, coupled with every major brand Warner can throw at it. Not all streaming services will survive this content war, but HBO Max has a lot in its corner, especially with its big investment in blockbuster movies throughout 2021.

It's already a great streaming service the question is whether its originals will make it stand out in an overpopulated US streaming landscape, especially when the price of entry is relatively high.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/hbo-max-price-free-trial-movies-the-snyder-cut- and-more-explained/


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