7 Hidden Gems On HBO Max You’ll Regret Not Having Watched Sooner

HBO Max has one of the most impressive catalogs for any streaming service, with a number of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. From the best HBO shows of all time to an impressive list of new blockbusters mixed with classics, Studio Ghibli, and the home of DC, the Warner Bros. streamer has something for everyone.

With the branding for HBO Max changing numerous times since launch, it’s possible that a lot of great shows got lost in the shuffle, with viewers sticking to the big names on the service. For those looking to dive deeper into HBO Max’s catalog, there are a number of hidden gems that some might regret not having started sooner.

7

Carnivàle

HBO Original (2003-2005)

HBO has been home to the best prestige television for decades, with some of the best shows ever made coming from the network, including The Wire and The Sopranos. While some of their best shows are pop culture behemoths, HBO has also had a lot of underrated series come and go over the years, with Carnivàle being one.

Running for two seasons from 2003-2005, Carnivàle never really got the recognition it deserved during its original run. Set in the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression in the 1930s, Carnivàle revolves around individuals in a traveling carnival. The series was particularly dense with its themes of free will and destiny, drawing on Christianity and gnosticism alongside Masonic lore.

Years before Game of Thrones, Carnivàle was HBO’s first attempt at an ambitious fantasy series, and while it never took off in popularity, it remains one of the best underrated shows the network has ever made. It’s strange and epic in all the right ways and deserves to be watched, even if it was cancelled much too soon.

6

Insecure

HBO Original (2016-2021)

Insecure

Release Date

2016 – 2021-00-00

Showrunner

Prentice Penny

Writers

Issa Rae, Larry Wilmore

While HBO is largely known for its prestige dramas, there have also been an impressive number of fantastic comedies that have come from the network and currently have a home on HBO Max. Shows like Sex and the City and Curb Your Enthusiasm are HBO staples, but underrated gems deserve the spotlight as well.

Insecure is the perfect example of a stellar HBO comedy that never quite broke out in the ways it should have, despite running for five incredible seasons. The Insecure cast is led by series creator Issa Rae, with the show exploring the often awkward life of a contemporary Black woman. It was insightful, hilarious, and a breakout for Rae.

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From its first season, Insecure was a critical darling, earning numerous award nominations and wins during the course of its run. The show’s willingness to talk about tough topics and dive into the more uncomfortable, cringier elements of its comedy made it a fantastic series to watch, and it is definitely worth checking out.

5

30 Coins

HBO Europe Original (2020-2023)

30 Coins

Release Date

2020 – 2023-00-00

Network

HBO España, HBO Max

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  Eduard Fernández

  Padre Vergara

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  Miguel Ángel Silvestre

  Hombre Apresado

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HBO and HBO Max aren’t as well-known for their horror catalogs as some other streaming services like Netflix, and their impressive collaboration with Mike Flanagan. Still, there are some horror shows worth checking out on HBO Max, and the incredibly underrated 30 Coins is one of the best the streaming service has to offer.

The series prominently follows Father Vergara (Eduard Fernández), an exorcist who is forced into exile in a remote village in Spain by the church. Once there, paranormal phenomena begin to take place, setting off a tense mystery filled with scares. Big-name actor Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers) even joined the cast for season 2.

30 Coins actually premiered on HBO Europe for its first season before premiering on HBO Max for its second, where it was never renewed for a third. The Spanish-language horror series is often lost among the bigger titles HBO Max has to offer, but is worth checking out for its effective scares and its willingness to lean into absurdity.

4

Doom Patrol

HBO Max Original (2020-2023)

Doom Patrol

8/10

Release Date

2019 – 2023-00-00

Showrunner

Jeremy Carver

Directors

Chris Manley, Kristin Windell, Dermott Downs, Harry Jierjian, Rebecca Rodriguez, Omar Madha, Glen Winter

Writers

Arnold Drake

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There was a time when even DC had its own streaming service, hoping to get in on the growing popularity. It featured several original shows alongside its comic book catalog, including Titans, Young Justice: Outsiders, Harley Quinn, Swamp Thing, and Doom Patrol, which turned out to be the best of the bunch despite featuring more obscure characters.

While it was never really going to become a mainstream success on the DC Universe service, it made the jump over to HBO Max, running for four seasons before it ended in 2023. Despite being featured on WB’s premiere streaming service, Doom Patrol never really gained popularity with mainstream audiences, being relegated to remaining a hidden gem.

The show always leans into the weird with Doom Patrol‘s ragtag group of characters, and it is better off for it. Unfortunately, that also makes it less accessible to audiences, but if given the chance, the lovable group of misfits is worth checking out, as it is one of the best DC projects that has come out in the past decade.

3

I May Destroy You

BBC One & HBO (2020)

Coming off of her offbeat comedy series Chewing Gum and several episodes of Black Mirror, Michaela Coel turned her attention to I May Destroy You, which she created, wrote, co-directed, produced, and starred in. It was a joint effort by BBC One and HBO, and is one of the most intriguing shows to come out in a while.

I May Destroy You follows Arabella, a writer who attempts to rebuild her life after being sexually assaulted. The dramedy is an incredibly poignant look at trauma, often processed through the lens of dark comedy, and doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable moments or tough discussions, as Coel’s own experience of being assaulted while writing Chewing Gum served as the inspiration.

I May Destroy You only ran for one season, as it was always intended to be a limited series, but it never really gained the type of popularity that it deserved, even with the immense amount of critical acclaim that it earned. It’s a masterpiece of a miniseries that needs to be watched as soon as possible.

2

My Brilliant Friend

HBO, RAI, & TIMvision (2018-2024)

My Brilliant Friend

Release Date

2018 – 2024-00-00

Directors

Saverio Costanzo, Alice Rohrwacher, Daniele Luchetti

Writers

Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci, Saverio Costanzo

Alongside producing their own shows, HBO also does a fantastic job of co-producing with different production companies, especially when it comes to foreign series. My Brilliant Friend is the perfect example of that, as the Italian-language series was a joint production between HBO, RAI, and TIMvision, the latter two being popular Italian networks.

Adapting the Neapolitan Novels series by author Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend follows two childhood friends growing up in a poor neighborhood in Naples in the 1950s. The four-season series explores the two of them, their friendship, and who they are as individuals through childhood, adulthood, and old age, resulting in a poignant look at life and friendship.

Each season of My Brilliant Friend is based on one novel in the book series, with all four novels being adapted during the show’s run. As a result, the show is immensely satisfying and is able to tell its entire story. It’s a worthwhile series to watch and learn more about Italy while also being an incredible character study.

1

Tokyo Vice

HBO Max Original (2022-2024)

Tokyo Vice

7/10

Release Date

2022 – 2024-00-00

Directors

Josef Kubota Wladyka, Michael Mann, Alan Poul, Hikari

Writers

Destin Daniel Cretton

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Since its inception, HBO Max has been a great streaming service for featuring original shows and movies that might never have had a chance at being picked up by HBO proper. As a result, there are a number of HBO Max originals that are incredible but don’t get the same amount of viewership that most HBO shows get.

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Tokyo Vice was one of the best Max original series in the last few years, which makes it all the more frustrating that it was canceled after season 2.

One of the best examples of this is Tokyo Vice, which ran for two seasons before it was unfortunately cancelled despite critical success and a passionate fanbase behind it. Based on the 2009 memoir by Jake Adelstein, the series explores a journalist who moves from Missouri to Tokyo, diving into the corruption of Tokyo’s underbelly.

Tokyo Vice is a fascinating look at Japan’s yakuza, seen through the eyes of a character whose cultural upbringing couldn’t be more different. Created by J. T. Rogers (Oslo) and executive produced by Michael Mann (Heat), Tokyo Vice is a slick neo-noir that deserves a bigger audience, and will hopefully find a way to have a third season.