Last week I was given the opportunity to preview HBO Max's streaming service ahead of its launch in New Zealand.
For the last few decades, much of HBO Max's content was accessible in this country via Sky TV's Neon serivce. The key word there being "much", as it was frustratingly often missing titles that went out on HBO Max in the States.
So I welcome the introduction of HBO Max to the New Zealand market (more than a year after it launched in Australia) firstly for that reason: a complete line-up of HBO's legendary list of shows, which include some of the best ever made.
I also welcome it because amongst the major streamers, HBO Max is arguably the only one that acknowledges how far back cinema goes. It's contemporary cinematic offerings are as premium as its TV shows, but it also finds room for older movies via its TCM sub-brand.
Most of the older titles unfortunately won't be available on the New Zealand platform at launch, but I am assured they will eventually be showing up. There are some classics in the mix however, and even this smattering helps set HBO Max apart from its streaming peers, which all seem to suffer from a severe recency bias when it comes to movies.
The TCM-leaning titles available at launch include The Wizard Of Oz (1939), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), A Clockwork Orange (1971) and Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory (1971).
But it is in the shows where HBO Max truly proves its worth, with obvious standouts headed by The Sopranos, which begat the Golden Age of Televsion, but still reigns supreme as the greatest scripted drama of all time.
Other legendary titles include Sex and the City, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Game of Thrones and even Entourage, which isn't nearly as awful as the collective memory would have you believe, and is fun to revisit. I'm mostly talking about seasons 1-3.
A personal HBO favourite of mine with lower profile is How to Make It in America, a post-Entourage dudes-being-dudes dramedy about two friends trying to get ahead in the fashion world in New York. It only got two seasons, but they remain ceaselessly entertaining.
I also like to regularly revisit all of Danny McBride's shows for HBO - Eastbound & Down, Vice Principals and The Righteous Gemstones - and I will subscribe to any streaming service that keeps this underappreciated genius employed.
HBO Max also encompasses shows from beyond HBO, so there is a wild variety of Discovery reality shows, and underseen dramas like the truly bonkers (in a good way) Banshee (starring a pre-The Boys Antony Starr) which first aired on Cinemax in the States.
The platform is launching just ahead of the new season of Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, and later this year a certain boy wizard is getting a prestige TV show that will no doubt prove a draw.
And coming down the pike are new seasons of prestige hits like The White Lotus, The Last of Us and Task.
The platform's interface is clean, and the depth of programming encouraging.
Pertinent details:
HBO Max is available on both Standard and Premium plans, with monthly and annual subscription options available. Customers who subscribe by 16 July 2026 can take advantage of a limited-time introductory launch offer.
Standard Plan:
- Launch price offer of $10.99 per month for the first six months, or $109.99 for the first year.
- Regular price after the promotion will be $15.99 per month or $159.99 per year.
- Users can stream content on 2 devices simultaneously.
- Content will be available in Full HD 1080p resolution.
- Plan allows for up to 30 downloads of available content to watch offline.
- Ad-free viewing experience.
Premium Plan:
- Launch price offer of $15.99 per month for the first six months, or $159.99 for the first year.
- Regular price after the promotion will be $20.99 per month or $209.99 per year.
- Provides the best consumer experience.
- Users can stream content on up to 4 devices simultaneously.
- Full HD or 4K resolution and with Dolby Atmos sound (as available).
- Plan allows for up to 100 downloads of available content to watch offline. (Limits apply.)
- Ad-free viewing experience.
Subscribers can stream HBO Max across phones, tablets, computers, connected TVs, streaming devices and gaming consoles. The platform also includes accessibility features such as audio description, subtitles and screen readers, alongside parental controls including age-based kids’ profiles and Kid-Proof Exit.
Learn more about the service, including plans, pricing, content, compatible devices and how to subscribe at hbomax.com