HBO Max’s Top 10 Shows Of 2025: A Comprehensive Ranking

In 2025, HBO Max delivered several standout shows, ranging from the fascinating social experiment of The Rehearsal to the gripping post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us. Unlike Netflix and Hulu, which can be inconsistent, HBO consistently produces high-quality television.

HBO Max has had a mixed bag of new shows lately. Some, like The Chair Company, have been truly excellent and innovative, while others, such as I Love LA, have been just okay. However, even the weaker HBO Max shows haven’t been as shockingly bad as Hulu’s All’s Fair or as distastefully sensationalized as Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story.

10. I Love LA

The show I Love LA was initially expected to be similar to Girls, capturing the experiences of a younger generation. However, it ended up feeling more like Entourage, offering a look at the exciting but stressful world of Hollywood. Instead of focusing on traditional movie stars, the show centers on the lives of social media influencers and the pressures they face.

I wasn’t overly impressed with I Love LA, but the show has some great performers – especially Josh Hutcherson and True Whitaker – and fun guest appearances by Ayo Edebiri and Elijah Wood. While it doesn’t quite reach the comedic heights of Girls or the entertainment value of Entourage, it shows potential and could become something special.

9. The Last Of Us Season 2

As a huge fan of The Last of Us Part II, I knew adapting it for TV would be incredibly difficult – it’s such a bold and unusual game. But honestly, the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us made a few choices I didn’t quite understand. Revealing that big twist so early on really took the wind out of the sails, and spending so much time in Jackson felt like it slowed the momentum down.

Even when it wasn’t perfect, The Last of Us delivered high-quality, big-budget television. Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, and Isabela Merced gave outstanding performances throughout the season. The show’s creators brilliantly brought the games’ devastated world to life, and featured memorable scenes like the Battle of Jackson, Isaac’s intense interrogation, and a remarkably faithful recreation of the space shuttle sequence.

8. Peacemaker Season 2

Shortly after launching the new DC Universe with the film Superman, James Gunn integrated the series Peacemaker into it. He made a few changes to the first season to fit the new continuity, but fortunately, the season primarily focused on continuing the story of Christopher Smith rather than forcing a connection to the broader DCU.

Throughout the season, Gunn crafted a story reminiscent of The Twilight Zone, focusing on Chris’s fascination with a happier, more successful alternate version of himself living in what seemed like a perfect world. While the eventual twist wasn’t entirely unexpected, the show surprisingly emphasized this storyline. The finale didn’t quite deliver a satisfying conclusion, but the journey to get there was certainly exciting.

7. It: Welcome To Derry

I remember when It: Welcome to Derry first came out – it looked amazing, really capturing that creepy, vintage vibe of the 60s. But honestly, at first, it felt like they tried to cram too many characters and storylines into it, and it was a little confusing. Luckily, the show really found its groove as the season went on, and it became a much more compelling watch.

While Welcome to Derry wasn’t particularly scary as a horror series – many of its special effects looked artificial and silly – it excelled as a compelling drama. It effectively juxtaposed the terrifying presence of Pennywise with the genuine hardships faced in America during the early 1960s.

6. Task

Brad Ingelsby, the creator of Mare of Easttown, returned to HBO this year with another excellent crime drama. Task features Mark Ruffalo as an FBI agent—formerly a Catholic priest—who is investigating a string of violent attacks targeting biker gangs’ hidden storage locations. The show is a fast-paced thriller that also offers a deeply unsettling and somber look at its subject matter.

5. Conan O’Brien Must Go Season 2

Conan O’Brien recently released a new season of his travel show on HBO Max, fitting it in between his hosting duties for the Oscars. Season 2 of Conan O’Brien Must Go takes viewers to Spain, New Zealand, and Austria. While this season doesn’t have quite the same emotional impact as the Ireland episode from season 1, Conan’s funny, self-deprecating style combined with the stunning scenery and cultures around the world makes for consistently entertaining television.

4. The White Lotus Season 3

The latest season of Mike White’s sharp and witty series, The White Lotus, might not be its strongest. While it’s the longest season yet, the storyline feels a bit thin, and the ending isn’t as satisfying as previous ones. Even so, it’s still excellent television – darkly humorous, surprisingly unsettling, and visually stunning.

This season of the show took place in Thailand, exploring themes of spirituality and questioning the importance of possessions. While the season isn’t perfect, it remains captivating thanks to strong performances from Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Aimee Lou Wood, and a particularly memorable performance by Sam Rockwell.

3. Hacks Season 4

Hacks is consistently one of the best shows on television. Each season has been excellent, with storylines that feel authentic to the characters. The writers consistently find new ways to develop the relationship between the main characters, keeping the show engaging and exciting.

Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder continue to have fantastic chemistry in the latest season of Hacks, which returns to Los Angeles as Deborah finally pursues her dream of hosting a late-night show. Season 4 delivers the show’s signature blend of humor, heartbreak, and a genuinely moving story.

2. The Chair Company

Tim Robinson’s unusual thriller, The Chair Company, is a truly unique TV show. It’s a strange but compelling mix of awkward humor, a puzzling mystery, and unsettling suburban horror, centered around an office manager who seeks revenge after being embarrassed and accidentally uncovers a large-scale corporate plot.

This situation feels endlessly awkward and funny, like something straight out of an I Think You Should Leave sketch. It’s unsettling and strange, reminiscent of a David Lynch film. It has the feel of movies like Dark Waters or Erin Brockovich, but with Tim Robinson playing the underdog fighting a powerful, corrupt company. While The Curse comes close to capturing the vibe, this feels even more intense and unpredictable.

1. The Rehearsal Season 2

With so much television already created, it’s increasingly difficult to come up with truly original ideas. However, Nathan Fielder consistently manages to do just that. The second season of The Rehearsal may be his boldest project yet, bizarrely attempting to enhance airline safety through a singing contest, a duplicated pet dog, and a wildly unconventional movie about the pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger.

The final episode of The Rehearsal revealed that Nathan has secretly been learning to fly, and plans to pilot a full passenger plane to put his ideas to the test. This incredible twist cemented the show’s second season as one of the best television seasons ever made – a truly unique six-episode experience.

2025-12-28 14:30