HBO Max’s Sci-Fi Action Series ‘Lazarus’ is the Best Binge-Watch on Streaming

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The perfect John Wick successor is just waiting to be binge-watched on HBO Max.

As a huge action movie fan, I have to say the John Wick franchise, starting back in 2014 with Keanu Reeves, really changed things up. It felt like a breath of fresh air after so many shaky-cam action flicks like the Bourne and Taken movies. John Wick gave us these gorgeous, long takes, letting you see the incredible fight work and stunts. Derek Kolstad came up with the original story, and Chad Stahelski, who co-directed the first one with David Leitch, has steered the series ever since – directing the next three films and maybe even a fifth! But after John Wick: Chapter 4, he surprised everyone with a new project. If you haven’t checked it out yet, the whole series is streaming on HBO Max, and trust me, it’s perfect for a day when you just want to settle in and watch some amazing action.

Following the success of John Wick: Chapter 4, Chad Stahelski returned to his roots as a stunt choreographer. He collaborated with Shinichiro Watanabe, known for anime like Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, to create the action sequences for the 2025 series Lazarus – a show that sadly didn’t get the attention it deserved. Lazarus combined the intense action of the John Wick films with a thought-provoking, sci-fi story. Set in 2052, the series depicts a world hooked on a pill that eliminates all pain and induces extreme happiness. However, when the pill’s creator announces that everyone who has used it will die within three years, society collapses. A ragtag team of former criminals and unreliable individuals is then tasked with finding the elusive Dr. Skinner and preventing global catastrophe.

Beyond the creative talents of Shinichiro Watanabe and Chad Stahelski, the animation was handled by the renowned Studio MAPPA, known for hits like Jujutsu Kaisen, Hell’s Paradise, and the final seasons of Attack on Titan. Though it premiered on Adult Swim and HBO Max last April without the initial buzz of Watanabe’s previous work or the John Wick movies, Lazarus has steadily gained a dedicated following. With only 13 episodes, each about 23 minutes long, it’s a quick and easy series to watch all at once.

‘Lazarus’ Blends Thought-Provoking Sci-Fi With Amazing Action

The show could have easily been a simple action series, but Watanabe elevates it with thought-provoking questions about morality and life. While it doesn’t follow the episodic format of his other works like Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, Lazarus still takes viewers around the world, showing the events leading up to the apocalypse through different eyes. The series explores the reasons people chose to take the life-extending pill and how that choice changed their views on life. Combined with some of the year’s best animation in its action sequences, Lazarus is a must-watch for action fans, even those new to anime.

‘Lazarus’ Is (Probably) a One-and-Done Series


MAPPA

Fans of Shinichiro Watanabe were curious if Lazarus would get a second season, but those familiar with his work know he usually tells complete stories in one season. His popular shows Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo each only had a single season, and it looks like Lazarus will follow that same pattern.

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2026-03-21 21:37