20 Of The Best Movies And Series To Stream On The Brand-New HBO Max Australia

Max is Australia’s brand-new streaming platform, and it comes to you with an impressive catalogue of movies and TV series. Kick back and watch some of the best streaming from HBO, Warner Bros., and Discovery, as well as fan-favourite franchises such as Harry Potter and the DC universe.

We’ve made our way through the catalogue to find you the 20 best movies and series you can stream right now on HBO Max Australia. 

Jump to:

• The Best Dramas on HBO Max
• The Best Sci-fi on HBO Max
• The Most Iconic Films to Stream on HBO Max
• The Best Comedy on HBO Max

The Best Dramas On HBO Max

The Last Of Us

The Last Of Us has become one of Max’s most popular shows following its release in 2023. Based on a 2013 video game in which the world has been wrecked by a fungal apocalypse, the story follows Joel (Pedro Pascal) as a smuggler and his teenage travelling partner Ellie (Bella Ramsey). The visuals, storytelling and characters will have you seriously hooked. The series has many standout episodes and it’s become a hit among fans and critics alike. The second series is currently streaming on Max Australia. 

Euphoria

Following its first season in 2019, Euphoria has remained one of Max’s most talked about teen dramas. It’s known for its dark storylines and web-like exploration of its cast of characters through the protagonist, Rue (Zendaya), a teenager struggling with addiction.

The show is a seriously heavy watch, diving head-first into a number of topics such as drug use, death, addiction and body image issues. Two seasons of the show have aired with the third season reportedly in production in 2025.

The Pitt

The Pitt has become Max’s standout medical drama, earning fans for its gripping portrayals of a single shift in an emergency room. Over the one-hour episodes the show explores issues faced by frontline medical staff in a financially strapped emergency department in Pittsburgh. The series stars Noah Wyle from ER, which is no surprise, as the series has drawn comparisons to the popular show which lasted a staggering 15 seasons. Season one of The Pitt is currently streaming on Max, with season two currently in production. 

Industry

If you enjoyed Succession, this is the series to binge next. Industry is a workplace drama with high stakes and cut-throat intensity. Set at London’s elite investment bank Pierpoint & Co., the series follows a group of ambitious young graduates as they fight for the limited number of full-time positions up for grabs. Think cutthroat competition, power plays, and personal entanglements. All three seasons are currently streaming on Max. 

Succession

Succession is one of Max’s acclaimed dramas, and it's widely speculated that the show is loosely based on Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch. It follows the fictional Roy family as they navigate the family dynamics as their patriarch and CEO Logan Roy (Brian Cox) steps back from the family media business. It's almost out-of-this world the level of wealth and power the family has, which is fascinating to watch, but seeing the power struggle play out between Logan's four children is hard to look away from. The show has been praised for its sharp writing and cast, and all four seasons are streaming on Max Australia.

The White Lotus

The White Lotus has become one of Max’s most popular series. While each season is set in a different location and follows different characters (although some characters do appear in multiple seasons), the same themes of privilege, money and power are explored in each. The show centres around a luxury hotel called The White Lotus, with the first season in Hawaii, the second in Sicily and the third in Thailand. While each season features a murder, the series is less plot driven than it is character development—introducing viewers to morally complex characters who are often deplorable and cringe yet deeply discussable. The show has just finished streaming season three.

And Just Like That

The Sex And The City girls are back, navigating their 50s in New York. The ages may have changed and there may be more children involved but a lot of the Sex And The City elements are there (minus Samantha Jones, unless you count a brief phone call cameo). The show looks at how Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda navigate their changing relationships, parenting, careers and ageing. The third season is currently streaming.

The Best Sci-Fi To Watch On HBO Max

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms

The Game of Thrones universe continues to expand with this new series set 100 years before the events of the original. Based on George R. R. Martin's novella The Hedge Knight, the series follows Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg (who is actually Aegon Targaryen). The series is described as softer and more humorous than Game of Thrones. A 2026 release date has just been confirmed for the series. 

Blade Runner (1982)

Max’s impressive back catalogue gives you access to classics such as Blade Runner, a sci-fi movie that helped define the genre when it was released. The film is set in a bleak future where protagonist Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is a ‘blade runner’ tasked with hunting down rogue humanoid robots known as replicants. The moody style of the film—filled with neon, shadows and decay—and its dystopian themes, have helped to make it a cult classic.

Dune (2021)

Dune is a sweeping sci-fi epic based on the classic novel by Frank Herbert. The 2021 film follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as a young nobleman living in a society in the near future. The film has been praised for its visuals, cast and bringing the book to life. It also sets the stage for the later Dune movies (you can also watch Dune Part Two on Max).

Companion

I never thought I would describe a sci-fi horror film as fun, but it kind of is? The story centers around a group of friends in a remote cabin when it’s revealed that one of the girls is actually a ‘companion robot’. Without giving any more of the plot away, that is just one of the revelations of this movie, but it’s not the twists and turns that drive that crazy story forward. There is plenty of action, some refreshing concepts and seriously gory scenes.

Iconic Movies To Watch On HBO Max

Barbie

Who could forget Barbie summer? This modern flick took over the world in 2023. Starring Australia’s own Margot Robbie, the story follows Barbie and Ken as they leave the perfect Barbie World and are faced with the real world, and their own reality.

No matter where you stand on Barbie, this movie is a very fun time and worthy of a watch. There are lighthearted moments and playful song and dance numbers intermixed with thoughtful looks at gender roles and feminism. 

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The Dark Knight

Widely considered to be one of the best superhero films (with a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes), The Dark Knight follows Batman (Christian Bale) as he faces off against the Joker (Heath Ledger). The film is gritty and offers depth, with Batman forced to confront where the line is drawn between good and evil. The Oscar-winning performance by Heath Ledger has remained one of his most iconic roles. 

Gravity

Gravity is another iconic film available in the Max catalogue. Released in 2013, the film stars Sandra Bullock as a medical engineer on her first shuttle mission and George Clooney as a veteran astronaut. An accident on board the spaceship leaves them stranded, and what follows is a gripping story as they try to survive. The film is genuinely terrifying, and it will make you glad you never attempted that whole astronaut thing. 

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Pheonix

One of Max’s most iconic movie franchises to stream is Harry Potter, and trust me when I say The Order of the Phoenix is one of the best movies from the series. Following Harry in the year after he witnesses Voldemort’s return, we see him struggle with a growing connection to his nemesis and with becoming increasingly distant with his friends. This film was a bit darker and we see Harry getting very grumpy and isolated as he has to deal with Snape, his scar hurting more, and confusing feelings with girls. You can stream all Harry Potter films on HBO Max Australia.

Call Me By Your Name

If you haven't watched this beautiful love story yet, consider your evening viewing sorted. Call Me By Your Name is a love story set in Northern Italy in the '80s and is based on the novel of the same name. It stars Timothée Chalamet as Elio and Armie Hammer as Oliver, following the two as they slowly fall in love over the summer they are together. The film is beautifully shot and critically acclaimed, and you will want to book a trip to Italy to fall in love immediately. Just stay away from the fruit. It’s streaming now on Max Australia.

The Best Comedy To Stream On HBO Max

Veep

Veep is a sharp political comedy that satirises one of America’s highest offices—The Vice Presidency (Veep). The series stars Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and a cast of hopeless staffers as she navigates being the Veep, including struggling to get the President to talk to her. If you are looking for comedy that hits a little too real in today's political climate, this one is for you.

Hacks

Hacks became one of Max’s first major hits after debuting in 2021. Go on, give in to the hype, because you will quickly see why everyone is telling you to watch it. The series follows Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) as a legendary Las Vegas comedian, and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) as a disgraced writer. Deborah is forced to work with Ava following a career setback, recognising her material (and career) needs to be brought into the modern world. Yes, the show is very funny but it is genuinely heartfelt as well, and the characters really make you want to keep watching. All four seasons are streaming on Max. 

The Rehearsal

Now in its second season, The Rehearsal is one of Max’s most inventive and talked-about shows. It started as a mix between comedy and documentary series where the star/comedian Nathan Fielder helps people prepare for upcoming life events such as confessions or life decisions to unnnerving effect. This involves elaborate set building and actors to help play out possible scenarios. Season two builds on the social experiment where Fielder builds a replica airport for a scenario between two pilots. 

The Flight Attendant

Comedy queen Kaley Cuoco stars in the seriously fun drama comedy series about (unsurprisingly) a flight attendant. Kaley plays Cassie Bowden who wakes up in a Bangkok hotel room with a dead man, but doesn’t remember anything. As she gets entangled in a murder investigation, she tries to put together the night of the murder, all while also putting her life together. It’s a fast-moving, entertaining plot with very suspenseful moments that will leave you hanging on. The 91% Rotten Tomatoes-rated series is a must-watch for anyone who loves dark comedies.

Main image credit: HBO Max