HBO Max went live in the US on 27 May 2020, taking over from HBO Now and HBO Go and adding a label of its own, Max Originals, released weekly rather than in binge-ready batches. Some early exclusives were inherited: Search Party moved across from TBS, and Doom Patrol's second season premiered on HBO Max and DC Universe together on 25 June 2020. DC Universe's original series, Young Justice among them, were later moved over entirely.
Its own hits
New commissions soon defined the service: Hacks premiered on 13 May 2021, Station Eleven that December, James Gunn's Peacemaker in January 2022 and Our Flag Means Death that March. The 2022 merger that created Warner Bros. Discovery then brought cuts: originals were quietly removed, the nearly finished Batgirl film was cancelled and new international series development was stopped in several regions.
The service was relaunched as Max in the US on 23 May 2023, dropping HBO from the name to suit a broader library. The real-time medical drama The Pitt premiered on Max on 9 January 2025, and the HBO Max name returned on 9 July 2025.
Arriving in Britain
There was no HBO Max in the UK for years because Sky held HBO's programmes for Sky Atlantic, and Max Originals were sold one by one: Peacemaker went to Sky Max and NOW, the second season of Hacks to Prime Video, and Our Flag Means Death to BBC Two and iPlayer. WarnerMedia ruled out a UK launch before 2025, a new bundling deal with Sky was announced in December 2024, and HBO Max finally went live in the UK and Ireland on 26 March 2026, completing its European roll-out. Its next chapter depends on Paramount Skydance, which (as of October 2026) plans to merge it with Paramount+.
Key dates
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HBO Max launches in the US
WarnerMedia's service replaces HBO Now and HBO Go and introduces Max Originals.
Source: Wikipedia: HBO Max
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Hacks premieres
Jean Smart plays a veteran Las Vegas stand-up in the comedy's first episodes.
Source: Wikipedia: Hacks
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Rebranded as Max
The US service drops HBO from its name after the merger with Discovery.
Source: Wikipedia: HBO Max
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The Pitt premieres
The real-time emergency-room drama starring Noah Wyle debuts on Max.
Source: Wikipedia: The Pitt
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HBO Max name returns
Warner Bros. Discovery restores the HBO Max brand worldwide.
Source: Wikipedia: HBO Max
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UK launch
HBO Max goes live in the UK and Ireland, completing its European roll-out.
Source: Wikipedia: HBO Max