What is life without a little drama and also a few drama series with good ratings and heart-throbbing casts? HBO Max may have drama shows, but it’s up to you to choose what, how, and when you watch. You can either wait until you’re comfortably seated in front of your television or use your phone or tablet to catch up on the series. Check out our most recent list of the top HBO Max shows if you’re wondering what to watch next.
The Staircase (2022)
When it originally happened, novelist and aspiring local politician Michael Peterson found his wife Kathleen lying at the bottom of the stairs in their Durham house. It was a story straight out of the headlines that slipped beneath the public’s notice. Her death was the subject of numerous theories, some of which at the time seemed as absurd as they were unlikely.
The new HBO miniseries mixes the award-winning documentary by Lestrade into the story rather than trying to copy it verbatim. Toni Collette imbues Kathleen Peterson with a stunning degree of depth and sympathy prior to her death, while Colin Firth vanishes into the part of Michael Peterson in this compelling tale, which also features the director becoming a character himself. But this series demands simultaneous watching; it doesn’t only go well with the original documentary. ·
- Genre: Crime fiction
- Created by: Antonio Campos
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
- Cast: Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Michael Stuhlbarg, Dane DeHaan, Olivia DeJonge
Avenue 5 (2020-present)
Is Hugh Laurie in a science fiction comedy? Count us in. A humorous sitcom set in the future and in space is called Avenue 5. It’s up to the millionaire owner (Josh Gad) and the ship’s captain (Laurie), both incompetent, to return everyone home safely after a disaster strikes an intergalactic cruise ship. Avenue 5 is a humorous, hilarious, and occasionally even intellectual sitcom with cleverly constructed gags and juicy emotional tension.
- Genres: Science fiction, Television comedy, Dark comedy
- Created by: Armando Iannucci
- Cast: Hugh Laurie, Josh Gad, Zach Woods, Rebecca Front
- IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Titans (2018-present)
Titans is based on the Teen Titans comic book series by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiant and depicts a gang of youthful superheroes against evil. Young heroes from the DC Universe are followed as they mature and discover their place in the world in this gritty spin on the “Teen Titans” series. Dick Grayson becomes entangled in a plot that might bring Hell to Earth with Rachel Roth, a unique young woman who is seized by a mysterious evil. Along the journey, they are joined by the impulsive Starfire and the endearing Beast Boy, and together they form a band of heroes against evil. The show has received accolades for its strong connections and characterization as well as for fusing humor with its serious subject matter. Titans is a fantastic addition to the fast-growing DC Universe and is as funny as it is grim.
- Genres: Superhero fiction, Drama, Action fiction, Adventure fiction,
- Created by: Akiva Goldsman, Geoff Johns, Greg Berlant
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
- Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Anna Diop, Teagan Croft, Ryan Potter
The Big Brunch (2022-present)
The Big Brunch, a new series from Schitt’s Creek co-creator Dan Levy, is a surprise food competition. Levy, along with chefs Sohla El-Wally and Will Guidara, are able to offer 10 chefs a chance that might change their lives with The Big Brunch. These competitors must share their knowledge and personal stories in order to win the $300,000 prize. Levy’s program is more than just a contest of taste; it also features competitors who use food to improve their communities. The Big Brunch showcases delectable food while celebrating each person’s history and authenticity.
- Genre: Reality television
- Creator: Dan Levy
- IMDb Rating: 8/10
- Cast: Sohla El-Waylly, Will Guidara, Dan Levy
Industry (2020-present)
Five recent college graduates are followed by the industry as they compete for positions at a famous London investment firm. Harper (Myha’la Herrold), a New Yorker who fabricates her credentials, gay Eton and Oxford graduate Gus (David Jonsson), working-class Robert (Harry Lawtey), and aristocratic Yasmin are some of the characters (Marisa Abela). In order to succeed and avoid crumbling under the extreme pressure of the position, each of them must overcome specific challenges. The show has received plaudits for its witty writing and fantastic, soapy cast.
- Genre: Drama
- Created by: Mickey Down, Konrad Kay
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
- Cast: Myha’la Herrold, Marisa Abela, Harry Lawtey, David Jonsson
Walker (2021-present)
Walker, a remake of the 1990s television series Walker, Texas Ranger, is a western drama starring Jared Padalecki from Supernatural. After a protracted undercover assignment, widowed Texas ranger Cordell Walker, who is played by Padalecki, returns home. He finds it difficult to establish a relationship with his family and his new girlfriend, and to make matters even more difficult, he begins to develop doubts about the circumstances of his wife’s passing.
- Genres: Action, Drama, Crime fiction
- Created by: Anna Fricke
- IMDb Rating: 6.1/10
- Cast: Jared Padalecki, Lindsey Morgan, Molly Hagan, Keegan Allen
Abbott Elementary (2021-present)
At the 2022 Emmys, Abbott Elementary took home a number of prestigious prizes, including Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Supporting Actress for Sheryl Lee Ralph. Abbott Elementary, one of the funniest sitcoms in recent memory, centers on a bunch of teachers at a Philadelphia school with little funding. Young and determined Janine (Quinta Brunson), old-fashioned mentor Barbara (Ralph), rough-around-the-edges but kind-hearted Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter), nerdy Jacob (Chris Perfetti), and reckless principal Ava are among the diverse array of characters (Janelle James). Not to mention Gregory, the substitute teacher (Tyler James Williams), who wants to be the principal and maybe even date Janine. One of those television programs, Abbott Elementary, will make you laugh hysterically and make you feel good afterward.
- Genre: mockumentary
- Created by: Quinta Brunson
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
- Cast: Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph
The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)
The fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, which has a rich mystical history, serves as the setting for the television series. The story concerns the relationship between Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev), a young woman who recently lost both of her parents in a car accident, and Stefan Salvatore, a 162-year-old vampire (Paul Wesley).
- Genres: Romance, Horror, Supernatural, Drama, Horror fiction
- Created by: Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Cast: Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder
His Dark Materials (2019-2022)
His Dark Materials, based on the popular book series, follows Lyra, portrayed by Dafne Keen (Logan), and lives in an alternative universe to our own. In Lyra’s universe, human souls appear as Daemons, loyal animal companions that are bound to a specific body. Lyra discovers surprising facts during the course of the first two seasons of His Dark Materials, sending her on a thrilling journey across other realms. The gorgeous series graphically adapts the author Philip Pullman’s works, which pose intriguing philosophical issues with his fantasy worlds. A welcome change from The Golden Compass, which was an unsuccessful movie attempt, is the delightful adaptation of His Dark Materials.
- Genre: Mystery
- Creator: Jack Thorne
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
- Cast: Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Amir Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda
House of the Dragon (2022-present)
The House of the Dragon Game of Thrones prequel series takes place 200 years before the popular show. House of the Dragon explores the mythology that came before the adored characters that viewers followed for six seasons while following the Targaryen family and the inhabitants of Westeros. House of the Dragon, written by author George R.R. Martin and directed by seasoned fantasy and science-fiction producer Ryan J. Condal, is brimming with A-list talent, including Matt Smith from Doctor Who and versatile character actor Rhys Ifans (The King’s Man). A lovely exploration of the past of the magical world of Game of Thrones is provided by House of the Dragon.
- Creator: Ryan J. Condal, George R.R. Martin
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
- Cast: Paddy Considine, Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Rhys Ifans
Big Little Lies (2017-2019)
Honestly, don’t you have “Cold Little Heart” stuck in your mind right now? Big Little Lies is a television series that delves into dark truths in the lovely, affluent town of Monterey and is centered on the friendship between outspoken Madeline (Reese Witherspoon), sensible Celeste (Nicole Kidman), and newcomer Jane (Shailene Woodley). Powerhouses abound in the cast (Meryl Streep was even featured in season two), and the directing is intriguing and original. Eight Emmys were won by the inaugural season and with good reason. Big Little Lies has it all, providing us with e of the best female friendship groups, murder mysteries, and soundtracks of all time. It is dark, cutting, and occasionally even laugh-out-loud funny.
- Genre: domestic fiction, mystery
- Created by: David E. Kelly (based on the book by Liane Moriarty)
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
- Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Alexander Skarsgård
