Max: HBO Max replacement, cost, movies, TV shows, devices, and more

The king is dead, long live the king. Max, Warner Bros Discovery's (WBD) new super streaming service, has officially launched (in the US, at least) – and, in doing so, it's forced HBO Max into an unexpected early retirement.

HBO Max only debuted in May 2020, so you might be baffled about the prospect of it being replaced so soon after one of the world's best streaming services arrived on the scene. In a bid to cut costs and streamline its, well, streaming output, however, WBD has combined the content libraries of HBO Max and Discovery Plus into a single entity: Max.

So, outside of its expanded library, how does Max differ from HBO Max? What devices is it available on? How much does it cost? And why are users experiencing difficulties logging into Max on launch day? Below, we answer all of these questions and more – you can read even more details about the switchover in our seven things HBO Max fans need to know about the new streamer guide, too.

Here, then, is all the key information you need to be aware of concerning Max.

What is Max?

Max is the product of a merging between HBO Max and Discovery Plus, the two streaming platforms owned by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). 

The entertainment behemoth, which itself was formed when Warner Bros. and Discovery merged in March 2022, confirmed it was combining the platforms into a single entity (Discovery Plus is still available as a separate service, though) in April 2023. 

In essence, then, Max is an expanded and more streamlined streaming service than its siblings. Not only do you gain access to all of HBO Max's library (including every DCEU film and TV show, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and more), you'll also be able to stream the best programs from Discovery Plus' TV brands, including TLC, Magnolia Network, and HGTV.

Here are some of the other big benefits that the new service offers over its predecessor:

• Smarter recommendations
• Improved performance
• Easier to sign in and use
• Profile PIN for adult profiles
• New hubs and genres

Crucially, if you were already subscribed to HBO Max before May 23 (Max's launch day), your account will be automatically switched over to the new service. So you don't need to worry about cancelling your current plan and having to sign up to a new one. Your HBO Max profile, watch history, and settings (including parental controls) are carried over to WBD's latest streamer, too.

You will, though, need to download the Max app on your device of choice (more on these later) or head to Max.com to begin streaming via a web browser. Additionally, your HBO Max downloads and Custom Profile Pictures do not carry over onto the new service, so you'll need to redownload the former and pick a different Avatar for the latter.

Where is Max currently available?

This is where things get slightly more complicated. Currently, HBO Max has only been rebranded to Max in the United States. Users in Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions – where HBO Max is available, by the way – won't notice any name change until Q3 2023, Q1 2024, and Q2 2024 respectively (per Variety). So, if you're a non-US HBO Max customer, you don't need to worry about any big changes yet.

It's unclear how the renaming of WBD's primary streamer will impact the deals it has with nations where Max/HBO Max aren't available. In the UK and Australia, for example, HBO-developed movies and TV shows air on Sky and Foxtel respectively. These licensing agreements aren't expected to end until sometime in 2025, so it's likely that WBD's HBO Max-based contracts with Sky and Foxtel will simply be transferred over to Max. However, Discovery Plus is available in the UK, so there may need to be some negotiations between WBD, Sky, and BT Group (the latter being Discovery Plus' UK distribution partner) to ensure there's no contractual law breaking over who can air what.

Max price: how much does it cost?

There are three Max subscription plans to choose from, with the more expensive tiers offering extra perks over their cost-based cousins. All three are available for monthly and annual fees, with the latter earning you a tidy 20% saving if opt for a 12-month deal:

If you're subscribed to HBO through your cable or satellite TV package, internet plan, or wireless plan, the Max home page confirms users might have access to Max at no extra cost. You'll need to head to the Max providers page to see if you're eligible, however.

WBD has promised that existing subscribers “will still have access to their current plan features for a minimum of six months following launch”, which could mean pricing changes are possible later this year, too. We'll update this section once we learn more.

Is there a Max free trial?

The short answer is no. Previously, potential subscribers used to be able to try HBO Max for seven days before deciding whether to sign up, but since December 2020 that's not been an option. 

As you can see in our HBO Max free trial article, it was possible to get seven-day trials with the service if you sign up through Hulu or Amazon Prime Video. It's unclear, however, if this partnership will move forward now that HBO Max has been replaced by Max. Again, we'll update this part of the article when WBD has more to share.

Max movies: DCEU, Elvis, Dune and more

Max is stuffed with plenty of critically-acclaimed and highly-rated movies. Netflix's library might contain notable highlights from other studios, but HBO Max offers tons of amazing films from Warner Bros' own back catalog.

So, what's on offer? For one, an eclectic range of movies based on DC Comics, including Batman (1989), Joker, The Dark Knight, Aquaman, and Black Adam. Genre movies are generally well represented, with The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix trilogies also available. Take a look at our dedicated guide to the best Max movies for our top-tier choices and our new Max movies list for the newest movies to hit the platform.

One of Max's bespoke channels features Studio Ghibli movies, which gives subscribers access to every animated film from the legendary studio. Another channel – TCM (Turner Classic Movies) – delivers plenty of classics, such as Casablanca and Some Like it Hot. 

It's also worth noting that Max's movie offerings aren't limited to Warner Bros releases. For example, Disney's blockbusting Avatar: The Way of Water will be available to stream from June 7 – Max becoming the beneficiary of a former deal signed by 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. before the former's acquisition by Disney in March 2019, which sees select 20th Century movies also made available on WBD's streaming platforms.

While the Covid-19 pandemic briefly prompted the streamer to release high-profile Warner Bros movies such as Dune and The Matrix Resurrections at the same time as they made their theatrical debuts, this is no longer the case. However, HBO Max still gives Netflix and Disney Plus a run for their money when it comes to blockbusters.

Max shows: Succession, The Last of Us and more

HBO's original series are some of the best around, with The Wire, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones and Chernobyl just four of its most popular offerings.

HBO isn't only known for its riveting dramas, though. Comedies including Curb Your Enthusiasm and Veep exist on the platform alongside documentaries like McMillions and The Case Against Adnan Sayed. HBO's rich history of stand-up specials is also showcased, with some of the biggest US comedians' live shows available to stream.

Older shows from Warner's archive (and beyond) help supplement the HBO offering. Max has the exclusive US rights to all 10 seasons of Friends and all 26 seasons of South Park. The Big Bang Theory, The Middle, Young Sheldon, The Nanny, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air are among the sitcoms you can enjoy as well.

Great animated shows from the ’90s like Batman: The Animated Series, the Superman show and the more futuristic Batman Beyond can be beamed right into your living room, too. And, if you're after some anime, Crunchyroll has a channel on Max that offers a broad selection. Access to Cartoon Network encompasses shows like Steven Universe and Adventure Time, while the channel's more grown-up cousin, Adult Swim, supplies shows like Rick and Morty, Robot Chicken and Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

Import shows include Italian crime drama Gomorrah, I Hate Suzie, and all 13 seasons of Doctor Who since its successful 2005 reboot. However, the BBC's Time Lord is heading to Disney Plus some time in 2023 following a new agreement, so it's unclear whether it'll warp away from Max later this year.

Finally, HBO Max has numerous critically-acclaimed and award-winning original series produced under the HBO banner. Succession, Euphoria, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, and The Flight Attendant are just a few of the streamer's premium TV gems. For more recommendations encompassing Max's delightful suite of TV content, check out our comprehensive guide to the best Max shows.

Max vs HBO: what’s the difference?

The difference between HBO and Max comes down to the range of programming you can access. Subscribing to HBO will allow you to stream every original series and movies that the premium channel has. Meanwhile, Max gets you more than triple the content. You won't only gain access to Max's originals line-up, but you'll get everything on HBO and numerous other channels, such as Adult Swim, and the best of Discovery Plus' back catalog.

Essentially, there's no reason to get HBO over Max. They cost the same, but you get way more stuff with the latter. 

What devices is Max available on?

Want to know what devices support HBO Max via web browsers or its app? Read the list below:

• Amazon Fire tablets (4th generation or later)
• Amazon Fire TV (Fire OS 5 or later)
• Android (5.1 or later)
• Android TV (with TV OS 5.1 or later)
• Apple TV 4K or HD (with tvOS 14 or later)
• Airplay
• Chromecast
• Chrome/Firefox/Microsoft Edge (latest versions) and Safari (version 13 or later)
• Cox Contour 2 and Contour Stream Player
• HDMI cable
• iOS (14 or later)
• LG Smart TV (webOS 3.5 or later)
• PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
• Roku (OS 11.0 and later)
• Samsung smart TVs (2016 models or later)
• VIZIO Smart TV (2016 models or later)
• Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X
• XClass TV
• Xfinity X1 and Flex

Max app: what features are available?

Max lets you download content for offline viewing, except on its Ad-Lite tier. It also has a PIN system for parental control, personalized profiles, and brand-based content hubs similar to how Disney Plus categorizes Star Wars content and Marvel films. As mentioned earlier, these include TCM, Studio Ghibli, DC, Crunchyroll, Looney Tunes, and Sesame Workshop. 

It also comes packaged with a number of accessibility features, including: Alex voice commands, audio description, close captions, keyboard navigation, and screen readers

Does Max support 4K streaming?

Yes. Max supports 4K streaming on a selection of compatible devices, with over 1000 movies and TV shows available to watch in 4K UHD. That's eight times (!) the amount that was available on HBO Max, including a bunch of new movies that weren't supported previously. Read our guide on eight films worth watching in 4K on Max now.

There are a couple of caveats, mind you. First, the 4K UHD support is only offered as part of the Ultimate Ad-Free tier, which will set you back $19.99 a month / $199.99 per year. Additionally, Dolby Atmos and Vision are only supported on specific films and TV series (read the full list in this WBD blog post), as well as on certain devices, which you can see below:

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Cube
• Android TVs, including AT&T Streaming Box
• Apple TV 4K
• Google Chromecast Ultra and Chromecast with Google TV
• PlayStation 5
• Roku Ultra 4800x, Roku 4k TVs, Roku Premiere, and Roku Streaming Stick Plus
• Xbox Series X
• Xfinity X1 (Xi6) and Flex

Is Max worth the money?

HBO is a name synonymous with prestige TV. With Max, that association is a big asset for Warner Bros Discovery, and the streamer is building on some of the best TV of the last two decades by providing a home for WBD's 100-year-plus catalog of content. Not all streaming services will survive the ongoing content war, but Max has a lot in its corner, especially with WBD's big investment in blockbuster movies, the addition of Discovery Plus' library, its wider 4K UHD support, and competitive price points.

HBO max was already a great streaming service, and Max has impressively built upon the foundations laid by its predecessor. However, the question remains about whether its originals make it stand out in an overpopulated US streaming landscape, especially when the price of entry (particularly on its ad-free tiers) is higher than Disney Plus, Hulu, Netflix, and Prime Video.

For us, Max's superb movie and TV line-ups make it worth investing in before all of its other features are accounted for. Of course, we're unsure how popular it'll prove to be – it only launched on May 23 – and WBD will need to iron out any teething problems in its first few weeks on the streaming market. If Max can start to make a dent in Netflix's dominance of the landscape, as well as actively compete with other popular streamers like Disney Plus, for audience attention, WBD's decision to merge its two platforms will be a justifiable expense. As always, however, the proof will be in how many new subscribers Max can entice in the coming months and years.