3 Best Shows To Watch On HBO Max This Weekend: May 9–10, 2026

The top three shows to watch on HBO Max this weekend, May 9–10, 2026, are all critically acclaimed hits trending now around the world. Whether you're looking for a feel-good dramedy, a dark and twisted thriller, or a laugh-out-loud comedy, HBO Max has a very strong slate of new and original streaming releases, all of which are worth checking out right now.

While Euphoria remains the #1 show worldwide for another consecutive week, there are arguably a handful of even better shows that are streaming on the platform right now. Of course, you can always resort to HBO's legendary vault of TV greats, including Game of Thrones and even the recent Emmy-winning hit The Penguin, but if you're looking for something fresh, these three series are right on the cutting edge of HBO's prestige content.

Half Man

Half Man arrives on HBO Max from the mind of Baby Reindeer star and creator Richard Gadd, who won 3-Emmys for his work on that historic Netflix limited series. Half Man is Gadd's return to the streaming world, this time under the prestige HBO umbrella, and instantly delivers the same level of psychological thriller as Baby Reindeer does, even though it has not achieved the same critical acclaim or popularity as the Netflix series.

Half Man stars Gadd Ruben, the estranged brother of Niall, who randomly shows up out of the blue on Niall's wedding day. The series splits its narrative between present and past timelines, revealing the complicated relationship between Niall, who was brutally bullied as a teenager, and Ruben, who came to be his loyal, yet twisted, protector. Half Man currently ranks #5 on HBO Max's worldwide viewership chart and is worth checking out this weekend, now that 3 of its 6 episodes have been released.

Hacks

Hacks continues its fifth and final season run this week, having just dropped two more episodes on Thursday, May 7. It's sad to think that audiences only have three more episodes left of this iconic comedy series, which earned a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score, 12 Emmys so far, and is indisputably one of the best comedy shows of the 21st century. Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder combine to make one of the greatest comedic duos we've seen in years, showcasing the love-hate relationship between a rising star and an industry icon.

All good things must come to an end, and Hacks is no exception. While season 4 heightened the dramatic tension of the series to new heights, Hacks season 5 gets back to its roots by settling on witty banter, sharp one-liners, and a generally funnier vibe that focuses more on the lovable characters than the overarching plot. That said, Smart's Deborah Vance is swinging for the fences to close out the series, and the most recent episode (season 5, episode 7) is already being called one of the show's all-time greats you don't want to miss.

Rooster

Rooster is one of those feel-good dramedy shows that is necessarily extraordinary, but you may have a hard time finding a critique of it. Led by the incomparable Steve Carell in one of his best TV roles in years, Rooster is full of charm, perspective, and light humor, offering a more relaxed viewing experience as opposed to something more tension-driven like Half Man. It's the quintessential comfort show on HBO Max right now, in the same vein as Apple TV's Shrinking, especially since both are co-created by Bill Lawrence.

Rooster wraps up its solid first season on Sunday, May 10, which means there's truly no better time to binge-watch the entire series if you haven't already than right now. That would be completely doable as each episode is only 30 minutes long, making for a total runtime of roughly 4.5 hours ahead of the season finale. With season 2 already in development, Rooster is one of the safest bets on HBO Max this weekend and is well worth your time.

Rooster

Release Date March 8, 2026

Network HBO

Writers Bill Lawrence, Matt Tarses

Cast

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